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LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAICN 


977.352 
P83 


111. Hist. 3urv. 


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oFPROMlNENTANPRiPRESENTATIVE  CITIZENS 

OF    THE    COUNTY 

TOGETHER  WITH-  PORTRAITS  -AND -BIOGRAPHIES-OF-ALL •  THE 

Mmm^W)  •  mV^Wi  -STATS 


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CHICAGO: 

BIOGRAPHICAL  PUBLISHING  CO. 

1890. 


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^^«S^IIE  grentcst  of  English  histui-ians,  Macaulay,  and  onn  of  the  most  brilliant  writei's  oi 
//  the  present  century,  has  said :  "The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the 
lives  of  its  people."  In  conformity  with  this  idea  the  Portrait  and  Biographical 
Ai-uu.M  of  this  county  has  been  prepared.  Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and 
taking  tiierefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our 
corps  of  writers  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their 
enterprise  and  industry,  brought  the  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among  those 
comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelli- 
gent public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of  coming  generations.  It  tells  iiow  some,  commencing  life  in  povert}',  by 
ndustry  and  economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an 
influence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have 
become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and 
records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  many,  very 
niaiiv,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pursued  "the  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content 
to  have  it  said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "they  have  done  what 
tiiey  could."  It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  peace 
once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not 
Ije  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from  the  fact 
that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which  would  otherwise  be 
inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity  possible 
"■iven  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  them- 
selves that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.  In  additioii  to  the  biograph- 
ical sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.  For  this  the 
publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the 
information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.  Occasionally  some  member  of 
the  famil}'  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 
one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  thougii  repeated  calls  were  made 
at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

15iO(ii;  uMiic Ai.   I'l  ru.isiiiN(i   Co. 
CuiCAOO,  October,  1800. 


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OF  THE 


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FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
liorn  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
'Feb.  22,  1732.  His  parents 
were  Augustine  and  Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  Tlic  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been  satisfactorily  traced  in 
England.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and  became  a  pros|)erous 
planter.  He  had  two  sons, 
Lawrence  and  John.  The 
former  married  Mildred  Warner 
and  had  three  children,  John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augus- 
tine, the  father  of  George,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  si.x  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Betty, 
Samuel,  John  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
liie  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
r;xeived  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
scliools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathematics.       His    spelling  v/as   rather   defectiv*. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  i)hysica. 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  14  years  old  hehad  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandontd.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  Li 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  \\\  1751,  though  only  ig  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Lidians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Lidies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health.  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddle,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was- 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned-  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very"  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cei)ted,  which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.     The 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


trip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  imjx)rtant  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
ivere  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says:  "I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
ex[)ulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
CO  resign  his  conmiission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  look  an 
active  and  im|X)rtant  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Ci'Stis. 

\Vhen  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
•)f  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
deli)hia,Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  member  of  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  fo  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  every  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  17^-5,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  lesigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February,  1 7  89,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  iiew 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  pan 
of  other  governments ;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owmg  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean  ;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  manv 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  yeais  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France. 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  12,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  with  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  been  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tan,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
luuightiness,  and  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


M'^iJdm2^ 


SEOOND  PRESIDENT. 


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OHN    ADAMS,     the     second 
?,.  President  and  the   first    Vice- 
-President of  the  United  States, 
was   born    in  Braintree    ( now 
Quincy),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles   from    Boston,    Oct.    19, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,   emigrated   from    England 
about  1640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents   of  John    were   John    and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.     His 
father   was    a    farmer    of    limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.      He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion   at    Harvard    College.      John 
1755,  and   at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in   Worcester,  Mass.      This  he   found   but    a 
'school    of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored   to 
"ain  jelief  by  devoting  himself,  in   addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.     For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.    He 
h.id   thought    seriously    of    the    clerical    profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
cernied  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cils, cf  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been   a  witness  in 
his  native  town.      He  was   well    fitted  for  the    legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.     He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.     Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (lyC's),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.      He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holdin^,  a  town  meeting,  and  the   resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  populat 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himselt 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  tli? 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  live 
appointed  June  11,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  th? 
glow  of  e.xcited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
l)y  the  spirit  of  |)rophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,  "the 
greatest  ipiestion  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God.     It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with   i«mp,   shows. 


24 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sijorts,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  otlier,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  Vou  will  think  me  transjKirted 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  ot 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasifre,  that"  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not. " 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France^  and  to  co-operate  with  Benijamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779,  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
cliosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  proiX)sels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  imi>ortant  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  an.\iety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  A\hile  in  England,  still  drooping  and  des [end- 
ing, he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  Congress  apixsinted  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  apixsint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
nis  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  Again 
at  the  second  elecrion  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposirion. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

T/hile    Mr.  Adanis  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  tlieir  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  otlier  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adanis  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adanis.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  ujxjn  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supixirting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adanis  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customar)'  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  Ix- 
DEPENDENCE  FOREVER."  When  the  dav  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  liless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "  It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
.'Vdams  were  not  particularly  preixsssessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests.was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncoufteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


N* 


i 


W-: 


'^?, 


'^^'C^tTTI^ 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


27 


^,-V*-'^,  ,'^\*  ®  ,.,4,- 


2^-^'. 


/^>!^-^.^ 


.r  '^^-^^^^"^' 


)^j  HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
born  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
^^u-ell,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (Randolph)  Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
fatiier  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
£;nd  Mary  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obodeof  fashion 
and  splendor.  Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then  17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  he 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  however,  under 
such  influences,that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  hard  study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very 
Irigh  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
pliy  and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  and 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  [jolitical  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses.  In 
r 77 2  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young   widow 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  ye* 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776,     What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


28 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
(.overign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
i.fihemindof  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  as  Governor  of  Virginia.  Atonetime 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Moniicelio,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  tlie  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
:n  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  r,  1794-  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  JelTerson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Unior. ;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  intc  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
.  )rty  )'ears,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
.ic,  and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  newadministration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  hoises, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses,— and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 
The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fifrieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence.' 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  th'.' 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemni!_\ 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer 
and  one  of  the  fetv  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  no 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  ne.v 
d;iy,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  tha, 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  airof  the  fil'tietl- 
anniversar}'.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever, .^nd  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life!  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,- - 
the  day  v,'hich  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countr}-men;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,_  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silver)';  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore 
head  broad,  and  his  whole  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
disceniable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


(Zyiy<-^ 


^.       ^ 


iti-^U^H  ^'"h. 


FOURTH  PRESIDENT. 


3^ 


PIIQES  npDisoii. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
„   of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
'S;'"' President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  i6,  1757,  and 
died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
Z"*^'  June  28,   1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  im|)ortant 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
„    country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of   this  great    repubhc   were 
laid.   He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to    l.>e   called    to    his    eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
jieake  but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  al  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  jjersonal  and 
political  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
r8  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  177  i,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  [lurity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsf 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  tlie  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turii  of 
m.ind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mmd 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(T777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-lovir.g  voters,  and 
consei|uently  lost  his  election  ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the    E.secutive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;    and  their  appreciation  of  his 


32 


JAMES  MADISON. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  !\lr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  ixjwer  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  tne  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  efTect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
(]ueenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  [xisition  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
w'lich  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war.  , 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiiiiig 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  .American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  iSth  of  June,  r8r2.  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  i8i3)  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infan . 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  February, 
18 13,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  nie 
ditator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patu.xet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  \\'ashington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  popuUiticn  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  Wliite 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  doer  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  beirg 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  or. 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


7 


-p-^^^ 


FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


AMES  MONROE,  the  nrth 
.  Presidtntof  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
h  of  completing  his  ed\ication  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in  ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tinding  with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  ^^'hit'; 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  flee' 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  tiie  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry ;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  Gerniantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volun 
teer,  during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good, 


S6 


JAMES  MONROE. 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen  a  member  of 
ihe  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
UeeplyasMr.  Monroefslt  the  imperfei  tionsof  theold 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
-.hinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  parly, 
that  it  gave  too  nmch  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
uf  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  P"ederal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  [X)wer,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
light  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrahty  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
i;s  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured ^  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  a])pointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  v.'elcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  dijroonstraUpns- 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  countn',  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Ttieir  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territor)'  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  our 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  agam  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  jjosition  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  tr)'ing  times,  the  duties  of  the-  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  LTpon  the  return  ol 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary'  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec 
tion  held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  w^ith  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  L^nited  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the   "  Monroe  doctrine.'' 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  r823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  ^\ish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  anyattemjjt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  .American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  Euroi^ean 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  L^nited  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr.  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  Vork  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.     In  that  city  he  died, on  the  4th  of  July,  1S31 


5.  5,  Ai 


CuiyyxS 


SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


3OI7I]  Qail]6Y  ^ID^gillQS. 


=^l^^ 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 

.m  sixth  President  of  the   United 
"S* States,  was   born  in   the   rural 
Y   home  of  his    honored   father, 
.;  /J    John  Adams,  in  Qaincy,  Mass., 
U^,   on  the  I  ith  cf  July,  1767.  His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the  almost   constant   ab- 
sence of  liis  father.      When    but 
eight  years  of  age,  he   stood  with 
'    Ills  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Banker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames   billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  father  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  ot  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
cou/.try,  in  T779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
lohn  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
.to  Jtudy;  then  accompained  his  father  to  Holland, 
v'here  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  .\msterdani,  then 
the  University  at  I.eyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  178 1,  when  the  manly  l:oy  was  but  fourteen 
yea-s  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  s[)ent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.   Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  u: 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Con'inei.t 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temijoral 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  Aftj- 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  ana 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  17.S5, 
when  he  rettirned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  eticiuctte  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances,  must  have  been  extremely  attractive 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  ]ire- 
ferred  to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  .'Vmerican  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  wUh  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twent;- 
he  studied  law  for  thiee  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reacheo 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckncy, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Great  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortiiigbit  ir 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  a.-; 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Beiiin,  but  requestiig 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  waiting  he  was  married  to  a:i 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter- 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  I  ondon  ; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  ti.e 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  wcvs  destined. 


♦o 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purjxases  of  his  mission,  lie  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  jxjints,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1S09,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  Climate  and  astronomical  observations;  while  he 
Kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  lu  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  imjxirtant 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  apjxjinted  Mr. 
.\dams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
iSth  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr.  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty -one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
SL'/en.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
(piestion  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  .Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
*Hp  pa.st  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu. 
lously  and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew- 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
{xirientous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle' for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"  the  old  man  eloquent."  Uixsn  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
llie  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  Its  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination; 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  ever\' night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prayer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2ist  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  .-"then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  ^^ I  aw  amtcnt"  These  were  the 
last    words  of    the    grand    "  Old    Man    Eloquent." 


C2,.^^.?-Z.^5^^..^c;=rr74L,^^-^^^- 


/^* 


SEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


43 


j^-JismoM^ 


1 


NDREW  JACKSON,  the 
seventh  President  of  the 
'United  States,  was  born  in 
Waxhaw  settlement,  N.  C, 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  cliaracter,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
dIow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
.\ndrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  ujxjn  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  mi    "I'olaining    their   exchanj^e. 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  -After  a  long  iilnoss 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  si:has 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  .Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
with  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  wjjich,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  eleven 
counties,  .\ndrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  ofie  member  in, 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jack-' 
son  was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress   then    held  its 


44 


ANDREW  JACKSON. 


sjsiio.is, — a  distance  of  about  eight  hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic pxrty.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Coint 
of  his  Slate,  which  position  he  held  for  si.x  years. 

When  the  war  of  181 2  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brotlier  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  liecame  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallaijoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
v^er  of  Alab;una,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men.  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  w-ilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  readied  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.     The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  o< 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
tlie  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  its  terriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fieet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault.  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up    and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  aliout 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men-, 
tioned  in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  s\upassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  our  countiy;  applauded  by  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's   life   were   that    of   a    devoted  Christian    man. 


^   7   //Z>'^^  ^C^3 U^iL^z,,^ 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


47 


•^^t:@>^2s«s^7^5=^^^^^V€)^(^><2)(^^ 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  bom  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July    24,    1862.      His 
body   rests  in   the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite   shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up   on    one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

Tliere  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Thougii  his  life  was  stormy  in 
ix)litical  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
.incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  iiame  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  tiie  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

He  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un-_ 
usual  activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  luid  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  re(iuired  of  him 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
ij'.ending  si.K  years  \\\  an  office  in  hjs    native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1S03,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  tlie 
cause  of  State  Rights ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  th. 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  the- 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  ovei 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
(if  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  [)ublic  interest. 
In  181 2,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
pominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic   party,  he   had 


4'^ 


MARTIN  VAN  BVREN. 


ihe  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage"  which  admits 
;he  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
jiath  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  182  I  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
Ihe  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
.tie  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
jermined  opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
-'State  Rights"  view  in  opposition'  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  canning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
;o  touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
;he  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  wliich  would,  secreily  and 
fte^'thily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outv.'itted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
tew  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  .\ndrew  Jackson  w.as  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
]X)silion  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  \Vhere  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  Tlie  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refused    to    ratify   the   nomination,    and   he   returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  tliat 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite ;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu 
tive.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in 
volve  this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,.all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  l)y  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  u[)on  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  liabits. 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
comiietence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald^ 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  deatli,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1S62,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoyirg  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  liappiness  than  he  liad  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


/i^.    J^  )9<^.iyL^ 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


S' 


wiLtiAM  "m&^m  1411^®! 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the   United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,    Benjamin    Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
then  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    consijicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and    John    Hancock    were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
si)eaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice    re-elected.       His   son, 
i  William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 

in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  tliorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  gradu;ited 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
--len  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  undtr 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianshiji  of 
lobert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
■■igners  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

.'Jl>on  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
having  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


dent Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  wiiose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  tlien  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  ''  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  aji- 
jwinted  by  John  Adams,  Governoi'  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  resjionsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrisoi. 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  Abou' 


LIBfiARy 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
AT  UfiSAMA- CHAMPAIGN 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  Tlie  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  ni  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
anorator,  wlio  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  anorator:  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  18 12,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  wliy  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations Selecting  a  favorable  sijot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side,  and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  i)assion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
jus  yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned  :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  liayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore   them,    and    completely    routing    the    foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can - 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  pluiiged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances.  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a   situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  bui 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to   the    position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  18  r 6,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which' arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re -nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
jo)'ous  prospects.  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisv-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


'"vrL 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


55 


tenth 
Ja  Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high    social    po- 
sition.    At  the    early  age    of 
twelve,  John  entered  AVilliam 
and  Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.   After 
graduating,   he  devoted   him- 
self  with    great    assiduity  to    the 
study    of    law,    partly   with    his 
father   and   p.irtly  with    Kdmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
et of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
not  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
i:ratic  party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  <<)vern- 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes.  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.     His   popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  lie  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nuUifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.     There  was  a  rplit  in  the   Democratic 


56 


JOHN  TYLER. 


party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  coraph- 
nients  ujK)n  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  tliis  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disapjwintment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  Noilh :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  ^ir.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  Eresident  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus -cund  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  longlife  he  had  been 
opposed  tc  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honc.t  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  suiround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own .''  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
whicii  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  opiX)se  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccommended  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incor|X)ration  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.       He   tsugeested,   however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proiX)sed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  .<:ubmitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  AH  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  AVebster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabmet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessar)'  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  viras  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  tothe  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  r844.  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  3'oung  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  T\  ler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unasual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitaliU',  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
jK)licy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,   he   was  taken   sick  and  soon  died. 


'■%('  - 


ELEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


59 


\  AMESK.  POLK,  the  eleventh 
|],jj President  of  the  United  States, 
^V  was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
,3  N.  C.,Nov.  2,  1795.  His  par- 
.■aai)  "^'^'^  were  Samuel  and  Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  aI)ove  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1006,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  famly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  lumdred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  s[)ent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  ex[)ressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
liim  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a   situation   for   him   behind   the 

counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.     He 

had  no  taste   for  these  duties,  and  his   daily  tasks 

were  irksome  in  the  e.xtreme.     He  remained   in   this 

uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 

earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 

arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.     Soon 

after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy-      ^Vith 
f  ^ 

ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Cliapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 

himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  relii;ious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be* 
ing  deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished    morals,   genial   and 


/AMES  K.  POLK. 


:ourterus  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  jo)  s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1S23,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
-Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
membor  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinuec'  in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  l^at  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr,  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  verj'  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
bfer,  1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th of  March,  iS45,Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  countryin  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  ujxjn  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
^d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message.  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  fooling  with  the 
other  States.  In  the  meantime.  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly  • 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  or 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  wa: 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation,' 
then  of  "  invasion, "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York,  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  wtre 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor,  Mr,  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  tlie  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera— that  fearful  scourge — was  then  sweeping  up 
tlie  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fifiv-fourth. 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  couriirymc,'; 


7^^:^^:^^^i^L.-'>2^/(^^^t^^^>^^: — 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


63 


ia^^ 


^'^SSi^ 


v^^r 


^iJ- 


^   ACHARY  'I'AYLOR,  twelfth 

f;>)  President  of  the  United  States, 

|j"'was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 

1 7 84,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.     His 

So    father,    Colonel    Taylor,     was 

a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 


■^  tinguished  patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  young  Zachary 
:ouUl  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,  and 
iianifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
?he  Indians  who  were  ravaging  tlie  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  lie  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1S08,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army  ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
'rom  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  18 1 2,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison,on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
kd  by  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering    fifty   men,    many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  18 12,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Tlic.r 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  liave  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kejjt 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war  whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  si.x  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  Ity  brevet.    • 

Until  the  close  of  the  war.  Major  Taylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.     There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


64 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR  ■ 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
.  years  rolled  oil  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
tlie  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
oeyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1S36,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
ha.f  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
he.e  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
tc  ;he  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
amidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula.  Gen.  'Faylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
r.nd  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  fixmily 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
f'rom  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imjxjsed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
i)y  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Me.xico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Me.xicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Tajlor,  and  his  name 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
r-implicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
the  sobriquet  of  "  Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

Tne  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
;"pread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
U'hig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  tjualified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  ]3olitics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  net  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  sersnce  found 
*/.iir  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  *fhose   name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  IMexicans  or 
Indians 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles.  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  woids  were,  "I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  ^An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  gooci  store  of 
common  sense.  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  hisha! 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out 
side  pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  co.xcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  r)il- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  shorf 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comforcanie,  lanc;- 
saving  contempt   for  learning  of  evei'y   kind." 


-^j^f^      JL 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


67 


$^\^^$"^$#$;;S>&■S'S^§^?^;,^r|JJ~;,$55»$;•;$<s.•J;;;'Jl§.$;;;$rS)$;|;$•^ 


MlLLMn  FILLMHRE. 


-■^ 


'«' 


>®f|  ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thii- 
■•1^  tcenth  Presidentof  the  United 
^1'  States,  was  born  at  Summer 
,;/  Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y  .,  on 
the  yth  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances. Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
([uisite  sensibilities.  She  died  in 
1831  ;  liaving  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished  prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence-of  tlie  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  rtiiich  he  occasionally  attended  were 
verv  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy ; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier, 
Neai'  the  mil!  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  liad  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  v,  iih 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  ap|)earanre 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  hapjiened  tha'. 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
AV'ood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  au- 
pearance  of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
r.o  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  AVood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  abou': 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  tn 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  hal' :, 
Hnd  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means   fes 


68 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  iiT  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1S29, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature  ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degn  e  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autmiin  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress.  He  entered  that  troubled 
irena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected, and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  hmi  stiength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he  was  elected  Comptroller  of   the  Stat^. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con^ 
siderable  fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the  , 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  trumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  tlie 
namesofZachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Wliig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1S49, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  f)th  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Uaniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillmore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  South;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  .South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  sliould 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Ex[>edition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr,  Fill- 
more, having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,    1874- 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


71 


^  ''   ""  ^FHflNKLIN  PIERCE- ^^     .^^ -.,:,,,,  .::::^^ 


^   RANKLIN     PIERCE,    the 

^  tointeenth    President  of  the 

'  United  States,  was  born  in 

'  ''%\(sA!>^dT'^-''^    Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
vt... .  ^rvo  <  ■ .  -  L    2  J,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,   who, 
with    his    own     strong    ami, 
hewed    out  a    home    in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though    uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  poi^ular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  cf  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,   and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favoiite 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  Thi' 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  i)ublic  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  eii- 
tering,  all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  fici- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  es[>oused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  yeais.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laljorious  in  duty, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoiod.    Of  the 


72 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  born  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  ujwn  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  Maj',  1847. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  ISTe-xican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval ;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  I  2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States  on   the  4th  of  March,    1853. 


His  admiflistration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  e.xperienced.  The  controversy  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "irrepressible  conflict"  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  e.xist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  afi"airs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  h'ad  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the. South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ;  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladened  by  his  material   bounty. 


--fe>«.. 


(Z^Z^J  (^'auo-/l^/yp2.€^y^^ 


I'IFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


75 


■«<« 


-»>» 


l<'^tgg>i^t!^i^i^t^>^(^t^r;^,':.',.vi,  ■.,': 


\:^y  ■•  ■ '  ."jf^s^csiitgiit^  '^■^t^t^'^^;^JTj 


■'v.V^i'("';V^i-^.':.',<^;:;',V;',V,i^;:i,iV;t  ,.'1^,-1,.;^. 


*ts) 


»»> 


AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fit- 
s^gleeiith  President  of  the  United 
1^   States,    was  born    in    a    small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridL;e  of  the    Alleglia- 
nies,  in  FrankUnCo.,  Penn.,on 
the  23d  of  Ainii,  1791.  The  I'lace 
where    the  humble    cabin    of   his 
father    stood    was     called     Stony 
''    Batter.     It   was    a    wild    and    ro- 
mantic siiot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, witli  towering  summits   rising 
grandly    all     around.       His    father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had   emigrated  in 
1783,  with  little   property   save    his 
own  strong  arms.     Five  years  afterwards  he   married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  youug  bride,    plunged  into   the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his   log-hut,   opened   a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to    per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.    In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he    remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.     When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was   placed    at    school,  and    commenced    a 
courseofstudy  in  English,  Latin  and   Greek.       His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at    the  age  of   fourteen,    he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.      Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.     His  application 
to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers    en- 


abled him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  with 
facility. 

In  the  year  1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  siiort,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  e.xuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-si.x  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  oie  of  liie 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  Ijar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  for 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House. 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1S31,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
(piired  an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  jjerformed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Lfpon  his  return,  in 
r 833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  V/ebster, 
Clay,  ^\■right  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  luiting  repri- 


7<5 


JMAfES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country ;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  Pre,-.ident  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  iiis  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  tlie  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  rejily  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  tlie 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  (trande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  tlie  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement. 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  w-ith 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  W'ilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1S50, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buciianan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
reived  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  [wpular  vote  stood 
1,340,618,  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for  ESuchanan.  On 
March   4th.    1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
vears  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
all'.ed  in  jjolitical  i)rinciples  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered     He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples, consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
imite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  tlie  repub- 
lic.    He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nomin.aied  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  ne.xt  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slaverv 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Wasliington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveliolders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  liad  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  hnd  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  .Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  upon  his  sword-hilt,  he  e.xclaimed.  "  The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  i860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston:  Fort  Sampler 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
])leasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  onr  countrv'^ 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellio". 
H-^  died  at  his  Wheatland    retreat,    June    i,    1868. 


.^ 


^ 


Q^j^^-<^^' 


't^TI^x 


SIXTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


79 


ABRAHAM  > 


)S2il^J^J^ 


•^  <  LlNCOLNn>  i 


i 


I'.RAHAM  LINCOLN,  the 
sixteenth  President  of  the 
J  United  States,  was  horn  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 
i<So9.  About  the  year  1780,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincohi  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  Tiiis  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  .Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whone  name  must  henceforth  fcever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  (loor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log -cabin;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
.ess,  wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laliorer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  built  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Aliraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  iri  a  hovel. 
"All  ihat  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  e.xclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


Whert 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  liecame  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  tlie  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  Ijut  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr. 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  liis  squatter's  claim  in  1830, 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  thi> 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  their 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  fatlier  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  liril- 
liant  that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of 
education,  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temi)erate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain ;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborer 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat. 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  Ijy  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  New  Orleans.  W'hatever  Abraham  I,in- 
coln  undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.      In  this  adven- 


8o 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


tare  his  employeis  were  so   well  pleased,  that   upon 
his  return  tiiey  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
lackson  the  appointmentof  Postmaster  of  New  Salens, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  hg  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
iVir.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
ilavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
.he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher   prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6th  of  June,  i860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  tiie  most 
urominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,' received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
and  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fi.x  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countiymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitution.iUy  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  vas  [Mured  uixin   this    good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February',  1S61,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  froughi 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  Stales  hud 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to  "get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  witii 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
une.xpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-mres  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  an.xiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr.  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opix)nents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  iX)sitions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  bo»h  personal  and  national.  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  tisie  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  be  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, with  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  bo.x  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  filly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  tjie  savior  of  his  country  ""ili 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  hiscf^-:ntry- 
mcn  bein"  unable   to  decide    whi<  h   is    t'";   ereaict. 


c 


^^^^:^^^^:2t^2>t^ 


SE  VENTEENTH  PRESIDED  T. 


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.4 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
^States.  The  early  Wic  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  frieiidlessness.  He 
was  born  December  29,  180S, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  even  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
!ost  nis  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own   hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow- workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.      The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  01. 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreatiori  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Tan 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  thos.. 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  mucli 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  res|)onsibIe  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abi. 


84 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  net,  and  that 
the  *"ree  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
Souih  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slaver)'. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  neverashamedof  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir," 
said  he  oa  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston-Baltimore  convention  of  iSuo,  iie 
was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Presidency.  In  186 1,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
irn  Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.    In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April   15, 

1865,  became  President.  In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished ;  that  the  Government  will  not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is  strong  not 
only  to  protect,  but  to  i)unish.  *  *  The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  iiv.onsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginnirig  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the   trial   began   March   23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guil/y 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  temi,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotently, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  e.x-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usu.il  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect. 


• 


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etgh  ternth  fresideiyt. 


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(<§§/9XeVV®)@^yN2s€^^' 


LYSSES     S.    GRANT,    the 
eighteenth    President   of  the 
P  United  States,  was   born   on 
the   29th    of  April,    1822,    of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his   father   moved   to    George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.   In  this  re- 
mote frontier   hamlet,    Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation.     At  the  age   of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  lie    entered 
the    Military    Academy    at    West 
Point.     Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
soiid,  sensible  young  man   of  fair  abilities,   and   of 
sturdy,  honest  character.     He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.     In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.     Two  years  he  past   in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond    and    exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
he  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  anii^il,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant   re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an   immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion   to   Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants.    Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his   commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.    He  had  but 
little  skill  as    a  farmer.      Finding  his    toil    not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at    Ga- 
lena, 111.     This  was  in  the  year  i860.    As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of    Capt.    Grant   in    his    counting-room,    he    said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army;  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.    I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.      On  the  15th  of 


88 


UL  YSSES  S.  GRA  NT. 


June,  1 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  ]3laced  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henrj' 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victor)',  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
district  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains.  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
Dushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  l)attles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  >Iississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Te.\as,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orieans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Tliomas  at  Cliattancoga,  and 
by  a  v/onderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
-and  enter  utxsn  '.li»>  duties  of  his  new  office. 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  0/ 
the  array  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  ivith  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  countr)'  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago. 
May  21,  186S,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  Liter,  292 
electoral  votes  being   cast    for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term,  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  ofiicial,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  18S0  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  tlie  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  iS:  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  sufl^ered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  .^rmy  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1885,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


s. 


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NINETEENTH  VRESIDKNT. 


9» 


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RUTHERi:ORD  B,  HAITES. 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  i8z2„al- 
most  three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
'  and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tune ovwcaking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
Jand  in  1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  was  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  lile.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  L.:e,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  h^s  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  and  grandfatHer  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  uiiknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes    the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  18 13,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to   Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter 
mined  to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1S17.  He  died  July  22,  1S22,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son, of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


9a 


RUTHJiJiFORD  B.  ffAVESl 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  binli  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  '"  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
uist  night.'  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
l)oy"s  big  head,  and  th;;  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
aim,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  '•  That's  right !  Stick  to 
iiim.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
ivonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
vait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if.  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  w<:nt  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  tliat  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  but  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middlctown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1S38,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in   1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduatmg  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincmnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  y^ars,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  u[X)n  his  subse- 
quent life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chiticothe;  the  othei  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literar)'  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  a.s'^hief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman 
hood.  The  Literar}'  Cluu  brought  Mr.  Hayes  :'nto 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  cliar- 
acter  and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  ''.le 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulneis  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judg;  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  o* 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  ai 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  !ii..  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  -in 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  conntrj-. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  1S61,  he  v/as  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1S62,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  lea.^e  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  .and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  disjjlayed  courage  r:nd  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevettsd 
Major-General,  "for gallant  and  distinguished  fervices 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864.  in  AVest  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  imix)rtuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army  ;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  liy 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

Ir.  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor cf  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thumian,  a  populni  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
Ho  was  elected  Governor  for  tha  third  term  in  1875. 

in  1876  he  was  the  standard  beaier  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
a\igurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hcwever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  nv^ 


TiVENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


95 


F. 


^T^r'/^sy^'T?^^ 


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mmM. 


««^;S«s^;S-*^!&*-g;g<i>s;s-^:S-4's:s-#^;g-*g;g*-g:;;-5-^::j*^:g#Svg-«>^;ija 


■If  I      ,ti 


AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    ig, 
1831,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His    par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballou)    Garfield,   both   of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
'"^  tory  of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was    not  unlike  the  houses  t)f 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.     It 
..IS  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
,ween    the  logs  filled  with  clay.     His  father  was  a 
lard  working  farmer,   and    he   soon    had    his    fields 
.:leared,  an    orchard  planted,   and  a  log  barn  built. 
The  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
heir  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
'ames.     In  May,  r82  3^  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
.racted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.     At 
ihis  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.     No  one,  perhaps,  can 
ffll  how  much  James  was  indebted   to  his  biother's 
ceil  and  self  sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years    suc- 
ceeding   his    father's    death,    but    undoubtedly    very 
much.     He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
itrs  live  in  Solon,  0.,near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anytliing  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  he' 'tm ggles  to  keep  the  little   family  to- 


getlier.  Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor 
the  humblest  fjiend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  hi 
was  about  si.xteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtair 
some  otlier  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city. 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  wen'; 
Iiome,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
tlie  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1S50,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way. 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  jinpil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hon- 
ors of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  stated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  happened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion : 


96 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  siiows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
;ny  judgmeni.  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympath)'  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
tarian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
v/hom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
jn  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
'/ears  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  t'nis  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut.-Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry' 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
'^Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  10,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
.Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Coutt-^Lartial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  l^story  of  Gen.  Garfield  dosed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  wor 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  efibrt  on  his  part  Ge»  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1S62  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  si.xty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  AVhittlesey  and  Joshua 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  thai 
body.  Ther^;  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  whici. 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  sk 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  whict 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu- 
ment  on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Uix)n  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Blaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  in.licting  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  peop?° 
for  tlie  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  ]X)wer  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
worid  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  fou;  deed. 


TWENTY.FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


99 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 

^  twenty-first    Presi'^.^ni.   of  the 

United    States,    was    born    in 

Franklin  Cour  ty,  Vermont,  on 

thefifthofOdober,  1830,  and  is 

the  oldest    of  a    family    of  two 

sons  and    five    daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  a  Baptist  c''.,rgyman,  who 

emigrated  to   th.s  country  from 

the  county  Ant  am,   Ireland,    in 

il     his  1 8th  year,  and  died  in   1875,  in 

Newtonville,    neai    Albany,    after  a 

long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S(  henectady,  where 
he  e.xcelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
f||||i  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
ojlla  the  expiration  cf  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
^  E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
I  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  liis  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  0.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  nvur'^d  the  daughter   of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  tiie  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthurs 
nomniation  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon- 
athan Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  tlio 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  hmi  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  Yoik,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
jiolitics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
?o,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  'fading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  tlieir 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
.vas  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — thosf  momenta  of 
anxious  suspense,  wher  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re- 
covery of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr, 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as    never 
before  in   its   history  over  the  death  of    any  other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.     Then  it  became   the  duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in    New  York. 
Sept.  20,  1881.     The  position  was  an    embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.    The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  own 
hands ;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the   nation,  acting  so 
wisely   that   but   few   criticised    his   administration. 
He  served   the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1S85,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his   party  for  a  second 
term.     His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention   at   Chicago,  and   was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been   selected   as  the  standard-bearer  of  his   party 
for  another  campaign.     He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rjing  with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  .American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


y^i^trL^- 


Oyt^x^i 


TWENTY-SECONn  PRESIDENT. 


>o3 


>: 


^^-^x:^^^ 

^M^ 


OOP      . 


'    ooo 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1S37,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  cf  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayette'/ille  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $.50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $100  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in 
definite  length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  e.\- 
hibit  as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
Bat  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  lo 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  a  1 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  twcj 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  ir 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  hii 


I04 


S.   GROVER  CLEVELAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  Hi  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
»sk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply.  -'  Good  gracious !  "  remarked 
ihe  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  .'  What  ever  put 
Ihat  into  your  head?  How  nuich  money  have  you 
got?"    •Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  tempDiarily  as  assistant  herd- keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  wiifle  he  could  "  look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bovven  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  them  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Grover's  persistency  won,  and 
ne  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
aave  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  §1  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  Ion"  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
Bone — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
Dut  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  e.Kecutiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
t,"  was  practically  liis  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
eiected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  punishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  iSSi  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniaui- 
tous  street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  foi 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  peopls  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
ir,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.:  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1885.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


m^z^c^y.  1. 


V^:> 


TWENTY-THIRD  TREv^^lDENT. 


Ill" 


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vi^'sq^^i^iaSii 


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U'--  •    ,   < 


m  ^^. u,j^i?isona 


'^'^^^TllS- 


liEXJAMIN  IIAKRISOX",  the 
I  \  ,  twenty-third  I'resident,  is 
■  -^  the  descendant  of  one  of  the 
historical  families  of  this 
_-  country.  The  head  of  the 
family  was  a  Major  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  trusted  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  In  the  zenith  of  Crom- 
well's iwwer  it  became  the  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  jxarticijiate  in  the  tri.il  of 
Charles  I.  and  afterward  to  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quently paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being 
hung  Oct.  13,  1600.  His  descendants 
came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 
min Harrison,  of  Virginia,  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  years  ^774-5-6.  and  was  one  of  the  original 
Eigners  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
was  three  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia. 
Gsn    William  Henry   Harrison,  the  son  of  the 


dlslingmshcd  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  suc- 
cessful career  as  a  soldier  during  tlie  War  of  1812, 
and  with -a  cle.an  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territor3-,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1S40.  His  career  was  cut  short 
by  death  within  one  month  :;fter  his  inauguratioiv 
President  Harrison  was  born  at  Nor'Ji  Bend, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  rlO,  1833,  His  life  up  to 
the  time  of  his  graduation  b^'  the  Miami  University 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
trj-  lad  of  a  faniil}'  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  tii2 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  school 
at  Oxford.  After  gr.iduatiug  he  determined  to  en- 
ter upon  the  studj'  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
cinnati  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  tht 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  receiviAl  tt' 
onlj'  inheritance  of  his  life;  his  aunt  dying  left  him 
a  lot  valued  at  $800.  He  regarded  this  legacy  as  a 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  take 
this  mone}'  and  go  to  some  Eastern  town  an '.  be- 
gin the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
the  money  in  bis  pocket,  he  started  out  witii  his 
young  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  'n  the  world.     Z'-e 


lOi^ 


isEIS.iAMJN  HARRISON. 


decided  to  go  to  ladianapolis,  which  was  even  at 
that  time  a  towu  of  promise.  He  met  with  slight 
t'licouragement  at  first,  making  scarcely  auj'thing 
the  first  j-ear.  He  worked  diligently,  applying  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession.    He  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

la  1860  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  the 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Eeporter,  and  tlien  be- 
gan his  experience  as  a  stump  speake:  He  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughh',  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  18G2  he  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantrj-,  ami  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  was  composed  of  the  rawest  of  material, 
out  Col.  Harrison  emploj-ed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
with  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the  best 
firilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
especially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  braver}' 
r.t  Peachtree  Creek  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
eoraplimentarj'  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  tiie  field 
he  Supreme  Court  declared  the  office  of  tiie  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
irg  Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fall  of  1864 
he  had  takenno  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been 
nominated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirtj'-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  of  the  St^te,  and  was  elected 
for  another  terra.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
ican,  but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
_ever,  and  after  a  most  tr^'ing  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  closing 
incidents  of  the  war. 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  c,  re-election  as 
.reporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1876 
£6  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.  Although  de- 
eated,  the  brilliant  campaign  he  made  won  for  him 
a  National  reputation,  and  he  was  much  sought,  es- 
pecia'-.j?  in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  Iii  1880, 
iis  usua!,  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign, 
iiid  w:i  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Here 
lie  served  six  years,  anr  v/as  known  as  one  of  the 
ablest  men,  best  lawyer--  ..nd  strongest  debaters  in 


that  body.  "With  the  expiration  of  his  Senatorial 
term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  countrj-.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  June  and 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  was  great  in  every  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  .account,  and  the  attitude  it  as- 
sumed ujion  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortl}- 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popular,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  delegations  journej'ed 
thither  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
increased  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  dail^'  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delcg.a- 
tious,  and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmen. 

On  account  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  his 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  iipon  at  an  un- 
commonly early  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion 
of  the  great  questions  that  then  began  to  agitate 
the  countrj^.  He  was  an  uncompromising  anti 
slaverv  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  ll:e 
most  eminent  Democratic  speakers  of  his  State. 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  desired  to 
be  pitted  with  him  again.  "With  all  his  eloq-'ence 
as  an  orator  he  never  spoke  for  oratorical  effect. 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
He  is  purely  American  in  his  ideas  and  is  a  spier 
did  type  of  the  American  statesman.  Gifted  will^ 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  Nation.  Mauj-  of  these  speeches 
sparkled  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.  Many  of  his  terse 
statements  have  already-  become  aphorisms.  Origi- 
nal in  thought,  precise  in  logic,  terse  in  statement, 
yet  witlial  faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  briJi'nn'  orator  c-^  the  day 


-^aA-  ^  4 


(^fe^ 


c<F 


■JO  .-s»„ 


M^ 


^:^i'i^C^-i^c^cyA^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  bs  a  State,  serving 
from  i8 1 8  to  1822,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  tlie  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelftli 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
i8i2,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  1814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain, 
The  year  1812  is  also  noted  in  the  liistory  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-eniji- 
t'on  on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  ilie 
Territory.       In    company    with   John   G.    Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown,  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  greai 
rivers  near  the  center  ,of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  1818  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first   Governor 
of  the   State  of  Illinois,   being  inaugurated  Oct.   6 
that  year,  which  was  several   weeks  before   Illinois 
was    actually    admitted.     The  facts  are  these:     In 
January,  181S,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,   Nathaniel  Pope  being  then    Delegate.     The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  lautude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.     In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.     By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros 
ecuting  attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.    This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.      At 
that   rime    Illinois  comprised   but   eleven  counties, 
namely,    Randolph,    Madison,    Gallatin,    Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  jjortion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in   Madison  County.     Thus   it   appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was   honored  by    the    naming   of  a 


SHADRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Goveracr.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  oeople  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  Siate,  even 
before  tlie  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "  Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Ke  It  Kane,  liis  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  whan  thi  f minis  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  le  idersliip  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (.See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  1818  was  a 
compromise  one.  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  fiist  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  apix)inted  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor ;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  jxiwer  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and   de- 


clared that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  '"  officers  of  the  State  " 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
10  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  wliole.  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1S24,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  bestowment  of  his 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islature, with  Wm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershom 
Jayne,  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
[Xjsition,  a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  becaine 
ix)rtly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  1 1,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


Ld^^<U^  Co^U^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  JLLIA'OJS. 


]££)\var5  Coles. 


W-'V^^-'^ 


"^W 


5><s!;-<«iW®>'fe 


DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
.  6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"  Enniscorthy,"  o  n  the 
Creen  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
Tliis  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1807,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
exa'iii  lation.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wni.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
B.ildwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  Tl-.e 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  proininent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  rotables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,  Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  num'ier  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  tlie  questioi  of  slavery.     He    read    every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  vvay,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
lie  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal  "  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  M  idison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  part 
of  tire  non-slaveho'ding  portion  of  the  Union  he  would 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the   Emperor   (Alex- 


ii6 


EDWARD  COLES. 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
\\\isliington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  olher  parts  of  E,urope,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

Ill  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  ihem  iiis  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  .A-pril,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  tiie  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashojre  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  desorijjtion  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  described  in  his  own  language  : 

"The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  nr.e  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting,  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  wliat  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
Init  with  countenances  beaming  with  e.xpression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
o;i  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
lariy  with  tiie  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  EdwardsviLe, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  [wliteness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  tliat  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  tlie  slavery  quesiion  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
iiuiting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
Phillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
ISrowne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
itia. The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  (Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  which  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "  shiveree  "  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yeiled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  [lermitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people. 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestrv , 
whocamito  this  country  with  Wm.   Penn  in    1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  aid  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1S68,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


'  c^  c^-(^(ysi^^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


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CI  wail  CI,  Si 


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INIAN  EDWARDS,  Governor 

!  from  1827  to  1830,  was  a  son 
V-  of  Benjamin  Edwards,  and 
'  was  born  in  Montgomery 
n  County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
.^  1775-  His  domestic  train- 
'^  ^'  ing  was  well  fitted  to  give 
his  mind  strength,  firmness  and 
I'.o;  orable  principles,  and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character  to  which  he  afterwards 
attained.  His  parents  were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
piinciples.  His  education  in  early 
youtli  was  in  company  with  and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.\Vni. 
Wirt,  whom  his  father  natronizcd 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.  An  intimacy  was  thus 
foriiiid  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.  He 
was  further  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car 
lisle,  Pa.  He  next  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before  completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm  for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.  He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
i.'ounty  before  he  was  21  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
elected by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
becanre  an  enrinent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  iu  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  tlie  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age!  In  addition, 'in 
1802,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  tlie  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  Lr  1806  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  iSog,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
.^pril  24,  T809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  r  rth  of  that  montli  took  the  oath  of 
office,  hx.  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Sui)erin- 
tendent  of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the   people  of  each  county,  by  an  informal 


NINIAN  EDWARDS. 


vole,  to  select  Iheir  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  1810  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  181 2;  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  ve.irs 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
181 2,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
e.x-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  .^.ble  de- 
L)ater  and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
.  eriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  182 1,  but  was 
Dcrsuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Wm.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
.  ontltiue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  a,id  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
'.rder  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  excuI|)ation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
disgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
'he  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
.his  connnonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
r.ctor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
for  his  parfy  in  1824. 

In  1826-7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soue  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  tiie 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  lands 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  Wnr."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  have 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  orten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  aUvays  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  w',s  also  liberal  to  tlie  i)oor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  htm 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  weh' 
known  to  the  people  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  namely, 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Sujierintendent  c 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  180910  1818;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1S24;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  his 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  Edwards 
County  is  alsQ  named  in  his  honor. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


i^ejii 


^^r^^^^'^ii.^^^^^^mSf^^r^^^k^^s^ 


»>i  ■#■ — o<sti<tfj)i.-js>o— ii}>  ;t-    • 


^^'i-.OHN  REYNOLDS,  Governor  1831- 

■ '%««  4'  ^V'^s  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
v5i  ty,  Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
''-  *rr  '^  '•  'lis  mother,  «(r  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
posed to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
Hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.     In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  ilie  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  20th  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himseli' 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  tlirough  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  181 2  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  tiiis  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social   intercourse. 


JOHN  REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  oi  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spriiig  of  1814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
iudicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
if  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
'he  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
.rnor,  amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  reccmmended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatcrial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  with  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
gcrf.ral  CJovernment  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
wir,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  iiere,  and  was 
I  he  ne.xt  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
lerm. 

South  Carolina  nullification  coming  up  at  this  time, 
£  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
,.nd  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
..834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  cOiisidering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
'e  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  State  since  he 
;)ecame  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
lays  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
move  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  offi'.ers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  ])lace 
naming  alovid  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable   heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex  Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "My  Own  Times"  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  Daring  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lady  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1S39  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord' ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In  1846  Gov,  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  i860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding- and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  1861,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war, 


U--(^»'i^^ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


127 


. — ->5— =S- — o<s$-^il»-^-o— s»-5-< 


»■. 


X. 


ILLIAM    LEE   U.    EVVING, 
'^  Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
j^;3  to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined    sentiment.      In    1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and   Zadok   Casey    Lieutenant   Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and   the   characteristics  of  the   times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.   Reynolds.     The  first  we 
see   in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
Moi  cys  ut  Vandalia   soon    after   the  organization  of 
mi:-  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
vere  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are   usually 
■'■  \\\y    /resent  day.     In    1823  the  State  Bank  was 
obbed,  by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

Vhe  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
lie  acred  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
^hen  i  vras  rumored  among  the  wliites  that  Black 
Hawk  ar.d  'lis  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  totn-  of 
reconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
subordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  u|) 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  19th  of 
July,   early  in  the    morning,   five   baggage    wagons, 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti 
cles  were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  niig'; 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  mil.  ■ 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swanvis 
and  the  worst  thickets ;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
gave  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  53 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  v/ith  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skiiv;  tli.it  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  awaj  to  hasten  their  march.  During  'he 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  dior. 
oughly  drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reache  1. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj,  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  wiiich  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and   Foxes,  in- 


128 


WILLI  AM  L.  D.  EWING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  ilie  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  "11  another  direction. 

In  tiie  above  affair  Maj.  Ewing  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "Ger.eral,"  wl;ich  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress.and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Cei:ate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
ihe  August  election  of  1S34,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elec'ed  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
lime  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Chailes  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  terra.  Ac;ordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virt.:e  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
Stat";  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  lytii  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  O.i  the  17th  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  jx'licy  adopted  by  his  predecessor;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
vas  sworn  into  offi^  e,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unex|)ired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes.  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped  ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie  ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1S37  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Audit':-r  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.    He  died  March  25,  1846. 


I, 


,,^;;'^^^'«^^?^^<>-i^?^^/^'t__ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


«3' 


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la,.  .i2i~^»g|5!/Z'J'''»^  a 


flwHicam. 


'^^^ 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
i§j5  1834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  lie  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Greal 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
he  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-Geneial  of  the  Militia, 
a  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  fur  introducing  tlie  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians, 
^s  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  militasy  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  M'- 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  .1 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  fue-.-.d; 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahe.id' 
He  received  6,321  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  per3onal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
-August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  pardcipate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  forineriy  hii 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  ;ii 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all. 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


'32 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
j;ad  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
rgain  St  the  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
-.e  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
raainly  to  tanks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
'upted  the  Slate.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
ind  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
;hese  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  one  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public; 
Lut  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
handle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
'or  the  failure.  In  this  great  vorte.x  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  e.\citement  the  Legislature 
"  provided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Terre  Haute,  Qaincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabash, 
Bloomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve- 
ments were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
;laced  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  man  half  enough !  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000!  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,   even   counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
:n  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
ioy  in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
term  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  Abolitionist," 
editing  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
slavery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob. 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  the 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1S38.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected, 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  tem[X)rary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
that  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  [xjlicy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purjMse.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  right.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  jx)rtrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eves  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'35 


^i^ 


^Y|]M^10MAS  CARLIN,  tlie  sixth 
i..2^Jlrm  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Ilhnois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuciiian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
18,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
jud'nnent  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
to  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  1810. 

In  181 2  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  tlie  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  moutli  of  the  Mis- 
sojiri,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
TOiton,  in  that  county,  and  in  1825  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
post  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and   to   fulfill   the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 
While,  in  1838,  tlic  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times"  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  State 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg- 
islature were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  asseinbled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brotherof  Ninian  Edwards,  forn.ierly  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  Car'tu" 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  time 
that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573 ;  -Ander- 
son, 30,335  ;  Edwards,  29,629  ;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  CDuncan)   in    liis  mes- 


136 


THOMAS  CARLIN. 


sage  six)ke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  §4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Cti'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
tc  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  apjMintment 
through  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranto  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!' 
endeavoring  to  estabhsh  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scates,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Cov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  net  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  soraewliat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  tlieir  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — th;it    they  should    have 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Monnons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  iS4o-r,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  darinj;  to 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  the 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  bis  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  1841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  .A.dam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1S/.9 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4. 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


0, 


{^/-'i^yv-OLj 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLTNOIS. 


»39 


^mmm^mm  mm. 


JKOMAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1S46,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  i  Soo.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forqaer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  yfho  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
itev  yirls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
^  condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
jA,  ,>^-c^  Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
"•^  ^"'^^  tomary  by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  louard  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi   bluffs.      Here    young    Ford    received    his   first    i 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endoivments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education ; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  bat  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  fur  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  'to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.     Through  the  advice  of 


■  4° 


7'HOMAS  FORD. 


this  genileinaii,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding liis  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  liowever,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
liis  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  hira  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  1831  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  witliout  oiJposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  o.ice  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1S41, 
the  latter  tiibunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefiferson- 
ian  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
disirvedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  power  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
"ound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
|)ractice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
:he  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  10  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  liis  hotel  near  mid- 
r.ight  by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

iVIr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  o:ie 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
r.dministration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
.he  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Gjvernor  proved  himself 
'o  be  eminently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
'he  State  1) idly  pxralyzel  byilie  ruinous  effects  of 
the    notorious  "internal   inii>iovenient  "    schemes    of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  tc 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints  "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
theirleader,  Jo  Smith, by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  non-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
otlier  side.  Mormo:iism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
th  It  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  successor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1850. 


— ^5:^^^^>^^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOJS. 


US 


Augustus  €.  French.        | 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846  to  1852,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Hill,  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  the  fourth 
generation  of  Nathaniel 
Frencli,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  16S7  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,  but  continued  to  receive  in- 
struction from  an  exemplary  and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  i  9  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.  He  discharged  his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.  His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school  afforded.  ■  For  a 
brief  period  he  attended  Dartmouth  College,  but 
from  pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.  He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.  Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.  A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident   when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  tor 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1S46,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  John  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scates. 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  \Vm.  McMurtry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposi^d  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election;  but  in  the  mcntime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  ofSce,  received   5,152   vot<»s 


144 


"     AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1S48,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  Novembei  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbenj  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opix)sitlon  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  -Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  I^.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Me.\ican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  lime,  the  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  §100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
Tiie  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  §100,000,000,  and  tl':.-^ 
population  851,470. 


In  1849  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  1851.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urged 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1S50  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  thers  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project ;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement — his- 
tory of  the  .State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  185  I  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  comple.xioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in    1S65,  at   his  home   in  Lebanon,   St 
Glair  Co.,  111. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


»47 


y^^^^Wi^g^^^a^j^^qp^ 


s^<^-«l>-fe'« 


';j|OEL    A.    MATTESON,    Governor 
,^*»    I S5 3-6,  was  born   Aug.  8,    180S, 
in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.     His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon  English   education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel    first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small    tradesman     in     Prescott, 
Canada,  before    he    was   of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered   an  academy, 
tauglit  school,  visited    the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  had 
given  him,  m.ide  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  there 
m  building  railroads,  experienced  a  slorm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  fatlier's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried.    In    1833,  having  sold    his   firm,  he   removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government   land   near  the  head  of  An 
Sable  River,  in   what  is   now  Kendall  County.     At 
that  time  there  were  not   more  than   two   neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten   miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
three  or  four  houses  l;etween  liini  and  Chicago.     He 
opened  a  large  farm.     His  family   was  boarded   1 2 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  Iiouse  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  during  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1S35  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  th.e  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1S36  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  itnder  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1S38  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  olTered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apuortionment,  John  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


148 


JOEL  A.  MATTESON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  liours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  oa  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $1,600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Tints  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross, of  Fulton ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  partj',  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
rirtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  '"Anti-Nebraska"  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
lyincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska  " 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  few  ballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson 's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation." 

The  Legislature  of  1855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  ISL-itteson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818,079  to  $349,951,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due ;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3,000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He   died  in    the  winter  of  1872-3,  at  Chicago. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


151 


■^^£.' 


r^'-:-/ 


ig  ILLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
iiV'~  ernor  1857-60,  was  born 
■«?  April  25,  iSii,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
who  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
""^^^  manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling;  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  accpiired  for  him  a 
ready  local   notoriety.     It  soon  came  to  be  under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a'  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


'52 


WILLIAM  H.  BISSELL. 


of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
bot.h  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  EUas  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  hirti  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don « Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  terra,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  u|j 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  rS56,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  .\.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  t'ol.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
Countv.  f'!--  Lieutenant  Governor      The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1S55,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  tliat 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
'mplicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.     (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned.  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
i860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  his 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  4S  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  0/ 
which  he  haf*  been  a  member  since  1854. 


11 


■ffl 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'55 


CS1 


10  ten 


■■■s-^ 


«>5:]'ca»- 


.^:()HN  WOOD,  Governor  1860-1,  and 
E^  the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Setnpro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
"^        ■;  modern    lai.guages,    who,    after 

"V-^'i"  serving  throughout   the  Revolu- 

tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
mg  winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown, 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  i82r  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin, 


rS  X  20  feet,  the  first  building  ia  Quincy,  of  whitl 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  tlic 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead  ■ 
ing  man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  ye. 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  maje=itic  Father  of  VVaters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  .-^tlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!  " 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  .•> 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  newspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  tiie  next  summer  Quiiiry  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male   residents  and   half 


'50 


rOHN  WOOD. 


lliat  number  of  females.  Sinoe  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
lil  his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
^ace  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  Stale  Senate.  In  1S56, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  i860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  i860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
lUinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  the  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nacion  from  destruction. 
In  186 1  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  tlie  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washingtoii,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the    Rebellion,   he    was   appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  137th  111.  Vol.  Inf,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  grjwing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughter  of  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
June,  1S65,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1 880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atciiison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


159 


alAA:5I?y?'i^^  ■•  \- \ S.-^ AA :•  V  U  VA  V-V  A  ■■  V-  >\  y.^A. \.A*,^  A  -v 


'Richard  yates,  the  "War 

^  ■'  Governor,'  186 1-4,  was  born 
=>f  Jan.  18,  18 18,  on  the  banks  of 
\  the  Ohio  River,  at  Warsaw, 
■>  Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.  His  father 
^  moved  in  1831  to  Illinois,  and 
after  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  County .  Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
where,  in  1837,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
tession  the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  tlie  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West.  Henry  (^lay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
he  party  of  his  idol.  In  r  840  he  engaged  with  great 
'vdor  in  the  exciting  "hard  cider"  campaign  for 
r^arrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
•rythat  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
trtending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
.  orth  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
tne  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Tliomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
ular man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  batde  of 
'irro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
beaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position. 


I   two   years    before,  by  a  large   majority.     Yates  wa." 
1   elected.     Two  years   later   he    was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  becaiiie 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  'Harris  only  ;?oo  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  i860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  DuPage  County,  was  nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whidpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ross, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr.  Allen  159,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 
Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


i6o 


RICHARD    YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  llie  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  iiiDholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  tlie 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  ver)'  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism;  and  his  special  message 
ill  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  political  and  civil  affiiirs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
I S62,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  tooic  the  high  position  that 
"he  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
ad  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "happiness 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Con-.titution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties.  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  Joine  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions ;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  oi  sidpuwimg  siiie  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !  "  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  T864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  W  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  27th  of  November  following. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


163 


-^^■ 


Mickard  J.  Oglesby 


-4^= 


->l3. 


=^|%?HUCHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-electtd 
in  1872  and  18S4,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldliam  Co., 
Ky., — the  State  wiiich  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
'-'  his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Ciuz  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


Ep 


pany  of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  tlie  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticke: 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
x\sia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  i860  lie 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate  ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  WIS  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  vvas  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  April  he  vvas  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  i:i 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


164 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  deith.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  thii 
day.  0;i  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
•Major  Ge  leril,  for  g  ilLiiitry,  his  comaiissioa  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  fro. 11  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  folio iv- 
ing,  to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  whsn  he  returned  home. 

The  Republican,  or  Union,  State  Convention  of 
1S64  was  held  at  Springfield,  May  25,  when  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of  Sanga- 
mon, and  John  M.  Palmer,  of  Macoupin.  Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.  On  the  Democratic  State  ticket  were 
James  C.  Robinson,  of  Clark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gav,;  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.  The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  tlii  Legislature  and  in  the  repre- 
sentation \n  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  home  at  Decatur,  and  look  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  si.'c 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 
1865  were  the  election  of  ex-Gov.  Yates  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  13th 
amend.nent  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.  This  session  also  signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  pari 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  1819.  Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature. But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,  granted  in  1859  for  25  years,  and  now 
sought  to  be  e.xtended  99  years.  As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt  to  check  their  headlong  career.  At  this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless  we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867  was  still  more  productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.  Many  omnibus  bills  were 
prof^-sed,  and  some  passed.  Tiie  contests  over  the 
.ocation  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the 


Soutliern  Penitentiary,  and  the  canal  enlargement 
and  Illinois  River  improvement,  dominated  every- 
thing else. 

During  the  year  1S72,  it  became  evident  tliat  i( 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L  Bjveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put,  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35,334  to  56,174, — ihe  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  liy  their  h  iving  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  :iiet 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1879,  having 
served  his  parly  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
]5le  elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  jjint 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parlies  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
parly  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
.Ardent  in  feeling  and  strongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  iovial 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost;  with  frequent  descents  to 
tlie  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure. 


&,.-^^^6^— 


GO  VER  IVORS  OF  ILLTN^OIS. 


I  .7 


J  0  HN  1£  Pa  L  31  ER 


!  1  w^^^iii^^i^^}j^^2l^fii^^^^^^m^^:^^^AMsM^^ML^^^^^^^M^ 


'c:s':'\\ 


f^ 


i|f»«   ernor 


3;OHN  Mc  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
[869-72,  was  born  on 
Engle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
.■£'''-''  WH  ~V  Sept.  13,  1817.  During  his  in- 
•54gio''^'4j^JO^- .il.>5*  fancy,  his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1S12,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
wliere  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  183 1 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1S34  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
18  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

During    the   summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Sle|)hen  A.  Douglxs,  then   making  his 


eaily  aptitude. 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
iinville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Cariinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  wliile  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  In 
1 847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con. 
vention,  where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1S52  ht 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slaverj 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op- 
position to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  partj 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  tht 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuinj, 
a  circular  to  tliat  effect.     A    few    weeks   afterward 


i68 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
he  put  in  nomination  for  the  , United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  i860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
14th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  lo  ;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
ai  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  14th 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  wliich  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor ;  and  he  e.xhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  tiie  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peori.i  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  liave  been  made  by  acclamation  had  lie  not 
oersistenily  declared  that  he  could  not  accei)t  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

Oil  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  Slate's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  fur 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  hmited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"  to  pay  r^.ilror.:i  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution"  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  187 1,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  .\merican  in  his  fundamental  principle' 
of  statesmanship. 


CT^^^i^i^gL.^  / A-e^l^C^)^-uUe^ 


L?i.'  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


171 


OHN  LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE,  Governor  1873-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Greeii- 
wu:h,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
idge.  His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
from  Scotland  just  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
Washington  County.  His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brotliers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
j"  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  tnan,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "  Asso- 
ciate  Church,"   a   seceding   Presbyterian    body    of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  19th 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  18th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  '''•^  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  inoney  sufficient;  but,  n^t  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40   in  money   started    South    to  seek    his  fortune. 


J72 


JOHN  L.  BEVERIDGE. 


Poor,  alone,  wiihout  friends  and  influence,  lie  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book,  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cemlier,  1S47,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Sireet  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children.  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  1S49,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  litde  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
law,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  7nanager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner,  Gen.  John  F, 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  cf 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
111.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  tS,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  II,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  iS6j,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1 863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  17th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Cliicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 187 1,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1S72,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby  ;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  21,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large.  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge 's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "  Haines'  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  tlie  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1 88  r,  he  has  also  been 
.Assistant  United  States  Treasurer :  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


•75 


8EELB  Y  31,   VULLOM.  -t 


— ^ 


ll^''  HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 1877-83,15  the  sixth  child 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  bora  Nov.  22,  1829,  ia 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther tlien  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  ^being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
the  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
cajiital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfisld.    He  died  about 

'873- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 
opportunity  during  the  winter.  Within  this  time, 
nowever,  he  spent  several  months  teaching  school. 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  o.x  team  for  tlie  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.~Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  Peoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the'  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  .\nti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1 85 6  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.    Practicing 


176 


SHELBY  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  i860,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1861,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,' but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  party 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  Li 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.     He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  euleied  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  ixsminated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  llie  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  JohnT.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4  103!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  E.xpenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
O/.io,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor;  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
placed    in    nomination    Lewis    Steward,    a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1S73  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed-  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  forthe  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again 
becaine  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  iSSi.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lom was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

As  a  practitioner  of  law  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
field; and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
12,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
two  daughters;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


iH 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'79 


Ai^mW^>  7^^. 


^^%m^ 


^«-^H*<^ 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
TON, Governor  1883-5,  ^^.s 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
45?  miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  VVui.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  tlie 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  tlie  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMorris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  liome  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roljerts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
21  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  liome  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  paying  for  the  land  and 
making  a  comfort^b't^  home.     John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  tlie  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  tlie  house.  Much  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  tlie  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "buckled  to"  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  1S60  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  lie 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  he 
attended  an  academy  at  Henry,   Marshall  County, 


i8o 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  141st  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  100-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 
The  following  winter,  1864-5,  '^'■-  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1S65-7,  he 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  VVesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  time  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  tnoney  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesley  an  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
.\dniitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Tlieir  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  .S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  E.xecutive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  187  I,  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  VVni.  G.  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  "  on  the  stump  " 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  Iiis  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  tlie  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Cominittees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany; and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U,  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  K\.  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medit  al  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  agair,:';  .. 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  souihern  peni- 
tentiary, which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President /rt) /t'>«, 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  wa",  this  lime 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  noininated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robett  Bell,  of  Wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clair  and  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 

1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  was  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 

1885,  when  the  great  favorite  "  Dick  "  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


'^^ 


t/^^^z^^ 


JOSEPH  W.  FIFER. 


183 


^^'^  .-f;  .t.  A  it-  <ii.vi  ^.  i-i-i  ^^,  .r.  .t. 


■•o*o.-(g^<A^..o*o.- 


^^:,q)5 


:<)SKPH  WILSON  FIFER.  This 
distinguished  gentleman  was 
;-iw  elected  Governor  of  Illinois 
;::  November  6,  1888.  lie  was 
popularly  known  during  the 
campaign  as  "Private  Joe."  He 
had  served  with  great  devotion 
to  his  couutrj'  during  the  Re- 
jjellion,  in  the  Thirtj'-third 
Illinois  Infantry.  A  native  of 
Virginia,  he  was  born  in  1840. 
Ilis  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(  Daniels)  Fifer,  were  American 
born,  though  of  (Tcrman  de- 
scent. Ilis  father  was  a  brick 
and  stone  mason,  and  an  old 
lliMuy  Clay  Whig  in  politics.  John  and  Mary 
Fifei-  liad  nine  children,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the 
sixth,  and  naturally  with  so  large  a  family  it  was 
all  tlip  father  could  do  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
d<i(ir;  to  say  nothing  of  giving  his  children  aiiy- 
thing  like  good  educational  advantages. 

Young  Joseph  attended  school  some  in  Vir- 
ginia, but  it  was  not  a  good  school,  and  when 
his  father  removed  to  the  West,  in  1857,  Josi'pii  had, 
not  advanced  mucii  further  than  tiie  -First  Reader." 


Our  suliject  was  sixteen  then  and  suffered  a  great 
misfortune  in  the  loss  of  his  mother.  After  the  deatii 
of  ^Irs.  Fifer.  which  occurred  in  Missouri,  tlie 
family  returned  to  Virginia,  but  remained  only  u 
short  time,  as  during  the  same  jear  Mr.  Fifer 
came  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  McLean  County  and 
started  a  brickyard.  Here  Joseph  and  his  broth- 
ers were  pnt  to  work.  The  elder  Fifer  soon 
bought  a  farm  near  Bloomington  and  began  lifi'a.s 
an  agriculturalist.  Here  Joe  worked  and  attended 
the  neighboring  school.  He  alternated  farm-work, 
lirick-layiug,  and  going  to  the  district  school  for 
the  succeeding  few  years.  It  was  all  work  and  no 
play  for  Joe,  yet  it  by  no  means  made  a  dull  boy 
of  him.  All  the  time  he  was  thinking  of  the  great 
world  outside,  of  which  he  had  caught  a  glimiise 
when  coming  from  Virginia,  yet  he  did  not  know 
just  how  he  was  going  to  get  out  into  it.  He 
could  not  feci  that  the  woods  around  the  new 
farm  and  the  log  cabin,  in  whii'h  the  family  lived, 
were  to  hold  him. 

The  opi)ortunity  to  get  out  into  the  world  was 
soon  offered  to  young  Joe.  He  traveled  a  dozen 
miles  barefoot,  in  company  with  his  brother  George, 
and  enlisted  in  Comi)any  C,  33d  Illinois  Infantry; 
he  being  then  twenty  years  old.     lu  a   lew   day 


184 


JOSEPH  W.  FIFER. 


the  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  Butler,  and  then 
over  into  Missouri,  anil  saw  some  visiorous  service 
there.  After  a  second  time  helping  to  chase  Price 
out  of  Missouri,  tlie  .'53d  llegiment  went  down 
to  Milliken's  Bend,  and  for  several  weeks  "Private 
■Toe  "  worked  on  Grant's  famous  ditch.  The  regi- 
ment tiien  joined  the  forces  operating  against  Port 
(Jilison  and  Vickshurg.  Joe  was  on  guard  diilj-  in 
llie  front  ditches  when  the  Hag  of  surrender  was 
run  nj)  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  stuck  tiie  haj'onet 
of  his  gun  into  the  embankment  and  went  into  the 
cit}'  witii  the  vanguard  of  Union  soldiers. 

The  next  day.  July  .ii,  the  33d  joined  the  force 
after  Johnston,  who  had  been  threatening  Grant's 
rear;  and  finally  an  assault  was  made  on  him  at 
Jackson,  Miss.  In  this  charge  "Private  Joe"  fell,  ter- 
ribly wounded.  He  was  loading  his  gun  when  a 
minie-ball  struck  him  and  i)assed  entirely  through 
his  body.  He  was  regarded  as  mortally  wounded. 
His  brother,  George,  who  had  been  made  a  Lieu- 
tenant, proved  to  be  the  means  of  saving  his  life. 
The  Surgeon  told  him  unless  he  had  ice  his  brother 
Joe  could  not  live.  It  was  fifty  miles  to  the  nearest 
point  where  ice  could  Ije  obtained,  and  the  roads 
were  rough.  A  comrade,  a^IcLean  county  man,  who 
had  been  wounded,  offered  to  make  the  trip.  An 
amlndance  was  secured  and  the  brother  soldier 
started  on  the  journey.  He  returned  with  the  ice. 
but  the  tri]).  owing  to  the  roughness  of  the  roads, 
was  very  hard  on  him.  After  a  few  months'  care- 
ful nursing  Mr.  Fifer  was  able  to  come  home.  The 
33d  came  home  on  a  furlough,  and  when  the 
boys  were  ready  to  return  to  the  tented  field, 
young  Fifer  was  ready  to  go  with  them;  for  he  was 
determined  to  finish  his  term  of  three  j'ears.  He 
was  mustered  out  in  October,  1804,  having  been 
in    the  service   three  years  and  two  months. 

"Private  Joe"  came  out  of  the  army  a  tall, 
tanned,  and  awkward  young  man  of  twenty-four. 
About  all  he  possessed  was  ambition  to  be  some- 
body— and  pluck.  Though  at  an  age  when  most 
men  have  finished  their  college  course,  the  young 
soldier  saw  that  if  he  was  to  be  anybody  he  must 
have  an  education.  Yet  he  had  no  means  to  ena- 
l)le  him  to  enter  school  as  most  young  men  do. 
He  was  determined  to  have  an  education,  however, 
and  that  to  him  meant  success.     For  the  following 


four  years  he  struggled  with  his  books.  He  entered 
Wesleyan  I'niversilN'  Jan.  1.  1865.  He  was  not  a 
brilliant  student,  being  neither  at  the  head  nor  the 
foot  of  his  class.  He  was  in  great  earnest,  how- 
ever, studied  hard  and  came  forth  with  a  well- 
stored  and  disciplined  mind. 

Immediately  after  being  graduated  he  entered 
an  ollice  at  Bloomington  as  a  law  student.  He  had 
already  read  law  some,  and  as  he  continued  to  work 
h.ard,  with  the  spur  of  poverty  and  promptings  of 
ambition  ever  with  him,  he  was  re.ady  to  hang  out 
his  professional  shingle  in  1869.  Being  trust- 
worthy he  soon  gathered  about  him  some  influen- 
tial friends.  In  1871  he  was  elected  Corporation 
Counsel  of  Bloomington.  In  1872  he  was  elected 
State's  Attorney  of  McLean  Count}-.  This  ottice 
he  held  for  eight  years,  when  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  State  Senate.  Here  he  served  for  four  years. 
His  ability  to  perform  abundance  of  hard  work 
made  him  a  most  valued  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. 

Mr.  Fifer  was  married  in  1870  to  Gertie,  daugh- 
ter of  William  J.  Lewis,  of  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Fifer  is  six  feet  in  height  and  is  spare,  weighing 
onh-  150  pounds.  He  has  a  swarthy  complexion, 
keen  black  eyes,  quick  movement,  and  possesses  a 
frank  and  s.ympathetic  nature,  and  naturally  makes 
friends  wherever  he  goes.  During  the  late  Guber- 
natorial campaign  his  visits  throughout  the  State 
proved  a  great  power  iji  his  behalf.  His  happy 
faculty  of  winning  the  confidence  and  good  wishes 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  personal  contact  is  a 
source  of  great  popularity,  especiall}-  during  a  polit- 
ical battle.  As  a  speaker  he  is  fluent,  his  language 
is  good,  voice  clear  and  agreeable,  and  manner 
forcible.  His  manifest  earnestness  in  what  he  says 
as  well  as  his  tact  as  a  public  speaker,  and  his  elo- 
quent and  forceful  language,  makes  him  a  most 
Viiluable  campaign  orator  and  a  powerful  pleader 
at  the  bar.  At  the  Hc[)ublican  State  Convention, 
held  in  May,  1888,  Mr.  Fifer  was  chosen  as  its  candi- 
date for  Governor.  He  proved  a  popular  nominee, 
and  the  name  of  "Private  Joe"  became  familiar 
to  ever^^one  throughout  the  State.  He  waged  a 
vigorous  campaign,  was  elected  by  a  good  majority, 
and  in  due  time  .assumed  the  duties  of  the  Chief 
Executive  of  Illinois. 


INTRODUQTORY. 


HE  time  has  arrived  wlitu  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  tlie 
people  of  tliis  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  povi'er 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
:>{  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  [)reser- 
vation  of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  lias  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  earnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
ThT  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements. 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  tht 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  acliievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  liad  but  this  idea — 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  tliat  then  lived.  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  though 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all  ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  portraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  lives 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  PeorSa  Public  Library. 

HE  Public  Library  of  Peoria  is  located  in  a 
central  part  of. the  city,  occupying-  the  Mer- 
cantile Library  15uilding — a  three-story 
structure  of  pressed  brick,  with  brown  stone  trim- 
mings— situated  on  the  Main  Street  corner  oppo- 
site the  Court-IIouse.  This  library  was  ostalilislied 
only  in  the  year  1880,  but  represents  several  older 
institutions — the  German  Library  Association  iiav- 
ing  been  merged  into  it  in  1881,  and  a  year  later  the 
library  of  the  Mercantile  Library  Association;  this 
was  among  Peoria's  earliest  educational  institutions, 
dating  back  to  1856,  and  continuing  always  a  popu- 
lar and   valual)le  adjunct  to  the  citj^'s  prosperity. 

The  present  library  offers  all  its  privileges  free 
to  any  citizen  or  propert}^  owner  of  Peoria,  has  a 
membership  of  five  thousand  persons,  and  is  rap- 
idly extending  the  valuable  collection  of  books 
upon  its  shelves,  already  amounting  to  some  forty 
thousand  volumes.  These  works  are  divided  among 
all  branches  of  literature — are  strong  in  history, 
theolog}',  science  and  political  economy.  The  arts 
also  are  well  represented,  and  especially  the  de- 
partment of  practical  arts,  trades  and  manufactures. 

Here  the  intelligent  workingman,  mechanic  or 
engineer,  may  have  access  to  books  upon  all  the 
most  important  technical  manipulations  and  com- 
mercial industries;  and  the  student  of  general 
science  may  find  means  of  information  regarding 
the  results  of  the  latest  investigations,  and  kec^p 
abreast  with  the  science  of  the  day.  The  branches 
of  lighter  literature  are  not  neglected,  new  and 
entertaining  books  of  travel  are  constantly  pur- 
chased aud  always  in  demand,  while  the  standard 


novels  and  current  fiction  of  the  better  class  are 
freely  provided.  In  tlie  juvenile  department  are 
not  only  wholesome  tales  and  the  dear  old  fairy 
legends,  but  books  upon  science,  histor}-  and  travel, 
delightfully  adapted  to  interest  these  y<ning  readers 
and  give  them  a  taste  for  more  solid  reading  later 
on. 

That  these  books  are  appreciated  ancl  widely 
read  may  be  inferred  from  the  number  circulated 
— the  issue  amounting  to  ninety  thousand  volumes 
during  the  year. 

The  Public  Library  is  undoubtedly  a  strong  fac- 
tor in  the  city's  progress,  in  the  intelligence  of  its 
men  and  women,  the  growing  beauty  of  its  arciu- 
tectuie,  its  excellent  sanitary  condition,  and  wise 
management  throughout. 

In  addition  to  the  issue  department,  the  library 
has  a  bright,  pleasant  reading  room  open  through- 
out the  day  and  evening,  where  the  leading  news- 
papers, and  the  best  periodical  publications  of  the 
United  States,  England  and  Germany,  some  two 
hundred  in  number,  are  kept  on  file;  also  a  study, 
where  the  student  may  find  perfect  quiet  in  which 
to  consult  books  of  reference  or  valuable  volumes 
which  mjiy  not  be  taken  from  the  library;  and  a 
bindery  which  is  carried  on  solely-  for  the  use  of 
this  institution,  repairing  old  books  and  binding 
the  magazines,  pamphlets  and  other  unbound  vol- 
umes which  find  their  way  into  the  library,  in  most 
durable  and  creditable  style. 

The  library  is  entirely  dependent  upon  the  city 
for  its  support,  but  is  in  a  prosperous  condition, 
receiving  from  the  City  Council  a  generous  appro- 
priation each  year,  raised  by  a  special  tax  levied 
for  this  purpose. 


'i&''^'- 


TRANSPORTATION. 


c^ 


'WS!Si-!2^-^->i'i-A- 


TRANSPORTATION. 


^NE  of  the  most  important  fac- 
**  ^  tors  iu  the  business  develop- 
ment and  prosperity  of  a 
.3~j,  city,  county  or  State,  is  its 
jkSVt^  railroad  communications.  A 
retrospection  of  the  history 
of  the  South  Platte  Country  since 
:J  the  advent  of  railroad  facilities,  will 
convince  the  careful  observer  of  the 
immense  benefit  resulting  from  the 
introduction  of  this  essential  adjunct 
of  commercial  enterprise.  The  fol- 
lowing brief  sketches  of  the  leading 
railroads  of  this  section  of  the  great 
coniinon wealth  will  form  an  interesting  feature  of 
this  Alhum.  It  m.ay  be  remarked  in  this  connec- 
tion tii.at  the  roads  referred  to  are  not  only  the  im- 
portant coriiorations  of  Kansas,  but  stand  among 
the  first  in  the  Nation. 


►?-«^'=^^=4^-^ 


-S^^3- 


-*i^- 


Cliiciiffo,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific 

S  among  the  oldest  and  most  important  trunk 
lines,  having  Ciiicago  for  its  eastern  terminus- 
til    the  completion  of  tliis  road  in  Illinois  marked 
an  imiiortaiit  era  in  the  development  of   the  north- 
ern  and   western    portion   of   the  State,  as  well  as 
contributing  to  the  upbuilding  of  many  thriving 


manufacturing  cities  on  its  line — notably  Joliet 
Moline,  Rock  Island  and  Davenport;  also  with  its 
two  branches  extending  to  Peoria,  has  opened  up 
good  markets  for  the  extensive  coal  and  agricul- 
tural resources  of  that  locality,  likewise  giving  a 
rapid  impetus  to  the  commercial  and  manufactur- 
ing resources  of  Peoria.  Moline  (except  Chicago), 
is  probably  the  most  important  and  extensive  man- 
ufacturing city  on  the  line,  and  through  the  enter- 
prise of  the  great  Rock  Island  Route  it  has  been 
enabled  to  la}'  down  its  manufactured  wares  to  the 
farmers  of  Southern  Iowa,  Northern  Missour-i  and 
Kansas,  cheaper  than  by  any  other  road,  and  the 
vast  lumber  interests  of  the  cities  of  Rock  Island 
and  Davenport  have  by  means  of  this  line  been 
enabled  to  reach  the  most  important,  as  well  as  the 
most  remote,  places  in  Kansas.  The  Rock  Island 
has  always  been  in  the  very  van  of  railroad  prog- 
ress; while  always  solid  and  substantial,  yet  it  has 
ever  been  steadily  and  constantly  building  new 
lines  and  extending  its  system  until  it  now  ramifies 
into  the  best  regions  of  the  Mississippi  and  Mis- 
souri Valleys.  It  lines  extending  to  Deuvcr,  Colo- 
rado Springs,  and  other  points  iu  Colorado,  offer 
unsurpassed  facilities,  to  the  tourist  or  man  of  busi- 
ness for  elegant  and  comfortable  traveling;  its 
superb  dining  cars  have  among  travelers  made  it 
renowned  as  among  the  best  roads  of  the  West.  In 
brief  the  Rock  Island  Companj*  has  by  a  judicious 
system  of  permanent  improvements,  and  by  the  in- 


TRANSPORTATION. 


troduction  of  all  modern  appliances  which  tend  to 
the  preservation  of  life  and  property,  placed  itself 
in  such  a  condition,  materially  and  pliysically,  that 
its  financial  future  cannot  be  affected  by  the  con- 
tingencies which  seriously  aflfect  other  roads.  Its 
success  as  one  of  the  great  highways  of  the  West 
is  an  assured  reality.  It  might  be  appropriately 
noted  here  that  while  much  of  this  road's  past  suc- 
cess may  be  attributed  to  its  admirable  geograph- 
ical location,  embracing  a  ver\'  rich  section  of  the 
country  for  local  traffic,  and  with  a  termini  on  Lake 
Michigan,  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Rivers  a.nd 
Denver,  the  heart  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  le- 
gions, equally  as  much  is  due  to  the  stability  of  the 
management,  and  to  the  fact  that  the  property  has 
never  yet  become  the  foot-ball  of  speculators.  It 
is  not  surprising  tiiat  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & 
Pacific  has  maintained  a  firm  position  as  an  invest- 
ment in  the  moneyed  centers  of  the  world,  and  it 
has  acquired  a  well-merited  popularity  with  the 
traveling  and  shipping  public.  Its  steel  rails  and 
well  ballasted  road-bed  have  long  since  made  it  the 
favorite  with  shippers,  and  its  freight  traffic  is  im- 
mense and  growing.  At  Council  Bluffs  and  Omaha, 
connections  are  made  with  all  roads  centering 
there.  It  is  the  most  direct  and  shortest  route  be- 
tween Omaha  and  Chicago — and  hence  the  favorite 
of  shippers.  At  Davenport  a  branch  diverges  to 
the  Southwest,  and  extends  to  Kansas  Cit}',  Leav- 
enworth, Atchison  and  St.  Joseph. 

At  St.  Joseph  the  road  crosses  the  Missouri  and 
enters  Kansas;  at  Horton  the  line  diverges  and  ex- 
tends up  into  Nebraska  as  far  as  Nelson;  from 
Fairbury,  Neb.,  the  line  extends  through  Northern 
Kansas  to  Denver,  and  Colorado  Springs.  From 
Horton  the  line  leads  in  a  south westerlji-  direction 
through  Topeka,  the  capital  of  the  State;  thence  to 
Herington,  Hutchinson  and  to  Liberal,  the  latter 
place  on  the  line  of  the  Indian  Territory.  At  Mc- 
Farland  a  spur  extends  in  a  northwestern  direction 
through  Manhattan  and  Cla}^  Center  to  Belleville, 
wliere  a  junction  is  made  with  the  main  line  to 
Denver,  Col.;  at  Herington  a  short  branch  goes  to 
Abilene  and  Salina.  From  Herington  the  line 
I)asses  south  through  Wichita  and  Wellington  to 
Caldwell,  on  the  line  of  the  Indian  Territorj'. 

With  its   accustomed  energy  this  road  was  the 


first  to  complete  its  line  into  the  Oklahoma  country, 
passing  through  Kingfisher,  and  having  El  Reno 
for  its  Southern  terminus. 

CIIAKACTEinSTICS  OF  THE  KOAD. 

The  whole  number  of  miles  operated  by  tlie  Chi- 
cago, Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railway  at  the  present 
time,  including  second  tracks  and  sidings,  is  about 
four  thousand  and  ninet}'-three  miles.  The  main 
track  mileage  in  the  following  States  is:  Illinois, 
236  miles;  Iowa,  1,066.10;  Missouri,  286.70;  Kan- 
sas, 1,147.37;  Nebraska,  140.97;  Colorado,  376.06 ; 
and  Indian  Territory,  106.75 — 186.70  second  track, 
and  about  565.45  side  track. 

This  company  has  a  contract  for  joint  use  of 
track  with  the  Hannibal  <t  St.  Joseph  between  Kan- 
sas City  and  Cameron  Junction;  with  the  Union 
Pacific  Railwa}^  from  Kansas  Cit}-  to  North  Topeka, 
also  from  Linion  to  Denver;  and  with  the  Denver 
&  Rio  Grande  between  Denver  and  Pueblo. 

The  principal  shops  of  this  company  are  located 
at  Chicago,  111.;  Rock  Island,  111.;  Stewart,  Iowa; 
Trenton,  Mo.;  Horton  and  Goodland,  Kan.;  and 
Roswell,  Colo.  Solid  ti-ains,  carrying  all  classes 
of  passengers,  are  run  through  between  Chicago, 
Denver,  Pueblo,  Colorado  Springs,  via  St.  Josepli, 
Kansas  Cit}-  and  Topeka;  through  trains  to  Wich- 
ita, El  Reno  (Ft.  Reno),  Hutchinson,  Dodge  City, 
Salina  and  Abilene.  The  line  is  equipped  with 
first-class  baggage,  mail,  smoking  cars  and  coaches; 
chair  cars  of  the  latest  improved  pattern  of  chairs, 
and  Pullman  Palace  Sleeping  Cars.  Dining  cars 
are  now  running  on  all  through  passenger  trains 
between  Colorado  points  and  Chicago,  and  also 
between  Council  Bluffs  and  Chicago,  and  eating- 
houses  are  located  at  convenient  points  on  all  divis- 
ions for  the  accommodation  of  local  trains.  It  is 
contemplated  to  establish  dining-car  service  on  tlic 
whole  line,  in  the  near  future.  In  regard  to  freight 
traffic,  the  management  has  a  comprehensive  S3S- 
tem  of  through  cars  and  way -billing  to  all  promi- 
nent points  in  the  West,  Northwest  and  Southwest. 
Having  their  own  rails  between  Chicago,  Peoria 
.and  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph,  Omaha  and  Denver, 
no  delaj's  or  transfers  between  Chicago  and  any  of 
these  points.  Also  run  through  cars  to  the  Pacific 
Coast  via  all  lines  having  terminals  on  the  coast. 


TRANSPORTATION. 


Less  tb:in  car-load  shipments  to  all  prominent 
poinis  in  through  cars,  thus  avoiding  transfers  and 
delay.  Special  attention  is  paid  to  live  stock  from 
all  points  on  the  line.  At  present  there  is  one 
hundred  and  eight^'-seven  miles  of  doiible  track 
being  operated,  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  miles 
of  which  is  located  in  Illinois,  between  Ciiicago 
and  Rock  Island ;  the  balance  in  Iowa,  from  Da- 
venport to  what  is  known  as  Double  Track  Junc- 
tion, about  six  miles  west  of  Davenport  on  the 
Council  Bluff  line. 

The  experience  of  the  p.ast  has  clearly  demon- 
strated that  whatever  is  undertaken  b}^  the  mana- 
gers of  tiie  Rock  Island  is  not  merely  done,  but 
done  well,  that  they  possess  to  an  almost  unlimited 
extent  the  confidence  of  Eastern  and  European 
capitalists,  and  that  thej'  are  remarkably  shrewd 
and  f.ar-seeing  in  anything  which  affects  the  present 
or  the  future  interests  of  their  propcrt3'. 

It  will  be  oliserved  that  all  the  great  leading 
marts  of  trade  in  Kans.as  are  tapped  by  this  road, 
thereby  giving  to  that  portion  of  the  West  a  strong 
au<l  substantial  competitive  market  with  the  great 
Eastern  commercial  centers. 


-•AEfir;?^-" 


P^4— »-^^V?3ra'»%. 


Arcliison,  Toiicka  &  Sauta  l^'e  Kailvvay, 

5S:  OPULARLY  known  as  the  Santa  Fe  Route. 
jjj  The  initial  lines  of  this  great  system  were 
first  built  from  Atchison  to  Topeka,  in 
|£  18G9,  and  for  man}'  years  the  former  city 
was  the  Eastern  terminus  of  the  road.  The  man- 
agement of  the  Santa  Fe,  with  wonderful  energy, 
pushed  out  its  lines  in  every  direction  into  the 
j'oung  and  growing  State  of  Kansas,  and  in  tlu; 
majoriU'  of  instances  preceding  settlement  and 
civilization.  Tiiis  road  was  the  first  to  penetrate 
across  the  southern  part  of  Colorado,  via  Pueblo 
and  Trinidad  into  New  Mexico,  until  its  lines  pene- 
trated the  old  adobe  town  of  Santa  Fe,  wiiosc  citi- 
zens were  Jialf  S|ianish  .and  half  Mexican.  As  its 
course  penetrated  tlie  wilderness  it  sometimes  fol- 
lowed the  old  Santa  Fe  Trail,  and  generally  not  far 
distant   at    any    time    from    the  "trail"    whicli    had 


been  made  famous  yeai's  before  by  trappers  and 
also  by  the  CJovernmcnt  freighters.  The  mar- 
velous growth  and  development  of  the  Slate  of 
of  Kansas  is  in  a  great  measure  due  to  the  enter- 
prise and  public  spirit  of  the  managers  of  the  Santa 
Fe  Sj'stem.  Not  only  did  they  devote  the'.r  en- 
ergy to  the  upbuilding  of  the  road,  but  at  great 
expense  they  maintained  cmigr.ation  and  Colonial 
agents  in  the  various  countries  of  Euiope,  as  well 
as  in  the  Eastern,  Middle  and  Southern  States, 
thereby  advertising  tiie  State  of  Kansas  as  no  other 
State  has  heretofore  been  done.  Its  climate,  its 
soil  and  great  advantages  to  the  home  seeker  were 
at  times  full}'  portrayed  by  the  enterprise  of  this 
road — every  fostering  care  was  given  to  the  stock 
and  ranch  men,  to  the  merchant,  the  mechanic  and 
the  manufacturer  to  settle  in  Kansas — as  a  result 
we  have  here  a  State  in  the  center  of  the  Union,  of 
boundless  agricultural  resources,  settled  by  a  wide- 
awake, enterprising  and  prosperous  people.  The 
Santa  Fe  owns  and  operates  more  miles  of  road  in 
Kansas  than  any  other  lin(!,  with  its  vast  system  of 
East  and  West,  North  and  South  lines  reaclung 
every  important  town  in  the  State,  and  penetrating 
sixty-throe  counties  in  Kansas.  The  magnitude  of 
its  business  is  immense.  Its  lines  beginning  at  the 
Missouri  River  towns  in  Kansas  are  St.  Joseph,  Atch- 
ison, Leavenworth  and  Kansas  City;  extends  south 
to  Coffeyville,  Arkansas  City,  Hunnewell,  Caldwell, 
New  Kiowa  (thence  to  the  Pan  Handle  of  Texas), 
and  north  to  Superior,  in  Nebraska;  Concordia, 
Clay  Center.  Minneapolis,  and  other  Northern 
Kansas  cities.  Its  main  lines  and  branches  reach 
nearly  every  important  city  in  the  Sta,te.  St.  Jo- 
seph, on  the  Missouri  side  of  tlu^  river,  has  a  popu- 
lation of  nearly  one  hundred  thous.and,  and  its 
wiiolesale  trade  is  heavy  throughout  the  West. 
Atchison  is  a  growing  city  of  about  twenty  thous- 
and people;  the  .Soldiers'  Orphans  Home  of  the 
State  is  located  here.  Leavenworth,  with  her  thirty 
thousand  people,  is  an  important  manufacturing 
center.  Leavenworth  was  the  earliest  famous  city 
of  Kansas,  as  it  w.as  the  original  outfitting  point  for 
travel  and  traffic  across  the  plains.  The  Kansas 
system  may  be  described  as  a  main  cast  and  west  line, 
over  four  hundred  miles  in  length,  with  branch 
lines  extending  in  every  direction  where  an  area  of 


T  H  A  N  8PORTATION. 


particularly  rich  country,  or  some  other  special 
advantages  invited  a  line  of  rails. 

Tlie  road  from  Topeka,  after  1869,  was  extended 
west  and  south,  and  then  east  to  Kansas  City  bj' 
purchase  of  a  line  built  by  another  companj'.  From 
Kansas  City,  in  1887-88  the  line  was  extended  to 
Cliieago,  under  the  name  of  the  Chicago,  Santa  Fe 
&  California  Road;  in  1887,  also  the  purchase  of 
the  Gulf,  Colorado  &  Santa  Fe  Road,  and  the  ex- 
tension of  the  Kansas  lines  through  the  Indian 
Territory  to  Texas,  gave  the  companj-  a  line  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  So  that  .at  the  present  time  the 
Santa  Fe  System  proper  begins  at  Chicago,  passes 
through  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Colorado, 
Indian  Territory,  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona 
and  California,  and  has  for  itg  Southern  terminals 
Galveston,  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  El  Paso,  on 
tlie  Mexican  frontier;  and  for  its  Western  terminals 
San  Diego  and  Los  Angeles,  on  the  Pacific  Coast, 
(San  Francisco  being  practically  a  Pacific-Coast 
terminal,  as  it  is  reached  via  Mojave,  over  the 
tracks  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railway);  and  for 
its  Northern  terminals  Chicago,  St.  Joseph,  Mo., 
Superior,  Neb.,  and  Denver,  the  capital  of  Colo- 
rado. 

Chicago  to  Kansas  Citj'  is  practiealU'  an  air  line, 
being  the  most  straight  and  direct  of  any  road 
between  the  two  cities.  It  passes  through  a  large 
number  of  important  towns  in  Illinois,  including 
Joliet,  witli  its  great  steel  works,  and  other  manu- 
facturing interests.  Tlie  next  imjjortant  place  is 
Streator,  a  few  miles  south  of  the  latter  place;  a 
branch  extends  to  the  thriving  citj'  of  Pekin,  on 
the  Illinois  River.  From  Streator  tlie  main  line 
crosses  the  Illinois  at  ChlUicothe,  and  extends 
through  Peoria  and  Knox  Counties  to  the  beauti- 
ful -ind  enterprising  city  of  Galesburg,  here  it 
comes  in  competition  with  several  lines  of  the 
Burlington  .Sj'stem;  thence  running  in  a  southwest- 
erly direction  through  a  rich  and  populous  section, 
crossing  the  Mississippi  at  Ft.  Madison,  on  a  mag- 
nificent steel  bridge.  Here  the  companj'  have 
established  shops,  that  being  the  terminus  of  the 
two  operating  divisions  of  the  road.  From  Ft. 
M.adison  by  a  spur  Keokuk  is  reached.  Tlie  line 
through  Missouri  shows  very  heavy  construction 
work,  inaile  to  secure  what  was  desired    in  the  waj- 


of  distance  and  grades.  Along  the  Santa  Fe  new 
towns  are  springing  up,  and  new  industries  are  be- 
ing developed.  Twenty  miles  east  of  Kansas  City 
the  Missouri  River  is  crossed  bj'  a  steel  bridge,  so 
that  the  line  enters  Kansas  City  on  the  south  sids 
of  the  river.  From  Kansas  City  to  Topeka  the 
line  runs  on  the  South  bank  of  the  Kansas  River; 
at  Wilder  and  HoUiday  are  points  for  the  depart- 
ure of  branch  lines— one  northwest  to  Atchison, 
and  the  other  southwest  througli  Ottawa  and  South- 
ern Kansas,  being  known  as  the  Southern  Kansas 
division  of  the  Santa  Fe  System.  From  Lawrence 
to  Topeka  the  road  is  still  in  the  Kansas  Vallej', 
through  a  veritable  garden.  Native  trees  of  great 
height  overhang  the  railway  here  and  there,  and  in 
the  siH'ing  and  summer  the  crops  look  green  and 
luxuriant.  The  approach  to  Topeka  is  through  the 
long  yards,  and  by  the  vast  machine  shops  of  the 
Santa  Fe  Company,  across  various  broad  streets  to 
a  commodious  brick  station. 

The  general  offices  of  the  road  are  in  Topeka, 
and  occupy  a  handsome  and  commodious  building 
near  the  State  capitol.  From  Topeka  to  Denver 
the  Santa  Fe  Route  runs  for  about  seventj'-five 
miles  in  a  south westerlj-  direction  to  the  upper  wa- 
tei's  of  Neosho  River,  at  Emporia,  passing  through 
Osage  Countj',  where  are  found  some  of  the  richest 
coal  fields  of  the  West.  At  Newton  the  line  di- 
verges south  through  Southern  Kansas,  the  Indian 
Territory  and  Texas  to  Galveston;  continuing 
west  from  Newton  the  first  citj-  of  importance 
reached  is  Hutchinson ;  here  are  some  of  the  heaviest 
salt  works  in  the  United  States,  besides  other  ex- 
tensive manufacturing  interests.  AVest  of  Hutch- 
inson the  line  extends  through  a  fertile,  prosperous 
and  rapidly  growing  district.  The  line  is  beautified 
here  and  there  bj'  manj'  thriving  pities  and  villages. 
At  La  Junta,  in  Colorado,  the  line  for  New  Mex- 
ico, Arizona  and  bej^ond,  turns  south.  Pueblo, 
sixty-five  miles  due  west  of  La  Junta,  for  years  the 
terminus  of  the  Santa  Fe  Sj'stem,  is  a  growing 
manufacturing  city.  It  is  admirabjj-  located  with 
reference  to  the  great  ore-pi'oducing  canons  of  Col- 
orado. All  roads  leading  to  it,  coal,  iron,  silver, 
gold,  lead,  copper,  building  stone,  everything  in 
fact  which  is  produced  in  tlie  greatest  mining  State 
in  the  Union,  roll  naturally  down  hill  to   I'nelilo. 


TRANSPORTATION. 


Beyond  Pueblo  to  the  west  are  many  thriving  cities 
founded  on  mining  and  agriculture,  notaljly :  Lead- 
ville,  the  greatest  mining  camp  in  Colorado;  while 
forty  miles  north,  on  the  line  of  the  Santa  Fe,  are 
the  lovel}'  villages  of  Colorado  Springs,  and  Maui- 
tou,  nestling  at  the  foot  of  Pike's  Peak.  Manitou 
is  at  the  mouth  of  a  deep  canon,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  lovely  summer  resorts  in  America.  Near  here 
is  the  famous  "Garden  of  the  Gods,"  whose  won- 
drous beauty  and  grandeur  is  unsurpassed.  From 
Color.ado  Sfjrings  westward,  through  Manitou  and 
np  the  canon  beyond  Pike's  Peak,  the  Colorado 
Midland  Railway  is  pushing  its  wa)'  far  toward  the 
the  western  borders  of  the  State.  Eighty  miles 
north  of  Colorado  Springs  the  Santa  Fe  line  ter- 
minates at  Denver,  a  magnificently  built  city  of 
nearly  two  hundred  thousand  people.  It  is  prob- 
able that  no  American  city  has  so  many  features  of 
unique  beauty  as  Denver.  Its  splendid  public  build- 
ings, and  its  broad  avenues  lined  with  beautiful 
residences,  cozily  located  at  the  foot  of  the  snow- 
capped mountains  of  the  Rocky  range,  render  it 
unlike  any  other  city  of  its  size  in  the  world.  The 
ride  from  Pueblo  to  Denver  along  the  foot  of  the 
mountains  is  one  never  to  be  missed.  The  snow- 
covered  peaks,  the  many  combinations  of  sun  and 
cloud,  and  rain  and  snow;  the  marvelous  atmos- 
phere, all  combine  to  surprise  and  charm  the  be- 
holder. 

From  Newton  to  Galveston,  the  line  leaving  the 
main  east  and  west  line  in  Kansas  at  Newton,  runs 
directly  south  to  Galveston.  The  first  place  of 
importance  reached  is  the  phenomenal  city  of  Wich- 
ita, located  on  the  Big  and  Little  Arkansas  Rivers, 
a  city  of  thirty-five  thousand  people,  where  only  a 
few  3'ears  ago  was  an  Indian  trading-post.  Wichita 
is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  cities  in  the  West.  It 
has  a  heavy  and  growing  wholesale  trade,  and  a 
large  amount  of  manufacturing  business,  including 
the  Burton  Stock  Car  Works,  the  Dold  &  Whit- 
aker  Meat-Packing  establishments.  The  city  is 
handsomely  laid  out,  and  has  many  handsome  pub- 
lic buildings,  commodious  business  houses  and 
sp.acious  resiliences,  situated  on  broad  avenues, 
lined  with  beautiful  shade  trees.  South  of  Wichita 
is  a  cluster  of  growing  cities,  comprising  Winfiold, 
Wellington,  Arkansas  City  and  Caldwell.     Wichita 


and  Arkansas  City  liave  pioliled  much  by  the 
opening  up  of  Oklahoma  to  settlement.  Entering 
the  Indian  Territory  the  line  passes  through  a 
magnificent  agricultural  country,  as  yet  almost 
wholly  undeveloped.  In  Texas  the  principal  cities 
on  the  line  between  the  Indian  Territory  and  Gal- 
veston, are  Gainesville,  Paris,  Ft.  Worth,  Cleburne, 
Dallas,  Morgan,  Temple,  Brenham,  Houston  and 
Richmond.  Galveston,  the  terminus,  is  a  rapidly 
growing  city  of  fifty  thousand  inhabitants.  It  is 
charmingly  situated  on  the  Gulf  Coast,  and  has  an 
unsurpassed  climate  in  both  summer  and  winter. 

From  La  Junta  to  El  Paso,  the  line  leaving  La 
Junta  climbs  to  the  summit  of  the  Raton  Range, 
seventy -six  hundred  and  twenty-two  feet  above  the 
sea.  On  the  way  up  it  passes  through  the  impor- 
tant Colorado  towns  of  El  Moro  and  Trinidad.  The 
village  of  Raton  is  an  important  division  point  for 
the  railway,  and  then  comes  Las  Vegas  and  its 
famous  hot  springs,  six  miles  distant  from  the  main 
line,  but  connected  with  it  by  a  short  line  with 
good  equipments.  At  the  Hot  Springs  is  the  Phoe- 
nix Hotel.  The  springs  are  unsurpassed  anywhere 
in  the  world,  and  the  hotel  is  conducted  by  the 
company  in  the  most  generous  manner  imaginable. 
The  springs  are  forty-two  in  number,  and  are  hot 
and  cold,  and  have  a  variety  of  mineral  properties 
which  render  them  remarkably  strong  in  their  cura- 
tive power.  South  of  Las  Vegas  the  line  passes 
through  fertile  valleys,  heavy  forests,  and  lilack 
and  rugged  canons,  until  the  valley  of  the  Rio 
Grande  is  reached.  A  branch  line  from  Lamy  ex- 
tends up  the  mountain  to  Santa  Fe,  the  capital  of 
New  Mexico,  next  to  St.  Augustine,  the  oldest  city 
in  America.  Santa  Fe  has  a  new  State  House,  and 
its  quaint  old  churches  and  dwellings  are  inter- 
spersed with  modern  structures.  It  should  be  seen 
before  the  peculiar  charm  of  its  antiquity  has  been 
entirely  destroyed.  Albuquerque,  Socorro  and  San 
Marcial  are  the  chief  points  between  Santa  Fe  and 
El  Paso.  All  are  important  points  for  the  business 
of  mining,  cattle  raising  and  general  commerce. 
From  Riucon  a  branch  line  leads  to  Deming,  where 
junction  is  made  with  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
way, and  to  Silver  City,  and  to  the  other  mining 
townsof  Southern  New  Mexico.  It  is  the  fortunate 
destiny   of   New  Mexico  generally,  and   the   Rio 


TRANSPORTATTON. 


Grande  \  alk'v  [),iriiciil:irly,  to  soon  take  front  rank 
in  the  line  of  fruit  production.  Thegra|)es  produced 
in  the  Lower  Rio  Grande  Valley  are  not  surpassed 
in  either  quality  or  quantity  by  the  product  of  any 
part  of  the  Continent. 

From  Albuquerque  to  tlie  Pacific  Coast,  in  the 
heart  of  New  Mexico,  due  west,  the  Atlantic  & 
Pacific  Railroad  forni.s  the  main  Santa  Fe  Route  to 
California.  The  line  passes  through  a  great  mining 
and  stock-raising  countr\',  where  the  climate  is  per- 
fect. Prescott,  the  capital  of  Arizona,  is  reached 
by  a  branch  from  Prescott  Junction.  Constant 
changes  of  scenerj'  characterize  the  line,  and  the 
crossing  of  the  Colorado  Canon  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  accomplishments  known  in  the  railroad 
world.  In  Southern  California  the  lines  of  the 
California  Central  &  Southern  reach  every  impor- 
tant city.  Barstow,  San  Bernardino,  Colton,  San 
Diego,  National  City,  Los  Angeles,  and  a  hundred 
other  beautiful  towns  offer  unequaled  inducements 
to  the  seeker  after  health,  wealth  and  pleasure. 
San  Francisco  and  other  cities  of  Central  and 
Northern  California  are  reached  bj'  the  lines  of  the 
Southern  Pacific  by  virtue  of  a  special  arrangement 
for  traffic.  Between  Chicago  and  Kansas  City 
meals  are  served  on  the  finest  dining  cars;  on  the 
other  lines  and  branches  are  superb  eating-houses 
and  hotels.  No  expense  is  spared  in  securing  ele- 
gant accommodations;  the  supplies  are  secured 
from  the  best  markets  East  and  West. 

From  the  resume  thus  given  of  the  facilities  pos- 
sessed by  the  Santa  Fe  Railway,  for  interchanging 
traffic  at  its  termini  and  various  junctions,  it  must 
be  apparent  to  the  reader  that  the  line  is  admirably 


siUialed,  and  Uiat  in  many  respects  iL  uccu[>iis  a 
strategic  position,  superior  to  that  of  other  trans- 
Missouri  and  Mississippi  railroads.  These  advan- 
tages have  been  utilized  in  the  past,  as  they  will  be 
in  the  future,  in  developing  the  localities  through 
which  the  various  branches  extend,  and  to  build 
up  the  permanent  prosperity  of  the  property  whose 
histoiy  is  so  closely  interwoven  with  the  settlement, 
development  and  prosperity  of  the  West  beyonil 
the  Missouri  River.  Its  local  traffic  compares  fa- 
vorably with  that  of  otlier  competing  lines.  To 
this  purely  local  traffic  must  be  added  the  contri- 
butions of  its  several  termini,  all  large  cities  and 
prominent  trade  centers  in  tlie  Missouri  and  .Mi 
sissippi  Valle3's.  With  the  growth  and  steady 
development  of  the  manufacturing  and  other  indus- 
tries of  Chicago,  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph,  Atchi- 
son, Leavenworth,  Topeka,  Wichita,  Galveston, 
El  Paso,  Pueblo  and  Denver,  the  Santa  Fe  Rail- 
wa3'  must  materially  make  corresponding  strides 
toward  attaining  that  proud  financial  position  which 
has  been  the  life  dream  of  its  originators  and 
present  owners.  Under  the  present  progressive  and 
conservative  management,  all  advantages  of  geo- 
grapical  position,  and  all  the  resources  of  the 
tlirough  line  will  be  constantl}'  utilized  in  building 
up  the  future  prosperity  of  the  road  itself,  and  in 
developing  the  e:^tended  area  of  Chicago's  com- 
mercial supremac}^  The  Land  Grant  from  the 
Government  amounted  substantiallj^  to  three  mill- 
ion acres.  In  brief  its  commanding  geographical 
position,  coupled  with  its  direct  Eastern  alliance 
for  through  business,  must  render  the  Santa  Fe 
eventually  one  of  the  most  remunerative  of  our 
Western  railroads. 


TRANSPORTATION. 


The  Wabash. 

F5«.()  THE  public  aii'l  our  thousands  of. readers 
in  general: — It  will  no  doubt  be  interesting 
'I'  to  all  if  we  give  a  brief  deserii)tion  of 
this  road.  The  Wabash,  as  now  known,  lias  been 
operated  under  several  names  from  time  to  time. 
It  is  the  offspring,  as  it  were,  of  the  lirst  line  of 
road  projected  in  Illinois,  then  known  as  the 
Northern  Cross  Railroad,  extending  from  Dan- 
ville to  Quincy.  This  was  chartered  in  1837.  and 
upon  it  the  first  locomotive  w.as  placed  in  the 
winter  of  1838-30,  running  from  Meredosia,  on 
the  Illinois  River,  to  .lacksonville.  In  1842  the 
road  was  completed  fi'om  Jacksonville  to  Spring- 
lield.  and  three  trips  were  made  per  week.  The 
track  was  of  the  old  Hat  rail  style,  which  w.as  made 
by  nailing  thin  strips  of  iron  on  two  parallel  lines 
of  timbers  placed  at  the  proper  distance  apart,  and 
running  lenglhw.ays  of  the  road.  The  engine  as 
well  as  the  road  soon  became  so  impaired  that  the 
former  had  to  be  abandoned,  and  mules  substituted 
as  the  motor  power.  However,  such  locomotion 
was  destined  to  be  of  short  duration,  for  the  State 
soon  after  sold  the  entire  road  for  a  nominal  sum, 
and  thus  for  a  short  time  was  suspended  one  of  the 
first  railroad  enterprises  in  Illinois.  But  in  the 
West  a  new  era — one  of  prodigious  industrial 
activity  and  far-reaching  results  in  the  practical 
arts — was  dawning,  and  within  thirty  j-ears  of  llie 
temporarj'  failure  of  the  road  mentioned,  Illinois 
had  outstripped  all  others  in  gigantic  internal  im- 
provements, and  at  present  has  more  miles  of  rail- 
road than  any  other  State  in  the  Union. 

The  Great  Western,  whose  name  has  been  suc- 
cessively changed  to  Toledo,  Wabash  &  Western, 
Wabash,  and  Wabash,  St.  Louis  &  Pacific,  and 
Wabash  Railroad,  and  The  Wabash,  the  last  of 
which  it  still  bears,was  an  extension  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad,  above  mentioned, and  traverses  some 
of  the  finest  portions  of  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Oiiio. 
It  soon  became  the  popular  highway  of  travel  and 
traffic  between  the  East  and  the  West.  Through  a 
system  of  consolidation,  unparalleled  in  American 
railways,  it  has  become  a  giant  among  them,  and 
has  added  many  millions  of  dollars  to  the  value  of 
bonds  and  shares  of  the  various  companies  now- 
incorporated    in    the  AVabash   system.     The  road 


takes  its  title  from  the  river  of  that  name,  a  tribu- 
tary of  the  Ohio,  which  ie  part  separates  the  States 
of  Illinois  and  Indiana.  In  looking  over  the  map 
of  the  Wabash  Railroad  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
line  extends  through  the  most  fertile  and  wealthy 
portions  of  the  center  of  the  United  States,  having 
termini  at  more  large  cities  than  any  other  West- 
ern road.  It  was  indeed  a  far-reaching  sagacit3' 
which  consolidated  these  various  lines  into  the 
Wal)asli  system,  forming  one  immense  chain  of 
great  commercial  activity  and  i)ower.  Its  ter- 
minal facilities  are  unsurpassed  by  an}-  competing 
line.  Its  home  offices  are  established  in  commo- 
dious quarters  in  St.  Louis.  The  lines  of  the  road 
are  co-extensive  with  the  importance  of  the  great 
transportation  facilities  required  for  the  products 
of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  This  line  passes  through 
the  States  of  low-a,  Missouri,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio 
and  Jlichigan. 

The  various  lines  of  load  m.ay  be  divided  into 
the  following: 

Miles. 

St.  Louis  to  Chicago 286 

Toledo  to  Kansas  Cit\- GG2 

St.  Louis  to   l)es  Moines 360 

Logansport  to  Detroit 207 

Chicago  to  Lr.keton  Junction 123 

Clayton  to  Keokuk 42 

Bluffs  to  Quincy 10.5 

Streator  to  Forest 37 

Attica  to  Covington 15 

Champaign    to  Sidney 12 

Edwardsville  to  Edwardsville 

Crossing 9 

liement  to  Allamont  and  Etlinghani        63 

Brunswick  to  Omaha 225 

Roseberry  to  Clarinda 21 

Salisbury  to  Glasgow 15 

Centralia  to  Cnlumbia 22 

Bliles  of  main  lines  and  branches.  .    2204 

From  the  above  main  line  and  branches  as  in- 
dicated, it  will  readily  be  seen  that  the  Wabash 
connects  with  more;  large  cities  and  great  marts  of 
trade  than  any  other  line,  bringing  Omaha,  Kansas 
City,  Des  Moines,  Keokuk,  tiuinc}-,  St.  Louis, 
Chicago,  Toledo  and  Detroit  together  with  one 
continuous  line  of  steel  rails.  This  road  has  an 
immense  freight  traffic  of  the  cereals,  live-stock, 
various  productions  and  manufactured  articles  of 


TRANSPORTATION. 


the  West  and  the  States  through  which  it  passes. 
Its  facilities  for  rapid  transit  for  the  vast  produc- 
tions of  the  packing  houses  of  Kansas  C'it}-  and 
St.  Louis,  to  Detroit,  Toledo  and  the  Eastern  marts 
of  trade,  is  unequalled.  A  large  portion  of  the 
grain  productions  of  Ivansiis,  Nebraska.  Iowa,  Mis- 
souri, Illinois  and  Indiana,  finds  its  way  to  the 
Eastern  markets  over  the  lines  of  this  road.  The 
\Vabash  has  always  taken  an  advanced  position  in 
tariffs,  and  its  course  toward  its  patrons  has  been 
just  and  liberal,  so  that  it  has  always  enjoyed  the 
commendation  of  the  business  and  traveling  public. 
The  road  bed  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  country,  and 
is  ballasted  with  gravel  and  stone,  well  tied  and 
laid  with  steel  rails.  The  bridges  along  the  var- 
ious lines  and  branches  are  substantial  structures. 
The  depots,  grounds  and  general  property  of  the 
road  are  in  good  condition.  The  management  of 
the  Wabash  is  fully  abreast  of  the  times.  The 
road  is  progressive  in  every  respect.  The  finest 
passenger  cars  on  the  continent  are  run  on  its  lines, 
and  every  effort  made  to  advance  the  interests  of 
its  patrons.  The  passenger  department  is  unex-  | 
celled  for  the  elegant  and  substantial  comfort  ] 
afforded  travelers.  On  several  of  the  more  im- 
portant branches  of  the  S3'stem.  dining  cars  are 
run. 


Other  Roads. 

'^^Z  MONG  the  other  roads  may  be  mentioned 

^jlM    the  Toledo,  Peoria   &  Western,  which  ex- 

7;    £i   tends  from    tiast  to  West  across  Illinois, 

^'  from  State  line  to  Warsaw  and  Keokuk  on 

the  Mississippi  River.     This  road   places  Peoria  in 


direct  communication  and  connection  with  many  of 
the  leading  roads  of  Illinois,  having  special  traffic 
arrangements  with  the  Wabash  and  the  Jackson- 
ville Southeastern,  for  Chicago  and  St.  Louis, 
with  headquarters  in  Peoria,  with  a  total  of  about 
two  hundred  and  thirty  miles.  The  Jackson- 
ville Southeastern  and  the  Peoria,  Decatur  A: 
Evansville,  with  their  varied  traffic  arrangements, 
have  opened  up  a  territory  for  the  large  commer- 
cial interests  of  the  citj'  to  the  southeast,  and  the 
Lake  Erie  k  Western  and  the  Ohio,  Indiana  & 
AVestern.  together  with  the  Cleveland,  Columbus, 
Cincinnati  tfe  St.  Louis,  and  the  Peoria  &  Pekin 
Union,  have  extended  iu  a  marked  degree  tlie 
field  and  traffic  for  the  operations  of  the  growing 
commercial  and  manufacturing  metropolis  of  the 
Illinois  A'aliej'. 

The  freightage  done  by  the  steamers  plying  on 
the  Illinois  River  in  the  early  days,  furnished  the 
first  transportation  facilities,  and  is  even  now  a 
lively  competitor  for  the  trade  between  Peoria, 
St.  Louis  and  other  Southern  markets. 

The  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  with  its  vast 
system  and  ramifications  through  Illinois,  Iowa  and 
Nebraska,  brings  to  the  doors  of  Peoria  the  exten- 
sive cornfields  of  the  localities  through  which  it 
passes,  and  lays  down  by  cheap  rates,  to  the  exten- 
sive distilleries  of  the  city,  the  cereals  of  the  great 
Northwest.  This  road  also  is  a  large  competitor 
for  the  passenger  and  freight  business  between  Peo- 
ria and  Chicago. 

Tlie  Central  Iowa,  like  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
<fe  Quincy,  taps  the  great  corn  belt  through  which 
it  passes,  und  besides  has  opened  u|)  in  the  south- 
ern portion  of  the  county  a  vast  coal  field,  thereby 
assisting  largely  in  the  development  of  the  wealth 
of  the  county  and  city. 


-^^^^ 


\k 


^^^^s^^fe 


-^ 


K7 


PEORIA  COUNTY. 


ILLINOIS. 


IMTRODUQTORY. 


jHE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
'W'l^  an(j  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
«afe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
3f  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  dowii  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  earnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employe'd  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
Th';  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  atcheologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements. 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea — 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived.  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  though 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  portraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  trutli  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  wliose  lives 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


-c*'*' 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


193 


P'      JB33Q)  f  r  [1J4  :FM1S« 


'SS^!- 


^T^^-'y^y. 


OHIAS  S.  BRADLKY.  The 
rocoi'd  of  the  life  of  Mr. 
™  I'liacUej'  is  an  interesting- one; 
it  is  a  record  of  energy,  of 
xa  perseverance  in  the  face  of 
ditlieiilties,  and  of  success. 
Throiigli  tiie  fift3'-six  years  of 
liis  life,  some  of  it  in  shadow, 
some  of  it  in  sunsliine,  he  re- 
tained Ids  simplicitj',  hischeer- 
\^  fulness  and  his  belief  in  human 
nature.  We  do  not  measure  a 
man's  life  by  years,  but  b}'  inten- 
sitj".  If  we  measure  the  life  of  Mr. 
Bradley  by  the  work  he  accom- 
plished, then  lie  is  the  most  venerable  of  men,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  death  called  him  hence 
when  less  than  three-score  years  of  age.  As  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Peoria  in  its  earlier  history,  we 
are  pleased  to  present  his  biography  and  portrait 
to  our  readers.  In  connection  with  it  the  portrait 
of  Mrs.  Bradley  is  also  presenteii. 

Kentucky  was  the  early  home  of  Mr.  Bradley, 
and  in  Mt.  Sterling,  that  State,  he  was  born  Janu- 
ary 21,  1811.  lie  came  of  substantial  stock  that 
originated  in  Ireland,  and  was  a  son  of  Judge  Will- 
iam and  Rebecca  (Smith)  Bradley,  the  former  of 
whom  was  Circuit  Judge  and  lived  for  niany3'ears 
in  Switzerland  County-.  Ind.     He  served  as  a  mem- 


ber of  the  Indiana  Legislature  two  terras,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits.    Later  he  became  interested  in  farming. 

In  the  family  of  Judge  Bradley  by  his  first  wife 
there  were  seven  children,  of  whom  Tobias  S., 
our  subject,  was  the  eldest.  The  latter  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  Vevay,  Ind.,  where 
he  commenced  his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  the 
store  of  Judge  Maliii,  and  with  him  he  remained 
several  years.  Finally  going  to  New  Orleans,  he 
began  dealing  in  pioduce  along  the  river,  and  in 
the  meantime  was  married,  ^May  11,  18.37,  to  Miss 
Lydia  Moss.  This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Zela 
and  Janet  (Glasgow)  Moss,  the  f(jrmer  of  whom 
was  a  clergyman  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a  Quar- 
termaster in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  also  held 
a  Captain's  commission.  After  the  war  he  re- 
moved to  Kentucky,  of  wldcli  lie  was  a  [lioneer 
settler,  during  the  Indian  troubles  repairing  to 
Bryant's  Station  for  safety.  After  his  first  visit  to 
Kentucky  he  returned  to  the  Old  l)omiiiit)ii.  mar- 
ried and  lived  there  about  three  years,  then  again 
settled  in  Kcntuckj'.  in  1794.  After  a  residence 
of  ten  years  in  Clark  County,  he  wmit  to  Boone 
Count}',  and  subsequently  to  Switzerland  County, 
Ind.  Whileon  a  visit  to  his  son  in  Peoria  in  1839, 
he  died,  and  was  buried  in  the  Springdale  Ceme- 
tery. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Bradley  lived  ten  years 


194 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOUliAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


in  Switzerland  Count_v,  Ind.,  and  in  1847,  remov- 
in<f  to  Peoria,  lliis  State,  oocupied  himself  in  saw- 
milling,  farming,  distilling  and  lianking.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  iMa^-  4,  18G7,  he  was  President 
of  the  First  National  Bank  and  of  the  Mercantile 
J^ibrary  Association,  also  City  Treasurer.  Politi- 
cally he  was  alvva_vs  a  stanch  Democrat. 

Of  the  six  children  born  to  Mr.  Bradley  and  his 
estimable  wife  all  died  in  infancy  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  who  lived  to  be  fifteen  years  old.  Mrs. 
Bradlej'  is  a  lady  of  nuin^'  noble  qualities,  being 
benevolent,  charitable,  and  active  in  all  good 
works.  She  built,  in  1885,  what  is  kfown  as  the 
Bradley  Home  for  Aged  Women,  which  furnishes 
a  comfortable  retreat  whither  a  goodly  number 
have  already  resorted  to  spend  their  declining 
years  in  i)cace  and  quiet.  She  was  one  of  the 
largest  contributors  to  the  founding  of  the  Brad- 
ley Hospital,  and  seemingly  employs  her  leisure 
moments  in  devising  some  method  by  which  she 
may  aid  the  unfortunate.  She  gave  to  the  city  of 
Peoria  forty  acres,  which,  in  honor  of  her  de- 
ceased daughter,  is  known  as  the  Laura  iiradley 
Park,  and  is  located  at  the  cit\'  limits  on  Main 
Street.  It  is  her  |)urpcse  at  her  death  to  add  more 
lanci  to  this.  Nature  has  done  much  towards  mak- 
ing it  a  desirable  spot  for  a  park,  which  when 
handsomely  improved  will  be  an  ornament  to  the 
city. 

It  is  also  the  intention  of  Mrs.  Bradley  to  have 
established  in  the  cit}-  of  Peoria,  after  her  death,  a 
Polytechnic  school  for  girls  and  boys,  which  will  be 
located  on  Main  Street,  on  a  tract  of  ten  acres  ad- 
joining or  near  the  Home  for  Aged  Women. 
Around  this  tract  will  be  a  bro.ad  avenue.  The 
school  will  be  as  nearly  free  as  ])0ssible,  and  its 
doors  will  be  opened  especially  to  the  l)Oj-s  and 
girls  of  the  city  and  county  of  Peoria.  In  religion 
Mrs.  Bradley  is  a  Universalist,  belonging  to  the 
church  of  this  denomination  in  Peoria.  She  was 
left  with  ample  me.ans  bj-  her  departed  husband,  a 
goodly  portion  of  which  she  disburses  in  a  manner 
cliaracteristic  of  her  well-known  thoug.'itfulness  and 
generosity.  Her  charities  have  always  increased 
in  the  ratio  of  her  growing  fortune.  Honor  and 
friends  have  conic  to  her,  and  an  old  age  crowned 
whh  blcpsings,  but  even  more   welcome  is  a  con- 


sciousness of  a  life  well  spent,  and  the  glad  re- 
joicing in  the  inward  voice  sounded  from  the 
depths  of  her  being,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it 
to  the   least  of  these   my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it 


unto  Me." 


. -;»!».-;»s»  Jj^^f«5<?-.«5«J-. 


'HOMAS  S.    LANE.     No  element   has  been 
firiX   "lo''*^  potent  in  the  rise  and  progress  of  the 

immense    agricultural    interests    of    I'eoria 

County  than  its  native-born  citizens,  and  as  a  rep- 
resentative of  such  this  gentleman  occupies  an 
honorable  position  in  its  farming  community.  He 
has  a  well-conducted  and  finely-improved  farm,  in 
Trivoli  Township,  and  his  home  here  is  one  of  the 
most  attractive  in  the  locality. 

Our  subject  comes  from  one  of  the  earliest  and 
best  families  of  tiie  township.  (For  an  account  of 
his  ancestr\'  see  biography  of  George  J.  Lane  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.)  He  was  born  April 
17,  1847,  in  the  humble  log  house  which  consti- 
tuted the  pioneer  home  of  his  parents  on  section 
29,  Trivoli  Township.  He  had  excellent  school 
advantages  and  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  was 
set  to  work  to  assist  his  father  in  his  labors.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  lie  received  a  certificate  to  teach,  but 
never  availed  himself  of  it  as  his  attention  was  de- 
voted entirely  to  agricultural  [nirsuits.  When  he 
was  twenty-one  he  undertook  the  management  of 
the  home  farm  on  shares,  and  carried  it  on  suc- 
cessfully for  some  years.  In  1873  he  bought  one 
hundred  acres  of  his  present  farm  for  84.800,  and 
subsequentl}'  sold  twenty  acres  of  it  which  was 
timber  land. 

Mr.  Lane  did  not  take  up  his  residence  on  his 
farm  until  1882.  By  the  quiet  force  of  persistent 
labor,  directed  by  a  thoughtful,  well-trained  mind, 
wise  judgment  and  constant  devotion  to  duty,  he 
has  greatly  improved  his  estate,  and  increased  its 
value.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  eight3''  acres  of  land 
on  section  29,  forty  acres  on  section  22.  and  seventy 
iicres  of  the  old  homestead  that  belonged  to  his 
father,  on  section  29,  comprising  in  all  two  hun- 
dred and  ten  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land.  It 
is  well-fenced  and  well-drained,  having  twelve 
thousand  and  three  hundred  tiles  on  it;   beautiful 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


195 


groves  and  a  fine  orchard  a<lorn  tlie  place,  which 
is  am|)ly  supplied  with  hiiildings  of  a  substantial 
order.  Mr.  Lane's  farm  is  well  slocked,  he  having 
some  good  cattle  and  draft  horses,  using  two  teams 
in  his  farm  work,  and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  Po- 
land-China hogs.  lie  onl}-  operates  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  his  land  and  from  the  rental 
of  the  rest  lias  a  good  source  of  income. 

Mr.  Lane  was  married  in  Trivoli  Township  in 
his  present  house,  before  breakfast,  June  11,  1868, 
to  Miss  Ann  M.  Ralston.  She  is  a  woman  of  ex- 
ceptionally fine  character  and  her  zealous  help  lias 
greatly  lightened  tiie  burtlen  of  his  toilsome  years. 
She  was  born  in  Salem,  Westmoieland  County, Pa., 
September  2,  1845.  Her  father,  Samuel  Ralston, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  was  a  son 
of  one  John  Ralston,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
after  his  emigration  to  this  country,  made  his 
home  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing until  his  death.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812.  Mrs.  Lane's  father  was  a  farmer  in  his 
native  State  until  he  came  to  this  county  in  1865, 
and  settled  in  Trivoli  Township.  Later  he  bought 
a  place  here,  and  a  fevv  years  after  that  he  bought 
a  residence  in  Farmington.and  died  there  in  Septem- 
ber, 1877.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religion  and 
strong  in  tiie  faith.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Jane  Buchanan,  and  she  was  born  in  the  Key- 
stone State,  a  daughter  of  David  Buchanan,  also  a 
native  of  that  State,  and  a  farmer  and  bkicksmith. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  came 
herein  1870  with  his  wife  and  they  died  in  Farm- 
ington.  Mrs.  Lane's  mother  departed  this  life  in 
1878. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ralston  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  namely:  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  J^eahman 
of  Yates  City;  Ann  M.,wife  of  our  sidiject;  Alex- 
ander, a  resident  of  Montana  who  enlisted  in 
1862,  in  the  Eighty -sixth  Illinois  Cavalry  in  which 
he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war;  James  C,  a 
grocer  of  Farmington  who  enlisted  in  the  Eighty- 
sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war;  David  15.,  a  resident  of  Lexington; 
John  C ;  Lizzie,  who  died  in  1870;  Elijah  M..  a 
resident  of  Trivoli;  Samuel  II.,  commission  raer 
chant  and  dealer  in  horses  at  Chenoa;  Laura,  nov^ 
Mrs.  Sceiber,  of  Denver;  P^rank,  who  died  in  Den- 


ver in  1888.  Mrs.  Lane's  marriage  with  our  sub- 
ject has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  three 
children,  of  whom  two  are  living:  Wilbert  C.,  and 
James  Otis.  Their  daughter  Emma  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six  months. 

Mr.  Lane  is  a  man  of  sujierior  intelligence,  of 
sound  principles  and  of  a  blameless  life,  and  is  a 
gentleman  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word.  He  is 
serving  his  eighth  year  as  School  Director,  and  his 
hand  is  seen  in  all  plans  to  promote  the  educational, 
religious  or  material  status  of  the  community.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  has  been  Steward  and  held  other  church 
ofIices,and  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-School. 
No  man  has  done  more  to  establish  the  Methodist 
faith  here  than  he.  lu  1884,  he  was  one  of  the 
most  |)rominent  of  the  men  who  were  interested  in 
the  building  of  the  new  church;  he  was  one  of  the 
building  committee  and  did  nearly  all  of  the  work 
in  connection  with  the  erection  of  the  building, 
and  he  is  now  Trustee  of  the  church.  Our  subject 
has  served  on  the  Petit  and  Grand  Juries.  He 
IS  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views  but  is  not  radi- 
cal. 


,^HARLES  A.  KRUMPE.  The  dairy  busi- 
ness is  by  no  means  an  unimportant  in- 
dustry, nor  the  man  who  abl}-  conducts  it 
undeserving  of  consideration  among  the  capable 
and  industrious  citizens  of  any  locality.  Among 
those  in  this  section  who  are  carrying  on  this  bus- 
iness is  Charles  A.  Krumpe,  who  resides  upon  sec- 
tion 13,  Kickapoo  Townshij).  He  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  three  hundred  acres,  and  a  herd  of  about 
one  hundred  cows.  The  dairy  products  are  dis- 
))osed  of  in  Peoria,  where  his  reputation  is  thor- 
oughly established.  Althougli  Mr.  Krumpe  gives 
his  chief  attention  to  the  dairy  business,  he  has  by 
no  means  neglected  I  he  improvement  of  his  estate, 
but  on  the  contrary  has  placed  upon  it  an  attrac- 
tive residence  and  a  full  line  of  excellent  farm 
buildings. 

Mr.  Krumpe  was  bom  in  Germany  November  28. 
18.3.S,  and  reached  the  age  of  eleven  )'ears  in  the 
land  of  his  birth.      He  then   went   to   live   with   an 


196 


PORTRAIT  ANDBBIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


uncle  in  Kiissia,  remaining  there  until  nearly  six- 
teen years  old.  when  he  embarki'd  for  America, 
find,  landing  at  IS'ew  York,  went  to  Butler  County. 
Pa.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm  work  until  about 
I  wontj"-t\vo  years  old.  He  then  came  to  Peoria, 
J II..  soon  afterward  entering  the  emplo}-  of  Peter 
Fry,  on  whose  farm  he  worked  about  fourteen 
months.  Since  th.it  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
different  occupations  for  himself,  graduallj-  accu- 
mulating property,  and  since  early  in  the  '70's 
giving  his  attention  to  the  stock  business,  farming 
and  dairy  work.  He  carries  on  an  extensive  bus- 
iness in  the  latter  lino,  as  has  been  iMeviously  in- 
timated. 

The  rites  of  wedlock  were  celebrated  between 
IMr.  Krumpe  and  Miss  Sabine  Ditewig,  in  Peoria, 
in  April.  18G5.  The  bride  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1842.  Siie  is  a  notable  housewife,  a  woman  of 
intelligence,  kindliness  and  devotion  to  her  famil3\ 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krumpe  have  four  living  children, 
named  respectively,  Minnie,  Frederick,  Edward 
and  Ida.  Minnie  is  now  the  wife  of  Frank  Apple. 
The  parents  have  buried  two  children:  Emma,  who 
died  W'hen  about  two  years  old;  and  Charles,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  months. 

Mr.  Krumpe  luas  served  as  School  Director,  but 
does  not  aspire  to  oflicial  honors.  In  politics  he 
gives  his  vote  to  the  man  whom  he  considers  best 
qualified  to  serve  the  people.  Not  only  has  he 
acquired  a  good  reputation  as  a  farmer  and  dairy- 
man, but  he  is  regarded  as  one  who  deals  honor- 
ably by  his  ffcllow-raen,  is  deeplj-  interested  in  the 
public  welfare  and  willing  at  all  times  to  do  what 
he  can  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  commu- 
nity. 

*»  "^*3»'S*I*^ 


\f/OHN  H.  FRANCIS.  This  gentleman  is  one 
of  the  most  prominent  business  men  of  Peo- 
ria, which  has  been  the  seat  of  extensive 
financial  operations  on  his  part  for  some 
years.  AVhatever  he  has  undertaken  has  been  en- 
tered into  with  a  full  determination  to  make  of  it  a 
success,  in  so  far  as  that  end  depended  upon  his 
efforts,  and  he  has  been  rewarded  by  a  first  class 
reputation  in  commercial  circles  and  a  large  share 


of  worldly  goods.  His  palatial  residence  occupies 
a  commanding  site  on  the  bluff  overlooking  the 
city,  in  the  neighborhood  considered  most  desira- 
ble for  dwellings,  and  is  fitted  up  in  a  manner  that 
is  in  keeping  with  tlie  position  occupied  by  those 
who  dwell  therein. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Littleberg  and  Polly  (Hubbard)  Francis,  natives  of 
Kentucky,  in  which  State  the  preceding  generation 
in  both  lines  had  been  pioneers.  Pennsydvania  h:id-. 
been  the  former  home  of  the  grandparents,  the  an- 
cestors being  German  in  the  maternal  line  and 
Scotch  in  the  paternal.  The  parents  of  our  subject 
removed  from  Kentucky  to  Dearborn  County,  Ind.. 
during  his  childhood,  he  having  been  born  in  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  May  7, 1829.  His  youth  was  spent  in 
the  Hoosier  State,  in  attendance  at  the  common 
school,  and  in  assisting  in  the  labor  performed  on 
the  home  farm. 

When  he  had  reached  his  nineteenth  year  young 
Francis  started  out  to  battle  for  himself,  drifting 
West  as  far  as  Peoria,  111.,  where  he  began  to  work 
at  the  cooper's  trade,  which  he  had  learned  at  his 
old  home.  After  following  his  trade  some  five 
years  he  bought  a  small  interest  in  the  distillery 
business  of  Moss,  Bradley  &  Co.,  continuing  in  the 
firm  until  1866,  when  a  change  was  made  and  he 
purchsed  the  interest  of  his  partners.  He  then  took 
in  a  Mr.  Zell,  the  style  of  the  firm  being  changed 
to  Zell  &  Francis,  and  the  business  continued  by 
them  a  number  of  years.  In  1878'  Mr.  Francis 
disposed  of  his  entire  interest  in  the  business,  but 
not  being  satisfied  to  remain  idle,  he  built  what  is 
known  as  the  Monarch  Distillery  at  Peoria,  but 
which  was  owned  by  the  Monarch  Distillery  Com- 
pany. The  same  year  he  organized  what  became 
the  Great  Western  Distilling  Company  and  had  built 
the  Great  AVeslern  Distillery,  and  also  an  interest 
in  the  Peoria  Distilleiy.  where  he  operateil  exten- 
sively until  he  disposed  of  his  entire  interest  to  the 
Whiskey  Trust  in  1887. 

For  some  time  past  Mr.  Francis  has  devoted  his 
time  to  looking  after  his  financial  interests  in  the 
city,  enjoying  the  pleasures  which  his  abundant 
means  allow  r.nd  the  society  of  family  and  friends 
as  he  could  not  do  when  deeply  immersed  in  busi- 
ness affiiirs.      He  is  a  stock-holder  in  the  First  Na- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


197 


tional  Bank  of  Peoria,  holding  the  office  of  Director, 
and  in  the  Spring  of  1865  became  a  stockholder 
and  Director  in  the  Adams  Street  Railway  lines, 
but  lias  since  disposed  of  his  interest.  He  was  also 
a  Trustee  in  the  Cattle  Dealers'  Trust.  For  seven 
consecutive  years  he  represented  the  First  Ward  as 
an  Alderman  and  he  is  at  present  an  Alderman 
from  the  Seventh  Ward.  In  politics  he  is  .somewhat 
conservative,  voting  with  the  Republican  party  in 
National  matters,  but  in  local  affairs  giving  his 
ballot  to  the  man  he  thinks  best  fitted  for  the  place. 
Mr.  Francis  has  been  tvvice  married,  his  first 
companion  having  been  Miss  Harriet  Ingali,  of 
this  city,  who  was  removed  bj'  death  in  1872.  She 
left  five  children,  viz:  John  H.,  Jr.,  William  E., 
Hattie,  Josephine  and  Bruce.  Hattie  is  the  wife  of 
William  McMullen,  an  extensive  lumber  dealer  in 
Minneapolis,  and  Josephine,  the  wife  of  John  C. 
Wind,  of  Peoria.  After  having  remained  a  widower 
some  two  3'ears,  Mr.  F'rancis  became  the  husband  of 
Miss  .Mary  Ingali,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife  and  the 
youngest  daughter  of  William  and  Chastine  Ingali, 
of  this  city.  This  union  has  been  blest  bj-  the  birth 
of  one  daughter — Maude.  It  would  naturally  be 
supposed  that  the  family  of  Mr.  P'rancis  would  re- 
cc  ive  the  best  advantages  for  mental  and  social 
culture,  and  such  has  been  the  case. 


Bdim  ^1  nHQf 


R.  JOHN  MURPHY  has  long  been  promi- 
nent among  the  leading  men  of  the  medical 
profession  in  Peoria,  having  practiced  there 
•nger  than  other  living  physician,  although  another 
<  minent  member  of  the  faculty.  Dr.  R.  Boal,  is 
some  years  his  senior.  He  came  to  Peoria  in  181(1 
from  New  Orleans,  where  he  had  gone  from  his  na- 
tive place,  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  to  succeed  to  the 
practice  of  a  relative,  long  a  distinguished  phys- 
ician of  the  southern  metropolis.  The  climate  of 
the  South  not  agreeing  with  Mrs.  Murijli}-,  he  was 
compelled  to  leave  there,  and  after  traveling  ex- 
tensively over  the  then  West,  finally  settled  in 
Peoria. 

At  that    time  there  was   nothing    es|)efially  at- 
tractive auout  the   miniature   citv  of  Peoria,  with 


its  twelve  hundred  inhabitants,  and  certaini}-  there 
was  no  indication  of  its  ever  reaching  the  proud 
position  which  it  now  occupies.  Dr.  Murphy  was 
simply  f.ascinated  by  the  extreme  beauty  of  the 
locality,  and  while  under  the  spell  determined  to 
make  it  his  future  home,  and  has  ever  since  re- 
mained faithful  to  the  city  of  his  early  choice. 

Dr.  Murphy  is  a  graduate  in  medicine  of  the 
University  of  Edinburgh,  and  a  member  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  London.  His  early 
opportunities  of  gaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
his  profession  in  the  lecture  rooms  and  hospitals  of 
London  and  Edinburgh,  have  continued  to  be  culti- 
vated by  him,  and  he  has  devoted  himself  to  the 
the  study  of  the  various  departments  of  his  profes- 
sion and  to  the  elucidation  of  the  many  intiicate 
and  complicated  questions  which  are  constantly 
arising  in  medical  science. 

At  the  period  of  his  arrival  in  Peoria  it  con- 
tained a  galaxy  of  [ihysicians,  such  as  is  rarely 
met  with  in  a  provincial  town.  It  was  composed  of 
Drs.  Rouse,  Dickenson,  Fry,  Andrews  .-uid  Arn- 
old, all  of  them  able  and  profound  members  of 
their  profession,  and  also  learned  and  cultivated 
men.  In  conjunction  with  them,  the  subject  of  the 
preserit  sketch  founded  Peoria's  first  Medical  and 
Surgical  Society,  of  which  he  has  always  continued 
an  active  and  interested  member.  It  is  now  the 
oldest  organization  of  its  kind  in  the  State,  and 
has  been  of  marked  utility  in  molding  the  ethics 
of  the  medical  faculty  of  Peoria  and  in  giving  tone 
and  character  to  the  profession  in  Central  Illinois. 
Of  the  founders  of  this  societ3'  Dr.  Murphy  is 
now  the  only  li\ing  representative;  all  of  the 
others,  full  of  3ears  and  honors,  have  passed  the 
bourne  from  which  no  one  ever  returns.  lie  is  also 
one  of  the  few  remaining  original  members  of  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  and  of  the  Ameri- 
can Medical  Association.  As  a  faithful  and  skillful 
physician  Dr.  Murphy  is  widely  known  throughout 
the  West,  and  has  made  for  himself  hosts  of  warm 
and  lasting  friends. 

As  was  to  be  expected  of  a  man  of  his  natural 
ability  and  extensive  educational  advantages.  Dr. 
Murphy  speedily  achieved  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice,  and  bj'  judicious  investments,  it  is  untler- 
stood,  has  been  able  to  amass  rpiite  a  large  fortune. 


198 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


He  li;is  Ihe  rf[)ulati()n  of  managing  liis  private  af- 
fairs with  caiiliou  and  priulenc-e,  and  alliiough  im- 
mersed in  [lis  still  large  practice,  and  constantly 
increasing  private  business,  he  finds  leisure  for  his 
vacations,  and  enjoys  them  with  a  zest  and  relish 
which  many  younger  men  would  do  well  to  imitate. 
In  addition  to  his  being  a  skillful  and  [.oinilar 
medical  practitioner.  Dr.  Murphy  has  long  been 
recognized  as  a  man  of  fine  literary  tastes,  spend- 
ing his  spare  hours  in  his  library,  among  bis  books, 
and  filling  the  interstices  of  bis  time  in  the  culti- 
vation of  general  literature.  Although  an  able 
writer  and  a  fluent  speaker,  familiar  with  lustory, 
and  en  rapport  with  all  the  important  topics  of  the 
day,  he  has  never  thrust  liiniself  prominently  for- 
ward in  politics  or  religion,  and  has  always  avoided 
every  species  of  controversy.  Seldom  mingling 
in  general  society,  and  usually  reticent  when  he 
<1oes,  he  is  said  to  be  a  most  agreeable  companion 
in  private  life,  having  under  his  control  the  con- 
centrated results  of  omuiverous  reading,  and  of 
long  intercourse  with  the  world.  His  literary 
education  was  received  in  the  colleges  of  Belfast 
and  Dublin,  he  being  an  A.  M.  of  the  former. 


ENRY  W.  JONES.  In  traveling  through 
It  Peoria  County,  a  stranger  would  note  with 
satisfaction  the  signs  of  prosperity  and  good 
taste  which  mark  manj'  of  its  rural  abodes. 
One  of  the  most  attractive  to  be  seen  in  Kickapoo 
Township  is  that  of  the  above-named  gentleman,  an 
old  settler,  whose  estate  has  taken  on  the  character 
of  those  who  have  so  long  occupied  it.  The  entire 
two  hundred  acres  are  carefully  and  intelligently 
managed,  neatness  and  order  being  every  where 
apparent  and  indicating  that  the  owner  makes  of 
farming  both  an  art  and  a  science.  The  buildings 
which  have  been  erected  are  well  designed,  commo- 
dious and  conveniently  disposed,  and  are  kept  in 
first-clais  order. 

In  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  in  1782.  Henry  Jones 
was  l)orn.  Some  two  ye.irs"  later,  near  the  Juniata 
River  in  Pennsylvania,  Sarah  Zi;in  opened  her  e^es 


to  the  light  of  d.'iy.  'I'his  couple,  upon  growing  to 
maturity,  married  and  settled  in  Gallia  County, 
Ohio,  whence  they  removed  to  Jackson  County 
about  1824.  In  1831  thej-  came  to  Peoria  County, 
111.,  settling  in  Limestone  Township,  on  what  was 
known  as  Jones'  Prairie  or  .lones'  .Spring.  There 
Mr.  Jones  breathed  his  last  about  1852,  his  wife 
surviving  several  years.  Their  fauiilj'  comprised 
two  sons  and  six  daughters. 

The  sixth  child  in  this  family  was  born  in  Gallia 
Count}',  Ohio,  February  7,  1819,  and  christened 
Ilenrj-  W.  This  lad  came  to  Peoria  County  with 
his  parents  when  in  his  thirteenth  year  and  grew  to 
manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Limestone  Town- 
ship. He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
his  marriage,  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1842, 
when  he  set  up  his  own  home  in  the  same  township. 
About  a  jear  and  a  half  later  he  removed  to  section 
34,  Kickapoo  Township,  where  he  has  continued  to 
reside,  making  farming  his  chief  business  and  secur- 
ing a  merited  reward  for  his  industry  and  good 
judgment. 

The  wife  of  Henrj'  AV.  .lones  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Miss  Rebecca  Miller,  and  was  born 
in  Shelby  County,  Ky.,  December  28,  1821.  She  is 
the  seventh  in  a  family  comprising  six  sons  and  two 
daughters  born  to  Reuben  and  Nancy  (Sturgeon) 
Miller.  They  were  natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  State, 
in  which  the}'  were  married  ami  spent  their  wedded 
life.  Mr.  Miller  died  in  Shelby  County  about  1826 
and  in  1834  his  widow  with  her  family  came  to 
Peoria  County,  111.  She  settled  in  Kickapoo  Town- 
ship, dying  therein  1872.  There  the  marriage  rites 
of  her  daughter  Rebecca  and  our  subject  were  cele- 
brated October  30,  1842. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  twelve  children  have 
been  born,  of  wliom  we  note  the  following:  Clar- 
issa C.  is  the  wife  of  Francis  Peppard ;  Lovina  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Daly;  Amanda  E.  married 
Thomas  Necorab;  Charles  P.,  who  married  Miss 
Caroline  Daly,  died  in  Limestone  Township,  March 
17,  1888;  Lucinda  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Awl; 
James  H.  married  Miss  Alice  Brown  and  lives  in 
Kickapoo  Township;  Malinda  J.  is  the  wife  of  Al- 
fred Kershaw,  of  Elmwood  Township;  John  F.  died 
when  about  eleven  years  old;  George  N.  died  when 
two  years  old;  .\nna  died  in  infamy;  Adeline  C.  is 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


199 


the  wife  of  William  Edwards,  of  Rosefield  Town- 
ship; Euphemia  is  the  wife  of  Hicliard  Lonsdale, 
Jr.,  of  Kiclvapoo  Township. 

Probablj'  no  citizen  of  Kiclvapoo  Township  li;is 
borne  a  more  active  part  in  local  affairs  than  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  deeply  interested  in 
the  welfare  of  this  section  of  the  country  and  e\  er 
ready  to  bear  a  part  in  movements  which  will  i)ro- 
mote  it.  His  fellow-citizens  recognize  this  fact, 
and  also  his  intelligence  and  good  judgment,  and 
have  therefore  called  for  his  services  as  School  Di- 
rector, School  Trustee,  Highway  Commissioner, 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Assessor.  He  is  liberal 
in  his  religious  views,  honorable  and  upright  in  his 
dealings,  kindly  in  social  and  domestic  relations, 
and  deserving  of  that  which  he  receives — the 
tho>'ough  respect  and  good  will  of  his  associates. 
His  wife  is  a  fitting  companion  for  a  man  of  his 
calibre,  bearing  well  her  part  in  the  duties  of  life 
and  winning  many  friends  thereby. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  'subject  was 
James  Jones,  a  Welshman,  who  married  Sarah 
Howdeshell,  who  was  of  German  and  English  ex- 
traction. They  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
the  Bucke3'e  State,  in  ivhich  they  were  gathered  to 
their  fathers. 


<ji|  AMES  CLARK.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Peoria  County, 
having  migrated  from  Adams  County,  Ohio, 
(^j//  to  the  place  where  he  now  lives  in  October, 
1  S37.  He  was  bo.  n  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  June 
4.  1815,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  lived  until 
he  was  about  twenty-two  years  of  age  when,  as 
tihiive  stated,  he  removed  to  Peoria  County  and 
settled  in  Hollis  Township.  Although  he  changed 
his  residence  from  one  State  to  another,  geograph- 
icall}"  considered,  he  has  not  clKinged  his  condition 
raaUinKjnially  viewed,  but  has  passed  his  life  in  a 
Slate  of  single  blessedness.  During  the  first  winter 
lie  was  a  resident  of  this  count}-  he  worked  in  the 
lily  of  Peoria,  and  in  the  second  spring  hired  out 
to  a  Mr.  Stephens,  on  the  LaMarsh  Creek,  near 
where   he    now  resides.     Thronnliout    the    second 


winter  of  his  residence  in  the  county  he  employed 
himself  at  his  trade  of  a  lilacksmilh,  which  he  had 
learned  in  Ohio.  In  addition  to  the  trade  above 
mentioned,  he  had  served  an  appprenticeship  to 
to  the  gunsmith  trade.  He  carried  on  blacksmith- 
ing  upon  the  homestead  in  the  intervals  of  opera- 
ting his  farm.  He  commenced  the  united  operations 
in  1840  and  pursued  them  until  nature  proteste<l 
too  strongly,  when  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish 
,ictive  work  and  give  himself  up  to  the  enjoyment 
of  the  repose  his  long  and  busy  life  had  rendered 
necessarj'. 

In  1858  our  subject  was  elected  School  Treasurer 
of  the  townshi]),  and  has  held  that  ofHce  continu- 
ously to  the  present  time.  He  was  Road  Commis- 
sioner of  the  district  for  twenty-six  years.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment  and  takes  an  act- 
ive interest  in  all  questions  affecting  the  welfare  of 
the  district  in  which  he  lives.  His  age  and  well- 
known  integrity  and  intelligence  make  him  an 
authority  upon  almost  nil  questions  arising  for  dis- 
cussion in  the  neighborhood.  He  is  held  in  hii^li 
esteem  bj^  all  who  are  lu-ivileged  to  secure  his  .ac- 
quaintance. 

Mr.  Clark  lives  on  his  farm.  Init  rents  it  and  re- 
sides on  the  same,  where  he  is  kept  from  the  loneli- 
ness he  might  otherwise  feel  by  the  jiresence  of  his 
brother  Esau,  who  makes  his  home  with  him.  The 
younger  man  was  born  in  1825,  and  removed  to 
this  county  in  1857,  coming  to  his  brother,  with 
whom  he  has  since  resided.  Sarah,  a  sister  of  Mr. 
Clark  lived  with  him  for  a  number  of  years  until 
her  death  in  1866.  She  was  ihe  widow  of  Sol  B. 
McCall,  and  had  one  child — F.  M.  McCall,  now  a 
resident  of  Nebraska,  removed  hither   from   Ohio. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  I<]liza- 
beth  (Gall)  Clark.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Ireland  and  left  that  country  when  a  child  of  four 
years.  The  mother's  family,  the  Galls,  were  of 
Dutch  ancestry  and  belonged  to  that  portion  of  the 
Dutch  who  settled  New  York  and  were  driven 
out  by  the  P^nglish  when  the  latter  obtained  poses- 
sion  of  that  State.  George,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Clark, 
and  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  hero  of  the 
Revolutionary  War.  His  son  George, served  in  the 
War  of  1812.  At  Hull's  surrender  he  was  taken 
as  one  of  the  prisoners  and,  along  with   his  com- 


200 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


rades,  put  into  a  jien  and  fattened  on  raw  corn. 
Histoiy  does  not  inform  us  how  tlic  experiment 
succeeded,  but  the  end  of  the  war  mercifull}'  ter- 
minated their  sufferings  and  restored  them  to  their 
homes  and  civilized  surroundings.  The  grand- 
mother of  our  subject,  the  wife  of  George  Gall,  was 
a  Miss  Susie  Nichols,  and  was  a  fitting  mate  for  a 
brave  man  in  those  troublous  times. 


^E 


E^^^ 


\f7  B.  MARTIN.  M.  D.  Prominent  among 
I  (©  ''''^  successful  physicians  of  Peoria  Count}' 
iJL^!^  may  be  properly  mentioned  Dr.  Martin,  who 
h.is  a  finely  equipped  office  at  No.  303  Main  Street 
and  an  elegant  residence  at  No.  1001  Perry  Street 
North. 

The  main  incidents  in  the  life-history  of  Dr. 
Martin  are  esseutiall}'  as  follows:  He  is  the  offspring 
of  an  excellent  family,  his  father  being  Dr.  James 
W.  Martin,  who  came  to  Peoria  in  1862  and  fol- 
lowed his  profession  succcssfull}'  until  the  illness 
which  resulted  in  his  death,  November  5,  1881. 
He  was  born  near  Harper's  Ferry,  Ya.,  and  in  early 
manhood  married  Miss  Mary  Gardner,  of  Ohio. 
The}-  located  in  Fairview,  Fulton  County,  111., 
where  Dr.  Martin.  Sr..  practiced  medicine.  In 
Peoria  he  became  prominent  and  popular,  and  by 
his  genial  disposition  drew  around  him  hosts  of 
friends.  The  wife  and  mother  is  still  living,  mak- 
ing her  iiome  with  her  son,  L.  B.  Besides  the  lat- 
ter, five  other  sons  survive:  W.  C.  is  one  of  the 
successful  dentists  of  the  city;  two  of  the  sous  are 
in  Iowa — John  V.,  a  physician,  and  Francis  G.,  a 
merchant;  Eugene  C.  is  traveling  for  the  well- 
known  wholesale  grocery  house  of  Sprague  &  War- 
ner, of  Chicago;  J.  W.  is  a  merchant  at  Mossville, 
this  State. 

The  subject  of  tiiis  notice  was  born  in  Catawba, 
Ohio,  March  28,1845,  and  completed  his  education 
at  Galesburg,  this  State.  He  commenced  reading 
medicine  under  the  instruction  of  his  father  and 
then  took  a  course  of  lectures  in  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, Chicago,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1868.  Shortly  afterward  he  entered  upon  the 
re  ular  practice  of  his  profession  which  he  has  since 


followed  with  uniform  success.  He  gives  little  at- 
tention to  politics  with  the  exception  of  voting  the 
Republican  ticket.  lie  was  at  one  period  the  Pen- 
sion Examiner  of  this  district,  but  resigned  in  favor 
of  Dr.  Spaulding,  as  the  duties  of  this  position  in- 
terfered too  much  with  his  general  practice. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Hughes,  October  1,  1868.  Mrs. 
Martin  was  born  in  Peoria  and  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Maria  Hughes,  the  former  of  whom 
settled  in  Peoria  as  early  as  1845,  and  established 
himself  as  a  wholesale  cooper.  To  the  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  Martin  there  have  been  born  eight  children, 
who  form  an  unbroken  household  circle  which  has 
thus  far  been  uninvaded  by  the  destroyer.  These 
are  named  respectively,  Leonidas  B.,  Jr.,  Hughes, 
Maude,  Mabel.  Ethel,  J.  W.,  Harry  and  Bruce.  The 
eldest  son  is  stud3'ing  dentistry  but  the  others,  with 
the  exception  of  the  two  youngest,  are  attending 
fhoool.  Mrs.  Martin  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

—5-        -^^ ^— 


EZRA  DOTY  YARNES.  One  of  the  most 
pleasant  homesteads  of  Trivoli  Township  is 
!  that  owned  and  in  part  operated  by  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  and  who.  as 
a  skillful  agi'iiulturist  and  enterprising  citizen,  is 
identified  with  many  important  measures  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  resources  of  Peoria  County.  His 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  is  located  on 
section  20,  and  is  embellished  by  a  commodious 
and  conveniently-arranged  residence,  a  good  barn, 
50x60  feet,  and  other  outbuildings  essential  to  the 
proper  conducting  of  a  modern  farm.  His  estate 
is  largely  devoted  to  the  cultivating  of  the  vari- 
ous grains,  although  he  gives  considerable  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  stock. 

.Tracing  his  ancestry  back  a  few  generations,  we 
find  that  Isaac  Yarnes.  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, came  from  Germany  at  an  early  date,  and 
settling  in  Juniata  County,  Pa.,  there  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  Captain  in  the 
AV'ar  of  1812.  Among  his  children  was  one  son, 
Isaac,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who   was  born  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


201 


Penns3ivani.i  and  was  a  fanner  by  occupation.  At 
one  time  he  made  a  trip  to  Ohio  on  foot,  going  as 
far  west  as  the  JLaumee  Kivcr,  and  returning  to 
the  Keystone  Slate,  where  he  died  in  1851.  Po- 
litically, he  was  a  Whig,  and  in  matters  of  religion 
was  a  consistent  ineniber  of  the  liaptist  Church. 
His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jane  Arnold, 
and  was  a  native  of  Juniata  County,  Pa.,  descend- 
ing from  German  ancestors.  Slie  passed  away  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1880,  having  survived  her  hus- 
band many  years. 

Tiie  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  one  of  a 
large  fainil}-,  ten  children  having  been  born  to 
his  parents,  of  whom  he  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth.  The  others  were:  Arnold,  a  farmer  in  Juni- 
ata C'ounty.  Pa.;  Isaac,  who  is  engaged  as  a  farmer 
in  Fulton  County,  Pa.;  Mitchell,  a  resident  of 
Juniata;  Michael,  who  lives  in  California;  Plia'be, 
Mrs.  Stewart,  died  in  Trivoli  Township;  Mary, 
Mrs.  Grafton,  is  a  resident  of  Harford  County,  Md.; 
Anna  M..  Mrs.  Robison,  also  lives  in  Harford 
Count}-.  Md.;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Grafton,  lives  in  the 
same  county;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Horning,  is  a  resident  of 
Juniata,  Pa.  The  natal  d.a}'  of  our  subject  was 
August  9,  1831.  and  the  place  of  ills  birth  ]\lilliin. 
Juniata  County,  Pa.  He  remained  on  the  parental 
homestead,  attending  the  district  schools,  until  the 
age  of  eleven  j-ears,  when  he  began  to  work  out. 
His  remuneration  was  not  ver}'  large,  leceiving  the 
first  five  jears.  respectively,  §1.50,  §2.50,  85,  §6.50. 
$8,  $9  per  month. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  our  subject  began 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  Juni- 
ata County;  later  he  worked  at  Mifflin  as  a  jour- 
neyman, being  a  practical  blacksmith.  Having,  in 
1857,  accumulated  §100  by  hard  work,  he  went  bj' 
rail  to  Logausport,  Ind.,  and  engaged  in  work  as  a 
blacksmith  and  farmer  for  a  few  months.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  located  in  Pekin,  where  he 
sojourned  until  the  spring  of  1858.  Lancaster  was 
his  next  home,  and  there  he  erected  a  blacksmith's 
shop  and  worked  at  his  trade.  He  also  bought 
properly  and  remained  in  that  place  for  four  or 
five  years.  Then,  selling  out,  he  removed  to  Orion 
Township,  Fulton  County,  111.,  bu3ing  eighty  acres, 
which  he  improved  and  cleared.  There  also  he  put 
up   a  shop  and   labored  as  a  blacksniilli   in  addi- 


tion to  his  farm  duiies,  hauling  the  lumber  for  the 
building  from  Peoria.  He  remained  in  Fulton 
County  until  1866.  then  going  to  KImwood  Town- 
ship, bought  a  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre  farm 
on  section  36.  To  this  estate  eiglii}-  acres  were 
added  later,  making  two  hundred  and  forty,  which 
he  improved  and  embellished  with  substantial  build- 
ings, etc.  He  resided  there  until  1869,  continuing 
to  manage  u  shop  in  connection  with  his  farm 
labor. 

The  present  fine  property  of  Mr.  Varnes  was  pur- 
chased in  1886,  and  two  years  later  he  traded  one 
hundred  and  sixtj'  acres  of  his  farm  in  Elmvvood  for 
a  farm  in  Russell  County,  Kan.,  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  His  place  is  surrounded  witii  hedge 
fence,  neatly  trimmed;  the  Land  is  tiled,  and  other- 
wise improved.  He  still  owns  eighty  acres  in  Elm- 
wood  Township,  which  is  also  improved.  Perhaps 
the  most  important  event  in  the  life  of  our  subject 
was  his  union  with  Miss  Jane  Kepner,  which  was 
celebrated  at  the  bride's  home,  in  Delphi,  Ind., 
July  20.  1858.  This  Lady  w.as  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Jacob  and  Mary  Kepner,  both  natives  of 
Juniata  County,  where  Mrs.  A'arnes  was  also  born. 
In  1837  the  father  came  to  Ohio,  and  remained 
during  one  winter  near  Chillicothe.  In  the  spring 
of  1838  he  removed  still  further  west,  locating  in 
Carroll  County,  Ind.,  between  Delphi  and  Logans- 
port.  There  he  put  up  a  log  cabin  and  improved  a 
farm  comprising  eighty  acres  of  land.  He  died  at 
his  home  in  February,  1886,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years.  Prior  to  the  Civil  War  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, but  later  became  an  ardent  Republican.  He 
was  a-  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Varnes 
was  Leonard  (u'oinger,  a  native  of  Penns3dvania; 
he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  and  kept 
until  almost  starved  to  death.  He  finally  escaped 
bj'  contriving  a  raft,  on  which  he  floated  down  the 
river.  He  died  in  the  Keystone  State,  the  mother 
also  passing  away  in  that  State  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years. 

Mrs.  Varnes  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  .Samuel,  in  Kokomo,  Ind.;  John,  de- 
ceased; Henry,  also  in  Kokomo,  Ind.;  Catherine, 
Mrs.  Bimgham.am;  Adeline,  Mrs.  Collins,  both  of 
Indiana;  Jane,   Mrs.  Varnes;   Susanna,   Mrs.  Rhor- 


202 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


habaiigh,  deceased;  Nancy,  Mrs.  Gardner,  of  Cam- 
den, Ind.  Samuel  and  Henry  were  in  an  Indiana 
regiment  during  the  late  war,  but  escaped  unhurt. 
Mrs.  Varnes  was  born  in  Juniata  County,  Pa.,  and 
when  two  years  old  went  with  her  parents  to  Ohio, 
and  later  to  Indiana,  where  she  was  rea'ed  to 
womanhood. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Varnes  ten  children  have 
been  born,  namely:  William  A.,  who  operates  an 
eighty-acre  farm  in  Brimfield  Township;  Mary  J., 
who  is  the  wife  of  Lee  Thurston,  and  resides  in 
Elm  wood  Township;  Ezra  D.,  Jr.,  who  resides  in 
Trivoli  Township  and  operates  a  farm;  George 
Stewart,  Sarah  E.,  Clara  E.,  Emma  M.,  and  Albert 
G.  at  home.  Two  children  are  deceased.  Mr. 
Varnes  is  interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  and 
has  served  as  School  Director  for  many  years.  He 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  four  years  in  Orion 
Township,  also  as  Township  Clerk.  Together  with 
his  family,  he  worships  at  the  Old  School  Baptist 
Cliurch,  in  Hilmwood  Township.  an<l  is  Deacon 
tliere.  His  part}'  belief  coincides  with  the  i)lat- 
forni  of  the  Democrats,  although  he  votes  inde- 
pendently, supporting  the  men  that  he  considers 
most  fitted  for  the  office,  lie  and  his  wife  are  held 
in  high  esteem  wlierever  known,  and  are  welcomed 
in  tl)e  best  society  of  the  community. 


^rp^^HARLES  R.  HIGGS.  This  young  gentle- 
'  ^^  man  bears  the  distinction  of  being  the  sec- 
^_J(/  end  largest  landowner  in  Trivoli  Township, 
his  fine  property  consisting  of  five  hundred  and 
eighty  acres,  improved  in  three  different  farms. 
Probablj-  no  other  resident  of  the  township,  at 
least  in  the  agricultural  districts,  has  prospered  as 
well  in  the  same  length  of  time,  and  certainl}-  few 
men  of  his  years  have  been  able  to  secure  so  in- 
dependent a  financial  position. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Thom.ns  Iliggs, 
bi.rn  in  Spratton,  Northamptonshire,  England,  Oc- 
tober 13,  1809,  son  of  Joseph  Higgs,  the  owner 
of  several  houses  there  and  the  manager  of  a  sheep 
ranch.  Tliomas  Higgs  was  reared  and  educated  in 
liis  native  [ilace,  and  becoming  of  age  determined 


to  emigrate  to  America,  it  being  the  intention  of 
bis  brother  James  to  accompany  him.  Their  fa- 
ther tried  to  dissuade  them,  and  finally  succeeded 
in  persuading  James  to  remain  at  home,  but 
Thomas  was  firm  in  his  determination.  He  crossed 
the  Atlantic,  in  the  spring  of  1831,  on  the  sailer 
"Caledonia,"  landing  in  New  York  City,  Apiil  24, 
among  strangers,  but  with  money  enough  to  take 
him  back  to  England  in  case  he  was  dissatisfied 
here.  Going  to  Elizabetlitown,  N.  J.,  he  began 
working  on  a  farm  for  a  Dr.  Doty,  with  whom  he 
remained  three  years.  There  he  was  married,  in 
1834,  to  Miss  Caroline  Doty,  a  cousin  of  his  em- 
ploj-er,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1810. 
After  a  time  Mr.  Higgs  emigrated  westward  with 
a  one-horse  wagon,  bringing  his  wife  and  young 
son  Joseph  to  Central  Illinois. 

On  reaching  this  county  Mr.  Higgs  had  money 
enough  to  buy  a  quarter  section  of  Government 
land,  which  he  did  in  Trivoli  Township,  building 
a  log  house  and  beginning  the  improvement  of 
the  virgin  soil.  In  1842  he  built  a  frame  house, 
and  on  April  27,  1843.  tlie  former  dwelling  was 
totally  destroyed  by  the  cyclone.  Ii.  1.S39  his 
oooil  wife  (lied,  having  Imnie  him  two  ehildrcn: 
Joseph,  now  a  farmer  in  this  township;  and 
Charles,  who  died  at  the  age'of  six  months.  The 
land  then  occupied  by  Mr.  Higgs  is  now  owned  by 
our  subject.  On  July  17,  1842,  Mr.  Higgs  was 
ajjain  married,  his  bride  being  Mrs.  Harriet  (Rich- 
mond) Holcomb,  who  ably  assisted  him  in  bnild- 
ing  up  his  fortunes  and  rearing  their  family  to 
honorable  and  useful  careers.  Mr  Higgs  con- 
tinued his  agricultural  work,  buying  land  from 
time  to  lime,  having  at  one  time  about  one  thou- 
sand acres,  eight  hundred  and  eighty  of  which  was 
'    improved  real  estate  in  I'eoria  and  Marshall  Coun- 

I    ties. 

Thomas  Higgs  was  a  thorough  American  in  feel- 
ini'.     He  came  to  America  because  he  despised  the 

!    oppressive  government  of  his  native  land,  and  de- 

I  sired  to  escape  from  the  tyranny  and  penury  which 
dominate  that  country.  His  first  political  atfilia- 
lion  was  with  the  Whig  party  and  la^er  he  became 
a  i:)emocrat.  He  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Cliurch,  in   whieh    he  at  one  time   held   an 

'   official  position.     (»no  of  the  most  prosperous  men 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


203 


in  the  townsliip,  tie  was  also  one  of  the  most  pub- 
lic spirited  ami  enterprising,  donating  liberally  to 
whatever  woulil  improve  the  condition  of  the 
country.  He  helped  to  build  and  support  the  five 
churches  which  were  around  him,  and  assisted 
in  the  building  of  the  railroad  through  the 
township.  His  personal  popularity  was  great,  all 
being  his  friends  who  knew  him.  lie  died  as  he 
had  lived,  without  an  enemy,  the  date  of  his  de- 
cease being  August  26,  1889.  To  him  and  his 
second  wife  five  children  were  born,  our  subject 
being  the  fourth  on  the  familj'  roll.  The  first- 
born, Thomas,  an  attorney  at  Storm  Lake,  Iowa,  is 
now  visiting  his  father's  old  home  in  England; 
John  W.  lives  in  Trivoli  Township;  Carrie  H., 
who  married  William  Lawrence,  died  in  this  town- 
ship; Mary  Alice  breathed  her  last  when  twentj'- 
two  years  old. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  is  a  daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Hannah  (Durgee)  Richmond,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  andthe 
latter  of  Washington  Count}-,  N.  Y.  The  par- 
ents of  Mrs.  Richmond  were  Nathan  and  Lydia 
(Pitcher)  Durgee,  the  Durgees  being  of  English 
descent,  and  Grandfather  Pitcher  having  been  a 
large  landowner  in  the  Em|)ire  .State.  Nathaniel 
Richmond  having  gone  to  Washington  Count}', 
N.  Y.,  from  his  native  State  about  the  time  of  the 
War  of  1812.  acted  as  a  teamster  for  the  American 
Army  for  a  time.  After  his  marriage  he  returned 
to  Connecticut,  remaining  until  1818,  then  remov- 
ing to  Jackson  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1828.  Selling  his  prop- 
erty he  then  removed  to  the  adjoining  county, 
Athens,  where  he  became  the  possessor  of  five 
farms,  some  of  which  he  cleared.  He  was  exten 
sivel}'  engaged  in  stock  buying,  driving  his  stock 
to  Eastern  markets  or  to  the  coast,  thus  realizing 
large  profits  and  accumulating  a  fortune. 

In  183G,  Mr.  Richmond  came  to  Illinois  and 
buying  about  a  section  of  land  in  Knox  County, 
used  the  balance  of  his  capital  in  stock  dealing. 
He  was  out  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  driving  his 
herds  to  Ohio,  New  York,  etc.  He  has  swam 
the  Illinois  River  with  five  hundred  head  of 
cattle,  the  process  being  to  ride  into  the  stream  a 
couple  of  times  for  trial,  then  get  hold  of  some  of 


the  gentler  animals,  foico  them  into  the  water,  and 
in  that  way  get  the  entire  herd  over.  In'  1841  he 
engaged  in  pork  packing  at  Pekin,  and  did  a  large 
business,  but  having  lost  heavily  bj'  the  failure  of 
some  of  the  banks,  w.as  obliged  to  sell  a  great  deal 
of  his  i)ropert}'.  Returning  .again  to  farm  life  he 
retrieved  his  fortunes  to  some  extent  prior  to  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  Knox  County,  when  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  His 
brothers  were  men  of  |)rorainence  and  popularity 
in  the  East,  all  accumulating  fortunes  in  profes- 
sions or  merchandising.  His  father,  Edward  Rich- 
mond, a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  a  successful 
merchant  in  Washington,  but  late  in  life  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  he  established  several  sons  in  mer- 
cantile jiursuits  in  various  cities.  He  was  a  son 
of  Sil.as  Richmond,  a  native  of  England,  who  died 
in  Connecticut. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  horn  in  Litch- 
field ('(junty,  Conn.,  February  12,  1816,  being  the 
third  in  a  family  of  eight  children.  She  was  two 
years  old  when  her  parents  journeyed  by  a  river 
boat  and  wagon  to  Jackson  County,  Ohio,  where 
she  attended  school  in  a  log  schoolhouse  until 
twelve  years  old.  From  that  time  until  her  first 
marriage,  November  9.  1834,  she  lived  in  .\thens 
County.  She  was  united  with  Capt.  John  llol- 
comb,  a  native  of  Virginius,  Vt.,  with  whom  she 
came  to  this  county  with  a  team,  their  location 
being  in  Hollis  Township.  Capt.  Holcorab  owned 
some  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  at  the  present 
sice  of  the  village  of  Mapleton,  upon  which  they 
located,  building  a  log  house  on  a  side  hill,  where 
they  resided  until  his  death,  in  1838.  Mrs.  IIol- 
comb  then  disposed  of  her  dowry  and  went  to  live 
with  her  father  in  Knox  County,  remaining  there 
until  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Higgs.  While  in  Knox 
County  she  taught  school  one  summer.  She  had 
two  children  by  her  first  marriage:  Eliza,  who 
married  Benjamin  Alward  and  lives  near  Canton, 
Fulton  Count}';  and  Charles,  who  died  when  four 
months  old.  Capt.  Holcomb  had  been  in  this  sec- 
tion prior  to  the  Black  Hawk  War,  during  which 
he  served  as  Captain  of  a  company  in  Gen.  Still- 
man's  regiment,  spending  the  most  of  bis  time  in 
scouting.     He  helped  build  Ft.  Clark. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  this  township   May  2, 


204 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1850,  reared  and  educated  here,  learning  farming 
in  boj'hood  and  having  a  natural  inclination  to- 
wards stock,  of  winch  he  made  playmates  when 
young.  When  of  age  he  came  into  possession  of 
sixty  acres,  which  he  began  farming  for  himself, 
living  nt  home  until  his  marriage,  July  25.  1876. 
to  Miss  Olive  D.  Gove.  This  estimable  lady  was 
born  in  this  township,  being  a  daughter  of  James 
K.  Gove,  a  native  of  Maine  and  an  earlj'  settler 
here.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  ;\Irs.  Higgs 
settled  on  his  father's  farm,  of  which  lie  took  the 
entire  charge,  doing  a  successful  business.  He  has 
bought  land  at  various  times,  eighty  acres  ad- 
joining the  old  homestead  having  cost  him  16.000. 
He  rents  some  of  his  land,  personally  p.aymg  his 
chief  attention  to  the  stock  business.  He  feeds 
two  to  three  cars  of  hogs  and  some  cattle,  and 
raises  hogs,  cattle,  and  horses  extensively.  He 
was  at  one  time  engaged  in  raising  mules,  making 
money  at  that  business.  He  has  about  two  hun- 
dred head  of  sheep,  raising  Cottswold  and  Oxford 
Downs. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Higgs  is  brightened  by  the 
presence  of  four  children — Alice  L..  Thomas  A., 
Hattie  M.  and  Charles  L.  He  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Democratic  party  and  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


ATTHEW  GRISWOLD.  One  of  the  old- 
est and  most  prominent  men  of  Peoria  is 
the  above  named,  who  is  now  dealing  in 
real-estate.  He  has  been  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  tliis  citj'  for  half  a  centur}' 
and  none  stand  higher  in  financial  circles  than  he. 
His  character  is  unimpeachable,  and  the  interest 
which  he  has  taken  at  all  times  in  public  enterprises 
of  an  educational  or  moral  value,  stamp  him  as  a 
man  of  excellent  judgment  and  great  intelligence. 
John  L.  Griswold,  a  brother  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  Empire  State,  in  the  year  1808,  and 
came  to  Peoria  in  1839.  He  first  entered  into  busi- 
ness with  A.  G.  Curtenius,  the  connection  continu- 
ing until  the  death  of  Mr.  Curtenius  in  1857.  The 
business  was  then  continued  by  John  and  Mattiiow 


Griswold  until  1863,  when  the  former  sold  out  and 
retired.  He  was  connected  with  the  gas  company, 
interested  in  the  building  of  the  bridge,  and  was  for 
some  time  Director  of  the  Second  National  Bank 
of  Peoria.     He  departed  this  life  January  4,  1883. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  the  Empire  State,  November  20,  1816, 
being  a  son  of  N.  L.  and  Ann  (Sickles)  Griswold.  tiie 
former  a  well-known  importer  of  New  York  City. 
Matthew  remained  in  his  native  city  until  1840, 
when  he  came  to  Peoria  and  entered  the  business  es- 
tablishment of  Iris  brother  and  Mr.  Curtenius.  He 
continued  an  emploj'e  of  the  house  until  1845, 
wlien  he  became  a  partner.  The  grocery  business 
was  continued  by  the  brothers  Griswold  for  some 
3-ears  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Curtenius,  but  finally 
disposed  of  by  them  after  the}'  had  won  a  most 
excellent  reputation,  and  realized  a  fair  degree  of 
profit  from  their  labors. 

Our  subject  had  become  interested  in  real  estate, 
and  continued  in  the  buying  and  selling  of  lands 
and  houses.  He  has  added  more  than  one  sub- 
division to  the  city,  and  yet  retains  extensive  in- 
terests in  cit}-  property.  For  a  long  period  he  was 
Secretary  of  the  Gas  Company,  of  which  he  lias 
been  Director  for  over  thirty-five  years.  He  was 
Treasurer  of  the  old  Peoria  Wagon  Bridge  Asso- 
ciation from  1849  until  the  bridge  was  sold  to  a 
Mr.  Cole.  He  was  connected  with  the  old  library, 
of  which  he  was  a  Director,  and  President  of  the 
Board  until  it  was  merged  into  the  City  Library. 
He  is  now  President  of  the  Peoria  Public  Library, 
wliich  was  organized  over  ten  years  ago.  and  has 
been  active  in  the  building  of  the  block  by  the  Li- 
brary Association.  He  lias  no  political  aspirations, 
being  content  to  simply-  deposit  liis  vote,  which  is 
a  Democratic  one.  For  fortj'-one  years  he  has  been 
one  of  the  members  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church. 
He  is  now  a  Warden  and  a  member  of  the  Build- 
ing Committee  for  the  new  edifice  which  is  being 
erected  on  the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Main  Streets. 

An  important  step  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Griswold 
took  place  November  8.  1849,  when  he  became  the 
husband  of  Miss  Charlotte  Young,  of  Balston 
Springs,  N.  Y.  This  cultured  and  most  estimable 
lady  was  called  from  time  to  eternity  November  30, 
1884.     She  was  the  mother  of  four  children,  three 


c^^z.-<^M--^         <377^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


20" 


of  whom  survive  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  devoted 
mother,  and  console  their  father  in  iiis  bereave- 
ment. Tliry  are  Mar}',  wife  of  A.  W.  Littleton,  of 
Quiney;  Nathaniel,  who  married  Miss  Nellie  Ho- 
gue  livf's  in  Peoria,  and  is  engaged  in  a  vvliolesale 
cracker  business;  Louisa,  wife  of  Warren  L.  Pierce, 
a  coal  dealer  of  Peoria;  Charlotte,  who  married 
William  Larkin,  is  now  deceased.  Her  death  took 
place  at  her  home  in  Chicago,  August  16,  1890. 

*OSIAH  FULTON.  On  the  opposite  page  is 
presented  a  portrait  of  this  venerable  gen- 
tleman, who  is  distinguished  as  being  the 
ffi^JJ  oldest  living  pioneer  of  Peoria  County.  He 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  county,  hav- 
ing come  liere  seventy-one  years  ago.  For  many 
years  he  was  actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suils  in  Richwood  Townsliip,  in  wiiose  early  his- 
tory he  was  a  prominent  figure,  locating  here  when 
it  was  scarcely  more  than  a  tract  of  wild  prairie. 
His  name  is  indissolubly  associated  with  its  growtli 
not  only  as  a  practical  farmer,  but  also  on  account 
of  the  prominent  part  he  took  in  the  (idministration 
of  its  puljlic  affairs.  He  is  now  an  honored  inmate 
(if  the  home  of  his  son  George,  where  he  is  pleas- 
anljy  spending  the  declining  }'ears  of  an  honorable 
life  that  has  passed  tlie  ninetieth  mile  stone  on  the 
[With  of  an  eventful  existence. 

The  parents  of  our  subject.  James  and  Jane 
(Crow)  Fulton,  were  natives  of  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.  In  an  early  day  they  removed  to  the  wilds  of 
what  is  now  West  Virginia,  and  settled  witliin 
eight  miles  of  where  Wheeling  now  stands,  and 
where  Mr.  Fulton  was  engaged  in  operating  a  saw- 
mill  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.  He  finally  built  a 
boat,  and  in  it  he  and  his  family  floated  down  the 
Ohio  to  Cincinnati,  and  after  remaining  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  that  city  a  short  time,  again  took  to  the 
river  and  started  for  another  settlement.  After 
living  in  different  places,  passing  through  many 
liardships,  and  meeting  with  various  fortunes,  the 
family  at  last  arrived  at  Ft.  Clark,  on  tiic  present 
site  of  Peoria.  The  fnithful  mother  finally  suc- 
cumbed to  the  trials  and  privations  of  pioneer  life. 


dying  in  1828,  on  the  land  now  occupied  hy  Syl- 
van Park.  The  father  died  in  1827,  in  Ohio, 
whither  he  had  gone  to  transact  business,  and  in 
his  death  Peoria  County  lost  a  useful  and  active 
pioneer.  To  those  worthy  people  were  born  four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  Josiali  being  the  third  child  in 
order  of  birth. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  within  eight  miles 
of  where  Wlieeling,  W.  Va.,  now  stands,  February 
19,  1800,  being  the  date  of  his  birth  in  that  beauti- 
fid  locality.  April  15,  1819,  a  bold,  intrepid,  self- 
reliant  youth,  our  subject  and  six  others  started 
out  on  the  long  and,  at  that  time,  dangerous  jour- 
ney to  the  Prairie  State,  and  finally  came  to  where 
Peoria  now  stands,  which  was  then  the  site  of  a 
primitive  fort  called  Ft.  Clark,  garrisoned  by  a 
troop  of  Government  soldiers.  They  had  culti- 
vated about  twenty-five  acres  of  the  land  around 
the  fort  and  had  planted  the  tract  with  corn  and 
potatoes,  which  formed  a  great  addition  to  tiieir  ra- 
tions. Indians  were  much  more  |)lenliful  than 
white  men  wiien  our  subject  first  located  here,  and 
there  were  but  verv  few  evidences  of  civilization 
ir.  the  wild,  uncultivated  country,  where  the  settle- 
ments were  few  and  scattering,  and  the  |)ioneers 
had  scarcely  entered  upon  the  vast  work  that  they 
gradually  accomplislied  in  the  development  of  the 
countrj'. 

Mr.  Fulton  has  lived  to  see  the  results  of  his  fel- 
low-pioneers' labors,  in  which  he  bore  an  honorable 
part,  and  has  seen  the  wonderful  transformation 
that  has  changed  old  Ft.  Clark  from  a  primitive 
fortification  to  a  beautiful  city.  Of  the  small  com- 
pany of  men  who  made  that  eventful  journey  from 
the  little  ^'irginiun  hamlet  to  this  county,  our  sub- 
ject is  the  only  survivor.  Notwithstanding  that 
lie  is  upwards  of  ninety  years  old  and  in  his  pio- 
neer life  here  suffered  from  the  lack  of  many,  we 
might  almost  say,  of  all  comforts,  and  of  some  of 
the  necessaries  of  life,  and  had  to  endure  hard- 
ships of  which  the  present  daj'  and  generation 
can  know  nothing,  he  is  still  hale  and  healthy, 
having  scarcely  ever  been  sick,  and  retains  iiis 
mental  faculties  to  a  marked  degree.  He  has  al- 
ways made  his  home  in  Peoria  County  since  com- 
ing to  this  State,  and  his  chief  occui)ation  has  been 
farming. 


208 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Fulton  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1832, 
in  Peoria,  to  Jliss  Augusta  P.  Huglies.  a  native  of 
Georgia.  After  a  peaceful  and  happj'  wedded  life 
of  more  tban  ordinary  duration  there  passed  away 
from  tie  scene  of  her  usefulness  the  companion  and 
helpmate  of  our  subject  who  for  fifty-five  years  had 
walked  by  his  side,  and  had  aided  him  greatly  in 
his  life  work  b3'  her  wise  counsel  and  cheerful  help. 
B\-  their  marriage  they  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  named  as 
follows:  Nancy  J.,  Rebecca,  Samuel,  Elizabeth, 
Joseph,  M.<iry,  George,  Albert,  Josiab,  Jr.,  and  Ja- 
cob. Nancy  is  the  wife  of  William  .Sammis;  Re- 
becca is  the  wife  of  Edward  ^lansBeld;  Samuel  is  a 
carpenter  ;Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  \V. Slough; 
Joseph  married  Sarah  Henderson;  Mary  is  the  wife 
of  John  E.  JIcDerraott;  George  married  Mary 
Wahl;  Albert  married  Emma  Cartwright;  .Fosiab, 
Jr.,  died  in  188G,  aged  forty-two  years;  Jacub  re- 
sides in  Richwood  Township. 

Mr.  Fulton's  life  record  shows  him  to  be  a  man 
eminently  worthy  of  all  respect  and  esteem,  and 
these  are  fully  accorded  to  him  by  the  entire  com- 
munity. He  was  the  first  .Supervisor  of  Kichwood 
Township,  and  held  that  office  several  years.  He 
has  hold  the  office  of  Township  Treasurer,  and  has 
filled  most  of  the  important  offices  of  the  township 
with  great  credit  to  himself  and  greatly  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  township.  He  was  elected  Magis- 
trate for  a  period  of  four  years,  but  declined  to 
serve.  In  his  early  d.aj-s  he  was  a  Whig  in  his 
political  views,  but  after  the  formation  of  the  Re- 
publican party  he  fell  into  the  i-anks  and  h.is  since 
been  its  firm  supporter. 


RTHIR  THOMAS  BIRKET,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  and  a  well-known  prominent  citi- 
lii  zen  of  Peoria,  is  one  of  the  most  practi- 
cal and  wide  awake  of  the  intelligent,  en- 
terprising business  men  of  the  county,  and  as  an 
extensive  dealer  in  real  estate,  building  and  selling 
houses  etc.,  he  has  contributed  his  quota  to  the  up- 
building of  this  city,   where    he    has   a    beautiful 


home,  replete  with  all  the  modern  comforts  and 
conveniences.  Bneh'  located  at  No.  1799  Monroe 
Street. 

Mr.  Birket  w.as  born  in  Tazewell  County,  Janu- 
ary 10,  1843,  a  son  of  John  and  Marjory  (Thomas) 
Birket,  natives  respectivelj-  of  Lancashire,  England, 
and  Ohio.  The  mother's  parents  came  from  Penn- 
sylv-inia.  John  Biiket  was  one  of  the  earlj-  pio- 
neers of  Peoria,  coming  here  in  1826,  and  be- 
came prominent  in  promoting  the  growth  of  the 
city.  He  entered  the  land  now  including  the 
location  of  the  Peoria  pottery,  Gallagher  and 
Birket's  first,  secoml  and  third  additions;  Lake 
View  Driving  Park;  the  Water  Works,  in  short, 
all  the  northe.istern  part  of  Peoria.  Mr.  Birket 
was  pr.actic.1ll3-  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  but  he  also 
followed  farming,  coal  mining  and  dealt  in  meat. 
From  1839  to  1849  he  operated  a  saw-mill  near 
in  Washington,Tazewell  County.  In  the  latter  year 
he  returned  to  Peoria,  embarked  in  the  real-estate 
business  and  laid  out  an  addition  to  the  city.  To 
him  and  bis  wife  were  born  three  children:  John 
Charles,  of  Peoria:  William  Armstead  of  Abbey- 
ville,  Reno  Count3-,  Kan.;  and  Arthur  Thomas. 

The  latter  of  whom  we  write  received  excellent 
educational  advantages,  and  having  a  natural  ap- 
titude for  mathematics  and  a  taste  for  civil  engineer- 
ing and  surve3-ing,he  fitted  himself  for  the  profes- 
sion of  a  civil  engineer  and  in  order  to  pursue  bis 
studies  to  better  ad  vantage,  went  to  England  in  1862 
and  studied  under  the  best  masters  there  for  a  period 
of  little  more  than  two  3-ears,  and  gained  a  thor- 
ough, i.u'actical  knowledge  of  his  calling.  Upon 
his  return  to  his  native  couutr3-  be  was  honored 
bv  being  appointed  Deputy  Surveyor  of  Tazewell 
Couut3-.  He  held  that  position  three  3-ears,  when 
he  came  to  Peoria  and  accepted  the  responsible 
office  of  Civil  Engineer  for  the  city.  He  act^d  in 
that  capacity  for  two  3"ears  and  w.as  then  elected 
to  the  office  of  County  Surveyor,  which  position 
!  he  held  the  ensuing  six  years,  it  having  been 
through  the  influence  of  Thomas  King,  that  he  en- 
tered the  business  of  land  surve3-ing  here.  He  did 
the  transit  work  as  assistant  on  the  preliminar3' 
work  for  the  line  of  the  Indiana,  IJloomington  & 
I  Western  Rtiilro.ad.  In  1875  he  served  the  cit3-  .is 
:    Alderman  and  since  then  for  several  terms.    He  is  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


209 


prominent  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Old  Settlers'  Society.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  iiulilics  and  always  was.  Since 
taking  up  his  residence  in  this  city,  Mr.  Bir- 
liet,  by  his  honorable,  upright  course  in  a  busy 
life,  has  proved  a  great  addition  to  the  citizenship 
of  the  city  with  whose  interests  he  is  so  thoroughl}- 
identiBed  and  in  business  and  social  circles  he  is 
recognized  as  one  of  our  best  men. 

Our  subject  has  been  ver^'  happy  iu  his  domes- 
tic life  as  b}'  his  marriage  with  Miss  Katie  R.  Lup- 
ton  in  June  1866,  he  secured  the  devoted  compan- 
ionsliip  of  one  who  fills  in  a  perfect  measure  the 
position  of  wife,  mother  and  friend.  Mrs.  Birket 
is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  S.  Lupton,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Four  children  complete  the  home  circle  of 
our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife.  Arthur  T.,  who 
married  Nellie  Pratt  and  resides  in  the  cit}-;  May 
Belle,  Alonzo  L.  S. ;  and  Katie  R.  The  three 
30unger  children  reside  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents. 


--*--^^^^ 


(^p5*)H0MAS  TALLYN,  deceased,  was  for  man}' 
//^  years  a  member  of  the  farming  communitj'  of 

V J   this  county,  owning  and  managing  a  fine  farm 

on  section  32,  Radnor  Township,  which  is  still  in 
the  i)ossessiou  of  his  widow  and  family. 

Our  subject  was  a  native  of  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, where  he  was  born  in  the  month  of  March, 
IH2(),  and  there  amid  its  pleasant  scenes,  the  first 
twent^'-seven  years  of  his  life  were  passed.  At 
tliat  age  two  of  the  most  important  events  of  his 
life  occured,  his  marriage  and  his  emigration  to 
the  United  States.  The  maiden  name  of  the  woman 
of  his  choice  was  Elizabeth  Fry,  she  being  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Betsey  (Snell)  Fry,  and 
a  sister  of  Thomas  Fry,  and  of  Mrs.  John  Ford, 
whose  biographies  appear  in  this  volume. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  our  subject  came 
with  his  bride  to  America,  where  they  hoped 
to  establish  a  home  for  themselves.  After  land- 
ing on  these  shores  the}-  came  to  this  count}',  and 
nearly  a  year  later  located  on  section  32,  Radnor 
Township.  They  were  among  the  pioneers  of  this 
regiiin  and  in  the  busy  y('ar^*  that  followed  our  sub- 


ject developed  and  improved  a  valuable  farm  where 
his  wife  and  children  have  a  comfortable  substan- 
tial home. 

August  14,  1876,  the  useful  career  of  our  sub- 
ject was  brought  to  a  sudden  close  by  his  prema- 
ture death.  Nine  days  before  that  he  had  fallen 
from  a  stack  of  grain,  and  received  mortal  injuries. 
His  death  when  it  seemed  that  many  j'ears  of  use- 
fulness were  before  him,  was  a  sad  blow  to  his 
family,  to  whom  he  had  ever  been  an  affectionate 
husband  and  a  wise  father,  and  the  community 
was  deprived  of  a  valuable  citizen  whose  work 
h.ad  greatly  aided  in  extending  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  the  township. 

Mr.  Tallyn  was  happ}-  in  his  married  life,  i)os- 
sessing  in  his  wife  a  companion  and  helpmate  who 
sought  in  every  way  to  aid  him,  and  ever  looked 
carefull}'  after  the  comforts  of  the  household.  Their 
marriage  was  productive  to  them  of  eight  chil- 
dren whom  they  named,  William  W.,  Thomas  F., 
Elizabeth  A..  Frank  H.,  Lucy  P.,  John  A.  and 
Marj'  B.;one  child  died  in  infancy  unnamed.  Lucy, 
who  w.as  the  wife  of  William  Jones,  died  in  Dunlap, 
May  20,  1886.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tallyn  were  charter 
members  of  the  Kickapoo  Baptist  Church,  with 
whose  good  work  Mrs.  Tallyn  is  still  identified. 


^ 


/^EORGE  W.  DcMARS,  Jr.,  is  one  of  the 
.'ll  |_— ,  most  enlightened  and  enter|)rising  farmers 
^^jjj  and  stock- raisers  of  Logan  Township,  and 
is  managing  his  extensive  farming  interests  in  that 
community  after  the  most  approved  methods.  He 
is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth,  born  in  Dauphin 
County,  October  5,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
W.  and  Eliza  (Ranch)  DuMars.  His  father  was 
born  in  Ilarrisburg,  Pa.,  P^ebruary  4.  1805,  coming 
of  an  honorable  lineage,  the  DuMars  family  orig- 
inating in  France.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  the  same  county  as  her  husband,  Novem- 
ber 5,  1812.  She  died  iu  their  home  in  the  Key- 
tone  State,  December  6,  1850. 

George  DuMars,  Sr.,is  a  son  of  one  John  DuMars. 
who  was  born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  his  an- 
cestors having    left    France    and    settled    on    that 


210 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Islaud.     His  wife,  Jane  Mills,  was  born  in  the  same 
count}'  as  himself,  and  they  came   to   the   United 
States  in  the  spring  of  1804.  being  six  weeks  on  the 
way,  and   took   up  their  residence  in   Harrisburg, 
Pa.     He  was  a  weaver  by  occupation  and  followed 
that  calling  until   he  was  unable  to  compete  with 
the  numerous  factories  that  sprang  up  in  this  coun- 
try several  j-ears  after  he  settled  in  it.  Later  in  life 
he  ran  an  hotel  in  Harrisburg.   He  and  his  wife  were 
at  orie  time  members  of  the   Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  but  subsequently  united  with  the  Presby- 
terians.    He  was  a  I-'ree  and  Accepted  Ma?on.    He 
was  the  father  of  several  children,  namely,  Thomas, 
George  W.,  William,  James,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Jlr. 
Lambdin.       The   father  of    our    subject    was    the 
only  survivor  of  those  children,  and  w.is  liberally 
educated   in   the  city  schools  of  Harrisburg  and  in 
an  academy  there.   At  the  age  of  twenty  he  adopted 
the    profession   of  a  teacher,  and    for  thirty  years 
pursued  it  with  success.    During  some  period  in  his 
life  he  was  a  clerk   in  a  general   store   in   Lingles- 
town.  Pa.,  and  fur  a  short  time  was  in  business  for 
himself.     In  the  spring  of  1855  he  started  for  Illi- 
nois, traveling  b}-  rail  to  Pittsburg,  and  thence  l)v 
boat  to  this  State,  being  two  weeks  on  the  way.  He 
lived  in  Tazewell  Connty  until  September,  when  he 
came  to  Logan  Township,  and  purchased  eighty- 
seven  acres  of  hand  on  section  7, where  he  dwelt  un- 
til March,  1889,  when  he  became  an  inmate  of  the 
home  of  his  son  George  W.,  on  section  9.     In  the 
meantime  he  had  been  quite  prosperous  in  his  call- 
ing  and  had  accumulated  one  hundred  and  ninety 
acres  of  land.     For   mauj'  j-ears  he  was  active  in 
public   and    political  life.     For  two  3-ears  he  was 
Supervisor  of  the  township  and  also  served  as  As- 
sessor, lie  was  a  man  of  strong  mind,  and  w.as  firm 
and  outspoken  in  his  views  on  the  issues  of  the  day, 
and  in  early  life  a  Whig,  joined   the   ranks   of   the 
Republican  party  after  its  formation.   He  has  been  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
for  many  years. 

Mr.  DuMars  has  been  twice  married,  the  maiden 
name  of  his  first  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  Flliza  Ranch,  and  she  was  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Catherine  Ranch,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Her  father  was  twice  married,  and  she 
was  the   onl}'  child   of  liis  first  union,  and  by  his 


second  marriage  he  h.ad  four  children.  Mr.  DuMars 
was  the  father  of  nine  children  by  his  first  marriage 
as  follows:  Catherine  J.,  wlio  died  in  childhood: 
the  second  child  died  in  infancy;  Mary  Eliza,  wife 
of  S.  S.  Graham;  John  W.,  who  was  a  member  of 
Company  B,  Eleventh  Cavahy,  and  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  died  at  Memphis,  Tenn., 
June  22,  1862;  the  fifth  child  died  unnamed; 
Nancy  J.,  the  wife  of  William  O.  Norvall.  of  Mc- 
Cook,  Neb.;  George  W.,  Willijim  T.,aud  Dr.  R.  A. 
Mr.  DuMars'  second  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married 
March  22,  1863,  was  Sarah  Ainsworth  Allen.  She 
was  born  October  5,  1805,  sind  died  September  15, 
1869.  She  was  a  consistent  Christian  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  Church. 

George  W.  DuMars,  Jr.,  of  whom  this  sketch  is 
written,  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years  when  he  accom- 
l)anied  his  father  to  this  State.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and  afterward  pursued  a 
line  course  of  study  at  Worthing.  Warner  &  Co.'s 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  honor. 
He  was  thus  well  equipped  for  the  battle  of  life, 
and  choosing  the  calling  to  which  he  had  been  bred 
he  purchased  sixt}'  acres  of  land  on  section  5,  Logan 
Township,  and  h.as  ever  since  been  a  resident  of 
of  this  place,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent 
in  McLean  County.  He  had  a  farm  in  that  county 
which  he  sold  on  his  return  to  this  township,  and 
he  repurchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  of  which  he 
afterward  disposed  at  an  advance,  and  then  bought 
all  of  the  homestead.  In  the  year  1888  he  here 
purchased  the  eighty-acre  tract  where  he  resides 
on  section  9,  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  two 
hundred  ,and  forty-eight  acres  of  land,  which  is 
in  a  fine  condition,  its  well-4illcd  fields  yielding 
abundant  harvests,  and  its  neat  substantial  build- 
ings, being  an  attractive  feature  of  the  landscape. 

Mr.  DuMars  has  been  twice  married.  April  9, 
1868,  he  was  wedded  to  Sarah  E.  Shepherd,  a  native 
of  Logan  Township  and  a  daughter  of  Nelson  and 
Elizabeth  (Rynearson)  Shepherd,  who  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  this  county,  coming  here 
from  Pennsylvania  at  a  ver}'  early  date.  He  and 
his  wife  had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. The  wife  of  our  subject  died  in  the  spring  of 
1871,  leaving  one  son — Charles  E. 

Mr.  DuMars   was  a  second   time   married,  March 


PORTRAIT  AND  HIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


211 


11.  1875,  taking  as  his  wife  Sarali  E.  McAlistcr, 
who  was  born  in  Logan  Township  December  21, 
1853,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Proctor)  JIcAlister.  Two  children  have  born  of 
tiiis  union — Arthur  Eugene  and  Cecil  Ainsworth. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  DuMars  are  members  in  high 
standing  of  the  Methodist  J^piscopal  Church,  and 
among  the  loailers  in  its  charitable  and  other  good 
works.  Their  home,  the  center  of  true  refinement 
and  culture,  is  an  attractive  one,  and  their  place  in 
the  society  of  this  count}-  is  among  its  best  people. 
Mr.  DuMars  is  a  well-rend  antl  educated  man  and 
holds  advanced  views  on  all  subjects,  paticularly 
in  regard  to  politics,  and  since  he  cast  his  first  vote 
for  a  Presidential  candidate  for  Gen.  Grant,  he  has 
been  true  to  the  Republican  party. 


^'- 


EWTON  C.  DOrCiHERTY.  Side  by  side 
in  their  responsibility  for  the  i)roper  traiii- 
'il:  .^i  ing  of  the  young,  stand  the  home  and  the 
school,  and  inasmuch  as  to  many  a  true  home  life 
is  denied,  the  moral  and  intellectual  status  depends 
solely  upon  the  influences  thrown  around  them  in 
school  days.  It  is  therefore  of  prime  importance 
that  the  instructors  of  our  land  be  men  and  women 
of  large  hearts  and  grand  characters,  as  well  as  of 
mental  culture  and  development.  The  office  of 
Superintendent  of  Schools  is  one  of  grave  respon- 
sibility, and  he  wha  worthily  fills  it  is  entitled  to 
high  esteem  and  an  honored  place  on  the  scroll  of 
f^me,  and  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  biographical 
writer  to  see  that  N.  C.  Dougherty  is  not  passed  by 
"unhonored  and  unsung." 

Mr.  Dougherty  is  a  native  of  the  Ke3'stone  State, 
born  on  a  farm  in  Chester  County,  near  Kennet 
Square,  January  10,  1847.  He  is  the  youngest  son 
and  child  of  Philip  and  Hattie  (Perry)  Dougherty, 
,  both  natives  of  the  same  count}-.  The  father  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction  and  the  mother  of  English 
descent,  her  grandfather  having  come  to  America 
in  1700.  Both  parents  are  still  living  on  the  old 
homestead,  the  father  now  in  his  eighty-second 
and  the  mother  in  her  eighty-first  year. 

The  boyhood   of  our  subject  was  passed  in  the 


usual  manner  of  a  farmer's  son,  his  studies  being 
prosecuted  in  the  district  schools  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  old.  He  then  entered  Newark 
Academy,  but  six  months  later  became  a  student  in 
the  State  Normal  School,  at  Millersvillc.  where  he 
prepared  for  college.  In  1864  he  matriculated  in 
I'nion  College,  in  New  York  State,  from  'which  iie 
was  graduated  in  1H(;8.  The  following  year  he 
came  to  the  Prairie  State  as  Principal  of  the  schools 
in  Morris,  Grundy  County,  going  thence  to  Mt. 
Morris,  Ogle  County,  where  he  became  Principal  of 
the  Rock  River  Seminary.  This  institution  Is  one 
of  .the  oldest  in  the  State,  and  from  it  have  gone 
forth  some  of  the  most  talented  men  of  the  common- 
wealth, among  them  Senators  Cullom  and  Farwell, 
ex-Gov.  Beveridge,  Hon.  R.  R.  Ilitt,  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs,  and  the  Hon. 
James  A.  Rawlins,  Chief  of  Gen.  Grant's  staff. 

Mr.  Dougherty  remained  at  the  head  of  that  in- 
stitution until  1878,  when  he  came  to  Peoria  and 
took  up  the  duties  of  Superintendent  of  the  city 
schools.  He  ranks  among  the  best  educators  in  this 
State  that  has  so  long  prided  itself  on  the  cfliciency 
of  its  school  system,  and  is  out-ranked  by  few,  even 
of  those  in  which  settlements  were  first  made  and 
schools  first  organized.  His  commanding  personal 
appearance  is  but  the  index  of  a  brain  whose 
powers  are  sufficient  to  gras))  abstruse  topics  and 
present  them  clearly  and  logically  to  less  cultured 
minds,  and  the  heart  that  Ijeats  in  sympathy  with 
the  needs  of  those  in  whom  the  hope  of  the  Nation 
rests.  He  is  highly  regarded  as  a  citizen,  popular 
in  the  community,  and  endeared  to  his  pupils  by 
many  encouraging  wjrds  and  helpful  deeds.  He 
is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  46,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  and  Commandery  No.  3.  He  is 
also  identified  with  the  Congregational  Church. 

It  would  naturally  be  su|)posed  that  Mr.  Dough- 
erty would  choose  for  a  wife  a  lady  of  rare  mental 
attainments.as  well  as  estimable  character  and  social 
qualities.  Such  was  the  case ;  she  whom  he  won 
being  Anna,  daughter  of  Dr.  Richard  Edwards, 
now  Superintendent  of  Instruction  for  the  State  of 
of  Illinois.  Thf.ir  marriage  rites  were  celebrated 
at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents,  December  25, 
1871,  and  they  have  three  children,  Mabel,  Horace 
and  Ralph,  who  are  developing  talent  and  courtesy 


212 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBU5: 


m 


under  tlie  exani|iU'  :\\\'\  wise  training  of  tlie  fatlier 
and  mother.  The  Su|;erintendeiil's  dwollins'  on 
Ea«t  Bluff  Street  is  llie  center  of  a  circle  that  in- 
cludes the  best  and  most  talented  residents  of  the 
city  and  frequent  visitors  from  otlier  cultured  so- 
ciety-. 


AMES  A.  WONDER,  who  entered  the  Gov- 
ernment service  in  November,  1889,  as 
United  States  Storekee[)er.  has  become  well 
known  in  IVoria  by  reastm  of  a  lonu  r.esi- 
dence  and  a  connection  with  the  [irotcclive  measures 
ailoptcd  here.  He  is  a  respected  member  of  the 
(irand  Aimy  of  the  Republic,  commemorating  by 
his  connection  with  that  order  the  days  which  he  \ 
spent  ill  campaign  life  and  on  fields  (jf  battle  dur- 
ing the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  War.  He  comes  of 
loyal  ancestr\',  his  maternal  grandfather  having 
been  a  member  of  Gen.  AVashington's  body  guard 
during  the  entire  period  of  the  Revolution.  His 
own  connection  with  the  army  began  during  the 
Mexican  War,  when  he  was  a  drummer  boy  at  Ft. 
McHenry.  His  father  had  objected  to  his  going 
to  Mexico,  but  was  finally  prevailed  upon  to  give 
his  consent  and  to  |)ut  liiin  in  the  ch.arge  of  Ca[)t. 
Goodv.'in  H.  Irvin,  with  whom  be  got  as  far  as  the 
flirt  mentioned. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  jMitHiii  County,  Pa.. 
October  14,  1829,  and  begun  his  residence  in  Peo- 
ria in  1857.  Here  he  entered  a  sawmill  as  fore- 
man, but  soon  taking  the  Pike's  Peak  fever  made 
bis  way  to  Colorado  in  search  of  a  fortune.  Like 
many  another  he  soon  realized  the  habit  of  the 
'•fickle  jade"  to  fly  from  those  who  would  woo  her, 
and  not  being  able  to  pick  up  the  precious  metal 
.as  he  had  expected  he  returned  to  Peoria  in  the 
condition  known  as  being  ••dead  broke."  Here  he 
secured  a  position  on  the  police  force,  retaining  it 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  when  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  Company  A,  Fort^'-seventh 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  iiromptly  made  drum 
major  and  commissioned  by  Gov.  Yates.  The 
Forty-seventh  was  sent  to  St.  Louis,  assigned  to 
Fremont's  command  and  took  part  in  the  battles 
of    Osage    Bridge    and   Island    No.    10,  together 


with  the  minor  conllicts  and  tedious  duties  of 
campaign  life  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  all  soldiers. 
Mr.  Wonder  followed  the  destinies  of  the  regi- 
ment until  a  general  order  was  issued  in  1863  for 
mustering  out  all  commissioned  drum  majors,  when 
he  returned  to  the  North. 

After  reaching  Peoria  Mr.  Wonder  took  a  posi- 
tion in  the  Provost  Marshal's  office  remaining 
there  until  the  affairs  of  the  office  were  closed  up. 
He  llien  re-entered  the  (lolice  force,  becoming  Cap- 
tain, a  jiosition  which  he  held  four  years.  This 
was  prior  to  the  days  of  a  Chief  of  Police  in  the 
city  and  as  Captain,  Mr.  Wonder  accomplished  sev- 
eral needed  reforms  in  the  service.  In  187"2  he  be- 
gan work  in  the  shops  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  k 
Warsaw  Railroad  Compan}'.  wlierc  he  labored  al- 
together eight  years,  although  not  consecutively, 
as  he  alternated  it  witii  police  service.  He  after- 
ward became  depot  master  and  finally  entered 
the  Government  service  as  before  mentioned. 

Mr.  Wonder  was  fortunate  in  securing  for  his 
wife  a  lad}'  of  estimable  character.domestic  virtues 
and  pleasing  social  qualities.  This  was  Miss  Emma 
P.  McKee,  of  Lewistown,  Pa.,  with  whom  he  was 
united  August  31,1853.  The  union  has  been  blest 
by  the  birth  of  two  sons,  named  respectively:  Will- 
iam S.  and  James  F.  A  peaceful  and  law-abiding 
citizen,  a  man  of  intelligence  and  good  habits,  Mr. 
Wonder  is  respected  as  he  deserves  and  his  wife 
is  nowise  behind  him  in  the  esteem  of  those  who 
know  them. 


ANIEL  H.  FLAG  LORE,  JM.D..  is  num- 
bered among  Peoria's  successful  practiti- 
tioners  of  physics  and  surgery.  He  is  a  close 
student  whose  sole  ambition  has  been  to 
succeed  in  the  profession  which  he  chose — a  desire 
which  has  met  with  an  admirable  reward.  He  was 
fortunate  in  being  surrounded  in  bis  earlj'  life  by 
the  circumstances  which  enabled  him  to  study  in 
the  best  schools  and  fit  himself  as  thoroughlv  as  he 
wished  for  his  battle  of  life. 

Dr.    Flaglore    was    born    in    Newburg,    N.    Y., 
whence  his  father.  Valentine  Flaglore,  removed  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


213 


New  York  City  in  1840.  The  \-oiith  was  given 
every  advantage,  incliuliiig  the  privilege  of  at- 
tending the  New  Yorlc  Classical  Institute,  immedi- 
ately after  his  gratUiation  from  which  he  began 
the  study  of  his  chosen  profession  with  I'rofessor 
Williaras.of  Cincinnati  Medical  College.  After  three 
years  of  study  with  that  able  anatomist  and  physi- 
cian, he  entered  Bellevne  Hospital  and  Medical 
College,  whence  he  took  his  degree  after  a  three 
years'  course. 

In  18G6  Dr.  Flaglore  came  West  and  began 
pr.actiee  in  Bureau  County,  this  State.  He  next 
spent  a  3ear  in  Lhillicothe,  whence  lie  removed  to 
Glasford,  remaining  there  until  18.S2.  He  then 
located  at  Peoria  where  he  has  Iniilt  up  a  most  ex- 
cellent reputation,  both  as  a  professional  man  and 
as  a  private  citizen.  In  the  midst  of  his  busy 
career  he  finds  time  to  pursue  ins  investigations, 
deeming  it  his  duty  as  well  as  his  [ileasure  to  learn 
all  that  is  possible  in  those  fields  of  science  which 
Imve  a  hearing  upon  his  profession.  He  is  a  mem- 
l)er  of  the  Masonic  order  and  one  of  the  most 
prominent  Druids  in  the  State,  having  repeatedly 
held  the  highest  honors  in  that  excellent  fratern- 
ity. 

An  important  step  in  the  life  of  Dr.  Flaglore  was 
t^iken  in  1868,  at  which  time  the  rites  of  wedlock 
were  celebrated  Itetween  him  and  Miss  Hannah  M. 
Hinkle.  a  native  of  Peoria.  It  would  naturally 
be  supposed  that  the  lady  whom  Dr.F'laglore  desired 
for  a  companion  would  have  a  cultured  mind,  a 
sincere  symijathy  in  his  pursuits,  and  a  kindly  na- 
ture. Such  is  the  case  and  Mrs.  Flaglore  discharges 
her  duties  cheerfully  and   concienlionsly. 

^w)OHN  WILSON.  The  experience  of  this 
gentleman  has  been  a  varied  one,  and  many 
an  intereslintr  tale  might  he  tell  of  the 
■\§!//  scenes  he  has  witnessed  or  i)articipated  in 
during  former  years.  He  occu|)ies  a  pleasant  resi- 
dence on  Pecan  Street,  Peoria,  and  within  the  walls 
of  tlie  home  friends  find  a  cordial  welcome  and 
generous  hospitality  dispensed  with  grace.  The 
subject  of  this  notice  is  at  the  head  of   the  Wilson 


AVholesale  Grocery  Companj-,  which  does  a  busi- 
ness of  about  $900,000  per  year,  and  is  interested 
as  stockholder  or  proprietor  in  other  affairs  of  im- 
portance. There  are  few  men  now  living  in  Peoria 
who  are  better  versed  in  the  growth  of  this  city 
and  the  elements  that  have  led  to  its  prosperity 
than  Mr.  Wilson,  who  came  here  in  boyhood  and 
has  virtuallj-  grown  with  the  town. 

In  England  the  eyes  of  Henry  Wilson  and  Mar- 
tha Wood  opened  to  the  light  of  day,  and  in  that 
grand  country  they  grew  to  maturity  and  were 
united  in  marriage.  In  1827  they  emigrated  to 
America,  making  their  home  in  the  Empire  State 
until  1835,  when  they  came  to  Peoria.  Mr.  Wil- 
son had  been  a  farmer  in  his  native  land,  but  in 
New  York  he  engaged  in  clerking,  and  after  com- 
ing West  ho  resumed  his  old  occupation,  but  did 
not  long  survive  to  pursue  it,  being  called  from 
time  to  eternity  the  fall  after  his  rc'raoval  hither. 
The  family  at  that  time  consisted  of  nine  children, 
four  of  whom  yet  live.  They  are  Mrs.  Jane 
Wham,  of  tills  city  ;  Ileniy,  a  farmer  in  Nebraska; 
John;  and  William,  who  resides  in  the  State  of 
Washington. 

The  birth  of  John  Wilson  occurred  in  Pongh- 
keepsie,  N.  1'.  June  4,  1827.  In  that  city  he  ob- 
tained a  part  of  his  education,  completing  his 
studies  here.  For  a  number  of  years  he  dev(<ted 
himself  to  farming,  and  he  also  learned  the  cooper's 
trade  with  (ieorge  Woodruff.  When  the  gold 
fever  broke  out  in  1850  he  joined  the  throng  of 
fortune  seekers,  and  with  an  ox-team  crossed  the 
plains  to  tlie  Fldoiado  on  the  Pacific  coast.  He 
followed  mining  successfully  until  1852,  when  he 
returned  to  the  States,  buying  cattle  in  Iowa  and 
Missouri  and  driving  them  on  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, where  their  sale  proved  a  fair  speculation. 
He  made  a  second  trip  to  California,  going  via 
Panama  and  walking  across  the  isthmus.  On  his 
return,  in  1851t,  he  came  by  the  way  of  Nicaragua, 
New  Orleans  and  up  the  Mississippi  River. 

Mr.  Wilson  established  himself  in  the  grocery 
business  after  his  return  to  Pcoria.continuing  in  that 
line  of  trade  two  j'ears  and  then  entering  the  cattle 
business,  buying  extensively  from  the  lieiul  waters 
of  the  Missouri, south  to  Texas,  He  now  his  a  cattle 
ranch   in    New   Mexico,  which  has  been  eslal)lished 


214 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


alioiil  fourteen  3'efii's,  :iiid  in  tl:e  nianasjenient  of 
whicli  a  Mr.  Holcomb  is  associated  with  tiim.  He 
has  rniseil,  bought  and  sold  cattle,  liavini!;  a  varied 
ixperience  in  lliis  business  as  well  as  in  other  oc- 
cupations. He  feeds  as  high  as  seven  thousand 
head  per  year.  He  is  a  member  of  the  corporation 
running  tlie  Hamburg  Distillery  at  Pekin.  of  whicli 
lie  was  for  a  luimber  of  3'ears  President.  Tiic  es- 
tildishment  has  a  capacity  of  twentj-flve  hundred 
bushels.  The  wholesale  grocery  business  in  which 
Mr.  Wilson  is  interested  was  entered  upon  by  him 
in  1885,  in  connection  with  C.  E.  Hale,  who  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Tacoma,  Wash. 

An  interesting  event  in  the  life  of  our  subject 
was  the  occasion  of  his  marriage,  June  5,  1855. 
1 1  is  bride  was  Miss  Emily  J.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Woudi'uff.  a  lady  of  refinement  and  womanly  ac- 
complislimeuts  that  merit  and  win  regard.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  to  the  happy  couiile.  Two 
of  their  ofTspriug,  Cora  and  Alfred,  died  in  child- 
hood. The  living  are  Arthur  W. ;  Everett  W., 
wlio  is  in  Pekin  with  the  Hamburg  Distillery; 
Charles  S.,  also  in  that  place;  John  A.,  a  travel- 
ing salesman  for  the  grocery  house;  and  Freder- 
ick L.,  who  remains  at  home. 

The  political  affiliation  of  Mr.  Wilson  is  with 
the  Republican  party.  As  a  citizen  he  is  reliable 
and  pul)lic  spirited;  as  husband,  father  and  neigh- 
bor, kindly  and  cordial;  and  as  a  business  man 
honorable,  enterprising  and  judicious. 


^Jin^Hf 


S>ERION  RR08.  These  agreeable,  hospitable 
gentlemen  rank  among  the  successful  farm- 
ers of  Trivoli  Township,  where  they  oper- 
(@/  ate  an  estate  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  29,  and  forty  acres  of  timber. 
They  are  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  the  latter,  to  which  tbey 
have  devoted  more  and  more  attention  each  year 
since  they  took  possession  of  the  farm.  They  raise 
from  one  hundred  to  one  humlred  and  fifty  head 
of  hogs  of  good  grades,  have  twenty  to  thirt}'  head 
of  road  horses,  and  are  the  happy  possessors  of  the 
finest  driving  team  in  the  township.     This  span    is 


of  Morgan  and  Flying  Cloud,  and  of  Morgan  Clay 
blood.  Their  younger  brother,  John,  who  lives 
with  them,  owns  Eureka,  an  Abdallah  and  Morgan 
stallion,  whose  record  is  2:40. 

The  Yerion  line  is  of  French  and  German  origin, 
the  remote  ancestors  of  our  subjects  having  been 
residents  in  Alsace.  Their  grandfather,  William 
Yerion,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  accompanied  a 
colon}-  to  Virginia,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm 
ing  and  distilling.  About  1840.  he  came  West, 
located  on  raw  land  near  Brunswick, 111. .and  improv- 
ing one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  resided  thereon 
until  1855.  He  then  sold,  bought  another  tract  of 
raw  land  in  the  vicinity  of  El  Paso,  farmed  there 
some  five  j'cars  and  then  moved  into  the  village. 
Later  he  became  a  resilient  of  Iiloominglon,  pass- 
ing his  last  days  there  an<l  dying  in  1885,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years. 

Among  the  members  of  the  family  of  Grandfather 
Yerion  was  a  son.  William,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, but  became  a  resident  of  the  Prairie  State  in 
early  boyliood.  His  first  emplo^'raent  away  from 
home  was  driving  a  team  when  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  was  being  built  through  Woodford 
County.  lie  next  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in 
that  county,  improved  and  resided  upon  it  until 
1881,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Farmington, 
Fulton  County.  There  he  spent  the  remnant  of  his 
days,  dying  in  1885,  in  his  fifty  sixth  year.  He 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  during  the  last  thirteen  years  of  his  life 
a  local  minister.  He  was  a  strong  Democrat  in 
politics,  a  self-made  man  in  finances,  and  an  honored 
citizen. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subjects  was 
George  Patten, who  was  born  in  Ireland  and  brought 
to  America  li}'  his  parents  wdien  eight  years  old. 
The  family  settled  in  West  Virginia,  whence  Grand- 
father Patten  removed  to  jNIcLean  Count}',  III. .and 
later  to  Buchanan  County.  Mo.  He  was  of  the 
Protestant  religion.  His  occupation  was  that  of  a 
farmer.  His  daughter  Catherine,  became  the  wife 
of  William  Yerion,  Jr.,  sharing  his  joys  and  sor- 
rows until  1878,  when  she  entered  into  rest.  Like 
her  husband,  she  was  an  hf)nored  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  was  the  mother 
of   five  children,  four  of  whom  arc    living  in    Tri- 


Judge  Charles  Ballance. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


217 


voli  Township.  Tliese  are,  Adclia  F.,  Alva  A., 
George  W.  and  .folin  D.  The  fourtli  child.  Joseph 
R.,  is  engaged  in  tlie  grocery  business  in  Farming- 
ton.  Fulton  County. 

Alva  A.  Yerion  w.is  horn  in  El  Paso  Township, 
Woodford  Counts',  November  1,  1857,  and  iiis 
brother,  George  W.,  February  3, 1  860.  Tlieircliihl- 
liood  was  spent  on  the  farm,  their  time  being  di- 
vided between  home  duties  and  attendance  at  the 
common  schools,  which  were  in  session  only  dur- 
ing the  winter  montlis.  In  1880  tiiej'  came  to  Tri- 
voli  Township,  Alva  being  in  the  e_mplo3-  of  D.  B. 
Stookey  four  years,  and  George  working  at  various 
places  until  1884,  wlien  they  formed  tlie  present 
partnership,  renting  the  land  from  their  stepmother. 
Tliey  began  business  with  a  capital  of  ^700,  engag- 
ing in  farming,  raising  grain  principally,  and  as 
fast  as  possible  turning  their  attention  toward  stock. 
A"  before  stated,  tliey  are  successful  in  the  em- 
ployment thoy  have  chosen,  and  as  Lhey  are  still 
comparatively  young,  are  likely  to  become  the 
possessors  of  a  comfortable  fortune  b}'  the  lime 
tliey  have  reached  middle  age. 

The  elder  of  our  subjects  is  unmarried,  but 
George  W.  took  a  wife  January  10,  1889.  This 
was  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Re- 
becca (Dunn)  Meeker  of  this  township,  whose  fam- 
ily history  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Mrs.  Verion  was  reared  in  this  township,  educated 
in  its  schooLs  and  Stted  for  usefulness  in  her  sphere. 
She  is  the  mother  of  one  child — Cena.  She  and  her 
Inisband  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Concord.  Both  the  Yerion  brothers  are 
IJemoerats;  Alva  has  been  delegate  to  count}'  con- 
ventions and  is  now  Constable. 

«.  : ;g^J^j^j>^:       :    . 

!W  ^^-  (^'HARLES  BALLANCE.  The  record 
of  the  life  of  Mr.  Ballance  is  an  interesting 
one;  it  is  a  record  of  energy,  of  persever- 
ance in  the  face  of  difficulties,  and  of  final 
success.  Through  the  long  period  of  his  life  of 
more  than  three-score  and  ten  years,  he  retained 
his  enter[)rise  of  disposition,  his  cheerfulness  and 
his  belief  in    human  nature.     As  a  member  of  the 


bar  he  was  quick  in  decision  and  prompt  in  execu- 
tion; he  saw  at  a  glance  the  diflicult  jwinl  in  any 
case,  and  as  readily  pursued  the  means  that  must 
be  used  to  gain  success.  His  portrait,  which  is 
presented  in  connection  with  this  account  of  his 
life,  will  be  welcomed  by  the  many  friends  to 
whom  a  long  acquaiutaiicc  had  endeared  him. 

Tracing  the  ancestry  of  our  subject,  we  find  that 
he  was  descended  from  an  ancient  familj',  who  re- 
sided in  Durham,  England,  and  some  of, whom  ini- 
migr.atcd  to  Virginia  more  than  two  centuries  ago. 
The  grandfather,  bearing  the  same  name  as  he  of 
whom  we  write,  was  a  Revolutionarj'  soldier  and 
was  killed  during  that  famous  conflict.  Our  subject 
was  a  son  of  Willis  and  Rejoice  (Green)  Ballance, 
natives  of  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  and  during  their 
residence  in  Madison  Countj',  Ky.,  their  son  Charles 
was  born  November  10,  1800.  His  boyhood  days 
were  passed  in  Kentucky,  and  ambitious  to  obtain 
an  education,  he  did  whatever  he  could  to  procure 
the  means,  p"  1  for  several  years  engaged  in  teach- 
ing. He  subsequently  read  law  in  Harrodsburg 
with  Judge  Terrj'  T.  Hoggin,  and  v^s  admitted  to 
the  bar  when  about  tsventy-nine  or  thirt}'  years  of 
age. 

Entering  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Kentucky,  Judge  Ballance  continued  there  two  or 
three  3'ears,  and  then,  coming  to  Illinois  opened  an 
office  in  Peoria  in  1832,  and  there  he  was  engaged 
in  active  professional  work  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  legal  ability  was  of  a  superior  order 
and  in  all  questions  regarding  the  land  laws  and 
rights  of  propert3'-holders  he  had  no  equal  and  was 
famous  as  a  laud-title  Iaw3'er.  During  those  early 
daj's  the  settlers  of  Peoria  were  much  troubled  to 
secure  titles  to  their  lands,  on  account  of  the 
"French  claims,"  and  with  unfaltering  faith  and  true 
courage  he  took  up  the  battle  in  their  beha.lf, 
against  these  old  claims.  He  waged  a  long  and  bit- 
ter warfare  against  the  French  claimants,  and  at 
last  secured  to  the  rightful  owners  the  peaceful 
possession  of  their  property.  He  had  in  early 
times  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  lower 
end  of  the  city,  where  some  of  those  French  claims 
rested  and  as  a  result  of  his  litigations,  gained  a 
clear  title  to  them,  and  their  possession  added 
much  to  his  wealtli.  Besides  attending  to  the  inter- 


218 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ests  of  bis  large  clientage,  Mr.  Baliance  published 
a  histor\-  of  Peoria,  a  hook  of  two  liuiiflred  and 
sevcnlj-  pages,  this  being  the  last  work  of  his  life 
and  appearing  in  1870. 

His  fellow-citizens  oecasionallj-  called  Mr.  Bal- 
iance to  devote  some  of  his  energy  and  valuable 
time  to  aiding  in  the  administration  of  public 
affairs,  and  thus  in  1852,  he  was  Alderman  of  the 
citj-  from  the  First  Ward,  and  in  1855,  served  very 
acceptably  as  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  passed  from 
the  busy  scenes  of  earth  August  10,  1871,  and  thus 
was  rounded  out  and  finished  an  eventful  life  that 
was  closely  associated  with  the  rise  and  progress 
of  the  city  and  county.  His  death  caused  a  gen- 
eral feeling  of  regret  throughout  this  section  of 
Illinois,  where  he  was  so  well  known  and  where  his 
ability  and  the  strict  integrity  of  his  character 
made  hini  respected  and  esteemed  by  the  entire 
comraunit}'.  Mr.  Baliance  took  a  livel3"  interest 
in  politics  aud  supported  the  Whig  party  so  long 
as  it  existed,  and  on  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party  he  became  one  of  its  strongest  sup- 
porters. 

During  the  Civil  War  Judge  Baliance  was  a 
stanch  Union  man,  and  raised,  largely  at  his  own 
expense,  the  .Seventy-seventh  Regiment.  Illinois 
Infantrv.  of  which  he  was  ejected  Colonel.  On  ac- 
count of  his  advanced  age  he  resigned  before  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  the  front.  His  son-in  law. 
L3'sander  R.  Webb,  w.is  elected  LieutenaiU-Colonel 
of  the  Seventy-seventh  Regiment  and  participated 
in  all  the  battles  in  which  they  took  jiart.  While 
gallantly  leading  the  men  he  was  killed  in  the  dis- 
astrous Red  River  Expedition.  His  share  in  the 
success  of  the  Union  was  no  inconsiderable  one  and 
his  name  is  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  the 
people  of  Peoria  and  the  citizens  of  Illinois,  where- 
ever  patriotism  is  known. 

The  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was  in- 
debted for  a  happj'  wedded  life  and  the  comforts  of 
a  well-appointed  home,  survives  him.  She  occu- 
pies an  elegant  residence  at  No.  212  Randolph 
Avenue,  and  in  this  beautiful  home  is  quietly  pass- 
ing the  declining  years  of  a  well-spent  life.  She  is 
a  true  Christian  and  a  member  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church,  in  whose  good  work  she  has  long 
1  ten  active.     She  bore  the   maiden  name  of  Julia 


Schnebly,  and  was  born  in'  Maryland,  July  13, 
1816.  Her  parents,  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Suavely) 
Schnebly.  were  natives  of  Washington  County, 
Md.,  where  her  father  carried  on  farming  exclu- 
sively-. Concluding  that  slavery  was  wrong  he 
came  West  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  settled  among 
the  pioneers  of  Peoria  County-,  where  he  died  in 
1852.  He  had  been  a  Whig  .all  his  life  and  in  the 
days  of  the  incipiency  of  the  Republican  party  be- 
fore Us  org.inization,  he  was  at  loss  to  know  where 
he  belonged,  and  asked  Mr.  Baliance.  "Where  do  I. 
amidst  the  confusion,  belong?" 

The  wedding  of  our  subject  and  his  estimable 
wife  was  celebrated  March  24,  1 836.  They  reared 
nine  children,  of  whom  the  following  six  are  liv- 
ing: Mrs.  Daniel  N.  Bash,  wife  of  Maj.  Bash,  of 
the  regular  army;  Mrs.  James  M.  Rice,  wife  of  an 
attorney-  in  Peoria:  Charles,  now  living  in  Omaha; 
Willis  H.,  is  one  of  the  owners  and  Secretary  of 
Gipps  Brewery  Company;  Mary  B..  wife  of  H.  O. 
Collins,  an  attorney  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.;.John  G., 
First  Lieutenant  of  Twenty-second  Infantry, 
United  States  Army,  now  stationed  at  Ft.  Keogh, 
Mont.  The  deceased  are  Josephine  R.,  first  wife  of 
Daniel  N.  Bash;  Julia,  former  wife  of  Leslie  Robi- 
son.  and  Amv.  former  wife  of  William  S.  Brackett. 


lU 


NSLOW   S.   STEVENS.      The    agricultural 
interests   of  this  county  have  received  an 


added  impulse  within  the  last  decade  from 
its  native-born  sons,  who  have  come  forward  to  aid 
in  the  work  so  well  begun  by  their  pioneer  sires  in 
developing  and  advancing  the  rich  resources  of 
this  region.  Among  these,  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch  is  deserving  of  notice.  He 
has  a  farm  in  Trivoli  Township  that  is  complete 
in  all  its  appointments,  and  ranks  among  the  best 
estates  in  the  vicinity. 

Trivoli  Township  is  the  birthplace  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  here  he  was  born  on  his  father's  home- 
stead, June  6.  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  F. 
Stevens,  who  was  born  near  Danbury,  Conn.,  in 
1814.  His  father,  Zadock  Stevens,  was  also  a  native 


PORTKArr   A>'!)   UIOItRAPHICAL  ALliUM. 


219 


of  tlial  New  England  State.  He  was  a  n»a^<^n  nnd 
also  cai  rierl  on  farming  to  some  extent,  lieing  the 
owner  of  a  small  farm.  His  clays  were  passed  amid 
the  rural  scenes  of  his  native  place.  He  married 
Maiy  Ann  Wliite.  who  traced  her  ancestry  back  to 
the  pilgrims  of  the  "Mayflower." 

Joseph  Stevens  had  a  farm  in  Connecticut,  and 
w.as  engaged  m  agricultural  pursuits  there  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  1840,  he  came  here  with  his  father 
and  hrother  Zadock  and  took  a  contract  to  build  the 
jail  in  Knoxville,  and  retuii.ed  home  the  same  fall. 
While  here  he  bought  a  tract  of  laiul  in  Trivoli 
Township,  and  in  1844  he  came  by  stage  and  water 
and  located  on  his  i)lace,  which  comprised  eighty 
acres  of  hind  in  a  wild  condition.  He  added  to  his 
land  from  time  to  time  and  now  has  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  on  seelions  3  and  4,  besides  the 
original  eighty  forming  bis  homestead,  on  which  he 
resides  with  his  son  Zadock.  He  has  attained  the 
venerable  age  of  seventy-dve  years,  and  was  very 
active  until  1887,  when  he  had  a  stroke  of  paraly- 
sis. He  has  borne  a  prominent  part  in  the  public 
and  political  life  of  the  township,  holding  respon- 
sible offices,  vvas  Supervisor  tiu'ce  years.  Collector 
the  same  length  of  time  and  Assessor  two  years. 
Religiously,  he  is  a  believer  in  the  Universaiist 
faith.  Politically,  he  stands  stanchly  by  the  Dem- 
ocratic part\-.  His  wife,  who  is  about  sixty-five 
years  old,  is  his  stay  and  comfort  in  his  old  age. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Sallie  Rice  and  she  was  born 
near  Louisville,  K}'.  Her  father  was  also  a  native 
of  that  State.  He  crossed  the  river  into  Indiana, 
and  after  living  there  three  years  came  to  this  State, 
settled  in  Knox  County  near  Henderson,  where  he 
improved  a  farm,  ami  on  it  made  his  home  until 
death. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  eight  children, 
named  as  follows:  Plxjcbe,  Mrs.  JNIeeker,  of  Pawnee 
County,  Neb. ;  ]Mar}-,  who  died  here;  Zadock,  living 
on  the  homestead ;  Alonzo,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years;  Onslow;  Ella.  Mrs.  Davis,  of  Pawnee 
County;  Eiiinia.  Mrs.  Bradley,  who  lives  in  Dan- 
bury,  Conn.,  near  the  ancestral  home;  Eva,  at  home 
with  her  |)arents. 

Onslow  S.  Stevens  was  given  good  educational 
advantages  in  the  public  schov)ls  and  in  two  years' 
allentlance  at  the  High  School.     As  in  the  case  of 


most  farmers'  lads,  his  services  were  early  required 
on  the  farm,  and  he  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
Iwentj'-five,  affording  his  father  valuable  assistance 
in  the  management  of  his  agricultural  interests. 
At  that  age  he  went  to  Nebraska  to  secure  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Pawnee  County, 
performing  the  entire  journey  thither  with  a  team 
and  wagon.  He  made  some  improvements  on  his 
homestead,  which  was  four  miles  east  of  Pawnee 
City,  and  had  some  breaking  done,  and  the  next 
year  exchanged  it  with  his  brother  for  the  one 
hundred  and  sixty  he  now  owns  and  occupies.  Fie 
located  on  it  and  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising,  and  constantly  improved  the  i)lace. 
His  wife's  health  became  impaired  and  in  the  fall 
of  1888  besought  to  improve  her  condition  by 
traveling  through  Iowa  and  Kansas.  On  his  return 
in  the  fall  of  the  year  he  bought  twenty  acres  of 
land  on  section  3.  The  land  had  become  impover- 
ished and  the  buildings  dilapidated,  but  by  vigor- 
ous work  he  has  restored  the  place  and  brought 
about  a  new  order  of  things.  In  1889  he  put  up 
his  present  residence,  and  added  other  necessarv 
new  buildings.  His  farm  comprises  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres,  including  the  original  homestead 
located  on  sections  3  and  4,  is  well  watered  bj' 
Clark's  Branch,  and  forty  .acres  of  it  are  devoted 
to  pasture,  and  he  rents  all  but  sixty  acres.  He 
is  actively  engaged  in  raising  hogs  and  in  feeding 
them,  his  preference  being  the  Chester-White  breed. 
He  has  good  draft  horses  and  his  place  is  otherwise 
well  stocked. 

The  wedding  ceremony  that  united  our  subject 
with  Miss  Hattie  Orton.  was  performed  in  Trivoli 
Township,  March  3,  1881.  One  child,  whom  they 
have  named  Maud,  completes  their  happy  house- 
hold. Mrs.  Stevens  is  a  native  of  this  State,  her 
birthplace  being  in  Henry  County.  Her  father, 
Brenard  Orton,  came  to  Trivoli  Township  with  his 
parents  when  a  boy,  they  being  among  the  earlv 
pioneers  of  the  place.  He  married  here  and  subse- 
quently engaged  in  farming  in  Henry  Count3\  He 
finally  returned  to  Peoria  and  from  here  wient  to 
Barber  County,  Kan.,  where  he  lives  in  honorable 
retirement  with  his  son. 

Mr.  Stevens  is  gifted  with  physical  and  intellect- 
ual activity,  decision   of   purpose  and  calm  jud"-- 


220 


POUTHAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ment,  which  traits  are  not  onl}'  useful  to  him  in  the 
conduct  of  his  affairs,  but  render  him  a  most  desir- 
able public  official,  and  in  him  Trivoli  Township 
has  one  of  its  most  efficient  Highwaj-  Commission- 
ers. He  is  serving  his  second  year  in  this  important 
office,  and  is  Treasurer  of  the  Board.  In  his  polit- 
ical belief  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  served  on  the 
Grand  and  Petit  Juries.  He  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternit}-.  being  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  192, 
at  Farmington. 


^AMES  H.  BUCHANAN,  one  of  the  most 
'  popular  j'oung  farmers  of  Trivoli  Township, 
is  pleasantly  located  a  mile  from  Cramer,  his 
snug  farm  comprising  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 17,  where  he  has  made  various  improvements 
such  as  might  be  expected  of  an  enterprising  and 
successful  agriculturist.  When  he  took  possession 
of  the  place  it  was  somewliat  improved,  but  the 
dsvelling  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1884.  The  same 
summer  he  put  up  a  nevv  one,  soon  adding  a  barn 
and  other  buildings,  setting  out  orchards  and 
groves,  and  bringing  the  land  to  a  fine  state  of  im- 
provement and  cultivation.  The  farm  is  outlined 
and  divided  by  hedges  and  l)oard  fences  of  stabilit}- 
and  neatness. 

Mr.  Buchanan  is  of  Pennsylvania  birth  and  an- 
tecedents, belonging  to  a  family  of  whom  further 
facts  ma}-  be  learned  by  perusal  of  the  sketch  of 
his  father,  Alexander  Buchanan,  which  is  included 
in  this  Album.  He  was  born  near  Cougruity, 
Westmoreland  County,  March  9,  1856,  his  father 
at  tliat  time  being  a  merchant  in  the  town  where 
our  subject  remained  until  nine  years  old.  He  then 
went  to  Murrysville  with  his  parents,  living  there 
about  five  years.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
and  finally  entered  the  Turtle  Creek  Academy, 
afterward  the  Laird  Institute,  pursuing  his  studies 
there  one  term  before  removing  from  the  State.  His 
boyisli  games  were  frequently  enjoyed  over  the 
ground  now  occupied  by  the  Murrysville  gas  wells. 

Ill  1867  the  family  came  to  Illinois,  traveling  by 
rail  to  Farmington  and  locating  on  a  farm  in  this 
county.     There  our  subject  bore  a  part  in  farm 


work  during  llie  summers,  spending  the  winters  in 
scliool  until  lie  was  seventeen  jears  old,  when  he 
entered  the  High  School  at  Farmington,  studying 
there  six  months.  The  following  winter  lie  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  Timber  Township,  but  one 
term  was  sufficient,  and  determining  that  pedagogi- 
cal labor  was  not  his  forte,  he  returned  to  his 
father's  farm.  From  that  time  until  the  spring  of 
1881  he  stayed  there,  helping  to  pay  for  tlie  ijjace 
and  develop  its  resources  to  the  fullest  extent. 

An  important  step  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Buchanan 
was  taken  September  1,  1880,  when  he  became  the 
husband  of  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Shofe,  their  marriage 
rites  taking  place  in  Peoria.  The  bride  was  born 
•on  Delevan  Prairie,  Tazewell  County,  November  7, 
1856,  has  spent  her  time  in  that  and  Peoria  Coun- 
ties, much  of  the  .time  in  Pekin  and  Peoria,  having 
the  advantage  of  the  excellent  common  schools 
until  twelve  years  old  when  she  began  to  make  her 
own  way.  .She  learned  the  tiade  of  a  dressmaker 
in  Pekin  and  worked  at  it  in  that  place  until  the 
confinement  proved  injurious  and  she  was  recom- 
mended to  undertake  the  more  healthful  occupation 
of  housekeeping.  She  is  refined  in  manner,  dis- 
pla3'S  a  decided  taste  for  the  beautiful  in  nature 
and  art,  and  is  as  highly  esteemed  for  her  virtues 
as  any  lady  iu  the  neighborhood. 

In  1881  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buchanan  located  on  their 
present  estate,  where  the}-  now  have  so  attractive  a 
home.  The  husband  is  busied  with  general  farm- 
ing, his  principal  crop  being  corn,  and  feeds  much 
of  the  produce  to  hogs,  of  which  he  raises  full- 
blooded  Poland-Chinas.  His  drove  comprises  from 
fifty  to  ninety  head,  and  he  likewise  has  full- 
blooded  Short-horn  cattle,  draft  horses  and  road- 
sters of  excellent  qualit}'.  The  equines  are  of 
Fairy  Gift  and  graded  Clydesdale  stock.  The 
dwelling  is  brightened  by  the  presence  of  two  in- 
teresting children:  Harry  D.  and  Russell  S. 

Mrs.  Buchanan  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  which  her  husband  attends  and  supports. 
He  is  a  Republican,  stanch  and  true.  He  has  served 
as  School  Director  and  in  other  ways  assisted  in 
the  better  civilization  snd  material  advancement 
of  this  section.  His  intellect  is  naturallj^  keen,  his 
manners  pleasing,  and  his  character  is  such  as  to 
win  respect.     No  man  takes  greater  interest  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


221 


public  welfare  than  he,  and  none  enjoy  more  of  the 
friendslup  of  tliosc  wlio  know  llieni.  At  one  lime 
he  was  the  e.indulate  for  Township  Clerk  on  the 
ticket  of  tlie  party  tliat  is  in  the  minority  licre,  yet 
he  came  within  fifteen  votes  of  securing  the 
election. 

The  fatlier  of  Mrs.  Buchanan  was  horn  in  tiie 
Buckeye  State  and  learned  tlie  trade  of  a  coo|)e!-, 
following  it  there  for  a  number  of  years.  In  the 
'40s  he  came  to  Illinois,  first  locating  in  Tazewell 
County,  then  coming  to  Penria  County,  and  work- 
ing at  his  trade  in  Pekin  and  Peoria  alternatel}'. 
lie  now  owns  a  home  in  the  county  seat,  which  has 
been  his  ciiief  residence  for  j-ears.  For  a  time  he 
was  eng.aged  in  farming  in  Timber  Township.  He 
was  a  soldier  throughout  the  ^Mexican  War,  and  in 
1861  enlisted  in  Company  G,  Forty-seventh  Illinois 
Infantry,  serving  three  years  in  the  Union  army, 
lie  had  the  rank  of  Sergeant,  participating  with 
the  regiment  in  various  battles  until  taken  sick, 
after  which  he  was  placed  in  ihe  Invalid  Corps  at 
St.  Louis  as  an  officer.  He  belongs  to  the  Society 
of  Mexican  War  Veterans,  to  the  Republican  party, 
and  to  the  Methodist.  Kpiscopal  Churcli. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Buchanan  was  Lucinda 
Staples,  a  daughter  of  .bisiah  Staples,  an  Indiana 
farmer,  that  State  having  been  her  birl,hplace.  Her 
father  made  an  early  settlement  in  Washington, 
Tazewell  County,  this  State,  finally  dying  there. 
Mrs.  Lucinda  Shofe  died  in  Timber  Townshiii,  tliis 
count}-,  in  1805,  and  her  husband  afterward  mar- 
ried Rohema  Robbins.  Mrs.  Buchanan  is  one  of 
four  cliildren.  Her  elder  broliiei-,  John,  left  Peoria 
in  1S8G  and  has  not  since  been  heard  from;  Josiah 
S.  lives  in  Trivoli  Township;  Mrs.  Mary  K.  Cole 
lives  in  Peoria. 


\|^UGENE  F.  BALDWIN,  a  well-known  news- 
mi  paper  man  of  Peoria  and  one  of  the  propri- 
/l^~'^'  etors  of  the  Grand  (Jpera  House,  was  born 
in  Watertown.  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  December 
1.  1840.  His  parents,  Stephen  and  Julia  (Pardee) 
Baldwin,  were  early  settlers  of  that  section  but  na- 
tives of  the  State.     The  fatlier  was  a  deacon  of  the 


Presbyterian  Church  about  sixty  years.  He  died 
in  Peoria  at  the  home  of  our  snhjoct  when  eiglity- 
two  years  old.  Stephen  Baldwin  first  came  West 
in  1818,  locating  at  Shawneetown,  this  State,  thence 
going  to  New  Orleans  where  he  sojourned  a  twelve- 
month, tlienee  returning  to  Connecticut.  The 
famil}-  came  West  again  in  1855,  making  their  home 
in  Wisconsin  until  18(;()  when  they  removed  to  Ill- 
inois. From  that  time  until  1877  when  he  came 
to  live  with  his  son,  Stephen  Baldwin  resided  in 
various  places. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  initiates  this  notice 
spent  the  days  of  his  bo3hood  in  AVestern  New 
York,  whence  at  the  age  of  fifteen  he  departed  to 
Wisconsin,  spending  his  time  principally  in  Mil- 
waukee until  about  twenty  3-ears  of  age.  In  1800 
he  taught  school  in  Clinton  County,  III.,  after 
which  he  attended  tlie  Normal  University  a  twelve- 
month. Thoroughly  patriotic,  the  Civil  War  had 
not  long  been  in  progress  ere  he  took  arms  in  de- 
fense of  the  flag,  being  enrolled  September  17,  18G  I , 
in  Company  B,  Twelfth  Indiana  Infantrj'.  Being 
discharged  a  year  later  he  resumed  the  profession 
of  teaching  at  Chillicothc,  Peoria  County,  111.,  but 
in  a  short  time  removed  to  Peoria  where  in  1803 
he  was  appointee!  Principal  of  the  old  First  Dis- 
trict school.  The  same  year  lie  entered  the  news- 
paper business  as  local  editor  of  the  Tmimcript. 

In  1868  Mr.  Baldwin  liouglit  the  El  Paso  ./o»/virt/ 
which  he  carried  on  eleven  months,  then  started 
the  Peoria  ]ici!ti'ii\  coiiLinuiug  that  publication  un- 
til 1872.  His  next  enterprise  was  to  edit  the 
Rock  Island  Union  for  the  short  period  of  three 
months,  after  which  he  returned  to  Kl  Paso,  bought 
back  the  Journal  and  personally  conducted  it  un- 
til 1873.  He  then  formed  a  business  connection 
with  Jacob  B.  Barnes  and  together  they  continued 
the  publication  of  tlie  Journal  until  1877.  In 
September  of  that  j'car  they  returned  to  I'eoria, 
soon  afterward  starting  the  daily  edition  of  the 
Journal,  which  has  a  large  circulation,  is  a  recog- 
nized power  in  the  journalistic  work  of  Peoria 
and  vicinity',  and  as  a  shrewd,  newsy  sheet  com- 
m,ands  the  attention  of  visitors  to  the  city. 

Mr.  Baldwin  possesses  recognized  literary  ability, 
keen  judgment  regarding  char.acter,  and  is  able 
to  make  cfifective  use  of  logic    or  sarcasm  as  occa- 


222 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sion  seems  to  him  lo  demand.  In  1»81  be  began 
the  construction  of  the  Grand  Opera  House  wliich 
being  completed  liie  following  jear  affords  favor- 
able quarters  for  the  Journal. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Baldwin  is  a  lad^'  of  acknowl- 
edged intelligence  and  refinement,  possessed  like- 
wise of  the  shrewdness  and  energy  characteristics 
of  those  born  in  New  England.  .She  was  known 
iu  lier  maidenhood  as  Miss  .Sarah  Jane  Gove.  Mv. 
and  Mrs.  Baldwin  have  three  living  children — 
Ethel,  Frank  and  ^lildred,  and  have  lost  one. 
Their  wedded  life  has  covered  a  period  of  almost 
a  quarter  of  a  ceutur}',  the  date  of  their  marriage, 
being  April  23,  1866. 


-^^ 


^^EORGE  F.  EMERSON.  One  of  the  prom- 
Ill  ,_-,  inent  wholesale  establishments  of  Peoria 
^^^  is  that  of  Curamings  &  Emerson,  dealers 
in  heav}'  hardware,  wagon  and  carriage  stock, 
with  a  large  trade  in  this  .State  and  Iowa.  Af- 
ter acting  as  book-keeper  for  the  firm  of  Cum- 
mings  &  Stone  one  j'ear,  ^Ir.  Cnmmings  succeeded 
and  our  subject  continued  with  him  three  3'ears  as 
book-keeper.  In  1872  he  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  business  and  since  that  time  has  been  adding 
his  ability  and  energy  and  since  January,  1878, 
the  date  of  his  partner's  death  he  has  had  exclusive 
control. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  a  son  of 
Enoch  G.  and  Harriet  V.  (Waters)  Emerson,  of 
New  England.  The  father  was  horn  in  Rochester, 
Vt.  and  the  mother  in  Lebanon,  N.  H.  Enoch 
Emerson  had  been  obliged  to  shift  for  himself  ] 
fvvm  boyhood,  his  father  having  died  when  he  w.as  ' 
four  jears  old.  He  learned  the  tanner's  trade  in 
Boston,  but  after  coming  AVest  devoted  himself  to 
farming  for  many  3'ears.  He  took  up  his  residence 
ill  Tazewell  Count}'  in  1831,  remaining  there  until  ' 
March  18()."),  when  he  removed  to  Peoria  and  en- 
tered the  paper  trade  and  the  manufacturing  of 
paper  collars.  His  business  was  burned  out  in 
1SG8.  He  breathed  his  last  Christmas  day,  1874, 
at  the  age  of  si.xty-two  years.  The  parental  house- 
hdld   consisted  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  sur- 


vivors are:  George  F.,  Don  Carlos  and  Achsah, 
all  living  in   Peoria. 

George  F.  Emerson  w.as  born  at  Morton,  Taze- 
well County,  April  4,  1847.  His  fundamental  ed- 
ucation was  obtained  in  the  district  schools  and 
he  further  prepared  himself  for  the  practical  du- 
ties of  life  bv  studying  at  AVorlhiugton  ife  War- 
ner's Commercial  College,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  186.5.  He  became  assistant  book-keeper 
for  D.  .C.  Farrell,  subsequent!}'  book-keeper  for 
Bohbcfe  McClellan,  and  finally  entered  the  estab- 
lishment in  which  he  now  has  an  interest.  He  is 
well  fitted  for  a  successful  business  career,  having 
inherited  much  of  the  shrewdness  which  charac- 
terizes the  Yankee  race  and  combining  with  it  the 
energj'  of  the  Westerner. 

Mr.  Emerson  was  united  iu  marriage  November 
7.  1871,  to  Miss  Harriet  C. .daughter  of  Nelson  S. 
and  Mary  (Monroe)  Woodruff.  The  living  chil- 
dren of  this  union  are  a  son  and  daughter — Frank 
and  Grace  bj'  name.  Mr.  Emerson  belongs  to  the 
Calvary  Presbj'terian  Church,  is  a  popular  and  re- 
spected member  in  the  society  in  which  he  moves, 
and  has  an  excellent  reputation  among  the  business 
men  for  his  honorable  dealing  and  financial  tact. 


OAPOLEON  DUNLAP.   The  son  of  a  pioneer 
/   family,  and  a  jiioneer  himself,  "Sir.  Dunlap 
;   occupies  an  honorable   position  among  the 

farmers  and  stock-growers  of  thiscount}',  who  have 
been  instrumental  in  developing  its  agricultural  in- 
terests, and  have  been  such  potent  factors  in  plac- 
ing it  on  a  sound  financial  basis,  as  one  of  the 
wealthiest  counties  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  is 
the  proprietor  of  a  finely  improved  farm  on  section 
3,  Radnor  Township,  where  many  years  of  his  life 
have  been  passed. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Smith  Dunlap.  who  was 
born  near  Can.ajoharie,  Montgomer}'  County,  N.  Y., 
and  his  mother,  Eleanor  Lane,  was  also  a  native  of 
that  county.  In  1838  they  came  to  this  State,  and 
located  among  the  pioneers  of  Radnor  Townshi|), 
and  here  passed  their  remaining  da3's.  Mr.  Dun- 
lap became   one  nf   our    most  suhslantial   citizens, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


223 


and  for  manj'  years  abl3-  discharged  tlie  duties  of 
tlie  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Our  subject  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  five 
sons  and  five  daughters,  and  lie  was  born  on  the 
parental  homestead,  in  the  town  of  Sandy  Creek, 
Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  August  31,  1823.  He  was 
a  bright,  self-reliant  lad  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  years 
when  he  accompanied  his  father  and  mother  to 
their  new  pioneer  home  in  this  township,  where  he 
has  since  lived.  He  earlj-  acquired  a  sound  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  farming,  and  when  he  attained 
man's  estate,  adopted  that  calling  for  his  lifework. 
He  now  owns  oue  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  finely 
tilled  land,  on  which  he  has  erected  a  conveniently 
arranged  set  of  buildings,  and  has  otherwise  greatly 
improved,  and  increased  the  value  of  his  property'. 

April  22,  1848,  was  the  date  of  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Dunlap  with  Miss  Eliza  Robinson,  their  mar- 
riage being  solemnized  in  Trivoli  Township.  Mrs. 
Dunlap's  parents,  George  and  Maria  (Gaylor)  Rob- 
inson, natives  respectively  of  New  Lisbon,  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  of  Connecticut,  were  early  pio- 
neers of  this  county,  coming  here  in  the  month  of 
June,  1836,  and  passing  their  remaining  days  in 
Trivoli  Township.  They  had  six  sons  and  six 
daughters,  of  whom  Mrs.  Dunlap  was  tiie  fourth  in 
order  of  birth,  and  siie  was  born  in  New  Lisbon, 
N.  Y.,  January  2,  1829. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  arc  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  namely:  George,  a  clergyman  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  at  present  settled  in  La  Salle 
County',  who  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Hervey ;  Eme- 
line,  wife  of  Harvey  Comp;  Thomas,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Harriet  M.,  wife  of  George  V.  Yates; 
Franklin;  Walter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years;  Flora,  wife  of  James  E.  Watson;  Ellen  E., 
who  died  when  about  two  j'earsold;  Leslie  S.,  and 
Stella  R. 

Mr.  Dunlap  occupies  an  important  place  in  the 
citizenship  of  the  county.  He  has  represented  the 
township  on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  one 
term,  has  been  Highway  Commissioner  for  several 
years,  and  has  held  various  school  offices.  He  is  a 
man  of  fine  character  and  a  blameless  life,  and  hold- 
ing serious  and  earnest  views  on  all  the  importnnt 
questions  of  the  d.ay,' he  is  ever  found  firmly  advo- 
cating the  right.     He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in   princi- 


ple, but  acts  independently  in  politics.  He  and  his 
wife,  who  is  a  woman  of  rare  intelligence,  and  is 
highly  spoken  of  on  all  .sides,  are  among  the  most 
valued  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
the  lives  that  they  lead  testify  to  their  Christian 
worth. 

-   o<r>o    . 


<T/  OHN  JACKSON.  Among  those  old  settlers 
in  Peoria  County  whose  life  labors  liave  re- 
sulted satisfactorily  and  enabled  them  to 
,5^^/'  retire  from  active  duties  with  a  competence, 
is  the  gentleman  above  named,  who  resides  in  Rad- 
nor Township.  His  comfortable  and  pleasant 
dwelling  is  situated  near  the  village  of  Dunlap, 
surrounded  by  two  hundred  imi)roved  acres,  where 
waving  grain,  fruitful  orchards,  well-kept  stock 
and  good  farm  machiner}-  show  what  manner  of  a 
man  the  owner  of  the  estate  is.  Neatness  and  or- 
der prevail  about  the  home  wherein  good  cheer  is 
abundant  and  hospitality  reigns. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  a  worthv  English  couple, 
Brj'an  and  Hannah  (Jennings)  Jackson,  who  emi- 
grated from  Yorkshire  to  the  United  States  in 
1819,  settling  in  Delaware.  There  the  husband 
and  father  died  in  1829,  the  wife  and  mother  de- 
parting this  life  also  in  AVilinington.  Their  family 
consisted  of  ten  sons  and  daughters,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  youngest.  He  was  born  in  York, 
shire,  August  10,  i807,  and  coming  to  America 
with  his  parents  lived  in  Delaware  seventeen  years. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  grown  to  man's  estate, 
adopted  the  occupation  of  farming  and  already  was 
doing  good  work  in  that  line  of  labor.  In  May, 
1837,  he  came  to  this  countj',  since  which  date  he 
has  continued  to  reside  in  Radnor  Township. 

Here  Mr.  Jackson  took  up  the  life  of  a  pioneer, 
displajing  the  indomitable  energy,  cheerful  spirit, 
hospitality  and  endurance  that  marked  the  true 
frontiersman,  and  have  made  the  name  of  pioneer 
oue  honored  by  all  mankind  who  appreciate  the 
comforts  of  our  later  civilization.  So  much  has 
been  told  of  the  surroundings  in  this  county  at 
that  period,  that  it  is  needless  for  us  to  do  more 
than  mention  the  rude  log  caliius,  the  distant 
neighbors,  the  scarcity  of  what  are  called  the  com- 


•224 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


forts  of  life  as  regards  fooil  and  clotliing,  the  de- 
tails of  this  picture  being  readily  filled  in  liy  the 
imagination  of  the  reader. 

Realizing  the  wortli  of  a  conii)anion,  Mr.  Jackson 
wooed  and  won  Mrs.  Klizabetli  (Jordan)  Auckland, 
daughter  of  Paul  and  Rosamond  Rose  (Graves) 
Jordan,  natives  of  Lincolnshire,  England,  in  which 
country  they  died,  and  widow  of  William  Auck- 
land, who  breathed  his  last  in  Muskingum  Count3', 
Ohio,  in  1850.  She  had  five  children  by  her  first 
marriage — Thom;is,  Shadrach,  Meshach,  Elizabeth 
and  Ann  Auckland.  The  wedding  of  Mr.  Jackson 
and  Mrs.  Auckland  took  place  February  26,  1852, 
and  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  six 
sons  and  daughters — Lavinia,  Caroline  M.,  Dora, 
John  R.,  Mary  J.  and  Lincoln  B.  Lavinia  is  now 
the  wife  of  Moses  Harlan ;  Dora,  of  Charles  Wig- 
ginton;  John  married  Miss  Savanna  Auckland; 
Lincoln,  Miss  Isabella  Wood.  Mary  J.  died  at  the 
age  of  tliree  years. 

Tlie  neighbors  of  our  subject  liave  reposed  con- 
fidence in  him  in  m.aking  him  Highway  Commis- 
sioner and  electing  him  to  the  various  school  olHces, 
in  every  position  gaining  from  him  efficient  and 
faitlifid  service.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  ever  striv- 
ing to  carry  out  in  their  daily  lives  the  virtues 
inculcated  in  Holy  Writ,  and  winning  the  respect 
of  their  acquaintances,  over  whom  they  wield  an 
influence  toward  all  that  is  improving  and  ele- 
vating. 


VILLIAM  G.  BULL.  From  Colonial  days 
until  now,  the  fondest  dream  indulged  in 
by  thousands  of  dwellers  in  the  mother 
country,  has  been  that  of  crossing  the  sea  and  be- 
coming citizens  of  tlie  United  States,  where  mode- 
rate finances  would  secure  more  of  the  comforts  of 
life,  and  better  opportunities  for  educational  and 
social  progress  than  in  their  native  land.  This 
dream  has  Ijcen  realized  b}'  man^-  who  liavc  become 
recognized  as  among  our  best  men.  One,  now  a 
citizen  of  Peoria,  tells  us  that  in  boyhood's  golden 
days  he  often  thought  of  America  as  a  proper  lionie, 
and  now  that  many  years  iuive   found    him    in    llie 


enjoyment  of  his  desires,  he  can  but  think  that  our 
skies  are  a  deeper  blue,  our  opportunities  infinitely 
greater,  and  our  possibilities  vastly  be3-ond  those 
of  his  native  land.  Years  of  prosperity  such  as 
ci>uld  not  have  come  to  him  there,  have  been  his 
lot  here,  and  he  has  no  reason  to  regret  having 
crossed  the  hrin3'  deep. 

Mr.  Bull  was  born  in  Oxfordshire,  England,  Sep- 
tember 18,  1823,  being  a  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Grant)  Bull.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter, and  became  a  contractor,  continuing  to 
pursue  that  business  after  emigrating  to  Amer'ca, 
which  he  did  in  1855.  His  first  location  in  tlie 
New  World  was  Akion,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
but  a  year  ere  taking  up  his  abode  in  the  Prairie 
State.  In  Peoria  he  not  only  continued  to  contract 
for  the  construction  of  buildings,  but  made  a  spe- 
cialtj-  of  plaster  contracts,  and  many  houses  still 
standing  are  witnesses  to  his  skill  and  honor  in  ful- 
filling his  obligations.  He  graduall}-  drifted  into 
the  handling  and  making  of  mantels  and  grates,  and 
in  1870,  in  connection  with  John  F.  King,  era- 
barked  regularly  in  this  industry  as  a  specialty. 
Tlie  business  relation  continued  until  the  present 
year  (1890),  when  a  daughter,  Emma  E.,  took 
charge  and  continues  the  business.  Even  after  t;ik- 
ing  up  the  special  work,  Mr.  Bull  cntiniied  to 
make  and  fill  contracts  for  the  erection  of  buildings 
and  is  still  thus  occupied. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Miss 
Anna  Adkins,  in  Oxford,  England.  The  union  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  four  children — I>mma  E., 
Hannah  A.,  Carolina,  and  Laura  Maria.  The  last 
two  named  are  deceased.  The  second  wife  of  our 
subject  was  Mrs.  Annabel  (Cowperthwaite)  Adams, 
of  Philadelphia,  a  lady  of  Quaker  extraction,  highly 
esteemed  for  her  quiet  kindliness,  amiabilit3-,  and 
general  intelligence.  This  union  has  been  produc- 
tive of  two  children,  one  of  whom,  George,  is  now 
learning  his  father's  trade.  The  other  child,  Caro- 
line F.  is  deceased.  Mrs.  Bull  at  the  time  of  her  sec- 
ond marriage,  had  one  daughter  b3^  her  former 
husband,  William  Adams,  named  Williamanna 
Adams,  now  the  wife  of  Harry  E.  Sloan,  of  Peoria. 

Mr.  Bull  came  to  Peoria  during  the  Presidential 
campaign,  resulting  in  the  election  of  Buchanan. 
.Such  a  polilical  struggle  was    [jossesscd  of   iiovelt3- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


227 


to  liini,  and  the  liirht  of  suffrage  witL  so  few  re- 
strictions, gave  him  new  ideas  of  sovereignty.  A 
study  of  politics,  and  a  gatliering  of  impressions 
made  iiini  a  Republican,  and  in  a  quiet,  earnest  way 
he  has  alwaj-s  affiliated  with  the  party  he  first  chose. 
As  a  citizen,  lie  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem,  lend- 
ing a  hand  to  all  local  improvements  calculated  to 
promote  the  beauty  and  welfare  of  Peoria,  and 
quietly,  unobtrusively  driving  his  business.  He 
has  accumulated  properly  here,  and  as  he  s.ays, 
'•makes  more  in  three  hours  here,  than  he  could  in 
England  in  a  week."  He  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternil}'. 


//^)  H-^K^^ES  P.  KING.     Mr.  King,  whose  i 
(l(  trait  is  shown  on  the  opposite   page,  ne 

^^^  little  introduction  to  the  citizens  of  Pe( 


HARLES  P.  KING.     Mr.  King,  whose  por- 

leeds 
Peoria 

County,  as  he  is  numbered  among  its  leading  men, 
:ind  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  President  of 
the  Peoria  National  Bank.  He  has  held  this  posi- 
tion since  1880,  at  which  time  the  Second  National 
was  merged  into  the  present  institution,  the  charter 
of  the  Second  National  expiring.  This  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  banking  house  of  L.  Howells  &  Co., 
which  was  organized  January  1,  1860,  and  which 
succeeded  J.  P.  Hotchkiss  &  Co.,  organized  in 
1852. 

The  Second  National  Bank  opened  its  doors  for 
business  January  1,  1864,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$•200,000.  L.  Howells  w.as  the  first  President,  and 
he  held  his  position  until  his  death.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Mr.  King,  who  had  for  some  years  been 
the  Vice-President,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
stockholders.  When  the  bank  went  into  liquida- 
tion it  paid  r$275,000  to  the  stockholders.  At  the 
time  of  the  reorganization  the  old  officers  were  re- 
placed, and  the  new  bank  went  into  operation  with 
a  surplus  of  $40,000.  The  officers  were  Charles  P. 
King,  President;  George  McElvain,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; R.  A.  Culler,  Cashier,  and  C.  C.  Lyons,  As- 
sistant Cashier.  The  Directors  were  Charles  P. 
King,  George  JIcElvain,  C.  C.  L3-ons,  Philip  Zell, 
L.  F.  Houghton,  William  .Tack,  and  N.  C.  Dougherty, 
now  Superintendent  of  Scliools. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  l'"('bru:uy  11, 


1817,  in  the  town  of  Adams,  Jefferson  County. 
N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Betsey  (Allen) 
King,  who,  while  Charles  P.  was  an  infant,  removed 
into  an  adjoining  township.  The  father  occupied 
himself  as  a  farmer  and  cari)enlcr,  and  Charles  P. 
remained  with  his  parents  until  approaching  his 
major  it}'. 

Leaving  his  native  State  in  the  spring  of  18.38, 
Mr.  King  came  to  Peoria.  When  nineteen  years 
old  he  had  bought  his  time  of  his  father,  paj'ing 
him  the  sum  of  $12.50  per  month  until  becoming 
his  own  man.  In  the  meantime  he  had  learned 
carpentering,  and  was  well  fitted  b}-  the  habits  of 
industry  to  which  he  had  been  trained  to  make  his 
own  wa3'  in  the  world.  The  parents  remained  resi- 
dents of  Jefferson  County  until  their  decease. 

Mr.  King  followed  his  trade  one  year  after  com- 
ing to  Peoria,  then  changing  his  occupation  some- 
what, engaged  as  second  engineer  on  a  steamer  ply- 
ing the  Illinois  River  between  Peoria  and  St.  Louis, 
and  he  was  thus  occupied  three  j'ears.  In  the 
meantime  he  was  becoming  a  prominent  citizen,  in- 
teresting himself  in  local  affairs,  and  after  filling 
other  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  was 
elected,  in  1853,  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Legisla- 
ture, on  the  Democratic  ticket.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  service  he  returned  to  Peoria  and 
engaged  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  also  in  the 
engineering  department  of  one  of  the  leading  dis- 
tilleries, and  was  thus  occupied  until  1857.  That 
year  he  associated  himself  in  partnership  with  the 
firm  of  Lightner,  Schimpferman  <fe  Co.,  which  then 
became  the  leading  distillery  company  in  that  sec- 
tion. Afterward  Mr.  Schimpferman  disposed  of 
his  interest  in  the  concern  and  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Zell.  The  establishment  was  known  as  the  Star 
Distillery,  under  which  title  it  was  successfully 
operated  until  18G6. 

During  the  above-mentioned  year  Messrs.  King 
&  Leightner  withdrew  from  the  distillery,  Mr. 
King  becoming  interested  in  the  banking  business, 
at  which  he  has  since  continued.  In  the  meantime 
he,  with  others,  organized  the  Savings  Bank  of  Pe- 
oria, of  which  he  is  now  one-third  owner,  and  also 
has  an  interest  in  various  manufacturing  concerns, 
owning  considerable  slock  therein.  He  has  alw.ays 
miiiutaincd  a  warm  interest  in  educational  matters. 


228 


FOR  TRAIT   AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ami  for  severiil  terms  has  served  as  Scliool  iJireelor 
in  his  district.  He  represented  I'eoria  Township  in 
the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  five  or  six  terms. 
He  east  iiis  first  Presidential  vote  for  Martin  Van 
Buren,  the  opponent  of  William  Henry  Harrison, 
and  uniformly  votes  the  straiglit  Democratic  ticket. 
Mr.  Kinji-  was  first  married  in  1810,  to  Miss 
Emily  Jacobs,  wlio  became  the  motiier  of  four 
children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living,  both 
daughters.  Ada  is  the  wife  of  M.  Huffman,  of 
(Juincy,  this  .State;  ^lay  is  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Benton, 
of  Peoria.  Mrs.  Emily  King  departed  this  life  April 
28,  1888.  Mr.  King  contracted  a  second  marriage 
in  April,  1890,  Mrs.  Susan  S.  Clegg  becoming  his 
wife. 


^" 


^^^^i^- 


-^ 


y^?ILLIAM  McLEAN.  No  resident  of  Chilli- 
/  cothe.  is  lietter  known  in  this  part  of  tlie 
county,  than  lie  whose  cognomen  initiates 
this  sketch.  For  years  lie  was  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  business  and  social  interests  of  the 
place  which  he  saw  develop  from  a  hamlet  to  a 
thriving  little  city.  Having  retired  from  the  ardu- 
ous duties  in  which  he  was  long  engaged,  he  is  now 
enjoying  all  of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxu- 
ries of  life  in  a  [jleasant  retreat  on  the  corner  of 
Fourth  and  Beech  Streets.  His  lunne  is  one  of  the 
most  comfortable  and  attractive  places  within  the 
corporation,  the  grounds  being  adorned  with  beau- 
tiful Bowers  and  shade  trees,  and  the  dwelling  bear- 
ing equal  evidences  of  neatness  and  good  taste. 

Mr.  McLean  is  a  native  of  Edinlnirgh,  Scotland, 
born  June  17,  1816,  and  the  oldest  child  of  Daniel 
and  Ann  (Cameron)  McLean.  His  fatlier  was  of 
Highland-Scotch  parentage,  being  the  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Margaret  (Dewey)  ]McLean.  who  died  in 
Edinburgh  when  quite  old.  There  Daniel  McLean 
was  reared,  learned  his  trade,  and  lived  until  thirty- 
nine  years  of  age,  when  he  closed  his  eyes  in  death. 
His  widow,  who  was  also  of  Highland  stock,  sur- 
vived him  a  number  of  years,  dyina-  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five.  Both  were  of  the  Presbyterian  faith,  as 
were  their  progenitors.  Their  family  consisted  of 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  our  subject 
and  a  sister,  Maria,  are  the  onl}'  survivors.     The 


sister  came  to  America  after  her  brother,  and  she 
also  is  living  in  Chillicothe,  the  widow  of  James 
Anderson. 

The  sul)je(-t  of  this  sketcli  was  eleven  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  and  he  was  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources  for  a  livelihood.  He  was  bound  out 
for  six  years  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  confectioner, 
which  he  followed  until  he  came  to  Chillicothe.  In 
the  winter  of  1842  he  emigrated  to  America,  mak- 
ing his  first  home  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  remaining 
there  until  18o3.  He  then  removed  to  Peoria 
County,  and  putting  up  a  little  stock  of  goods,  be- 
gan selling  groceries  in  Chillicothe.  His  entire 
stock  did  not  amount  to  more  than  |;700,  but  from 
this  moderate  beginning  he  has  accumulated  an 
abundant  fortune.  His  success  has  been  quite  re- 
markable, his  industry  and  economy,  although  great, 
having  been  equalled  by  that  of  many  men  who 
have  failed  to  reap  the  reward  he  has  done.  Com- 
bined with  these  important  qualities  has  been  a 
business  tact  which  made  his  labors  effectual.  He 
owns  a  largo  amount  of  fine  business  property,  the 
McLean  l)locks  being  an  ornament  to  the  city. 

Mr.  McLean  has  been  active  in  all  that  goes  to 
advance  the  interest  of  the  city,  giving  liberally  of 
Ins  means  as  well  as  of  his  lime  and  influence.  He 
is  public-spirited  in  the  fullest  sense  of  that  term, 
and  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Aldermen  un- 
der the  city  government.  In  1884  he  represented 
the  Twenty-sixth  District  in  the  State  Legislature, 
having-  been  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Build- 
ings and  (! rounds,  that  on  River  and  Harbor  Im- 
IMovements,  and  the  Labor  and  Industrial  Commit- 
tee. He  also  belonged  to  the  committee  whose 
duty  it  was  to  visit  the  charitable  institutions  of 
the  State,  and  in  the  work  of  each  and  all,  he  took 
an  active  part.  He  introduced  bill  No.  260,  which 
is  an  act  to  protect  the  public  from  imposition  in 
relation  to  iianned  and  preserved  food,  and  the  bill 
was  passed  with  little  opposition. 

For  five  years  Mr.  McLean  has  been  a  member 
of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors.  He  is  very 
prominent  in  the  Masonic  order,  being  a  Knight 
Templar.  Well  informed  on  many  topics,  he  is 
especially  versed  in  histoiy,  that  of  his  native  conn- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


229 


try  flowing  from  his  lips  with  fluency  and  correct- 
ness. He  lias  traveled  extensively,  visiting  many 
prominent  places  in  Europe,  and  the  scenes  and  in- 
cidents of  his  journe3ing  are  vividlj'  portrayed  by 
liim.  One  of  his  pastimes  is  the  construction  of 
typical  cities,  castles,  etc.,  wliicli  handiwork  is  beau- 
ful  and  instructive.  The  stuniiness  of  the  Scotch 
character  is  exemplified  in  his  life,  and  meets  with 
a  corresponding  degree  of  respect  from  those  about 
him. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  McLean  and  Miss  Margaret 
Menzies,  was  celebrated  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 
June  22.  1837.  The  bride  was  born  in  Glasgow, 
May  22,  1817,  but  her  parents,  James  and  Dorcas 
(Wilson)  Menzies,  spent  the  later  years  of  their  life 
in  Edinbiugh.  They  were  active  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  carefully  reared  their  off- 
spring. The  mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty  years, 
and  the  father  wIhmi  four-score  and  three.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Lean is  the  second  in  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
two  (jf  whom  besides  herself,  came  to  America. 
Tluse  were  a  brother,  Robert,  now  deceased,  and  a 
si.sli'i-,  Ann,  wife  of  George  McMurray  deceased, 
now  living  in  Chillicothe.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McLean 
are  the  pai-ents  of  one  child,  Dorcas,  who  married 
(Icorge  P.  Lester,  a  groceryraan  in  Chillicothe.  To 
this  cou|)le  have  been  born  three  children;  Anna, 
who  is  still  at  home;  William,  a  sliijjping  clerk  in  a 
wliohsale  house  in  Omaha,  Neb.;  and  Edward, 
wlio  is  with  William  Meade,  the  Chillicothe  drug- 
gist. 


*LI  MITCHELL.  A  stroll  through  the  streets 
|-«j  of  the  thriving  city  of  Chillicothe  will  jire- 
|l — ^  sent  to  the  view  manj'  business  establish- 
ments, and  bring  before  the  mind  of  the  ob- 
server many  (jueries  as  to  the  standing  of  the 
proprietors  in  financial  circles,  and  the  traits  whicli 
have  led  to  their  position.  Should  inquir3'  be 
made  regarding  a  jewelry  establishment  located  on 
Second  Street,  and  bearing  the  name  of  Eli  Mitch- 
ell, it  would  be  fiunul  that  it  was  established  in 
June,  18G2,  and  from  a  small  beginning  a  good 
business  was  built  up.  A  skillful  artisan.  Mi'. 
Mitchell   has  a  particularly  good    business   in    re- 


pairing, his  reputation  being  second  to  none  in  the 
city. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
not  far  from  Hallifax,  March  22,  1820,  being  of 
pure  English  stock  and  a  member  of  a  family  which 
had  been  represented  in  Yorkshire  for  generations. 
He  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native  shire,  learning 
the  trade  of  a  jeweler  in  Ovcnden,  and  afterward 
working  as  a  journeyman.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Ashworth,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  the  same 
part  of  England  as  himself,  and  is  of  an  equally 
pure  English  lineage.  After  the  birth  of  five 
children,  including  a  pair  of  twins  that  died  in 
England,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  determined  to  seek 
a  home  in  America,  believing  that  here  thej'  would 
secure  greater  prosperity  and  better  opportunities 
for  their  children. 

The  couple  set  sail  from  Liverpool  on  the  ''  Chi- 
cago "in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1858,  passing 
four  weeks  on  the  broad  Atlantic.  During  this 
time  their  j'oungest  child  died  and  was  buried  in 
the  great  deep.  They  landed  in  New  York,  and 
continuing  their  journey  westward  via  Chicago, 
located  in  Chillicothe,  111.  Here  Mr.  Mitchell  es- 
tablished a  permanent  business,  which  has  grown, 
by  reason  of  his  thorough  workmanship  and  relia- 
ble dealings,  into  a  flourishing  enterprise. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  iSIitchell  well  represent  their  race, 
and  have  long  been  known  among  the  bettsr  class 
of  citizens,  whose  lives  are  spent  in  quiet  useful- 
ness. Mrs.  Mitchell  attends  the  Reformed  Episco- 
pal Church.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  supiK>rter  of  the 
Republican  party.  Four  children  have  been  born 
to  the  worthy  couple  since  they  came  to  America, 
but  all  died  young.  Their  two  living  children  are 
Anna,  wife  of  Lyman  Andrews,  a  prominent  grocery 
dealer  of  Chillicothe,  and  Eli  A.,  now  I'ostmaster 
here,  who  married  Miss  Helen  Fisher,  of  this  city. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  David  Mitchell, 
a  mechanic  and  spinner  for  woolen  cloth.  He  did 
much  work  in  the  mechanical  department  of  the 
factory  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  was  regarded 
as  a  skilled  workman  in  both  lines  of  his  acquire- 
ments. He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  in 
Elland.  in  his  native  shire.  His  wife  survived  him 
and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  Both  were 
identified  with  ihe  Methodist  Church  of  England. 


230 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOC  RAPIIICAI.   AI.BT'M. 


They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  early  life.  Edward.  Grace  and  Eliz- 
abeth are  now  livinii  in  Halifax,  Yorkshire,  our 
subject  being  the  only  one  of  the  family  to  come 
to  America.  His  brother  is  a  carpenter,  and  he 
and  his  sisters  are  m.irried. 


■+f=^^=€-M- 


Y  OSEPH  BRODMAN,  Superienteudent  of  the 
House  of  Correction  at  Peoria,  is  a  native 
of  France,  his  natal  daj'  having  been  Xo- 
vember  <S.  1847.  He  w.as  seventeen  months 
old  when  his  parents  emigrated  to  America,  enter- 
ing the  United  States  via  New  Orleans,  and  making 
their  first  home  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio.  Thence  they 
came  to  Peoria  in  1855.  where  the  father  breathed 
his  last  December  1,  1887,  and  where  the  mother 
still  lives.  They  instilled  into  their  son  good 
principles,  a  desire  for  usefulness,  and  a  determi- 
nation to  bear  well  his  part  in  life;  also  giving  him 
the  best  educational  .advantages  which  were  possible 
to  them  during  his  early  years. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  spent  the  days 
of  his  boj'hood  in  Peoria,  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
beginning  an  apprenticeship  in  a  furniture  house, 
his  chief  occupation  being  chair  painting.  He 
worked  with  the  same  firm  until  1865,  when  he  en- 
listed in  the  Union  Arm}',  but  on  examination  was 
rejected.  He  then  look  up  work  in  a  plow  manu- 
factory, where  he  remained  until  1867,  when  he 
left  the  TobeA'  &  Anderson  Plow  Works  for  a  po- 
sition as  coach  painter  on  the  Toledo,  Peoria  & 
Warsaw  Railroad.  He  remained  in  the  employ  of 
the  road  until  1882,  when,  without  solicitation  on 
his  part,  he  was  selected  jailor  for  this  couutj-,  un- 
der C.  L.  Berry,  Sheriff.  In  his  official  capacity 
he  acted  from  December  4,  1882,  until  July  1. 
1890,  when  he  was  chosen  Superintendent  of  the 
House  of  Correction. 

The  appointment  of  Mr.  Brodman  to  his  present 
position  was  due  to  liis  verj'  marked  ability  to  con- 
trol men,  no  man  in  the  State  having  a  better  re- 
cord as  a  dealer  with  criminals.  He  brings  to  his 
new  position  an  experience  which  has  taught  him 
the  value  of  various  characteristics  in  the  governor 


anil  the  governed,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  his 
control  of  the  institution  will  redound  to  his  own 
honor  and  increase  its  success  in  the  work  for  which 
it  w.HS  founded.  His  methods  are  humane  and 
firm,  characterized  by  strict  justice  and  honesty 
in  the  treatment  of  those  under  him.  The  polit- 
ical affiliation  of  Mr.  Brodman  is  with  the  Demo- 
cratic part}'.  He  is  a  live,  wide-awake  man,  well 
informed  on  all  topics  of  public  interest,  thorough- 
going in  whatever  he  undertakes,  and  to  be  relied 
upon  in  an  emergency.  He  w.is  married  October  20. 
1872,  to  Fredrika  Blumb.  They  have  three  sons — 
Arthur.  Elmer  and  Howard.  Mrs.  Brodman  is  a 
native  of  Peoria,  the  daughter  of  Peter  B.  and 
Marie  (Kricger)  Blumb.  They  were  both  natives 
of  Germany,  and  settled  in  Peoria  in  1833,  having 
driven  in  a  w.agon  from  Baltimore.  Md.,  to  that 
city. 

— ^>#^ — 


ICHAEL  E.  ERLER.  Among  those  who 
//'  ^  iV  '^*'"b'  came  to  this  section  of  the  country 
111  may  be  mentioned  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  who  is  the  oldest  living 
watchmaker  in  Peoria.  He  hiis  aceumuLated 
wealth,  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  city, 
and  has  Iiere  a  fine  residence  on  Erler  Street  and 
other  valuable  propert}-. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Michael  and 
Christina  (Fischer)  Erler,  natives  of  Altenburg. 
(Tcrmanj'.  The  father  was  born  in  1805  and  died 
in  the  Fatherland  in  1844,  ere  j'et  he  had  attained 
tlie  meridian  of  life,  he  being  but  tliirt\--nine  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  demise.  The  mother  w.as 
born  in  1799,  came  to  this  eountrj'  in  1853,  and 
died  in  Newburg.  Washington  County,  Wis.,  in 
1883,  at  the  venerable  age  of  e-ghtj'-four  j'ears. 

Three  children  were  born  to  ilichael  and  Chris- 
tina Erler,  of  whom  our  subject  and  his  brother 
August  are  the  only  ones  now  living.  August 
lives  in  Newburg,  Wis.  Michael,  of  whom  we 
write,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Reichstadt,  Germany, 
June  23,  1829.  and  until  he  was  fourteen  years  old 
he  attended  school  in  his  native  town,  obtaining  a 
substantial  education.  At  that  age  he  wasappren- 
tice<l   to   learn   the    trade   of    a    watchmaker  with 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


231 


Richard  Wagner,  of  Ronneburg,  with  whom  he 
remained  four  j'ears,  acquiring  in  the  meantime  a 
thorough  mastery  of  the  intricacies  of  his  chosen 
vocation.  In  his  nineteenth  year,  after  si)cnding 
a  year  in  Zeitz  on  the  completion  of  liis  trjide,  he 
set  sail  for  America,  taking  pass.Tge  at  Bremerha- 
ven  on  the  sliip  "Williams."  After  a  voyage  of 
fort}'  da\s  lie  landed  safely  at  New  York,  where 
he  remained  hut  a  short  time.  He  tlien  made  his 
way  to  I'eoria,  and  on  the  1st  of  August,  1818, 
arrived  in  this  cit}-.  He  soon  found  oniploynient 
at  his  trade,  lie  being  an  expert,  very  skiilful  with 
his  tools,  and  during  the  ensuing  two  years  was  in 
the  employ  of  Fred  Menkens. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  Mr.  Erler  started 
in  business  for  himself,  on  Water  Street.  He  was 
very  much  prospered,  as  he  applied  himself  closely 
to  the  management  of  his  alTaiis,  and  in  1870 
had  accumulated  a  sufficient  competency  to  retire, 
and  did  so,  disposing  of  his  business  to  John  C. 
AVoelfe.  An  idle  life  did  not  satisfy  our  subject, 
however,  and  he  subsequently  entered  Mr. 
Woclfe's  employ  as  watchmaker,  that  gentleman 
being  glad  to  avail  himself  of  his  services.  As  be- 
fore  mentioned,  he  has  gathered  together  a  hand- 
some propert}-.  He  has  a  commodious  residence, 
with  eleven  acres  of  valuable  land,  besides  several 
tenement  houses  and  many  vacant  lots.  He  is  a 
man  of  earnest,  strong  character  and  intelligent 
mind,  and  his  honesty  and  unswerving  integrity  in 
all  the  traiisaction.s  of  life  have  gained  him  a  high 
place  in  the  regard  of  all  who  know  or  associate 
with  him.  Of  a  truly  religious  nature,  he  is  a  firm 
Swedeuborgian  in  liis  views  of  the  right  conduct 
of  life  and  of  the  hereafter.  He  contributes  liber- 
ally to  the  church,  and  to  all  things  tending  to  ad- 
vance the  welfare  of  the  community.  In  politics, 
he  is  with  the  Republicans. 

Mr.  Purler  was  married  in  June,  1850,  to  Miss 
Laura  Leline,  whose  paients  were  early  pioneers 
here,  and  were  also  natives  of  Germany,  as  was 
Mrs.  Erler.  The  following  five  of  the  seven  chil- 
dred  born  to  Mr.  ami  ;Mrs.  Purler  are  living:  Frank, 
a  goldsmith,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Peoria; 
Max,  a  wealthy  pliotographer  of  Peoria,  is  also 
married;  William,  foreman  of  the  Damas  Keening 
works  at  the  watch    factory  in  Peoria;    Minnie,  at 


m 


home  with  her  parents;  and  Edward,  who  is  en- 
gaged with  his  brother  Mas  in  the  photograph 
business.  Malvine  died  in  infancy.  Bertha  mar- 
ried Philip  A.  Hensler,  and  died  leaving  a  son. 
Max,  who  is  tenderl}-  cared  for  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Erler. 


f;  ESSE  Y.  FORNEY  is  classed  among  the 
wealthy,  liberal  and  progressive  farmers 
and  stock-raisers  of  Peoria  Count)',  who 
havi  contributed  a  large  quota  towards  its 
material  development  and  i)resent  high  financial 
standing.  He  has  for  many  years  been  identitied 
with  the  extensive  agricultural  interests  of  Kicka- 
poo  Township,  where  he  has  a  large  and  valuable 
farm,  and  has  actively  aided  in  the  greater  part 
of  the  growth  of  the  townshi]). 

George  Forney,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  near  Hanover,  York  County,  Pa.,  while  his 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Young, 
was  born  in  that  town,  and  there  both  she  and  her 
husband  died.  Thej-  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  was  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Hanover,  Pa.,  'Slay 
"24,  1822,  and  there  grew  to  man's  estate,  making 
his  home  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  till  his  mar- 
riage. After  that  important  event  in  his  life  Mr. 
Forney  came  with  his  bride  to  Peoria,  arriving 
here  May  IT,  1852.  The}'  began  their  wedded  life 
in  Kickapoo  Township,  of  which  they  have  ever 
since  been  honored  residents.  Our  subject  has 
given  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  to  some 
purpose  and  by  persistent  toil,  directed  by  excel- 
lent judgment  and  sound  business  principles,  has 
accumulated  a  valuable  property.  He  owns  a 
large  farm  of  four  hundred  and  sixty -seven  acres, 
under  fine  tillage,  and  he  has  erected  a  neat  and 
well-ordered  set  of  buildings,  and  everything 
about  the  place  bears  the  impress  of  a  master  hand 
and  mind. 

In  March,  1852,  Mr.  Forney  and  Miss  Catherine 
Feeser  unit<'d  theii  lives  and  fortunes,  the  cere- 
mony that  made  them  one  being  solemnized  in 
York,  Pa.     Mrs.  F'orney  is  the  second   child  in  a 


232 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fsmil}-  of  four  childien  of  John  and  Hannah  (Sten- 
ecifer)  Feesor,  natives  of  Maryhmd,  in  vvhich  .State 
she  was  born  October  16,  1824.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fornej-  are  tlie  parents  of  six  ciiiklren.  of  wliom 
tlie  following  three  are  living:  David  married  a 
Miss  Cannagahan;  Georgia  Etta  is  the  wife  of 
James  H.Ford;  Luta  M.  is  the  wife  of  Cliaries 
Ford.  The  names  of  the  deceased  children  are; 
Karl,  wlio  died  when  about  four  years  old;  Luella, 
who  died  when  about  five  years  old;  and  Lillie, 
who  died  wiieu  ten  years  old. 

For  many  years  a  resident  of  this  county,  Mr. 
Forney  is  weU-known  and  his  character  for  mor- 
alitj',  true  piety,  unostentatious  character  and  lib- 
eral spirit  have  won  him  golden  opinions  on  all 
sides,  and  no  one  is  more  truly  respected  than  lie, 
his  wife  sharing  in  the  general  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held.  His  financial  standing  in  the  county 
speaks  well  for  his  practical  ability  as  a  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  of  roundabout  common  sense  and 
acute  judgment.  In  religion  he  is  a  Lulheian.and 
the  church  of  that  denomination  in  Kickapoo  finds 
in  him  and  his  wife,  two  of  its  most  conscientious 
members  and  generous  supporters.  Politically  our 
subject  adheres  to  the  Republican  party,  Qrmly 
believing  its  tenets  the  best  calculated  to  enhance 
the  highest  interests  of  the  country  wherever  tliev 
are  carried  out. 


4f-::-i--~ «- 


GEORGE  A.  WILSON,  a  native  of  Illinois 
,  and  a  son  of  one  of  its  early  pioneer  fami- 
s^^^^^  lies,  has,  since  attaining  manhood,  taken  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  public,  political  and  social 
life  of  this  county,  and  is  jironiinent  as  an  attornej- 
and  business  man,  having  an  extensive  law  practice 
in  Peoria,  his  place  of  residence,  besides  being  gen- 
eral agent  for  the  German  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pan}%  of  Illinois,  a  home  company.  He  is  a  veteran 
of  the  late  w;ir,  and  is  deserving  of  all  honor  for 
his  patriotic  course  during  those  •■limes  that  tried 
men's  souls." 

Mr.  Wilson  was  born  in  Tazewell  County,  three 
miles  from  Peoiia.  on  the  parental  homestead,  De- 


cemlier  9,  1840,  being  the  date  of  his  birth.  He  is 
a  son  of  the  late  J.acob  and  Erail^'  (Donahoe)  AVil- 
son,  natives  respectivelj-  of  Tennessee  and  Ken- 
tuck}',  the  mother  being  of  Irish  extraction,  as  her 
family  name  indicates.  They  were  married  in  In- 
diana, and  early  in  their  wedded  life,  in  the  prime 
and  vigor  of  a  stalwart  manhood  and  noble  woman- 
hood, sought  the  wilds  of  this  State  to  build  up  for 
themselves  and  the  children  that  might  come  to 
them,  a  comfortable  home.  They  located  in  Taze- 
well Count}'  in  1823,  and  were  among  its  first  set- 
tlers. In  1824,  Mr.  Wilson  entered  a  half  section 
of  land  in  Fond  du  L,ao  Township.which  is  still  in  his 
name,  and  hy  careful,  patient  and  unceasing  labor 
made  of  it  a  valuable  estate,  and  tor  many  yeais 
was  .actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  he 
being  a  thorough  practical  farmer,  as  was  his  fa- 
ther before  him.  At  his  death  September  15,  18C9, 
Tazewell  County  was  called  upon  to  mourn  one  of 
its  most  faithful  and  sagacious  pioneers,  who  during 
a  residence  there  of  nearly  half  a  century  had 
borne  himself  honorably  in  all  the  relations  of  life, 
and  was  looked  upon  with  esteem  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances.  His  wife  survived 
him  many  years,  her  death  finally  occurring  No- 
vember 25,  1888.  .it  an  advanced  age,  and  both  are 
now  peacefully  slee[)ing'  in  Springdale  Cemetery. 

Those  worthy  people  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  five  are  now  living:  Joseph  F., 
a  resident  of  Washington  City;  George  A.;  Charles 
B.,  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk  of  Peoria  County;  Sarah 
E.  and  Mary,  residing  at  No.  710,  Jackson  Street, 
Peoria.  Joseph  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  late 
war.  and  his  name  is  inscribed  on  the  Roll  of  Honor. 
He  had  his  lower  jaw  shot  aw,ay  at  Ft.  Donelson 
while  bravely  fighting  at  the  front,  and  has  an  arti- 
ficial jaw.  Robert  T.  w.as  a  sutler  in  the  army  dur- 
ing the  war.  and  was  killed  by  the  guerrillas  near 
Helena  on  the  Mississippi  River,  seven  balls  enter- 
ing his  body,  killing  him  instantly.  Thomas  W. 
was  accidentally  killed  in  Peoria. 

George  A.Wilson  was  reared  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, but  as  he  had  a  natural  taste  for  learning,  he 
preferred  entering  one  of  the  professions,  and  was 
given  every  advantage  to  secure  a  liberal  educa- 
tion. He  attended  Eureka  College  three  years. and 
selecting  the  medical  profession  as  the  most  desira- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


233 


ble.  he  became  a  stmleiit  in  Dr.  Arnold's  office  at 
Peoria  in  18.53.  The  breaking  out  of  the  war  found 
our  subject  still  pursuing-  his  medical  studies,  lie 
watched  the  progress  of  the  war  with  grave  interest 
as  the  days  darkened  and  matters  continually  grew 
more  serious,  and  at  length  he  threw  aside  all  per- 
sonal aims  and  ambitions,  resolving  to  offer  his  ser- 
vices to  the  Government,  and  go  out  in  the  ranks 
to  aid  in  lighting  his  country's  battles,  and  April, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Couipany  G,  Seventeenth 
Regiment  Illinois  Infantry,  serving  as  private  and 
non-commissioned  officer  until  Se[)tember  2,  18G2, 
when  he  was  appointed  First  Assistant  Surgeon  of 
the  Fcnu'teenth  Cavalry,  which  position  he  retained 
with  honor  until  April  14,  18G5.  The  most  im- 
portant engagements  in  which  he  took  an  active 
part  were  those  of  Frederick,  JId.,  Vi.  Donelson 
and  Shiloh,  and  as  Surgeon  he  accompanied  his 
regiment  on  many  a  march  and  raid.  While  on  the 
Stonenian  raid  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  was  in 
Confederate  strongholds  at  Macon,  Ga.,  and 
Charleston,  S.  C,  about  four  months,  and  w.as  fin- 
ally exchanged  the  last  of  October,  1864,  and  glad 
was  he  to  breath  the  air  of  liberty  once  more  after 
ills  experience  of  life  in  rebel  dungeons. 

As  soon  as  the  war  closed  Dr.  Wilson  established 
himself  as  a  medical  practitioner,  and  was  thus  en- 
gaged until  he  was  called  to  public  life  in  the  fall 
of  1868,  when  he  received  the  compliment  of  nomi- 
nation and  election  to  the  important  otlice  of  Cir- 
cuit Clerk  of  Peoria  County,  ut  the  hands  of  his 
Democratic  friends.  His  discharge  of  the  duties 
devolving  upon  him  in  that  capacity  showed  him 
to  have  been  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  position, 
and  he  retained  the  office  during  a  period  of  eight 
3'ears.  He  then  abandoned  official  life  for  awhile  to 
engage  in  the  practice  of  law,  which  he  gave  up  in 
turn  to  accept  the  position  offered  him  by  President 
Cleveland  iu  1885,  as  Collector  of  Internal  Reve- 
nue  for  District  No.  i).  He  was  alert,  faithful  and 
capable  in  that  position,  and  made  one  of  the  best 
officers  who  had  ever  held  the  office.  .July  15,  1889, 
President  Harrison,  in  pursuit  of  the  policy  to  the 
"victor  belongs  the  spoils,"  saw  fit  to  remove  Mr. 
Wilson  from  the  Internal  Revenue  office  and  re- 
place a  Republican.  He  then  resumed  tlie  practice 
of  law,  and  also  accepted  the  general  agency  of  the 


German  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Peoria,  111.,  a 
home  institution,  whose  affairs  are  in  a  nourishing 
condition. 

Mr.  \Vils(jn  and  Miss  Helen  M.  Hoskinson  were 
united  in  marriage  February  23,  1867,  and  they 
have  established  in  this  city  one  of  its  most  charm- 
ing homes.  Mrs.  AV^ilson  is  a  daughter  of  John  L. 
Hoskinson,  a  well-known  resident  of  Macomb,  Mc- 
Douough  County. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  of  a  briglit,  genial,  frank  nature, 
a  man  of  broad  outlook,  lilieral  in  his  views,  and 
his  tact  and  executive  ability  have  gained  him  an 
enviable  reputation  among  the  leading  men  of  the 
(;ity.  He  is  very  |)rominent  in  Democratic  circles, 
and  received  the  nomination  by  acclamation  for 
Congress,  at  the  convention  held  August  25,  1890. 
He  is  conspicuously  identified  with  the  Grand 
Army  of  Republic  of  this  city  and  State,  and  was 
Commander  of  his  Post  in  1880. 


OHN  WEAVER,  M.  D.  The  Homeopathic 
school  of  medicine  has  an  excellent  repre- 
sentative in  Chillicothe  in  the  person  of  the 
gentleman  above  named.  He  is  the  possessor 
of  a  cultured  mind,  well-bred  manners,  and  a  broad 
knowledge  of  the  principles  of  therapeutics  as 
understood  by  the  medical  school  of  which  he  is 
an  exponent.  During  the  few  years  in  which  he 
has  been  established  in  this  thriving  city  his  |)rac- 
tice  has  been  steadily  growing,  proving  remunera- 
tive to  himself  and  valuable  to  the  community. 

The  natal  day  of  Dr.  Weaver  was  February  20, 
1852,  and  his  birthplace  near  Canton,  this  State. 
His  preliminary  education  was  obtained  in  the 
public  schools  of  Fulton  Count}',  and  from  his  es- 
timable parents  he  received  the  best  of  home 
training.  He  began  his  medical  studies  with  Dr. 
W.  B.  Bolton  In  Cuba,  with  whom  he  read  medi- 
cine four  years.  He  then  entered  the  Homeopathic 
Medical  College,  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  from  which  he 
was  graduated   in   March,  1879. 

The  early  practice  of  our  subject  was  in  (ilas- 
ford,  this  county,  but  after  some  months  he  re- 
moved to  Canton,   Fulton   County,  and   formed  a 


234 


POKTRAIT   AND  P.IOOTJ  APIIICA  L  ALI5UM. 


partnership  with  his  fdriuer  preceptor,  wlm  beeauie 
a  resident  of  Canton  in  1878.  and  in  1887  entered 
the  ministry,  and  who  is  now  a  minister  of  the 
Metliodist  Protestant  Church,  in  Princeton,  Bureau 
County.  Tlie  parlnershiji  was  dissolved  after  tliree 
years'  continuance  and  Dr.  Weaver  spent  one  year 
traveling  in  the  West  witli  his  wife  for  the  benefit 
of  her  health.  l?eturning  to  this  State,  lie  located 
in  Chillicothe  in  .Tuly,  1884.  and  lias  continued  to 
reside  in  this  place. 

The  lady  whom  Dr.  Weaver  won  for  liis  wife  was 
one  with  whom  his  acquaintance  began  in  eariy 
life,  and  with  who?e  character  and  acquirements  he 
was  thoroughly  acquainted.  This  was  Miss  Har- 
riet A.  Bolton,  of  Canton,  daughter  of  his  medical 
preceptor.  She  was  born  in  Allegheny  Cit}-,  Pa., 
October  22,  1856,  but  has  lived  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley  since  she  was  five  years  old.  In  Iowa,  Kan- 
sas and  Illinois  she  has  resided  at  various  times, 
but  the  latter  has  been  her  home  for  many  years. 
Here  she  was  mainly  educated,  hsr  young  lady- 
hood being  passed  in  Canton.  She  is  the  mother 
of  three  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy  and 
one,  Louie  V.,  when  fifteen  months  old.  The  liv- 
ing child  bears  the  name  of  Mary  B. 

Dr.  Weaver  belongs  to  Calumet  Lodge,  No.  196, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  lias  filled  all  the  chairs. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  George  Washington  Lodge, 
No.  222,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  His  vote  is  cast  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Matthew  W. 
Weaver,  of  Scotch-Irish  stock,  and  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. He  married  Miss  Sarah  Parrish,  who  was  of 
Irish  extraction.  In  later  life  they  removed  to  Ohio, 
where  the  wife  died  when  quite  aged.  The  hus- 
band afterward  went  to  Canton,  III.,  making  his 
home  with  his  son,  Jacob,  dying  about  1860  at 
the  extreme  age  of  one  hundred  and  one  years  and 
seven  months.  He  had  never  taken  a  dose  of 
medicine  from  a  physician,  being  hale  ami  hearty 
all  his  life. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Jacob  Weaver, 
born  in  Loudoun  County,  Va.,  in  1806.  He  was 
about  sixteen  years  old  when  he  started  out  on  his 
own  account,  and  going  to  Oliio,  settled  in  Cler- 
mont County,  when   it  was  still  a  sparsely  settled 


legion.  There  he  continued  to  live  until  1840, 
when  he  settled  on  a  now  farm  in  Fairview  Town- 
ship, Fulton  County,  III.  Some  lime  later  he  sold 
out  and  purchased  other  lands  near  Canton,  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  his  labors  improving  consider- 
able land  in  the  county,  being  ever  hard-work- 
ing and  energetic.  He  finally,  in  1884,  disposed 
of  his  landed  estate  and  retired  to  Canton,  where 
his  death  occurred  July  30,  1889.  He  was  a  Meth- 
odist in  religion  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

His  first  wife,  Jane  Patchel,  was  born  in  Ohio, 
and  died  there  in  middle  life,  leaving  five  children, 
one  of  whom,  Zaehariali,  now  survives,  his  home 
being  in  Monterey,  Fulton  County.  The  second 
marriage  of  Jacob  Weaver  took  place  near  Cincin- 
nati, his  bride  being  a  native  of  that  city  and 
named  Mary  A.  Cummins.  Her  parents  were  Irish. 
She  was  reared  and  educated  in  Hamilton  County, 
and  is  now  living  in  Canton,  this  State,  with  some 
of  her  children.  She  is  more  than  seventy 
years  of  age,  yet  active  and  useful.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Of  the  second  marriage  of  Jacob  Weaver  there 
were  horn  nine  children,  four  boys  and  five  girls, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  named  resiiectively: 
George  H.  resides  in  Colorado;  Eliza  P].,  now  Mrs. 
Young,  resides  on  the  homestead;  our  subject; 
Joseph  L.  resides  in  Peoria  County;  and  Jacob, 
Jr.,  resides  in  Canton. 


ANIEL  F.  KAIJM.  The  name  of  Raum 
is  familiar  to  the  ears  of  all  American  citi- 
zens who  know  the  part  taken  tiy  the 
Prairie  State  in  the  Civil  War,  and  are 
.acquainted  with  the  political  history  of  the  nation 
since  that  time.  In  generations  prior  to  that  of 
our  subject  it  has  been  liorne  by  men  who  served 
liie  State  and  nation  edlcientlv  on  fields  of  battle, 
in  legislative  halls  ami  in  the  legal  arena.  In  the 
person  of  our  subject  it  is  becoming  well  known  in 
Peoria. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  an  Ensign 
and  Lieutenant  in  the  War  of  1812  and  the  Black 
Hawk  War.     He  came  to  Illinois  in   1822  and   was 


9l^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


237 


a  member  of  tlie  legisialure  when  Vandalia  was  tlie 
capital  of  tbe  State.  He  enjoyed  the  distinction 
of  being  the  longest  continuous  ofKce  holder  in  the 
country,  being  County  Clerk  of  Pope  County 
thirt}--five  years.  He  svas  an  ardent  Union  man, 
and  undoubtedly  did  more  than  any  other  one  man 
in  his  localit}'  to  foster  a  feeling  of  loyalty  about 
tlie  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War.  He 
lived  to  see  the  reconstruction  measures  carried 
out,  dying  in  1870. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Gen.  Green  B. 
and  Maria  (Field)  Raum,  now  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
His  maternal  grandfather,  Daniel  Field,  came  to  the 
Prairie  State  while  it  was  yet  a  Territory.  During 
the  late  war  Green  B.  Raum  entered  the  service  as 
Major  in  the  Fifty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  the  active  prac- 
tice of  the  law,  in  which  he  has  gained  an  eminent 
name.  He  was  elected  to  the  Fortieth  Congress 
and  served  with  distinction.  From  August,  1875, 
to  April  30,  1883,  he  was  Commissioner  of  Internal 
Revenue,  and  in  October,  1889,  was  appointed 
Commissioner  of  Pensions. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  was  born 
in  Pope  County,  111.,  and  grew  to  manhood  there, 
attending  the  public  schools,  and  afterward  attend- 
ing AVhipple  Academy  and  Illinois  College,  at  Jack- 
sonville, 111.  He  entered  the  Columbian  Law 
School,  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  graduated 
therefrom  in  the  class  of  1878.  He  located  in 
Peoria  in  1881,  where  he  has  since  practiced  his 
profession.  He  married  a  young  lady  of  Aurora, 
111.,  formerly  known  as  Miss  Rae  Copley. 


*»E-^- 


ylLLIAM  R.  HAMILTON.  The  growth  of 
Peoria  has  been  witnessed  by  Dr.  Hamilton 
since  1848,  at  which  time  he  arrived  here, 
and  during  the  j^ears  of  his  residence  he  has  be- 
come widely  known  for  his  enterprise  in  the  behalf 
of  her  interests  as  well  as  for  his  own  individual 
advancement.  He  is  now  living  in  retirement, 
looking  after  his  extensive    pr(ipert3'  interests,  and 


enjo3^ing  the  esteem  of  all  to  whom  his  labors  are 
known.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  his  Christian  life  adds  to  the  regard 
bestowed  npon  him  for  his  professional  skill  and 
business  tact. 

The  immediate  progenitors  of  our  subject  were 
Richard  and  Ann  (Reynolds)  Hamilton.  The 
former  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  and 
the  latter  in  Birmingham.  England,  whence  she 
was  brought  when  six  3'ears  old.  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  a  farmer,  an<l  was  the  father  of  eleven  children, 
those  who  now  survive  being  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Elliott, 
of  Denver,  Col.,  William  R.,  and  Dr.  John  L.  The 
mother  died  September  17,  1830,  and  the  father  in 
December,  1844. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  in 
Venango  County,  Pa.,  February  18,  1816,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  his  native  State  and  in 
Ohio.  When  about  twenty  years  old  he  started  on 
foot  for  the  Buckeye  State,  having  $o.62^  in  his 
pocket.  For  two  years  he  taught  in  Portage 
County,  alternating  his  teaching  with  attendance  at 
Windham  Academy.  From  that  section  he  went 
to  Clark  Count3-,  where  he  also  taught,  as  he  like- 
wise did  in  Logan  County,  during  this  time  begin- 
ning the  reading  of  medicine.  In  his  medical 
studies  he  was  guided  bj'  his  brother,  James  W., 
who  practiced  many  years  in  Logan  Count}',  djing 
there  in  1879. 

After  attending  lectures  at  Willoughby,  Lake 
County,  the  young  physician  began  practice  in 
Huntsville  in  1840.  There  he  remained  eight  years, 
successfully  pursuing  his  chosen  vocation  and 
building  up  the  largest  practice  in  the  county.  In 
those  days  the  life  of  a  physician  was  even  more 
arduous  than  at  present,  as  the  roads  were  not  so 
good  and  much  riding  had  to  be  done  on  horse- 
back. Dr.  Hamilton  possessed  a  wonderful  stock 
of  vitality  which  carried  him  through  an  experi- 
ence which  would  have  proved  very  wearing  upon 
many  men.  When  he  determined  to  move  farther 
west  and  selected  Peoria  as  his  new  home,  he  made 
the  journey  hither  on  horseback,  entering  this  place 
an  entire  stranger. 

Opening  an  office  Dr.  Hamilton  resumed  his 
professional  labors,  to  which  he  had  devoted  his  at- 
tention for  twelve  years  when  he  was  elected  Maj'or 


238 


PORIRAIT  AND2BI0GRAPH1CAL  ALBUM. 


and  gave  bis  attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  inuuiei- 
pality.  He  was  eleeted  on  the  Hepublicau  ticket 
by  a  majority  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-two,  al- 
though but  three  weeks  before  the  Democratic  ticket 
with  Douglas  at  its  head  had  been  carried  ))j'  three 
hundred  majority.  Dr.  Hamilton  therefore  had  a 
part  in  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in 
this  section.  He  had  formerly  been  a  Whig,  vot- 
ing for  William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840.  Prior  to 
to  his  election  to  the  >Iayoralt_v  he  had  served  as  an 
Alderman. 

In  1860.  Dr.  Hamilton  went  to  Pennsylvania  and 
engaged  in  the  oil  business.  Immediately  after 
the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  in  18G3,  he  went  South 
as  a  volunteer  surgeon  under  a  commission  from 
Gov.  Morton,  of  Indiana.  He  and  his  companions 
were  the  first  surgeons  from  the  North  to  reach  the 
battle-ground.  In  1864,  he  was  again  a  volunteer 
sursreon  after  the  battle  in  front  of  Petersburg.  In 
1 865,  he  returned  to  Peoria  and  during  the  suc- 
•ceeding  year  built  a  fine  block  on  the  corner  of 
Adams  and  Liberty  Streets,  which  is  a  splendid 
property.  In  1867,  during  the  agitation  regard- 
ing the  Peoria  &  Rock  Island  Railroad,  he  partici- 
pated in  the  work,  was  elected  a  Director  and  then 
made  President,  a  capacity  in  which  he  served ' 
seven  years.  He  succeeded  in  raising  between 
§600,000  and  S700.000  in  subscriptions  along  the 
route.  He  made  all  the  arrangements  for  ironing 
and  equipment  of  the  road,  making  atrip  East  to 
accomplish  this  end.  In  1875,  the  Doctor  en- 
gaged in  the  coal  trade,  continuing  in  the  business 
until  1881,  when  he  sold  out.  Since  that  time  he 
has  not  been  engaged  in  active  business  further 
than  that  of  looking  after  his  propertj'  interests. 

Dr.  Hamilton  has  been  married  three  times.  His 
first  matrimonial  alliance  was  contracted  in  1839, 
his  bride  being  Miss  Catherine  F.  Wright,  who 
died  in  1866,  after  nearly  thirty  years  of  happy 
wedded  life.  The  union  had  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living. 
They  are  Mrs.  Catherine  Hill  of  this  city,  and  Mrs. 
Amanda  Gregg,  a  widow,  living  with  her  father. 
In  1867,  Dr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Fannie  T. 
Norton,  who  survived  until  April  27,  1879.  Slie 
bore  her  husband  two  children — Ma}'  and  William, 
the  latter  now  in  the  drug  business  in    this  citv. 


The  lady  who  now  occupies  the  place  at  the  head 
of  Dr.  Hamilton's  household,  became  his  wife  in 
May,  1880,  prior  to  which  time  she  was  known  as 
Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Dewej-. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Dr.  Hamilton  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 


Ql'ILA  MOFFATT  has  made  a  business  of 
operating  mines  in  Peoria   County,   these 
4*    manj'  years,  besides  giving  much  attention 
(^J  to     agriculture,    and    his  success    in    the 

management  of  these  two  industries  has  placed  him 
among  the  most  substantial  men  of  Limestone 
Township  where  he  has  a  verj-  attractive  home  re- 
plete with  all  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  mod- 
ern life.  Its  location  is  one  of  beautj-,  as  it  is  on 
the  bluffs  just  five  miles  from  the  court  house, 
overlooking  the  cit}'  and  commanding  a  lovely  view 
of  the  surrounding  country. 

The  Moffatts  were  of  Scotch  origin  and  this  rep- 
resentative of  the  family  was  born  on  the  Stat« 
line  between  Wisconsin  and  Illinois,  and  does  not 
know  whether  he  is  a  "Badger"  or  a  '-Sucker." 
The  place  of  his  birth  is  near  Scales  Mound,  Jo 
D.iviess  County,  and  the  date  of  that  important 
event  in  his  life  was  October  8,  1837.  His  father, 
Benjamin  F.,  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Piper)  Moffatt,  who  at  one  time  lived  in  Boston 
after  their  marri.age  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  were  among  it-s  pioneers  and  there  the 
mother  died  in  1819,  leaving  eleven  children.  In 
1822,  the  father  with  eight  children  came  to  this 
State  from  Cincinnati.  The  names  of  the  children 
accompanying  him  were:  Alva,  Aquila.  Marv. 
Sarah.  Olive,  Benjamin  F..  Eliza  and  Elisha,  an<l 
many  of  these  grew  to  be  old  and  honored  citi- 
zens of  Peoria. 

Benjamin  F.  Moffatt.  the  father  of  our  subject, 
received  his  education  in  the  village  of  Peoria,and 
in  due  time  was  married  to  Miss  Nanc}'  J.  Risdon, 
a  native  ot  Connecticut.  He  took  an  .active  part 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  serving  along  the  river 
,as  far  as  Wisconsin.     His  wife  died  in   1853  at  the 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOC  KAI'IIK'AL  ALHUM. 


239 


age  of  tUirtj'-three.     Her  marriasre  with  Mr.  Mof- 

fatl  was  fruitful  of  nine  cliildrcu.  of  wlioni  llu' 
following  six  gix'w  to  niatuiity — Thomas,  Aquila, 
Mary  Ann.  Klinira,  Joseph  and  Alva,  anil  three 
of  these  are  still  residents  of  Peoria  and    virinity. 

Our  suhjeet  was  born  during  the  lead  mining 
troubles  in  Jo  Daviess  County,  and  the  early  years 
of  his  life  were  passed  there  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  old.  He  attended  school  in  Wisconsin  and 
in  18.54  accompanied  his  father  to  Peoria,  and 
continued  his  education  at  tlie  brick  school-house. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  had  done 
so  well  that  he  was  enabled  to  marry  and  establish 
a  home  for  himself.  The  maiden  name  of  the  young 
lady  whom  he  then  invited  to  share  his  life  and 
fortune  with  him  was  Mary  Ball,  a  daughter  of 
.Samuel  Ball.  She  was  born  in  Wales  of  English 
parentage  and  came  to  the  United  States  with  her 
father  and  mother  in  184;i.  Thev  first  located 
in  I^ennsylvania,  whence  they  came  in  1852  to 
this  county  and  settled  on  section  25,  where  Bar- 
tonville  now  stands.  Thc3'  ha(i  .a  farm  there  of 
tliirt\-  .acres,  which  they  cultivated,  and  where 
they  made  their  home  until  the  father  closed  his 
mortal  career  February  3,  1879.  The  mother  lived 
with  Mrs.  Moffatt  after  that  until  her  death  which 
occurred  June  21,  1890. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moffatt  have  hail  eight  children 
born  to  them,  and  have  lost  two  (twins)  who  died 
attheageof  five  months.  Their  other  children  are: 
Franklin  A.,  born  April  27,1862,  who  married  Miss 
Amelia  Treasure  and  has  two  children — Walter 
G.  and  Earl;  Edward,  born  in  1861;  Sarah;  Ettie, 
wife  of  Harry  Wolland,  a  member  of  an  old  pio- 
neer family ;  they  have  two  boys — Leslie  and 
Aquila;  Samuel  and  Annie.  Miss  Annie  is  a 
young  lady  of  much  musical  talent,  which  has  been 
carefully  eultiv.ated  and  she  is  now  a  successful 
teacher  of  music. 

Mr.  Moffatt  has  followed  mining  and  farming 
for  many  years  very  prosperously.  He  has  had  a 
farm  of  sixtj'-eight  acres  all  of  w-hich  has  coal  un- 
der it  and  he  has  disposed  of  the  coal  at  a  good 
round  price.  He  formed  a  co-operative  coal  com- 
pany and  opened  a  bank  on  his  place  which  is  now 
worked  by  another  company,  and  he  has  otherwise 


extensively  operated  mines.     He  bought  his  home 

iTi  1881,  and  liuilt  a  fine,  large  residence  on  the 
bluffs. 

Mr.  Moffatt  proved  his  patriotism  and  loyally 
to  his  country  during  the  trying  times  of  the  late 
civil  strife,  by  the  faithful  ami  competent  service 
that  lie  rendered  the  Government  as  an  enrolling 
officer  for  the  draft  to  serve  the  papers  on  the  cit- 
izens who  were  drafted.  In  1865  he  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
took  part  in  the  campaign  against  Johnston  near 
Raleigh,  N.  C.  and  was  on  many  a  hard  march.  He 
with  other  members  of  his  regiment  marched  out  to 
Fort  Kearney,  a  distance  of  six  hundred  miles,  and 
after  seven  months  in  the  army  our  subject  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  Ft.  Leavenworth  Ivan.,  and 
returned  to  private  life. 

Mr.  Moffatt  is  a  self-reliant,  stiaight-forward 
man,  of  good  practical  views  of  life  and  of  excep- 
tional habits,  and  his  standing  in  the  community  is 
among  our  best  and  most  reliable  citizens.  He  has 
held  the  otKce  of  School  Director  and  whether  in 
educational,  moral  or  material  matters,  lie  is  never 
backward  in  contributing  his  quota  to  advance  the 
interests  of  township  and  county. 


LEXANDER  BUCHANAN  has  the  choic- 

@YL|    est  location   for  a  farm   residence   in   the 

i\    township  of  Trivoli,  having  on  section  17, 

what  is  considered  one  of   the   best   farms 

in  all  the  country  around  and  he  ranks  amongst  the 

most   intelligent,  progressive  and  skillful   farmers 

and  stock-raisei's  in  the  county. 

Our  subject  is  of  Pennsylvania  birth  and  ante- 
cedents. His  father,  David  Buchanan,  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  in  1792.  His  grand- 
father, David  Buchanan,  a  native  of  Count3-  An- 
trim, Ireland,  came  to  this  country-  in  Colonial 
times,  when  he  w.as  eighteen  \'ears  old,  and  after 
living  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  became  a  pioneer 
of  Westmoreland  Count}',  in  1791,  locating  on  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  woods.  He  cleared  it  of  the 
primeval  forest  trees  that  stood  upon  it  and  was 
very   successful  in  his  attempts  to  evolve  a  farm 


240 


rOKTRAir   AM)   P.rOGRAPUlCAL  ALBUM. 


from  tlie  wilderness,  iind  at  the  time  of  liis  death, 
in  1817,  had  aociniiulaled  a  comfortable  proijertj-. 
He  was  a  Presbyterian  Elder  in  the  church  of  that 
denomination  at  Congruity. 

The  sire  of  our  subject  was  a  blacksmith  b3'  trade 
and  had  a  shop"  in  bateui  Township,  where  he  also 
engaged  in  farming,  having  there  one  hundred  acres 
of  land.  During  the  AVar  of  1812  he  acted  as 
teamster,  drawing  wood  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers. 
His  oldest  brother  was  lieutenant  of  a  company 
that  took  part  in  that  eontiict.  Mr.  Buchanan  lived 
in  his  native  State  until  1869,  when  he  disposed  of 
his  property  in  order  to  take  up  his  residence  in 
Illinois.  After  coming  here  he  bought  eiglitj-  acres 
of  land  on  section  17,  Trivoli  Township,  which  he 
was  engaged  in  improving  until  his  wife  died.  He 
then  lived  with  his  children  until  his  death  in  1880 
at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  j'ears.  He  was  a  man  of 
firm  and  lofty  principles,  and  was  a  strong  Repub- 
lican and  a  sturdy  Presbyterian. 

Tlie  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
w.is  McBride,  and  she  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
Countj',  Pa.,  on  the  Loyal  Hannah  Creek.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  James  McBride,  who  was  a  farmer 
there.  Her  death  occurred  here  on  her  husband's 
homestead  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  A 
true  Christian  womin,  slie  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  .She  w.as  the  motlier 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  we  record  the  follow- 
ing: James  is  a  retired  farmer  in  Westmoreland 
County,  Pa.;  Jane,  Mrs.  Ralston,  died  here;  D. 
Wilson  lives  in  Kansas:  Martha,  Mrs.  Irwin,  died 
in  Colorado;  Alexander;  Mona,  Mrs.  Marshall,  died 
in  Farmiugton;  Prudence,  Mrs.  Sloan,  lives  in 
Westmoreland  County;  Margaret,  Mrs.  Rainej'.  died 
in  Westmoreland  County;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Cun- 
ningham, lives  in  Yates  City. 

Alexander  Buchanan  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Congruit\-  in  the  count}'  of  Westmoreland,  Pa., 
Julj' 25,  1825.  He  passed  his  early  years  on  his 
father's  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the  district 
school,  which  w.ns  at  first  conducted  on  the  sub- 
scription plan  in  a  rude  log  house,  with  slab  seats, 
puncheon  floor  and  mud  and  stick  chimney.  Hard 
work  at  farming  was  his  portion.  He  remained  at 
home  until  he  was  thirtj'  years  old  and  then  started 
a  general  store  at  Harvey's  Eive  Points,  with  a  capi- 


tal of  $100.  He  remained  at  the  corners  until 
1864,  then  moved  to  Murrysville,  where  he  was 
quite  successful  in  the  same  business  in  which  he 
had  invested  some  >!4,000  or  »5,()00.  He  also  ran 
a  huckster  wagon  to  Pittsburg  twice  a  week  and 
made  that  venture  profitable. 

In  the  spring  of  1867  Mr.  Buchanan  sold  out  his 
business  intending  to  eng-age  in  farming,  but  he 
could  not  come  to  terms  with  his  father,  and  in  the 
fall  he  emigrated  to  this  county,  shipping  his  goods 
to  Farmiugton,  where  he  arrived  October  3,  1867. 
He  bought  one  hundred  acres  of  his  present  farm 
in  Trivoli  Township  for  §7,500.  This  w.as  counted 
the  best  farm  in  the  county,  and  after  it  came  under 
his  management  lie  kept  it  in  a  good  condition, 
kept  the  buildings  in  good  repair  and  made  money 
from  its  fertile  soil.  The  next  year  he  bought 
twenty-five  acres  more,  and  later  forty  acres,  and 
then  fifteen  acres,  and  in  1888  ten  acres  on  section 
17.  He  now  has  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  one 
body,  having  given  eighty  acres  of  his  land  to  his 
son.  His  land  is  all  tillable  and  is  under  fine  culti- 
vation, is  fenced  and  hedged  into  five  fields.  He 
has  a  large  house  and  a  commodious  barn,  30x64 
feet  in  dimension,  windmill  and  tank,  groves  and 
an  orchard,  constituting  in  all  one  of  the  finest  im- 
proved places  in  the  vicinity.  He  raises  corn  and 
grain  but  his  hobb}'  is  horses  and  hogs.  He  has 
full-blooded  Short-horn  cattle  and  fine  draft  horses. 

The  first  marriage  of  our  subject,  which  took 
place  in  Alleghany  Count}',  Pa.,  in  1854,  was  with 
Miss  Martha  Irwin,  a  native  of  that  countv,  and  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Catherine  Irwin.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  there  until  his  death,  while  her 
mother  died  in  the  home  of  our  subject,  at  the  re- 
markable advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  December 
23,  1884,  death  crossed  the  threshold  of  the  home 
of  our  subject,  and  removed  the  wife  who  had 
traveled  by  his  side  thirty  years.  Four  children 
had  been  born  of  their  marriage,  namely:  James,  a 
prominent  farmer  here  who  is  represented  in  this 
work;  Margaret  L.,  Mrs.  VauPalten.  a  resident  of 
this  township;  John,  a  clerk  in  Elmwood.  and  a 
child  died  in  infancy. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  w.as  to  Miss 
Margaret  Mewhirter,  and  was  celebrated  November 
20,  1888,   in   his    native  county.     Mrs.  Buchanan 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


241 


was  also  born  in  Wi'stnior(^lan<l  County,  near  Con- 
gruitv,  lior  father,  John  Mewhirter,  liaving  l)cen  a 
prominent  fanner  there  until  his  death  in  1882. 
His  father  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland.  INIrs. 
Buchanan's  mother  was  Jane  MeChesne}-  before  her 
marriage,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Westmoreland 
County  and  a  daughter  of  William  McChesne}',  who 
was  also  born  in  that  county.  His  father  came  to 
this  country  from  County  Antrim,  Ireland.  The 
mother  died  in  1888,  leaving  four  children:  Mai- 
garct,  Mrs.  Buchanan  ,  Mary  L.,  Sarah  J.,  and  Anise, 
the  latter  three  living  in  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Buchanan  is  a  true  gentleman  in  all  respects. 
He  is  a  deep  thinker,  is  well  informed,  and  is  an 
interesting  conversationalist,  while  his  wife  is  a 
lady  of  culture  and  has  a  most  loveable  disposition, 
and  both  are  very  highly  regarded  by  the  entire 
community.  He  does  not  aspire  to  ollice,  although 
he  is  a  strong  Republican  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  politics  as  a  delegate  to  county  and  State 
conventions.  lit  has  been  Trustee  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Farmlngton  and  is  one  of  its  most 
prominent  members. 


l-;ILLIAM  WYKOFF,  of  the  firm  of  Wylcoff 
&  Graham,  the  leading  merchants  of  Tri- 
voli,  is  a  man  of  prominence  and  influence 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  is  one  of  the  pioneers 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  New  Trivoli,  open- 
ing iiere  the  first  store,  and  putting  in  the  first  stock 
of  goods  that  was  ever  sold  here.  He  is  a  repre- 
sentative veteran  of  the  late  war,  in  which  he  did 
and  suffered  much  for  his  country. 

Pete  Wykoff,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  son  of  Ruloff  Wy- 
koff, who  was  also  born  in  that  State,  and  was  of 
German  extraction.  He  was  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Highland  County,  Ohio,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  the  pio- 
neer home  of  his  parents  in  Ohio,  and  early  learned 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  which  he  followed  for 
twent3--one  years,  the  latter  part  of  the  time  being 
a  contractor  and,  builder.      In   1812  he  too    became 


a  pioneer,  coming  to  this  Slate  with  a  team  and 
wagon,  bringing  with  him  his  family,  and  settling 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Springfield,  111.,  where  ho 
had  a  farm  which  he  managed,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  engaged  in  his  business  as  contractor.  In 
1854  he  removed  to  I'coria,  where  he  ran  a  dairy 
farm.  In  18.58  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Logan 
Township.  He  subsequently  bought  a  farm  of 
eighty  .acres  in  Trivoli  Township,  and  there  estab- 
lished his  home,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in 
1860,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  He  was  a 
stanch  Democrat,  and  a  follower  of  Douglas. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Eliza  Fox,  was  liorn  in  Highland  Coun1,y,  Ohio, 
and  was  of  English  descent.  After  his  father's 
death,  she  sold  the  farm  on  which  they  then  resided 
and  bought  one  of  eighty  acres  in  Trivoli  Town- 
ship, upon  which  she  lived  until  her  death  in  1880, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  She  was  a  consis- 
tent Christian  woman  of  the  Uaptist  faith.  She  was 
the  second  wife  of  the  father  of  our  subject.  By  his 
first  marriage  he  had  one  child,  Peter,  who  lives  in 
Decatur.  B3'  his  second  marriage  eight  children  were 
born,  namely:  Mary  A.,  now  Mrs.  Graham,  of 
Farmington;  Sarah  A.,  Mrs.  E.  Wykoff,  of  Deca- 
tur; William;  James,  a  resident  of  Decatur;  Jacob. 
who  lives  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Trivoli  Town- 
ship; Jennie,  now  Mrs.  Eslinger,  of  EIniwood; 
Helen,  now  Mrs.  Bergett.  of  Elmvvood;  Oscar,  of 
Trivoli  Township. 

William  WykofT  was  born  near  Berlin,  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  November  14,  1840.  He  was  eight 
years  old  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  this 
State,  and  for  a  few  yeurs  lived  on  a  farm  near  the 
city  of  Springfield,  and  had  excellent  district  school 
advantages.  In  the  fall  of  1854  he  came  to  Peo- 
ria, and  engaged  in  work  on  a  dairy  farm  on  the 
west  bluff,  the  present  site  of  North  Peorin.  In 
1858,  he  came  here  and  worked  on  the  farm,  and 
remained  at  home  with  his  mother  until  1862. 

In  the  month  of  August,  that  year,  Mr.  Wj'koff 
threw  aside  his  work  to  take  part  in  the  great  con- 
flict that  was  then  going  on  between  the  North  and 
the  .South,  and  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Eight3--sixth 
Illinois  Infantry,  which  w.as  mustered  in  at  Peoria, 
and  sent  to  Louisville,  Ky.  Our  subject  and  his 
conn-adcs  marclied    to  Crab    Orchard,  and   took  an 


242 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


active  part  in  the  battle  at  that  place,  and  subse- 
queutly  fous>lit  at  Nashville,  and  were  engaged  in 
various  skirmishes.  He  M'intered  there  and  was  on 
provost  duty,  and  the  regiment  was  tlien  ordered 
South  to  Brentwood,  a  fortified  place.  The  men 
were  afterward  sent  bade  to  Nashville,  and  again 
faced  the  enemy  in  the  l)atlle  at  JMurfreesboro.  In 
the  spring  of  1864  Mr.  WylvOiT  and  his  fellow  sol- 
diers started  with  Sherman  on  his  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, but  he  was  soon  taken  sick  with  the  measles, 
and  was  sent  to  the  hospital.  As  soon  as  able  he 
was  placed  on  detached  duty,  and  acted  as  guard  in 
different  places  in  Nashville,  and  was  finally  sent 
to  Chicago  in  the  fall  of  1864,  on  detached  service. 
So  ably  did  he  discharge  the  duties  devolving  upon 
iiim  in  every  case  and  under  all  circumstances,  that 
he  was  promoted  to  be  Sergeant  soon  after  he  was 
mustered  in,  and  in  Chicago  had  a  position  in  the 
(Juartcjrmaster's  department,  as  Commissary  Ser- 
jeant, which  office  he  held  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  mustered  out  witli  his  regiment  in 
Cliieaao,  June  15,  1865,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
ciiaryed  as  Sergeant  of  Company  D.  He  was  in  all 
respects  a  true  soldier,  upon  whom  liis  superiors 
could  place  the  utmost  reliance.  He  experienced 
many  privations  and  hardsiiips,  which  resulted  in 
the  loss  of  his  health,  and  thus  gave  up  tiiat  which 
is  almost  dearer  than  life  itself,  for  the  sake  of  his 
country. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  army,  our  subject 
retuiued  home  and  gave  his  attention  to  farming, 
renting  a  farm  in  Elmwood  Township,  one  year, 
and  then  buying  a  farm  on  section  2,  Trivoli  Town- 
sliip,  comprising  forty  acres.  This  joined  his 
motlier's  place,  and  he  farmed  them  together,  hav- 
ino-  the  control  of  one  hundred  and  sixtj'  acres  of 
land,  which  he  managed  with  excellent  success  un- 
til 1874.  He  then  rented  his  place,  which  he  kept 
in  his  possession  until  the  spring  of  "90,  when  he  sold 
it  at  a  good  price.  He  still  has  a  residence  and  two 
acres  of  laud  at  Old  Trivoli,  though  he  makes  his 
home  iu  New  Trivoli.  In  1874  he  bought  in  with 
J.  Johnson  at  Trivoli,  and  they  ran  a  general 
store  under  the  firm  name  of  Johnson  &  Wykoff, 
doing  a  good  business. 

When  the  railroad  was  talked  of,  our  subject  was 
enthusiastically  iu  favor  of  it,  gave   his  iulluencc 


to  aid  in  bringing  it  here,  and  canvassed  the  town- 
ship to  get  up  a  subscription,  and  gave  all  he  could 
afford.  The  result  was  tiiat  the  railroad  came  here 
in  1880,  and  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  store  in 
Old  Trivoli  to  his  partner,  and  moved  to  the  new 
town  to  establish  himself  in  the  business  here. 
He  went  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Robinson,  put 
in  a  new  stock  of  goods  in  the  store  he  opened  here, 
which  he  has  since  enlarged,  and  is  prosperously 
conducting  an  extensive  mercantile  business,  deal- 
ing in  flour  and  carrying  n  large  line  of  everything 
that  is  to  be  found  in  a  general  store.  For  the  I'rst 
four  years  he  was  interested  in  the  implement  busi- 
ness here,  and  also  in  the  grain  trade.  His  partner, 
Mr.  Robinson,  retired  from  business  after  the  first 
year,  and  William  Christy  took  his  place,  and 
the  business  was  managed  under  the  firm  name  of 
Wykoff  &  Christy  until  the  spring  of  1890,  when 
Mr.  Christ}-  sold  out  to  Mr.  Graham. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Kickaiioo  to  Miss 
Thalia  Carter,  their  marriage  being  solemnized  Sep- 
tember 15,  1874.  Mrs.  Wykoff  is  a  woman  of  in- 
telligence and  education,  and  was  a  school  teacher 
prior  to  her  marriage.  She  is  a  native  of  Michigan 
and  came  here  when  a  girl.  The  pleasant  home 
circle  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  is  completed  by 
their  three  children — Levar,  Bernard,  and  Clifton. 

Mr.  Wykoff  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  New 
Trivoli,  and  served  until  1885.  lie  has  been  School 
Director  for  years,  and  is  a  Grand  Army  man,  be- 
longing to  Daniel  McCook  Post,  in  Elmwood.  He 
is  a  true-blue  Republican,  is  very  prominent  in  the 
councils  of  his  party,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
nearly  every  convention,  and  for  eight  years  was 
a  member  of  the  Central  Committee. 


EVI  B.  PITNEY,  residing  on  Adams 
f(§]  Street,  Peoria,  is  in  the  Revenue  service 
1^-^.  here  as  storekeeper,  and  is  a  most  efficient 
and  trusty  official.  He  vr&s  born  in  Licking  County, 
Oliio,  November  29,  1825.  His  parents,  Samuel 
and  Sarah  (Jones)  Pitney,  were  also  natives  of 
that  Slate.  The  father  came  to  Illinois,  and  was 
an  honored  resident  of   Hancock  Countv  until  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


■213 


death,  which  occurred  in  1880  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-one  years.  Tlic  mother  of  our  subject 
had  died  in  1852. 

Mr.  Pitney,  of  whom  we  write,  passed  liis  early 
life  on  a  farm,  assisting  in  its  management  and 
attending  the  public  schools  when  they  were  in 
session.  He  continued  to  carry  on  farming  until 
he  went  to  California  in  1859.  He  remained  there 
until  1867,  and  then  retraced  his  steps  to  Illinois, 
coming  by  wa^'  of  the  Isthmus.  After  his  return 
lie  entered  the  emplo.y  of  the  Wabash  Railroad 
Company  for  ten  j'ears,  and  then  went  in  the  em- 
l)loy  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Rail- 
road, and  was  with  them  until  1889.  In  that  3ear 
he  was  chosen  as  storekeeper  in  the  United  States 
Revenue  service,  and  his  commission  for  the  office 
was  dated  in  October  of  that  year.  lie  h.id  been  a 
resident  of  Peoria  for  some  time,  locating  here  in 
1884. 

Mr.  Pitney  and  Miss  Sarah  Lewton,  a  native  of 
Can  oil  Countj',  Ohio,  were  united  in  marriage  in 
the  month  of  September,  1869.  Of  their  three 
children — Blanch,  Willie  Arthur  and  Cljde  Hersey 
— one  is  now  deceased,  Willie  Arthur,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Our  subject  has  been  a  member  of  the  Independ- 
ent Oriler  of  Odd  Fellows  for  nearl3-  half  a  cen- 
tury'. His  religious  views  find  expression  in  the 
faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 
he  is  a  member.  Since  1856  be  has  been  a  sturdy 
advocate  of  the  policy  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  a  man  who  is  true  to  his  convictions,  is  loyal 
in  his  friendships,  and  none  know  him  but  to  accord 
him  the  respect  due  to  his  years  and  station. 


^P^EORGP:  G.  GEKiER.  This  gentleman  is 
ill  ^=^  President  of  the  Peoria  Pump<fe  Implement 
^<gJ4  Company,  located  on  the  corner  of  Chestnut 
and  Water  Streets.  The  manufactory  covers 
100x181  feet,  now  employs  twenty-five  men,  and 
is  fitted  with  power  and  first-class  machinery.  The 
caiiacity  is  now  being  enlarged,  and  within  the  year 
will  be  doubled,  so  that  one  hundred  pumps  per 
day,  in  addition   to  other  work,  will  be  turned  out. 


The  twelve  railroads  which  enter  Peoria  will  be 
connected  with  the  establishment  by  tracks  on 
either  side.  Wood  and  chain  pumps  of  all  kinds, 
tubing,  water  pipes,  veranda  columns,  farm  wagon 
shoveling  boards,  and  wheel-barrows  are  made, 
special  attention  being  given  to  the  first  article 
named.  The  company  sells  to  the  jobbing  trade 
from  New  England  to  the  Coast,  kee|)ing  men  on 
the  road  whenever  they  can  keep  up  with  their 
orders.  The  pump  works  were  established  about 
twenty-flve  years  ago,  but  have  been  under  the 
present  management  two  years,  and  were  incor- 
porated January  1,  1889,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
§30,000.  The  officers  are:  G.  G.  Geiger,  Presi- 
dent; II.  R.  Geiger,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Marion, 
Ohio,  October  3,  1850,  being  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Margaret  (Halvorstott)  Geiger.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  place,  acquiring  an  excellent 
education,  after  which  he  worked  in  a  machine- 
shop  at  Cincinnati.  In  ftla}-,  1875,  he  came  to 
Peoria  to  handle  musical  goods,  and  during  the 
past  five  years  has  been  handling  real  estate  both 
in  Peoria  and  the  West,  proving  very  successful  in 
his  operations.  He  has  been  a  member  of  different 
stock  companies,  and  although  still  comparatively 
a  young  man,  has  displaj'ed  striking  qualities  as  an 
oi'ganizer  and  controller  of  business  affairs. 

In  September,  1877,  Mr.  (ieiger  received  his 
commission  as  Captain  of  a  military  company,  at 
the  head  of  which  he  remained  three  3'ears,  being 
considered  by  Gov.  CuUom  one  of  his  best  officers. 
His  company  was  G,  Seventh  Illinois  National 
Guards,  which  was  of  service  during  the  labor 
troubles  and  strikes.  Capt.  Geiger  took  great  in- 
terest in  the  organization  and  discipline  of  his 
command,  feeling  a  just  pride  in  their  soldierly 
appearance  and  conduct.  He  remained  with  them 
a  j'car  after  the  expiration  of  the  regular  term  of 
enlistment,  when  the  pressure  of  private  business 
caused  him  to  resign. 

October  2,  1878,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were  cele- 
brated between  G.  G.  Geiger  and  Ida  J.  Bootz. 
The  bride  was  born  in  Peoria,  in  which  city  her 
parents,  Peter  and  Lydia  liootz,  were  early  settlers. 
She  received  an  excellent  education,  a  good  school- 
ing in  housewifely  arts,  and   has  shown  wisdom   in 


244 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  care  of  hur  tiuusuUold  affairs  aud  the  training 
of  the  chihiren  who  have  come  to  lier.  The  union 
has  been  blest  by  the  birlh  of  five  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, four  of  whom  survive.  The3'  are  named  re- 
spectively: Gilbert  l^.,  Hattie  P.,  Garland  \.  and 
Grace  I.  Mr.  Geiger  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  liaving  taken.  thirt3--two 
degrees,  wliicii  are  all  that  the  rites  bestow,  except 
as  an  lionorary  degree  to  high  officials  of  State  or 
National  repute.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geiger.  it  is  per- 
haps needless  to  sa}',  are  highly  respeeted  and 
exert  an  influence  which  is  felt  far  bej^ond  their 
own  home. 


'  OSEPH  SHOLL.  One  of  the  most  important 
industries  of  Limestone  Township,  is  the  de- 
velopment of  coal  mines,  where  veins  of  the 
imprisoned  sunshine  await  the  pick  of  the 
hardj-  men  who  bring  to  the  upper  world  this  great 
agent  for  heating  purposes.  The  firm  of  A.  Sholl 
<fe  Sons  is  the  best  known  in  this  region,  the  original 
member  having  been  tlie  pioneer  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness in  the  township.  He  established  himself  when 
the  demand  for  coal  was  very  small,  enlarging  the 
business  as  the  demand  increased,  until  now  he  and 
his  sons  are  the  sole  proprietors  of  all  the  coal  lauds 
along  the  bluffs  from  Bartonville  to  Mollis,  except 
a  few  isolated  pieces.  Tlie  sons — Henrj-  S.,  James 
M..  Samuel  V.  and  Joseph,  now  carry  on  the  busi- 
ness, the  father  having  retired  from  active  partici- 
pation. They  use  the  best  of  hoisting  machiner}- 
and  employ  in  the  neighborhood  of  one  hundred 
men,  eighteen  of  whom  are  on  regular  salar3-.  Their 
shipping  facilities  are  of  the  best,  .as  their  coal  field 
is  accessible  to  the  Peoria  &  Pekin  Union  Railroad, 
and  also  to  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad. 
Our  subject  is  Superintendent  of  the  incline 
shaft,  which  has  a  capacity  of  fifteen  flat  cars,  or 
about  seventy-five  hundred  bushels  per  day.  that 
being  the  largest  output  from  anj'  mine  iu  the  vi- 
cinity of  Peoria.  This  will  be  increased  as  the  de- 
mands require,  as  their  fields  contain  other  excel- 
lent veins  beside  that  which  they  are  now  working. 
They  are  at  present  taking  out  from   vein    Ko.   4, 


which  is  four  feet  six  inches  thick,  without  a  clay 
se.am.  Under  this  lies  vein  No.  G.  and  still  lower 
the3'  have  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  thirty-eight 
inches  thick,  which  furnishes  coal  of  a  superior 
quality  and  is  underlaid  bj'  a  stratum  of  excellent 
pottery  el.ay.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  firm  to  open 
two  more  mines  in  the  vicinitj'  in  the  near  future. 

A  ms^rkcl  for  the  most  of  the  produce  of  A.  Sholl 
&  Sons  is  found  in  the  citj'  of  Peoria,  they  having 
a  yard  on  South  AVashington  Street,  with  a  clerk 
and  book-keeper  conGtnntly  in  attendance.  James 
Sholl,  who  has  charge  of  the  financial  part  of  the 
business,  is  considered  one  of  the  best  and  shrewd- 
est salesmen  iu  the  Slate.  He  resides  at  No.  1001 
North  Jefferson  Street. 

Adam  Sholl,  the  father  of  our  subject,  is  a  native 
of  Prussia,  whence  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1834.  He  landed  at  New  Orleans,  reach- 
ing Peoria  in  1836,  near  which  pKice  he  carrieil  on 
a  farm  for  several  years.  He  also  made  a  business 
of  shipping  coal,  and  a  qiiarter  of  a  century  ago  es- 
tablished the  business  which  has  grown  to  sucli 
proportions  as  to  emplo\'  the  best  faculties  of  sev- 
eral of  his  descendants,  together  with  quite  a  large 
force  of  employes.  He  was  married  in  Peoria  to 
Miss  Charlotte,  daughter  of  James  Monroe,  whose 
history  is  found  elsewhere  in  this  Albl  m.  For  a 
number  of  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sholl  resided  on  Jef- 
ferson Street,  then  selling  out  they  purchased  land 
in  Limestone  Township,  and  took  up  their  abode 
there.  They  now  have  about  sixteen  hundred 
acres  of  farm  and  mineral  lands  there,  together 
with  a  fine  propert}'  in  Pekin,  where  thej'  now  re- 
side. They  have  had  seven  sons  and  two  daughters, 
five  of  the  famil3-  still  living. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch 
was  reared  in  Peoria  and  on  the  farm  iu  Limestone 
Township,  receiving  his  earl}'  education  in  the  Peo- 
ria schools  and  finishing  with  two  and  a  half  j'ears 
of  study  in  Heckling  College.  Abingdon.  From  his 
youth  he  h.as  made  coal  dealing  his  business  and  is 
expert  in  handling  that  important  article  of  com- 
merce. 

After  his  marriage  he  built  a  house  near  the 
mines  on  the  bluff,  afterward  moved  to  the  count}' 
seat,  but  finall}'  rctuined  to  the  country  and  is  now 
occuinina'  the  old  homestead  on  which  he  has  built 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


247 


:i  fine  residence.  He  is  reganied  willi  much  respect 
by  liis  many  acquaintances  on  account  of  his  iiisfh 
degree  of  business  ability,  his  excellent  education, 
and  above  all,  for  the  sterling  traits  of  his  char- 
acter. He  is  liberal  in  politics,  interested  in  the 
advancement  of  education  and  everything  wliich 
will  tend  to  the  personal  welfare  and  material  pros- 
perity of  the  citizens  of  tlie  great  commonweaitli. 
He  and  liis  family  support  the  l?aptist  Chnrch. 

The  beautiful  home  of  our  subject  is  presided 
over  by  an  educated  and  most  estimable  lady  who 
was  formerly  knovvn  as  Miss  Mary  E.  Jenkins.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  George  Jenkins,  a  pioneer  of  Hollis 
Township,  who  for  twent}'  years  was  a  Supervisor 
and  for  a  long  time  Chairman  of  the  Board.  Miss 
Jenkins  became  the  wife  of  our  subject  December 
5,  1861.  Their  family  consists  of  five  sons  and  one 
daughter.  The  oldest  son,  R.aymond  P.,  a  young 
man  of  excellent  education,  is  now  weighmaster 
at  the  mines.  The  second  son,  Joseph  D.,  is  en- 
gineer of  the  mines  near  which  he  lives  with  his 
wife  and  one  child.  The  third  son,  Robert  Lee,  has 
charge  of  the  farm,  in  operating  which  he  is  as- 
sisted by  his  younger  brothers,  James  N.  and  Arch- 
ibald E. 


'•— Hf- 


— .-5N^'« 


R.  JUSTIN  H.  WILKINSON.  Among  the 
retired  men  of  Peoria,  who,  as  old  age 
comes  creeping  on,  can  cease  from  undue 
anxiety  regarding  the  daily  bread,  and  en- 
joy all  of  the  comforts,  and  many  of  the  luxuries 
of  life  in  an  elegant  home,  is  Dr.  Wilkinson,  whose 
portrait  with  that  of  his  estimable  wife  is  presented 
on  the  opposite  page.  He  now  has  large  property 
interests,  having  made  fortun.ate  investments,  and 
having,  in  addition  to  his  practice,  exercised  his 
financial  abilitj^  to  some  extent  in  other  pursuits 
which  added  to  his  means.  For  thirty  years  he  was 
engaged  in  serving  humanity  through  his  knowl- 
edge of  medical  science,  winning  a  reputation  for 
practical  skill  in  the  ajiplication  of  the  theories  witli 
which  his  mind  is  stored,  and  ever  endeavoring  to 
keep  abreast  of  ihe  liini-s  in  his  knowledge  regard- 


ing all  that  pertains  to  the  profession  which  he  had 
cliosen. 

Dr.  Wilkinson  is  the  oldest  of  ten  children  born 
to  Joseph  and  Eliza  (Harlan)  Wilkinson,  who  were 
natives  of  A'irginia  and  North  Carolina  respect- 
ively. He  comes  of  sturdy  stock,  the  paternal 
line  being  English  and  Welsh,  and  the  maternal 
ancestors  a  few  generations  back  having  accom 
panied  Penn  to  America.  Of  the  parental  family 
four  daughters  and  two  sons  are  now  living.  The 
birthplace  of  Dr.  Wilkinson  was  Warren  County, 
Ohio,  and  his  natal  day  July  20,  1823.  At  the  age 
of  five  years  he  became  a  resident  of  Parke  County, 
Ind.,  where  he  lived  until  twenty-five  years  old. 
He  obtained  an  excellent  education,  completing  a 
literary  course  at  Asbury  University,  Greencastle, 
Ind.,  in  the  Class  of  '45.  He  studied  medicine 
with  Drs.  Allen  &  Weaver,  in  Rockville,  Ind.,  at- 
tended lectures  at  Louisville,  (Ky.,)  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  after  becoming  a  full  fledged  physician, 
in  1848  came  to  Peoria  County,  III.,  and  estab- 
lished himself  for  practice. 

Among  the  pursuits  to  which  Dr.  Wilkinson  de- 
voted his  attention  more  especiall^^  after  retiring 
from  practice  in  1879,  and  in  which  he  invested  his 
capital,  were  those  of  farming,  merchandising,  min- 
ing, etc.  He  owns  a  thousand  acres  of  land,  on 
much  of  which,  in  this  county,  coal  mines  have 
been  worked  for  fifteen  years.  In  1889  Dr.  Wilk- 
inson retired  from  active  life,  feeling  that  his  pro- 
fessional labors  of  over  a  quarter  of  a  century-  had 
fairly  entitled  him  to  rest,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
other  occupations  of  long  and  busy  years. 

In  choosing  a  life  companion.  Dr.  Wilkinson 
made  a  fortunate  selection,  and  for  forty  years  his 
home  has  been  presided  over  b}'  a  lady  of  great 
worth.  She  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Isadore  E. 
Edwards,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eleanor 
(Scott)  Edwards.  The  father  of  the  former  was  a 
cousin  of  Gov.  Ninian  Edwards,  so  prominently 
connected  with  the  history  of  the  Prairie  State.  Her 
father  was  born  in  a  fort  at  Cold  Stream,  Hampshire 
County,  Va.,  where  lie  lived  until  lie  came  to  Illi- 
nois. He  carried  on  a  woolen  factory.  His  death 
occurred  in  this  State  in  1854.  The  Edwards  faui- 
il}^  is  of  English  stock,  while  the  maternal  gran<l- 
father  of  Mrs.  Wilkinson,  Samuel  Scott  b}-  name, 


248 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIK  AL  ALBUM. 


came  from  ScoUmiuI.  The  uuuriage  of  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  Wilkinson  took  place  Janiiury  'iO,  1850,  and 
of  this  union  were  horn  four  cliililren.  all  deceased. 
.Mthoiigli  released  from  hiisiness  cares.  Dr.  Wilk- 
inson is  hy  no  means  an  idle  man.  He  finds  suffi- 
fAcni  to  occupy  him  in  the  literature  of  the  d;iy,  in 
the  interests  of  humanity,  and  particularly  in  Sun- 
day school  work,  in  which  he  has  long  l)een  an  ac- 
tive participant.  For  seven  years  he  was  President 
of  the  County  Sunday-school  Association,  and  he 
has  repeatedly  served  as  a  delegate  to  State  Sunday- 
school  Conventions.  He  and  his  wife  are  devout 
members  of  the  Methfidist  Episcopal  Church.  His 
political  vicvvs  .accord  with  those  expressed  by  the 
platform  of  the  Republican  part}',  with  which  he 
always  cast£  his  vote,  although  he  is  not  a  politi- 
cian in  the  ordinary  acceptation  of  that  term. 


y^-ILLIAlM  McCORMICK,  a  successful,  en- 
terprising fanner  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen of  Trivoli  Township,  is  the  fortunate 
owner  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  of 
good  farming  land  here,  and  several  city  lots  in 
Peoria.  His  home  farm  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  20,  all  tillable,  well- 
fenced,  supplied  with  a  good  house,  three  barns,  a 
windmill,  and  other  necessary  buildings,  and  beau- 
tified with  orchard  and  groves.  The  other  farm, 
also  well  improved  and  furnished  with  good  build- 
ings, comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres 
on  sections  32  and  33. 

Mr.  McCormick  is  descended  from  the  sturdy 
Scotch,  who  found  a  refuge  in  County  Antrim,  Ire- 
land,during  religious  persecutions  in  their  own  land. 
His  grandfather  and  liis  father  who  bore  the  same 
given  name,  Alexander,  were  natives  of  the  Emer- 
ald Isle,  and  farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  Carlyles. 
His  father  was  also  a  weaver  by  trade,  doing  cus- 
tom work.  He  sold  his  farm,  and  in  186,i  emi- 
grated to  America,  locating  in  Central  Illinois, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  breathing 
his  last  in  1880.  Following  the  example  and  teach- 
ings of  his  forefathers,  he  was  a  stanch  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.     His  wife,  formerly  Jane 


McGugen.  a  native  of  the  same  count}-  as  himself, 
was  of  English  and  Scotch  descent.  She  survived 
until  1884.  when  she  too  crossed  the  river  of  death. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  eight  children, 
our  subject  being  the  (irst-born.  James,  the  sec- 
ond son  and  child,  died  in  Pliiladelphia;  Mrs.  Rose 
Taggartdied  in  Knox  County,  this  State.  September 
27,1884;  Mrs.  Martha  McKonney  resides  in  Phil- 
adelphia; Mrs.  Mary  Clark  is  living  in  Nebraska; 
Catherine  lives  in  Philadelphia;  ]\Irs.  Rachel  Ray 
is  a  resident  of  Xeliraska;  Mrs.  Maggie  Ilousholdcr 
lives  in  Iowa. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  at 
Carlyles,  County  Antrim,  Irel.and,  three  miles  from 
the  Irish  Channel,  .lune  4,  1831.  He  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  enjoying  the  privileges  of  good  dis- 
trict schools,  and  was  early  taught  industrious  hab- 
its. He  remained  with  his  parents  until  nineteen 
years  of  age,  when,  believing  that  he  could  better 
his  condition  by  so  doing,  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica. Leaving  Liverpool  March  12,  1851,  on  the 
sailer  ''Tuscarora."  he  landed  in  Philadel|>hia  twen- 
ty-eight days  later,  and  in  a  short  time  was  engaged 
in  the  iron  mines,  getting  out  ore.  In  this  employ- 
ment he  spent  the  winter,  working  in  the  harvest 
field,  or  at  other  farm  labor  in  the  summer,  until 
1854,  when  he  went  to  California,  via  New  York 
and  the  Isthmus. 

Landing  at  San  Francisco,  Mr.  ^McCormick  went 
up  to  Red  Bluff,  one  of  the  foot  hills  on  the  Sacra- 
mento River,  where  he  spent  the  winter  in  pros- 
pecting, but  made  nothing.  He  remained  in  the 
Golden  Slate,  however,  three  }-ears,  finally  securing 
some  money.  In  1857  he  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
remained  there  during  the  winter,  and  the  follow- 
ing spring  came  to  Fulton  County,  111.  Li.icating 
in  Farmington,  he  opened  a  clothing  establislimeiit, 
carrying  it  on  three  3ears,  and  building  a  good 
business  edifice.  He  then  sold,  and  buying  sev- 
enty acres  of  land,  moved  into  a  log  house,  and 
began  farming. 

In  1868  Mr.  McCormick  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  his  present  home  farm,  located  here 
and  began  improving  the  property  which  was  run 
down  by  continual  use  as  corn  land.  By  clovering 
and  (lasturing,  he  has  brought  it  to  a  high  state  of 
productiveness.     In   buying  the  property   lie   was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


249 


obliged  to  pay  twelve  and  one-half  per  cent,  inter- 
est, but  notwithstanding  that  high  rate,  svicccss  at- 
tended him,  and  ere  long  he  added  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  adjoining,  ;ind  still  later  purchased 
his  other  farm.  Mr.  McCormick  pays  considerable 
attention  to  slock,  making  money  with  his  droves 
of  hogs,  draft  horses,  and  his  fine  herd  of  cattle 
which  arc  (iahvay  crossed  with  Short- horns,  bfith 
full  blooded. 

The  estimable  woman  who  has  charge  of  the 
household  economy  on  Mr.  MeCormick's  estate, 
was  known  in  former  years  as  Miss  Mary  A.  Rodg- 
ers.  She  was  born  in  County  Donegal,  Ireland, 
reared  and  educated  in  iier  native  land,  and  was 
united  in  marriage  with  our  suliject  in  Peoria,  Au- 
gust 10,  1858.  Theii-  happy  union  has  been  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  ten  children — William,  John,  Mary, 
Jane,  George,  Henry,  Cliarlcs,  Martha.  Rachel,  and 
Ma3'.  The  first  two  are  farming  in  this  township; 
the  others  still  reside  with  their  parents.  Mary 
and  May  have  attended  the  Dixon  and  A'alparaiso 
Noimal  Schools,  and  Martha  gives  her  attention  to 
school  teaching;  George  is  also  a  teacher,  at  pres- 
ent advancing  his  learning  in  the  school  at  Val- 
paraiso, Ind. ;  he  formerly  attended  the  Burlington 
Business  College. 

Mr.  McCormick  adheres  to  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  CHiurch,  and  is  one  of  those  who  helped 
to  erect  the  church  edifice  at  Concord.  Personally, 
he  possesses  a  very  genial  nature,  which  joined  with 
his  fine  cliaracter,  makes  him  well  liked  by  those 
with  whom  he  has  to  do,  while  his  wife  and  the 
various  members  of  their  family  are  also  well  re- 
spected. 


^g^Ji^^e 


^^BRAHAM    BRAYSHAW.     Peoria  is    the 
(@7lJI     home  of  many  flourishing  enterprises,  and 
j(  IS>    trade  that  falls  below  the  tens  of  thousands 
(Qyj  yearly  is  scarcely  noted  as  of   more  than 

minor  importance.  One  of  the  establishment*  in 
which  a  line  business  is  done  is  that  of  the  Mexican 
Amole  Soap  Com|)anj-,  of  which  the  gentleman 
above  named  is  tlie  President.  The  business  had 
pioveil  a  b.ad  venture  to  its   former   managers   but 


feeling  assured  of  the  merits  of  the  article  manu- 
factured, in  which  he  had  already  some  interest, 
Mr.  Braysliaw  bought  the  patent  and  plant  and  has 
in  a  short  time  brought  up  the  trade  to  $40,000  per 
annum.  It  is  the  nature  of  the  President  of  the 
company  to  push  forward  any  enterprise  in  which 
he  engag'es,and  from  a  line  of  manufacturers  he  in- 
herits the  spirit  that  can  carry  to  a  successful  ter- 
mination a  large  concern  and  the  tact  that  can  con- 
trol the  force  needed  in  its  work. 

The  Brayshaws  have  been  cloth  manufacturers  for 
several  generations  and  in  that  business  he  of  whom 
we  write  was  occupied  in  England,  his  native  land. 
He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Anna  (Berry)  Bray- 
sliaw and  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  The 
others  remain  in  their  native  land  and  continue 
the  business  of  their  forefathers.  Abraham  Bray- 
shaw  was  born  on  Christmas  Day,  1838,  and  left 
the  mother  country  when  thirty  years  old.  Taking 
passage  on  a  vessel  bound  to  America,  he  landed 
in  New  York  in  due  time  and  there  remained 
two  years  superintending  a  woolen  mill  for  James 
Standring.  He  then  came  to  the  Prairie  State  and 
locating  in  Peoria,  engaged  in  the  car|)et  trade,  con- 
tinuing in  that  business  until  1884. 

About  six  years  ago  a  company  was  organized 
for  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  a  prime  toilet  soap 
and  Mr.  Braj'shaw  became  interested  in  it.  The 
corporation  was  known  as  Albaugh's  Mexican 
Soap  Company,  the  President  being  Mr.  M.  H. 
Haverhill.  When  the  new  organization  was  per- 
fected the  name  was  changed,  and  that  of  the  root 
whence  the  cleansing  properties  are  derived  was 
incorporated  with  other  words  formerly  used  to 
designate  the  company.  The  Amole  soap  is  a 
vegetable  product,  the  tree  from  which  it  is  made 
having  high  healing  as  well  as  cleansing  qualities, 
and  being  therefore  especially  adapted  to  toilet  use. 

Shortly  after  reaching  America,  May  13,  1868, 
Mr.  Brayshaw  led  to  the  hymeneal  altar  Miss  Car- 
oline Wilb}',  who,  like  the  man  of  her  choice,  was 
liorn  in  the  mother  countr}-.  She  possesses  a  fine 
nature,  much  intelligence  and  pleasing  manners, 
and  is  the  chief  member  of  the  household  to  the 
husband  and  children  to  whose  comfort  she  ever 
ministers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brayshaw  are  the  parents 
of  three  living   childien — Benjamin    W.,   who  is  in 


250 


POin-RAIT  AXD  BlOURArHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  factoiT  with  liis  father;  Waller,  a  student  in 
college;  and  Clarence  S.,  who  is  still  at  home.  Mr. 
Brnyshaw  is  a  charter  member  in  the  lodge  of 
United  Workmen  of  this  city.  He  gives  his  vote 
and  influence  to  the  Democrat  party,  in  whose 
principles  he  believes. 

A^■1U  .SMITH.  This  gentleni.au  is  Manager 
III  of  the  Central  Illinois  Agency  of  the  New  i 
f!^'  York  Life  Insurance  Conipanv.  his  head- 
quarters being  at  Peoria  and  his  territor3-  embrac- 
ing twenty  counties.  He  began  the  duties  of  a 
life  insurance  agent  in  March.  1887.  and  was  so 
remarkably  successful  that  after  about  seven 
months'  work  he  w.is  chosen  by  General  State 
Agent.  L.  C.  Vanuxen,  as  Manager  of  the  Central 
Illinois  Agency.  He  has  been  successfully  pur- 
suing the  work,  discharging  the  duties  of  his  posi- 
tion with  satisfaction  to  his  superiors  and  credit 
to  himself. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  son  of  .Tohn  antl  Anna  (Havens) 
Smith,  early  pioneers  in  McLean  County,  to  which 
the}'  came  from  Ohio.  In  the  county  mentioned 
our  subject  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  December 
31,  1836,  spending  his  youth  upon  his  father's 
farm,  except  the  d.iys  in  which  he  was  pursuing  his 
advanced  studies.  These  were  prosecuted  at  the 
Illinois  Wesleyan  Universit}',  at  Bloomington,  an 
institution  in  which  he  h.as  been  particularly  inter 
ested  since  his  school  days,  and  for  which  he  is  an 
executive  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  an  of- 
fice to  which  he  was  elected  in  June,  1886. 

At  the  completion  of  his  course  of  study  Mr. 
Smith  returned  to  his  home  and  took  charge  of  his 
father's  farm  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1882. 
He  was  appointed  administrator  of  the  estate,  and 
the  homestead  being  put  up  for  sale,  he  bought 
and  still  retains  it.  It  comprises  five  hundred  and 
forty  .acres  near  Hudson.  Upon  it  our  subject  re- 
mained until  he  began  his  life  insurance  work, 
and  be  still  gives  considerable  attention  to  the  es- 
tate, where  he  is  interested  in  breeding  fine  cattle 
and  horses.  Having  quick  intelligence  and  a  keen 
a|)preciation  of  good   stock,  he  is  likelj'  to  make  a 


success  of  his  venture  in  that  line,  to  which  he 
brings  also  the  business  tact  which  will  lead  to  a 
good  disposal  of  members  of  his  herds. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride,  in  Peoria.  .July  18, 
1889,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were  celebrated  between 
Mr.  Smith  and  Miss  Mary  J.  Eussell.  This  esti- 
mable and  accomplished  lady  was  born  in  this  city, 
being  a  daughter  of  the  late  William  and  Susan 
(Bl.ack)  Russell.  Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  since  boyhood 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  those  to  whom  a  Chris- 
tian profession  means  a  conscientious  discharge  of 
his  o'.jligations  to  God  and  .man.  He  votes  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  although  he  has  never 
cared  for  political  preferment,  has  been  elected  to 
various  township  offices,  and  was  given  the  posi- 
tion of  School  Treasurer  five  years. 


ORN'ELK'S  N.  MIHIGAN.  One  of  the 
"^^  lights  of  the  legal  fraternity  in  Peoria  is  the 
gentleman  above  named,  who  enjoys  a  lucra- 
tive practice  and  a  high  reputation  as  an  honorable 
and  capable  attorney  and  counselor-at-law.  He  has 
been  in  practice  here  since  1878,  making  a  speci- 
alty of  criminal  practice,  for  which  his  keen  wit, 
acute  perception  and  accurate  judgment  of  charac- 
ter seem  particularh'  to  qualify  him. 

Somcrville.  Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  w.as  the 
birthplace  of  our  subject  and  his  natal  day  March 
15,  1856.  His  parents.  Jeremiah  and  Catherine 
(Tracy)  I\Iihigan,  were  born  in  Ireland,  Queens- 
town  being  the  birthplace  of  the  latter.  When  a 
young  man  Jeremiah  Mihig.an  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, residing  in  New  Jerse)'  for  a  number  of  3'ears. 
There  he  married  Miss  Trac}',  who  bore  him  four 
sons  and  two  daughters.  In  June,  1856,  the  fam- 
ily came  to  Peoria,  111.,  which  was  then  but  a 
small  town  without  a  prominent  building  within 
its  borders.  Mr.  Mihigan  made  this  his  home  until 
his. death,  which  occurred  October  28,  1879.  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five  years.  He  was  an  honest  and  law- 
.abiding  citizen,  an  excellent  mechanic  and  a  kind 
husband  and  parent.  His  widow  is  still  living  in 
this  city,  having  with  her  her  daughters,   Maggie 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


2ol 


M.  and  Katie.  The  lirotliers  of  our  .subject  are: 
Daniel  C,  a  railroad  engineer;  J.  T.,  (^overnnient 
Ganger;  T.  ■).,  late  engineer  at  the  eity  water 
works,  and  now  master  nieclianie  of  the  Toledo, 
Peoria  A.-  Western  Railroad,  all  making  their  homes 
in  Peoria. 

The  suliject  of  this  notice  grew  to  manhood 
here,  receiving  his  education  in  the  city  schools, 
and  beginning  his  career  in  life  as  a  clerk  in  a 
grocery  store,  busying  himself  in  other  employ- 
ments suited  to  his  years  and  knowledge  prior  to 
the  coniiuenceinenl  of  his  law  studies.  He  can  re 
call  the  time  when  the  major  part  of  the  city  was 
but  a  cornfield,  business  being  mostly  confined  to 
"Water  Street,  and  has  seen  every  improvement 
from  the  first  reall3'  good  building  erected,  to  the 
last  modern  residence  and  elegant  public  building. 

The  law  studies  of  Mr.  Mihigan  were  pursued  in 
the  oftice  of  Messrs.  Whitney  &  Foster,  of  Pekin, 
in  which  city  he  remained  until  admitted  to  the 
hnv  b}'  the  Su|ireine  Court,  ,at  Ottawa,  in  1876.  He 
located  for  pr.actiee  in  the  city  where  his  studies 
had  been  [jursucil,  remaining  there  two  years.  The 
largi  r  city,  which  had  long  been  his  home,  seemed 
better  suited  for  one  of  energetic  disposition,  and 
hither  he  came,  in  1878,  to  begin  a  career  whicili 
has  stamped  him  as  the  possessor  of  natural  abil- 
ity and  fine  legal  training, 

Mr.  Mihigan  has  been  actively  engaged  in  |)oliti- 
cal  work  tvith  the  Democratic  partj-,  but  has  not 
sought  ofHce  for  himself.  He  is  recognized  as  a 
strong  man  in  the  political  arena,  and  has,  there- 
fore, been  sent  as  delegate  to  various  conventions 
and  called  upon  to  assist  in  securing  for  his  friends 
political  honors  and  emoluments.  Aside  from  this 
work  his  whole  attention  is  given  to  his  profession. 
His  wife  was  born  and  rearetl  in  this  city. 

^^^      ^       (S^r=^^7t<*^ ^    ^^    ^=^'^ 

■jflOHN  IIERSCHRERGER.  Among  those 
'  who  have  seen  the  fruition  of  their  hopes 
of  comfortable  fortune,  and  have  retired 
from  active  business  life  to  enjoy  the  reas- 
onable recreations  suited  to  .ac'vancing  ye;irs,  is 
John   Herschberger,  who  for  many  years  has  re- 


sided in  Peoria.  For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century' 
he  was  identified  with  its  business  life  as  proprietor 
and  manager  of  establishments  in  which  otheis 
found  employment,  and  in  wiiich  he  had  pre- 
viously won  the  confidence  of  those  for  whom  he 
worked  in  handicraft. 

The  |)arents  of  our  subject  were  Peter  and  Cath- 
erine (Stalter)  Herschberger,  natives  of  Bavaria, 
Germany,  whence  tiiey  emigrated  to  America  about 
1830,  locating  in  Hamilton  Count3-,  Ohio.  There 
their  third  child,  our  subject,  was  born,  Ai)ril  2, 
1835.  He  has  three  sisters  and  one  brother,  the 
latter,  Joseph,  and  one  of  the  sisters,  Mrs.  (ieorge 
F.  Weber,  being  residents  of  Peoria.  The  other 
members  of  the  family  circle  are  Mis.  Madeline 
Slaybach,  of  Tazewell  County,  and  Mrs.  Philopena 
Sexton,  of  JNIissouri.  The  [jarents  removed  to  Pe- 
oria County,  111.,  in  1841,  and  here  the  father 
died  of  cholera  in  18^9.  The  widowed  mother  sur. 
vived  until  August,  1887,  breathing  her  Last  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  _years. 

John  Herschberger  learned  the  trade  of  a  hai- 
ness-maker,  beginning  an  ap|)renticeship  with 
Philip  Bender  in  1849.  After  familiarizing  him- 
self with  his  liaudicraft,  he  followed  the  same 
until  18tjl,  when  h'-  entered  the  field  of  merchan- 
dising as  a  dealer  in  shelf  hardware,  stoves  and  tin- 
ware. In  this  business  he  was  occupied  three 
j'ears,  then  bought  an  interest  in  a  planing  mill, 
and  subsequently  the  entire  plant,  carrying  on  the 
business  until  1884.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
engaged  only  in  looking  after  his  investments, 
bearing  the  part  which  a  good  citizen  should  in 
the  worthy  movements  going  on  in  the  city,  and 
enjoying  domestic  and  social  life  as  he  could  not 
do  when  occupied  with  business  cares.  He  is  an 
honored  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in 
politics  is,  as  he  himself  expresses  it,  -a  Prohibi- 
tionist clear  to  the  backbone." 

The  lad\'  who  occupies  the  place  of  honor  in  the 
household  of  Mr.  Herschberger  became  iiis  wife 
February  8,  18G5.  She  was  known  in  her  girlhood 
as  Miss  Sarah  D.  Bastow,an(l  is  a  native  of  Kngland, 
whence  the  family  emigrated  in  185L  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Herschberger  have  lost  four  children  and  have  five 
living,  the  latter  being  named  respectively,  Will- 
iam   B.,   J.  Herbert,    Harrietta,    Clarence   B.   and 


2o2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Il.'utikl  H.  Mr.  Ilersehbf rger  \\a<\  nn  excellent 
reputalion  in  business  circles,  as  he  still  has  in 
church  and  social  life,  and  iiis  good  wife  also  en- 
joys the  confidence  and  esteem  of  their  acquaint- 
ances. 


SAAC  .lACKSOX  MARSH.  The  death  of  the 
late  Isaac  J.  Marsh  removed  from  Peoria  a 
'l\  gentleman  who  lind  lllled  a  jKisition  of  respon- 
sibilil}'  and  conducted  himself  as  ticcame  a  man. 
in  dealings  with  his  follow. men.  in  domestic  and  so- 
cial relations,  and  in  the  jjroseculion  of  the  duties 
that  lay  before  him  as  a  member  of  business  circles. 
He  was  born  in  Champaign  Count}-,  Ohio.  June  12, 
1832.  remaining  at  his  birthplace  until  a  few  years 
after  he  had  entered  his  teens,  when  lie  sought  the 
Pacific  Slope.  With  a  brother-in-law  he  crossed 
tlie  plains  during  the  gold  excitement  and  reaching 
California  spent  two  j-ears  in  survej-iug  and  sight- 
seeing, but  strange  to  say.  not  engaging  in  mining. 
A  part  of  this  time  was  spent  in  Oregon. 

Mr.  Marsh  returned  to  the  States  by  wa\-  of  the 
Isthmus,  and  having  completed  his  journey  from 
New  York  to  his  native  State,  entered  Antioch 
College  to  complete  his  education.  The  famous 
institution  over  which  Horace  Mann  presided  was 
an  excellent  place  in  which  to  imbibe  advanced 
ideas  regarding  the  use  and  beautj-  of  knowledge, 
and  gain  the  wisdom  without  which  schooling  is  of 
little  benefit  to  ona's  self  or  mankind.  After  finish- 
ing his  course  of  study  Mr.  Marsh  came  to  Peoria 
and  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  various  occupations. 

The  cry  of  a  nation  whose  life  was  attempted  by 
traitorous  hands  aroused  the  spirit  of  Mr.  Marsh, 
and  ho  enlisted  from  Milford  Center,  Ohio,  in  the 
one  hundred  days'  service,  afterward  enrolling 
himself  again  for  a  term  of  three  years.  On  the 
second  occasion  he  went  out  as  a  Lieutenant,  was 
shortly  afterward  appointed  Brigade  Commissary 
and  in  thai  capacity  served  during  the  remainder 
of  the  war.  When  mustered  out  of  the  service  be 
returned  to  Jlilford  Center  and  while  agent  for  two 
r.ailroads,  had  iin  elevator,  antl  handled  grain  on  his 
own  account. 

Prom  that  pliice  Mr.  Marsh  came  to  Peoria  as  an 


employe  of  the  Peoria  and  Rock  Island  Railroad, 
and  for  some  time  was  General  Manager  of  the 
Coal  Transportation  of  the  Indiana,  Blooming- 
ton  A  Western  Railroad.  He  next  applied  him- 
self to  business  of  his  own  until  appointed  by- 
President  Cleveland,  United  States  Storekeeper.  In 
that  position  he  also  served  under  J.  Starr  until 
taken  ill  in  September,  1889,  the  sickness  termina- 
ting fatally  on  November  17.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Arm>'  of  the  Republic  and  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

The  estimable  and  highly  respected  lady  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  our  subject  more  than  tiiirty 
years  ago,  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Ohio.  April  17, 
1834,  and  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rebecca  C. 
Speers.  Her  parents,  David  and  Sarah  (Franklin) 
Speers.  ren\oved  to  Metamora,  Woodford  County, 
III.,  when  she  was  a  j'oung  lady  of  eighteen  j'ears 
and  there  her  marriage  was  celebrated  May  31, 
18.56.  She  has  one  daughter,  Orpha  Angle,  born 
April  6,  18(51;  one  child,  Charlie  Spencer,  died 
aged  nine  months.  She  belongs  to  the  Universalist 
Cburcji  in  the  tenets  of  which  her  deceased  hus- 
band found  comfort. 


-^ 


^KORGE  T.  PAGE.    The  law  firm  of  Worth - 


ington.  Page  &  Brady,  is  recognized  as 
^>i^i4  holding  a  prominent  position  in  the  legal 
profession  of  Peoria  County,  and  has  well-equipped 
offices  in  the  citj'  of  Peoria,  at  the  corner  of  Jeffer- 
son Avenue  and  Hamilton  Street.  Mr.  Pago  is 
comparatively  young  in  the  profession,  but  has 
made  rapid  strides,  possessing  natural  abilities  of  a 
high  order,  and  the  perseverance  and  industry 
which,  together  with  a  close  application  to  the  du- 
ties of  his  calling,  arc  a'  guarantee  of  success.  He 
is  a  native  of  this  State,  and  was  born  in  Woodford 
County,  September  22,  1859,  to  T.  C.  S.  and  Cor- 
delia K.  Page,  living  at  home  until  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  .age.  He  attended  school  at  Metamora, 
and  partially  completed  his  studies  in  the  Illinois 
University  at  Champaign,  after  which  he  was  for 
a  time  engaged  in  teaching  in  his  native  county. 
Mr.  Page  is  a  uopliew  of  Judge  Shope,  of  the  I  Hi- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


253 


nois  Supreme  Court,  and  a  brother  of  Judge  S.  S. 
Page,  of  the  Peoria  County  Circuit  Court. 

Mr.  Page  has  always  been  an  industrious  student, 
and  emerged  from  the  university'  more  than  ordi- 
narily well-informed.  He  commenced  the  reading 
of  law  with  his  brother,  then  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Pnge  <fe  Khvood,  at  Metamora,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  January  14,  1882,  by  the  Supremo 
Court  of  Ottawa.  He  commenced  the  practice  of 
his  i^rofession  the  following  year  in  Denver,  Colo., 
seeking  that  region  for  the  benefit  of  his  health. 
When  sufficiently  recovered,  he  returned  to  Peoria 
and  practiced  law  with  his  brother  S.  S.  Page,  and 
alone,  until  March  1890,  when  the  firm  under  the 
title  as  it  now  exists,  was  formed.  They  give  spe- 
cial attention  to  corporation  law,  which  they  have 
investigated  to  such  an  extent,  that  they  are  en- 
abled to  settle  the  knotty  points  which  are  con- 
stantly arising  and  which  are  not  thoroughly  un- 
derstood b3'  the  majority  of  practitioners. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  Septem- 
ber 7,  1887,  at  the  bride's  home  in  Decatur,  111.,  to 
Miss  Jessie  Stevens.  Of  this  union  there  has  been 
born  one  child,  a  son.  Gerald  II. 


ICHARD  SCHOLES,  deceased,  entered  into 
rest  October  22,  1870,  at  his  home  in  Chil- 
licolhe.  He  was  born  in  Bolton,  England, 
\\@  in  1804,  of  good  P^nglisli  stock,  his  mother 
belonging  to  the  Heaps  family,  well  known  among 
the  extensive  manufacturers  of  the  mother  countr}-. 
He  was  well  educated,  received  careful  home  in- 
struction, anil  after  graduation  from  the  college  of 
his  native  cit^',  when  about  of  age,  he  set  out  for 
America.  He  began  his  labors  in  this  country  by 
teaching  in  New  Jersey,  succeeding  .as  an  instruc- 
tor and  obtaining  a  financial  start  by  this  tempo- 
rary expedient.  He  subsequently  made  several 
trips  to  England  for  the  purpose  of  securing  help 
for  a  New  England  cloth  manufacturing  company, 
with  which  he  was  afterward  connected  as  a  pattern 
m.aker. 

After   spending    some   jears    with    the    firm  of 


Gregg  &  Co.,  Mr.  Sclioles  came  to  Illinois  in  1837, 
and  secured  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Sprague  Town- 
ship, ftlarshall  County.  After  having  improved 
most  of  the  farm  he  removed  to  Chillicothe,  Peoria 
County,  engaging  in  the  sale  of  merchandise  and 
grain.  His  experiences  were  many  and  varied.con- 
siilerable  propertj'  being  lost  by  him  at  times,  but 
the  stubborn  persistence  characteristic  of  the  Eng- 
lisnman  would  not  allow  him  to  become  discour- 
aged under  any  reverses.  His  personal  traits  se- 
cured for  him  the  confidence  and  love  of  all  who 
made  his  acquaintance,  and  among  those  to  whom 
he  was  not  porsonallj'  known  he  was  reputed  a  man 
of  activity,   an  honest  citizen   and    a   ripe  scholar. 

The  efforts  of  Mr,  Scholes  toward  intellectual 
improvement  did  not  cease  with  his  school  days, 
but  continued  throughout  his  life,  and  he  became 
the  possessor  of  the  finest  library  in  the  county. 
Although  not  an  office-seeker,  he  took  an  active 
l)art  in  local  politics,  during  slavery  times  was  an 
Abolitionist  and  until  his  death  a  sound  Republi- 
can. He  possessed  much  artistic  ability, water  colors 
being  his  forte  and  beautiful  scenes  growing  under 
his  brush.  Natural  history  was  made  a  specialty 
by  him  until  he  became  an  expert. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Scholes  occurred  in 
England  when  he  was  quite  young,  the  bride 
being  Miss  Elizabeth  Crossdale,  a  well-educated 
and  refined  lady  of  a  goixl  English  family.  A 
few  j-ears  after  he  came  to  America  she  jf)iiR'd 
lum, living  with  him  in  New  England  States  until 
in  her  prime  when  she  was  called  hence.  She  died 
at  Fall  River,  Mass.,  leaving  two  children,  of  whom 
Johi:  died  when  3'oung  and  Frank  was  accidenlallv 
drowned  in  Marshall  County,  111.,  in  1.S41,  wlien 
eleven  years  old.  Mr.  Scholes  contr.acted  a  second 
marriage  in  Massachusetts  with  Miss  Jennie  Dalrini- 
ple;  of  this  union  there  were  three  children:  Agnes 
Oakfor,  of  Fredonia,  Kan. ;  Alice  H.nsmer,  of 
Chicago;  Samuel  D.,  of  S|)ring6el(l,  an  attorne3'. 

Mr.  Scholes  contracted  a  third  matrimonial  alli- 
ance in  Medina  Township.  Peoria  County,  111.,  liis 
bride  being  Mrs.  Sarah  H.  Stillnian,  nee  Gillus,  a 
native  of  Salem,  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  born 
November  2,'),  1811.  Her  parents,  Robert  and 
Esther  (Baker)  Gillus,  natives  of  the  same  county 
as  herself,    removed   to    Oswego  County    in  later 


254 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


life,  and'  died  tliere  during;  the  same  year,  when 
about  four-score  years  old.  They  were  well  and 
favorably  known  where  they  lived,  and  bolli  were 
members  of  tlie  Conirrejiational  Cliureli.  Mr.  Gil- 
lus  was  a  farmer.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Gillus  was 
Capt.  Thomas  Baker,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  wiio 
was  seriously  wounded  and  drew  a  pension  for 
many  years  before  his  death.  He  w.as  of  Scotch 
parentage.  Mis  wife,  Mary  Carswell.  was  the 
daughter  of  a  prominent  man  in  Washington 
County,  her  father  having  been  High  Sheriff  of 
Salem  for  many  years. 

Mrs.  Sard)  IL  Scholes  was  reared  and  educated 
in  her  native  State,  ciiiefly  in  Ontario  County. 
She  first  married  Demming,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Eunice  (Demming)  Stillman.  who  were  natives  of 
Conni'clicut  and  had  been  educated  for  teachers. 
After  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  the  husband  was  engaged  in 
farming,  and  wdiere  the  son,  Demming  was  born. 
After  the  marriage  of  the  latter  he  and  bis  wife  re- 
mained in  the  Empire  State  until  I83G,  when  they 
removed  to  Peoria,  111.  There  Mr.  Stillman  was 
engaged  in  a  hardware  store  two  years,  after  which 
he  purchased  a  fine,  unimproved  farm  in  Medina 
Township,  which  he  made  the  scene  of  his  labors 
during  the  remnant  of  his  days.  He  died  in  July, 
1842,  when  in  the  prime  of  life,  leaving  behind 
him  the  reputation  of  a  good  citizen.  He  was  the 
father  of  three  children,  the  oldest  of  whom  was 
born  in  New  York.  One  of  them  is  now  deceased, 
namely,  AValter  D.,  who  left  a  widow  and  two 
sons  in  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  where  he  had  prac- 
ticed medicine  sixteen  years.  The  living  children 
are:  Caroline,  wife  of  Dr.  William  H.  Wilmott,  of 
Lawn  Ridge,  Marshall  County,  and  James,  a  sin- 
gle man,  who  lives  in  Chicago. 

By  her  marriage  with  our  subject  Mrs.  Scholes 
has  became  the  mother  of  three  children  :  Jennie, 
wife  of  William  Baldwin,  a  retired  farmer  and 
travelling- in  an,  lives  in  Peoria;  Thomas  J.,  mar- 
ried Lydia  Ransom,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  resides  in 
Chicago,  and  is  engaged  with  the  Barnes  School 
Book  Publishing  House;  and  Charles  resides  in 
Auburn,  Sangamon  Count3',  where  he  was  for- 
merly engaged  in  the  hardware  trade.  Mrs.  .Scholes 
is  a  member  in  good  standing  of   the   Congrega- 


tional Church  and  several  of  her  children  are  iden- 
tified with  the  same  society.  Siie  is  looked  ujjon 
with  great  respect  by  tlie  members  of  the  commu- 
nity among  which  she  condncts  her  useful  labors. 


^EORGE  y.  YATES  is  the  son  of  a  pioneer 
(— -  farmer  of  this  county,  and  since  attaining 
li^J  manhood  has  become  connected  with  its 
interests  as  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  owning  and 
O'jcupying  a  productive  well  tilled  farm  on  sec- 
tion 34,  Akron  Township.  IITs  parents.  John  and 
Eleanor  (Miller)  Yates,  were  natives  of  West  \ir- 
ginia,  the  former  born  in  Ohio  County.  They 
spent  the  early  part  of  their  married  life  in  that 
county,  and  from  there  emigrated  to  this  county 
in  1849,  and  settled  among  the  pioneers  of  Rad- 
nor Township.  There  they  lived  some  twenty 
3'ears  and  then  removed  to  Akron  Township,  where 
the  father's  earthly  career  was  brought  to  a  close 
in  the  mouth  of  March,  1879.  The  mother  still 
survives  at  a  venerable  age.  To  that  worth}'  couple 
six  children  were  born,  all  of  whom  lived  to  years 
of  maturit}'. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was  the 
youngest  child  in  the  parental  familj-.  and  he  was 
born  on  the  13th  of  March,  1844,  in  Ohio  County, 
W.  Va.,  when  that  State  still  formed  a  part  of  the 
Old  Dominion.  He  was  but  five  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  came  to  Peoria  County,  therefore  the 
most  of  his  life  has  been  passed  within  its  bounds, 
and  he  was  reared  under  its  institutions  and  edu- 
cated in  its  schools.  He  w,as  bred  to  the  honorable 
calling  of  a  farmer,  and  lias  made  that  vocation 
his  life  work.  His  agricultural  interests  are  cen- 
tered in  Akron  Township,  and  he  is  managing 
them  judiciously  and  with  good  success. 

In  the  upbuilding  of  a  home  our  subject  is 
greatly  aided  by  his  wife,  formerly  Hattie  M.  Dun- 
lap,  daughter  of  Napoleon  Dunlap,  of  Radnor 
Township,  of  whom  see  sketch  on  another  page  of 
this  work.  She  was  born  in  Radnor  Township, 
October  1.5,  1852.  and  was  carefully  trained  and 
educated  liy  her  |)arcnts.  Her  marriage  with  our 
subject  was  lUdy   solemnized   December  18,  1873, 


^^-^-^^    ^yl^ZC^ 


rt  771}^'}  y  j:£^ 


'J 


roUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


257 


and  to  them  have  come  four  chihlren,  as  follows: 
IMyrlie  JNL.  who  died  when  ciiilit  nionlhs  old;  Charles 
C.  Alma  H.  and  Ernest  E. 

Mr.  Yates  -s  a  fair-minded,  lionorablo  man,  steady 
and  industrious  in  his  habits,  and  in  him  and  his 
good  wife  the  Presbyterian  Church  finds  two  of  its 
most  worth j^  members,  who  deli,i;ht  to  aid  in  its 
every  good  worii. 


~^^^ 


AiMES  DEAL.  Perhaps  no  name  is  belter 
known  in  Peoria  than  that  wliitli  initiates 
this  sketch,  and  which  is  held  by  a  general 
contractor  and  builder,  whose  portrait  ap- 
[jcars  on  tiie  opposite  page,  and  who  is  also  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  James  Deal  &  Co.,  builders 
of  grain  elevators  here.  Many  of  the  finest  build- 
ings in  the  city  were  designed  and  constructed  by 
Mr.  Deal,  although  his  work  has  been  by  no  means 
ciinSned  to  this  city,  but  includes  public  buildings 
in  various  localities.  He  is  a  native  of  Vermont, 
born  in  Burlington,  Wednesday,  October  11,  1848, 
and  is  the  eldest  son  of  Adam  and  Elizabetii 
(Ilogan)  Deal,  natives  of  Canada  and  the  North  of 
Ireland  respectively.  The  father  was  a  contractor, 
and  lie  of  whom  we  write  inherits  mechanical  and 
architectural  skill  which  he  has  devcloi)ed  by  care- 
ful training.  His  parents  removed  to  Vermont,  in 
which  State  they  were  living  when  called  to  join 
the  silent  majority. 

The  subject  of  tliis  notice  drifted  west  to  Au- 
rora. III.,  in  boyliood,  an<t  there  passed  his  school 
days.  On  reaching  his  sixteenth  year  he  began  to 
jc.iru  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  served 
;iu  a|)prenticeship  of  three  years.  After  comple- 
liuii  bis  lime  he  traveled  and  worked  at  his  trade  as 
an  employe  a  short  lime,  and  then,  associating 
himself  with  Stephen  Parry,  began  contracting. 
In  18C.)  he  located  in  Peoria,  where  iiis  reputation 
as  a  skillful  artisan  and  an  able  designer  has  led  to 
his  iiaving  the  contracts  for  the  best  buildings  here 
during  the  last  decade. 

Among  the  edifices  which  have  been  put  up  by 
Mr.  Deal  are  the  National  Hotel,  the  Watson 
Block,   the    Paddock    Block,    the    County     Insane 


Asylum,  and  all  of  the  costly'  buildings  wiiich  have 
been  erected  on  the  State  Fair  Grounds  at  Peoria. 
Many  wholesale  business  houses  and  elegant  resi- 
dences are  monuments  to  his  skill,  the  most  impo- 
sing of  all  being  the  Woolner  Block,  now  being 
pushed  to  completion,  which  is  expected  to  be  the 
finest  in  the  cit}'.  Mr.  Deal  was  also  interested  in 
building  the  State  University  at  Carbondale,  the 
County  Poorliouse,  and  the  Insane  Asylum  at 
Carthage. 

In  September,  1869,  Mr.  Deal  w.as  united  in  mar- 
riage with  JMiss  Fanny  Benson,  of  Peoria,  who  was" 
killed  in  the  Chatsworth  disaster  in  1887,  leaving 
three  children — William,  Fran*k  and  Belle.  He 
contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance  April 
5,  1888,  on  which  occasion  his  bride  was  Miss 
Nellie  Harsch,  likewise  of  Peoria.  This  lady  is  a 
favorite  in  society,  and  in  her  own  home  exhibits 
the  character  and  skill  of  the  true  home-keeper. 

It  will  readily  be  seen  that  Mr.  Deal  possesses  a 
benevolent  spirit  and  social  nature,  when  the  fact 
is  stated  that  he  belongs  to  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  Modern  Woodmen,  Royal  Le- 
gion and  various  Masonic  lodges.  He  is  enrolled 
in  Temple  Lodge,  No.  46,  F.  <fe  A.  M.,  and  also  in 
the  Chapter,  Commander}'  and  Consistory.  For 
six  years  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board.  He  owns  and  occupies  a  pleasant  resi- 
dence at  No.  400  North  Adams  Street,  where  his 
many  friends  are  cordially  welcomed  by  himself 
and  his  charming  wife. 


OHN  L  CLARK.  Too  great  honor  cannot 
be  given  to  those  who  develop  the  mind  and 
train  the  heart  of  the  young,  and  it  affords 
us  pleasure  to  assist  in  preserving  the  record 
of  this  gentleman,  whose  highest  claim  to  future 
remembrance  rests  upon  his  long  years  of  pedagog- 
ical labor.  Many  of  his  former  pupils  exchanged 
his  instructions  for  a  place  at  the  head  of  schools 
where  they,  in  turn,  transmitted  the  truths  of  sci- 
ence and  morality  to  the  boys  and  girls  in  whom 
the  hope  of  the  nation  lies,  thus  giving  rise  to  the 
familiar  name  of  '-Teacher  of  Teachers"  by  which 


258 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


our  subject  is  known  to  man}-.  His  present  home 
is  on  a  fine  farm  of  one  liundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
sections  26  and  36,  Trivoli  Townsliip,  ?ltlioiigh  he 
lias  retired  from  hard  labor  of  body  and  mind, 
finding  great  delight  in  the  care  of  his  garden  and 
otlierwise  enjoying  tlie  ease  and  comfort  due  after 
3'ears  well  spent. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Argyle,  Washington 
County,  N.  Y.,  April  6,  1815,  was  three  years  old 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Livingston  County, 
where  they  lived  until  1821,  then  journe}'ed  by 
team  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  boat  to  Monroe  County, 
Mich.,  remaining  there  until  the  father  was  called 
hence  two  years  later.  Tlie  widow  with  her  family 
then  went  to  Lenawee  County,  bought  one  hundred 
and  ten  acres  of  land  in  the  dense  forest,  where  our 
subject  labored  at  clearing  and  other  home  duties 
so  long  as  his  strength  would  permit.  He  had  been 
ill  before  his  father  died,  and  the  ague  kept  a  hold 
upon  him  until  he  became  too  reduced  to  endure 
hard  work,  and  developed  into  serious  complaints. 
The  timber  on  the  farm  was  black  walnut  of  the 
finest  kind  and  the  Raisin  River  afforded  a  con- 
venient means  of  transportation  for  the  logs  that 
floated  down  to  the  sawmills. 

Being  unable  to  aid  upon  the  farm,  Mr.  Clark 
went  to  Caledonia,  N.  Y..  to  a  brother  and  sister, 
and  attended  the  village  school  for  a  while,  then, 
having  heard  of  an  old  [ihysician  in  West  Avon 
from  whom  it  was  thought  he  might  derive  some 
benefit,  he  went  there,  making  his  home  with  the 
doctor  while  taking  treatment  and  at  the  same  time 
pursuing  his  studies  in  the  academy.  His  treat- 
ment had  almost  effected  a  cure,  although  ho  never 
wholly  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his  early  ill- 
health.  When  twenty  years  old  he  began  teaching, 
his  first  school  being  a  winter  one  at  Leroy.  At  its 
close  he  returned  to  Michigan,  and  secured  a  school 
at  Dundee,  but  in  the  fall  took  the  position  of 
book-keeper  and  commissary  for  his  brothers,  who 
liad  a  contract  of  sixteen  miles  of  the  Michigan 
Southern  Railroad,  and  wished  his  services. 

After  working  for  them  two  years,  Mr.  Clark  re- 
turned to  the  Empire  State,  drawn  thither  by  the 
charms  of  Miss  Rachel  Rogers,  whom  he  won  for 
his  wife,  their  wedding  taking  place  in  Livingston 
County ,June  3,  1840, the  ceremony  being  performed 


by  the  Rev.  I\Ir.  Fisher,  a  Covenanter  minister. 
The  bride  was  born  in  Washington  County,  her  fa- 
ther, David  Rogers,  being  a  descendant  of  the  John 
Rogers  who  was  persecuted  and  burned  at  the  stake 
for  his  principles  in  the  days  when  iMaiy,  Queen  of 
Scots,  upheld  Catholicism  by  force.  Tlie  mother  of 
the  bride  was  Mary  Mills,  who  bore  her  husband  a 
large  family,  most  of  the  male  portion  of  whom 
moved  West  and  became  farmers  in  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  came  to  Michigan,  where, 
not  long  after,  the  wife  was  left  while  our  subject 
visited  Illinois.  He  crossed  tin;  lake  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  went  by  stage  to  Columbus,  and  started  on 
the  canal  to  Sparta,  Randolph  County,  III.  The 
boat  traveled  so  SI0WI3'  that  he  and  a  nephew  struck 
out  on  foot  for  Peoria,  four  hundred  and  forty 
rajles  distant.  During  the  winter  he  taught  in  the 
village  of  Trivoli.  then  wentafter  his  wife,  and  also 
brought  with  him  on  his  return,  a  brother,  Ben- 
jamin, making  the  trip  by  wagon.  He  settled  in 
Smithville,  teaching  there  three  years  and  a  half 
when  politics  became  a  source  of  excitement,  and  a 
Democrat  was  put  in  charge  of  the  school,  our  sub- 
ject being  a  strong  Whig. 

Our  subject  bought  forty  acres  of  raw  land  near 
the  village,  built  a  dwelling  and  undertook  other 
improvements.  The  patrons  of  the  school  desired 
him  to  resume  charge  after  his  successor  had  held 
the  place  one  term,  and  he  accordingly  returned  to 
his  former  position,  and  continued  his  labors  until 
the  death  of  his  companion,  August  13,  1845. 
Leaving  the  place  then,  Mr.  Clark  taught  in  Mercer 
Count3',  then  in  Greenfield, Greene  County ,and  after 
some  time  went  to  Michigan,  where  August  1,1848, 
he  conti'acted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance, 
wedding  ^Nliss  Laura  M.  McManus.  This  lady  was 
born  in  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  and  receiving 
an  invitation  came  to  the  home  of  a  sister  in  Mich- 
igan, filling  a  position  as  a  teacher  in  both  Lenawee 
and  Monroe  Counties;  she  was  also  a  successful 
teacher  in  the  neighborhood  of  her  uncle  in  Ohio. 
After  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Clark  came  b.ack  to 
this  county,  continuing  his  pedagogical  labors  in 
various  districts  for  divers  periods,  giving  the  sum- 
mers, for  a  few  years,  to  work  ujion  a  farm  he  had 
bought,  and  at  last  tired  of  the  cont'uual  change 
from  farm  labor  to  school  turned  his   entire  atten- 


PORI'RAIT  AND  lilOURAl'IllCAL  ALBUM. 


259 


lion  to  farming.  In  1853,  he  secured  by  trade 
eigiitj  acres  of  liis  present  farm,  afterward  buying 
another  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty,  luit  sold 
half  of  it,  leaviuy  in  his  possession  a  quarter  sec- 
lion.  His  vvife  had  cliargc  of  this  until  he  aban- 
doned the  iMofession  in  which  lie  liad  labored  so 
long  and  so  well.  lie  operated  it  until  tiie  deatli  of 
ids  wife,  December  22,  1882,  when  he  left  it  and 
for  some  time  afterward  made  Ins  home  witli  bis 
children  in  ISIissouri,  Iowa  and  in  .Livingston 
County.  HI. 

At  Peoria,  March  4,  1889,  Mr.  Clark  was  again 
married,  winning  as  his  wife  Mrs.  Mary  J.  (Mc- 
Clelland) Davis.  This  lady  was  born  in  the  North 
of  IrelamL  reared  there  and  highly  educated.  When 
a  j'oung  woman  she  came  to  America  with  a  sister, 
becoming  matron  of  an  institution  for  tlie education 
of  negro  children  in  New  York  Cit,\,  in  which  her 
sister  also  taught.  For  twenty- live  years  she  held 
her  place  at  the  liead  of  this  institution,  then  mar- 
ried her  first  husband,  who  liad  at  one  time  been 
principal  of  the  institute  and  whose  acquaintance 
slie  had  made  there.  He  had  resigned  and  moved 
lo  Michigan,  and  losing  the  companion  of  his  early 
3'ears,  some  years  after  her  death  married  Miss  Mc- 
Clelland. They  went  to  England  where  he  died 
two  years  later,  when  the  widow  returned  to  New 
York  and  -was  offered  the  position  she  had  lield 
prior  to  her  marriage.  Illness  prevented  her  as- 
suming its  duties  ami  she  came  West  to  visit  a 
sister,  coming  to  the  home  of  her  nephew,  W.  A. 
Huston,  in  this  county,  where  she  met  the  subject 
of  our  sketch  when  he  was  looking  after  his  farm 
property  here. 

By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Clark  became  the  fa- 
tlier  of  three  children.  Isabella  is  now  living  in 
Adair  County,  Iowa;  she  married  George  Walford, 
who  was  drowned.  Martha  E.,  formerly  a  teacher 
in  this  State  and  Missouri,  now  lives  in  the  Latter, 
being  the  wife  of  I.  J.  Biller  a  farmer.  Rachel  R. 
died  in  infancy  in  1815.  The  second  marriage  of 
our  subject  was  productive  to  him  of  two  children. 
Sarah  C.  attended  Monmouth  College,  married 
Simeon  Wright  and  died  in  Texas  leaving  an  in- 
fant son  who  still  survives.  Homer  J.  lives  in  Liv- 
ingston County,  being  editor  and  joint  proprietor 
of  the   Pontiac  Sentinel;  be  also  attended    Mon- 


mouth College,  was  a  teacher  and  was  i)erfornung 
the  duties  of  Princii)al  of  Gibson  City  High  School 
when  the  editor  of  the  Gibson  City  Charier  desired 
him  to  manage  llie  sheet  a  week  while  he  took  a 
vacation;  he  did  so  and  sometime  after  the  return 
of  the  owner  formed  a  partnersliip  with  him  in 
buying  out  the  Pontiac  Sentinel  and  running  it  un- 
der the  st^yle  of  Lowry  &  Clark. 

Our  subject  joined  the  Presbyterian  Cliurch  when 
fifteen  j'ears  old  and  has  been  Ruling  Elder  since 
1843.  He  has  also  been  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school,  and  is  now  teaching  the  Bible  Class 
at  Pennsylvania  Ridge.  In  politics  he  has  been  a 
true  blue  Republican  since  the  disintegration  of  the 
old  Whig  party.  His  farm  is  well  improved,  having 
two  dwellings,  adequate  outbuildings  of  various 
kinds,  fences,  trees,  etc.,  to  mark  it  as  a  home  of 
[ilenty.  In  manners  and  conversational  powers  Mr. 
Clark  is  pleasing,  intelligent — in  fact  quite  cuL 
turcd.  and  cordial,  making  it  a  great  pleasure  to 
converse  witli  him. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Hfeshire, 
Scotland,  May  10,  1764.  He  came  to  New  York  with 
his  parents  in  1771,  receiving  a  good  education,  in 
common  with  his  brother  and  sisters,  and  studied 
medicine.  He  graduated  from  an  alloijathic  school 
in  the  Empire  State,  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  Argyle,  N.  Y.  Going  into  speculation 
he  lost  all  his  property,  more  than  once,  but  after 
each  reverse  would  resume  his  profession  with  suc- 
cessful results.  He  i)rospected  for  gold  also,  siiend- 
ing  much  mone\'  in  that  way.  After  living  for  some 
years  in  Livingston  C'ounty,  he  located  in  Michi- 
gan, first  spending  a  j'ear  in  Monroe  and  then 
jjracticing  in  Raisinville  until  his  death  in  1823. 
He  and  his  lirother  Robert  were  both  Presbj'terian 
in  religion,  and  belonged  to  tiie  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Isabella  Camp- 
bell, a  native  of  Argyle,  N.  Y. ;  she  died  in  Michi- 
gan, near  Deerficld.  She  was  the  mother  of  fifteen 
children,  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Eleanor  died 
in  New  York  July  21,  1820  aged  twenty-nine  j'ears; 
Margaret  was  thrown  from  a  horse,  having  her 
neck  broken,  in  Blissfield,  Mich. ;  Robert  died  in 
Randolph  County.  111.,  in  1812;  James  R.  died  in 
Minnesota  in  1882,  aged  eighty-six  years;   Cather 


260 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ine  in  Randolph  County-,  111.,  in  1837:  Jane  in 
DeerBeld.  Mich.,  in  1836,  aged  thirt}--four  years; 
William  C  Januarj-  28,  1849.  aged  forty-four; 
Elizabeth  in  infancy ;  Benjamin  in  Michigan  in  1869, 
aged  sixty-two  years;  Daniel  in  Michigan:  Ebene- 
zer,  in  Washington  Count}-,  N.  Y.,  aged  two  years; 
Eliza,  in  Caledonia,  N.  Y.,  in  1840;  Sally  Maria  in 
Missouri  in  1879;  Martha  G.  in  Caledonia,  N.  Y., 
.iged  twentj-nino  years.  Robert  was  in  the  War 
of  1812.  and  Daniel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War. 
Robert  was  a  physician,  flually  becoming  quite 
rich  and  prominent,  and  died  near  Sparta,  Randolph 
County,  111.  Robert,  brother  of  our  subject's  fa- 
ther was  elected  to  Congress  about  the  year  1817, 
where  he  as  early  in  liie  history'  of  our  country  as 
this,  bj'  his  fearless  utterances  on  the  subject  of 
slaverj-  as  the  destined  curse  of  our  land,  proves 
himself  to  have  been  a  strong  abolitionist.  After 
his  term  of  service  in  Congress  expired  he  was  ap- 
pointed Government  Land  Agent,  and  b}'  his  wise 
trading  soon  became  quite  rich  and  prominent.  He 
died  near  Monroe,  Mich.,  leaving  a  large  family  in 
opulent  circumstances. 


LBERTUS  Y.  BARTHOLEMEW.  Peoria 
l^  Count}"  has  but  few  more  able,  talented 
men  of  business  connected  with  its  im- 
mense farming  and  stock-growing  inter- 
ests, than  this  gentleman.  Elmwood  Township, 
the  scene  of  his  agricultural  enterprises  and  va- 
rious pursuits  has  in  him  a  valuable  citizen  whose 
liberal,  progressive  public  spirit  has  placed  him 
among  the  foremost  in  pushing  forward  every  en- 
terprise for  its  advancement,  and  no  one  has  done 
more  in  placing  it  in  the  front  rank  of  its  sister 
townships  than  he.  He  owns  a  large  farm,  which 
is  considered  one  of  the  finest  in  this  localitj',  but 
it  does  not  suffice  him  for  his  extensive  business, 
as  a  raiser  of  cattle,  hogs,  horses  and  mules,  and 
he  leases  five  hundred  acres  besides. 

Our  subject  is  a  fine  representative  of  a  native- 
born  citizen  of  this  county  and  township,  Febru- 
ary 26,  1838,  being  the  d^-te  of  his  birth.  He 
came  of   fine  old  New  England  parentage.     His 


father,  Luzerne  Bartholemew.  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  and  emigrated  from  thtre  to  Illinois  in 
1837,  coming  all  the  waj-  in  a  covered  wagon.  He 
settled  on  a  farm  on  section  6,  building  a  log  house 
to  shelter  his  family.  He  bought  three  eighties,  and 
later  erected  substantial  buildings  on  his  place, 
among  them  a  comfortable  residence,  treadmill, 
windmill  and  woolen  mill.  He  was  a  man  of  in- 
finite lesources  and  equally  expert  in  various  call- 
ings. Besides  being  a  skillful  farmer  he  was  a 
fine  machinist,  a  successful  boot  and  shoe  mer- 
chant, and  also  butchered  cattle,  shipping  the  pre- 
pared meat  in  barrels  to  New  Orleans  on  flat 
boats.  In  1848  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Califor- 
nia with  a  companj-  of  emigrants.  He  was  made 
the  Captain  of  this  band,  driven  thither  by  the 
gold  fever.  While  in  California  he  captured  a 
grizzl}'  bear,  weighing  about  two  thousand  pounds. 
After  coming  home  he  exhibited  the  bear  through- 
out the  United  States,  in  East  and  Southern  Canada, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1856  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  ex- 
hibiting the  bear  in  all  the  leading  cities. 

During  all  these  travels  our  subject  was  his 
father's  companiou,  being  thus  enabled  to  gain  a 
fair  knowledge  of  the  world.  Upon  their  return 
home  they  disposed  of  the  bear  in  Brandon,  Vt., 
for  the  sum  of  §10,000.  Subsequently,  while  on 
a  visit  to  Connecticut  in  1866  the  father  died. 
He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  and,  like  his  father,  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Betsey  Yale,  and  she  was  a  descendant  of  the  fa- 
mous Yale  familj-  of  th.at  State.  She  was  a  highly 
educated  woman,  possessing  great  literar}'  talent 
and  writing  both  prose  and  poetry  with  facility. 
She  had  three  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
only  survivor.  John  B.  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Eighth  Missouri  Infantry,  and  after  a  service  of 
nearl}-  three  years  bravely  yielded  up  his  life  in 
the  service  of  his  country  at  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  Sarah  Helen  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years. 

Our  subject  gained  the  preliminaries  of  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  school,  and  subsequently  pur- 
sued an  excellent  course  of  study  in  the  Galesburg 
Academy,  never  attending  school  but  six  months 
after  he  w.as  sixteen  years  old.     He  began  life  for 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


261 


himself  by  working  for  his  uncle  in  a  hardware 
store  at  $10  per  month,  his  salarj'  being  raised  to 
§50  per  month  in  1859.  He  subsequent!}'  clerked 
in  a  dry-goods  store  for  Cone  &  Wilcox  for  one 
season.  He  then  returned  to  his  uncle  and  was 
engaged  in  putting  up  lightinng  rods,  etc.,  for 
one  seasou.  After  tliat  he  vvas  variously  employed 
in  farming,  shelling  corn  and  threshing,  and  also 
in  raising  stock. 

Mr.  Bartholemew  began  his  farming  operations 
with  an  eight^'-acre  tract  of  half  improved  land, 
and  has  done  so  well  iu  its  cultivation  that  he  has 
been  enabled  to  buy  more  and  now  he  has  three 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  of  land  under  good 
tillage  and  highly  im|)roved  in  ever}'  respect,  so 
that  it  is  justly  considered  the  moet  desirable  stock 
in  the  township.  As  before  mentioned  he  is 
largely  engaged  in  raising  stock  and  has  acquired 
wealth  in  his  dealings.  At  one  time  he  sold  six 
car  loads  of  cattle  which  averaged  over  |80  per 
head. 

B}'  his  marriage  to  Miss  Mar}-  Ennis,  which  was 
solemnized  Ma}'  15,  1862,  Mr.  Bartholemew  secured 
a  wife  who  is  devoted  to  his  interests  and  has 
greatly  aided  him  in  the  procurement  of  his  prop- 
erty. She  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Loomis)  Ennis.  n.atives  respectively  of  New  York 
and  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bartholeme.w's  congenial  married 
life  has  been  blest  to  them  by  the  birth  of  six 
children:  John  B.,  a  manufacturer,  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  who  married  Louella  Moore,  of  Os- 
kaloosa,  and  they  have  two  children;  Orie  Y.,  a 
graduate  of  Knox  College,  and  poet  of  the  class  of 
1888,  now  book-keeper  for  the  Peoria  Planter 
Works,  making  his  home  iu  Des  Moines;  Lura  H., 
also  a  graduate  of  Knox  College,  and  class  histo- 
rian, is  now  assistant  Principal  of  the  Elinwood 
High  School;  Charles  A.,  a  young  business  man  of 
Elm  wood,  is  a  manufacturer  of  peanut  and  coffee 
I'oasters  and  also  has  a  brass  foundry;  Carrie 
Maud  and  Bessie  Alice. 

Mr.  Bartholemew  is  a  noble-spirited,  high- 
minded,  generous-hearted  man  of  exemplary  habits 
whose  course  both  in  public  and  private  life  is  be- 
yond reproach,  and  he  and  his  wife  and  their  fam- 
ily stand  high  in  tlie  social  circles  of   the  county. 


their  hospitality,  their  kindness  and  cordiality  ren- 
dering their  charming  home  in  the  town  of  Elm- 
wood  very  attractive  to  all  who  enter  within  its 
gates.  For  the  past  four  years  our  subject  has 
represented  Elmwood  Township  on  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors,  and  has  been  otherwise  con- 
nected with  the  local  government  as  member  of 
the  City  Council,  and  on  the  School  Board  and  as 
Road  Commissioner.  As  an  incumbent  of  the  im- 
portant  office  of  Supervisor,  he  has  looked  care- 
fully after  the  interests  of  his  township,  and  his 
rare  capacity  for  business  has  been  well  illustrated 
by  the  masterly  manner  in  which  he  conducted  the 
case  of  the  bondholders  vs.  the  township,  in  the 
suit  brought  by  the  owners  of  tlie  bonds  issued  by 
the  township  to  build  the  Hannibal,  Peoria  & 
Dixon  Railroad.  The  amount  of  money  involved 
in  the  litigation  was  $170,000,  and  after  a  great 
deal  of  controversy  in  the  courts  our  subject  was 
instrumental  in  bringing  the  suit  to  a  close  by 
effecting  a  settlement  of  the  claim  for  8115,000, 
and  on  the  issue  of  new  bonds  he  placed  them  on 
the  market  at  a  premium.  j\[r.  Bartholemew  is  a 
strong  Republican  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
politics.  He  and  his  wife  and  their  three  eldest 
children  are  among  the  prominent  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  Trustee, 
and  Mrs.  Bartholemew  has  been  active  in  the  Sun- 
day-school work  as  a  teacher. 

^,  iVILLIAM  E ASTON.  Among  the  residents 
\  *  /  ^^  Chillicothe,  who  have  laid  down  the  bur- 
'Vf'>^  dens  of  life  after  extended  and  successful 
labors,  is  numbered  William  Easton,  who  breathed 
his  last  March  7,  1890.  For  some  years  prior  to 
his  death,  he  had  been  quietly  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  his  former  industry,  rejoicing  in  the  good  will 
of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  filling  up  the 
measure  of  his  days  with  good  works,  lie  wiis 
eighty-two  years  and  ten  months  old  when  called 
hence,  having  been  born  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  May  7, 
1807. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  William    Easton, 
Sr.,  a  man  of  English  birth  and  descent,  who  came 


262 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  America  when  a  young  man.  He  made  his  liorae 
in  New  Jersey,  but  continued  the  seafaring  life  in 
which  he  had  previously  expended  his  energies.  He 
was  killed  by  falling  from  some  part  of  the  vessel 
on  which  he  sailed,  when  in  the  prime  of  life,  and 
when  our  suhject  was  but  two  j-ears  of  age.  He 
had  married  an  American  lady — Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Slaght  nee  Drake — who  was  reared  in  New  Jersey. 
Her  first  husband  Cornelius  Slaght,  died  in  the 
prime  of  life,  leaving  four  sons  and  one  daughter, 
all  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Some  of  their  de- 
scendants were  early  settlers  in  Cleveland.  Ohio, 
and  there  became  rich  and  piominent.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  lived  to  be  ninety  years  old.  d3ing 
in  Newark,  N.  J.,  which  liad  been  her  home  for 
many  long  jears. 

William  P^aston,  Jr.,  remained  with  his  mother 
until  he  was  ten  years  old,  then  became  an  inmate 
of  the  household  of  his  half-brother,  Abraham 
Slaght,  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  When  old  enough  to 
do  so,  he  went  to  work  in  tlie  carpenter  and  ship 
j-ards,  learning  the  use  of  tools.  In  1836  he  came 
to  Illinois,  having  but  §1  in  his  pocket,  his  i)re- 
vious  accumulations  having  been  lost  to  him  bj' 
going  security  for  friends  in  Ohio.  Peoria  County 
was  but  S|)aisel3^  settled,  much  of  the  land  being 
j-et  unbroken,  but  here  Mr.  Easton  set  himself  to 
woriv  to  make  a  home.  He  secured  a  tract  of  un- 
broken land  in  Hallock  Township,  and  surrounded 
bj-  a  wild  waste  of  territory,  he  established  himself 
and  began  the  labors  which  resulted  in  securing  a 
large  propertj\  For  some  j'ears  he  worked  at  his 
trade,  hoarding  his  resources,  and  gradually  im- 
proving and  adding  to  his  landed  estate.  A  part 
of  the  fine  property'  which  he  accumulated  is  now 
owned  by  his  widow. 

Mr.  Easton  was  a  strong  Republican,  ever  ready 
to  serve  his  party,  but  never  seeking  office  for  him- 
self. He,  however,  was  made  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  retained  in  that  office  for  fifteen  j-ears.  He 
was  a  Universalist  in  religion,  and  the  fortunate 
possessor  of  a  nature  combining  so  many  pleasing 
attributes  that  all  who  became  acquainted  witli  him 
regarded  him  with  affection. 

Tlie  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Easton  was  celebrated 
in  Cleveland.  Ohio,  a  short  time  before  his  removal 
to  the  Prairie  State.     The  lady  whom  he  won    was 


Jliss  Sophia  Lake,  wiio  belonged  to  an  excellent 
family  in  Ohio,  and  had  grown  to  maturity  under 
the  charge  of  estimable  parents.  She  died  in  1838, 
two  years  after  accompanying  her  husband  to  this 
count}',  being  carried  off  in  the  prime  of  life  by 
consumption.  She  left  no  offspring.  The  second 
wife  of  our  subject  was  Miss  Sarah  Hicks,  a  native 
of  New  York,  who  came  to  Illinois  with  her  par- 
ents wlien  quite  young.  She  was  educated  in  Peo- 
ria County,  fitted  for  usefulness,  and  bore  well  her 
part  in  life  until  called  hence  in  1872.  She  died 
at  her  home  in  Hallock  Township,  in  middle  life, 
leaving  three  sous — Stephen,  William  D..  and 
Joel  I. 

Stephen  Easton  gave  liis  life  for  his  country's 
cause,  being  fatajl}'  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 
asaw Mountain.  He  lies  in  a  soldier's  grave  at 
Marietta,  Ga.  His  brother  William  also  devoted 
some  years  to  the  service  of  his  country,  and  was 
finall}-  discharged  on  account  of  disaliility,  return- 
ing to  his  home,  where  he  soon  afterward  died  from 
disease  contracted  while  in  the  army.  Both  these 
were  uuniarried.  Joel  is  now  living  in  Creston, 
Iowa,  with  his  wife  and  family. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  third  matrimonial  alli- 
ance in  1874,  at  LaPrairie,  JIarshall  County,  his 
bride  being  Miss  Isabel  M.  Jones.  This  lady  is  a 
daughter  of  Edwin  and  Emily  (Root)  .Tone^,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Uniontown,  Pa.,  and  Delaware 
Count3%  N.  Y.  Mr.  Jones  was  of  Welsh  parentage, 
while  his  wife  w.as  of  English  descent.  They  were 
married  in  the  Bucke^'e  State,  and  began  their  mar- 
ried life  in  Findlay,  where  Mr.  Jones  worked  as  a 
tanner.  In  1831  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Peoria  Count}-,  111.,  laboring  among  the  pioneers 
until  1844,  when  he  settled  in  Marshall  County  on 
a  farm.  He  spent  the  remnant  of  his  days  there, 
d3ing  in  1884,  when  sevent}- -nine  j'ears  old.  While 
in  Peoria  Count3',  he  carried  ou  a  small  store,  one 
of  the  first  in  Chillicothe,  and  as  one  of  the  first 
County  Commissioners  he  helped  to  bu}-  and  lav 
out  the  cit}'  of  Peoria.  He  was  a  prominent  local 
politician  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party.  In 
JIarshall  Count}-  he  held  the  office  of  Justice  of 
the  Peace  some  years.  He  was  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church.  Mrs.  Jones  is  still 
living,  making  her  home  witli  her    daughter,    Mrs. 


Ofi 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOCtRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


263 


Easton.  Sbe  is  now  eigUty-three  years  of  age,  is 
sightless,  but  ber  mental  faculties  are  uiKliniined  by 
tbe  tligbt  of  years. 

Mrs.  Isaljel  (Jones)  Easton,  was  born  in  FiniUaj-, 
Oliio,  June  30,  1831,  and  received  tbe  most  care- 
ful borue  training  from  ber  good  parents.  Iler 
education  was  acquired  at  Eureka,  111.,  and  in  otber 
places,  ber  mind  being  thorougbly  cultured,  and 
ber  memory  stored  with  knowledge.  For  some 
time  sbe  was  engaged  in  teacbing  in  Peoria  and  in 
Marshall  County,  gaining  a  high  standing  among 
tbe  members  of  her  profession.  Her  many  aceom- 
plisbments  and  reflued  nature  make  ber  a  leader  in 
society,  and  sbe  has  long  been  known  as  one  of  the 
most  influential  and  useful  ladies  in  this  commu- 
nity. 


,0BEK1"  A.  STEWART,  a  native  of  this 
county,  and  a  representative  of  an  early 
4\\\\  pioneer  family,  is  one  of  the  foremost  citi- 
^  zens  of  Logan  Township,  who,  besides  ac- 
tively aiding  bis  fellow  farmers  in  sustaining  and 
extending  tbe  great  agricultural  interest  of  this  lo- 
cality, is  pre-eminent  in  its  public  and  political  life. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  tbe  old  homestead  on 
section  5,  Timber  Township,  April  20,  1856.  He  is 
a  son  of  the  late  Walter  and  Nancy  E.  (Turbett) 
Stewart,  who  were  natives  respectively  of  Wash- 
ington County,  N.  Y.,  and  F.airfield  County,  Ohio, 
the  former  born  February  21,  1813,  and  the  latter 
July  30,  1824.  He  was  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
(^ McCoy)  Stewart,  who  were  born  and  reared  in 
New  York,  where  tbe  father  carried  on  farming. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  son  of  Walter 
Stewart  who  came  of  an  old  Scotch  family,  and  was 
born  near  Edinboro,  Scotland,  lie  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  Colonial  days  and  settled  among  the 
pioneers  of  Salem,  N.  Y.,  wiiere  be  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  was  a  member  of  tbe  first 
church  of  United  Presbyterians  organized  in  that 
town.  He  had  three  sons — George,  Robert  and 
James,  all  of  whom  married  and  reared  families, 
and  each  named  a  son  Walter,  in  his  honor. 

James  Stewart,  removed  with  bis  fara'ly  from 
his  native  State  in  1837,  to  this    county,  the    fami- 


lies of  Christian  Scbnjder  and  Joseph  Hunt  ac- 
companying liiiu.  He  made  his  home  in  Timlier 
Townsbi|)  from  that  time  until  bis  death  September 
2,  1854,  ,at  tbe  age  of  sixty-four  years,  when  a  use- 
ful pioneer  was  removed  from  t!ie  community.  His 
wife  survived  him  until  1858,  when  she  too  died. 
Tbe  following  is  the  record  of  the  ten  children  that 
they  reared:  George,  born  March  5,  1810;  Agnes, 
June  24,  1811;  Walter,  February  21,  1813;  Wil- 
liam, September  6,  1815;  James,  October  17,  1817; 
Eunice,  February  17,  1820 ;  Isabelle,  December  4, 
1821  ;  Esther,  June  22,  1825;  Sarah,  December  4, 
1827;  Jane,  November  1,  1831  ;  all  of  whom  reared 
families  excepting  William,  and  all  settled  in  Peoria 
County.  Their  parents  were  members  of  tbe  Uni- 
ted Presbyterian  Church  and  were  stanch  adherents 
of  that  faith. 

Tbe  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Nanc}'  (Beaty)  Turbett,  who  were  natives 
of  Juniata  County,  I'a.  He  was  a  son  of  Col. 
Thomas  and  Jane  (Wilson)  Turbett,  natives  re- 
spectivel3'  of  Ireland  and  Scotland.  They  were 
tbe  parents  of  the  following  children  :  .lobn,  James, 
Thomas.  George,  Stewart,  William,  Nancy,  Blary, 
Esther  and  Priscilla.  John  was  the  onl^-  one  who 
ever  came  to  Illinois.  When  he  was  a  young  man, 
be  left  bis  native  State  and  went  to  Ohio,  where  he 
was  married.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  tbe 
State,  going  there  as  early  as  1812.  Sometime  after 
marriage,  be  and  his  family  settled  in  F.ayetle 
County,  Ohio,  about  1828,  and  in  the  fall  of  1840, 
came  from  there  to  Logan  Townsbii).  He  was  a 
tanner  by  occupation.  His  death  occurred  here  in 
the  month  of  January,  1847,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren. 

Walter  Stewart,  the  father  of  our  subject,  came 
to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  the  month  of  July, 
1837.  He  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  on  section  5,  Timber  Township,  developed  it 
into  a  farm,  and  made  it  bis  home  until  his  death 
of  paralysis  December  20,  1878.  He  accumulated 
valuable  property,  and  at  the  time  of  his  demise, 
owned  five  hundred  and  eight  acres  of  land  which 
was  divided  into  three  fine  farms.  When  he  came 
here,  he  bad  only  his  team  and  ^100  in  money.  He 
was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  imlilic  life  of  town- 


•2t)4 


PORTRAIT  AND  IJIOGRAPniCAL  ALBUX 


ship  and  county,  and  served  six  years  Jis  Collector, 
and  for  severnl  terms,  represented  the  township  ou 
the  Countj'  Board  of  Supervisors.  In  politics  be 
w.as  a  stal^-ait  Democrat,  while  in  religion,  he  was 
a  Presbyterian,  lie  and  his  wife  belonging  to  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  and  liberally-  contrib- 
uting to  its  support.  Tbcy  reared  five  sons,  named 
as  follows:  James  H..  John  T.,  Robert  A.,  George 
B.  and  William  W. 

Robert  Stewart,  grew  to  man's  estate  on  the  pa- 
rental homestead  and  gleaned  his  education  in  the 
local  schools.  When  he  arrived  at  the  years  of  dis- 
cretion, he  adopted  the  calling  of  a  farmer  and 
continued  to  live  with  his  mother,  and  v.ith  his 
youngest  brother  actively  carried  on  the  home 
farm.  In  1881,  he  removed  to  his  present  home  on 
section  23,  of  Log.an  Township,  and  here  he  has  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres  that  is 
in  an  admirable  condition,  he  has  a  set  of  commodi- 
ous, well- fitted  up  buildings,  and  the  soil  is  well 
tilled. 

A  young  man  of  sound  understanding  and  pro- 
gressive spirit,  our  subject  is  not  permitted  by  his 
fellow-citizens  to  devote  his  whole  time  to  his  pri- 
vate interests  but  is  often  called  upon  to  take  a 
prominent  part  in  the  management  of  public  affairs. 
In  the  spring  of  1887-1888,  he  was  elected  Super- 
visor, and  so  well  did  he  represent  the  township  on 
the  County  Board,  he  was  re  elected  to  that  posi- 
tion in  1890.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Democrat 
and  his  popularity  is  very  well  shown  when  it  is 
noted  that  he  was  the  first  Democrat  in  this  town- 
ship elected  to  the  important  office  of  Supervisor 
for  thirty  years,  and  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
the  opposing  part}' was  stronger  b}'  seventy, he  was 
elected  b}-  a  majoritj-  of  nineteen. 

-S^^i 


ARK  M.  AIKEN.  This  gentleman  bears 
the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  Peoria  novr  living,  having  set- 
tled here  October  28,  1833,  and  here  he 
has  s'nce  made  his  home,  comprising  a  residence 
for  the  long  period  of  fifty-seven  years.  He  has 
watched  the  growth  of  the  city  with  unalloj-ed  sat- 
isf.action.  and  has  contributed  as  he  was  able  in  ad- 
vancing its  prosperity'. 


-The  Aiken  f-imil}'  is  of  New  England  antece- 
dents, and  the  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  June 
21 ,  1808,  in  the  town  of  Deering,  Hillsboro  County, 
N.  H.  He  is  thus  approaching  the  eighty-third 
year  of  his  age.  .and  forms  one  of  the  old  land- 
marks of  Peoria,  whose  name  will  be  held  in  kindly 
remembrance  long  after  he  has  been  gathered  to 
his  fathers.  His  parents  were  Nathaniel  and  Su- 
sannah (Morrill)  Aiken,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
farmer  b3"  occupation,  and  died  1833;  the  mother 
died  October  29.  1829.  The  parental  family  con- 
sisted of  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living,  our 
subject,  and  Mrs.  Childs,  of  Evanston,  111. 

Mr.  Aiken  remained  with  his  parents  until  a 
\oulh  of  sixteen  years,  then  went  to  New  York 
City  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Elisha  Morrill.  Not 
long  afterward  he  entered  the  employ  of  J.  &  J. 
Harper,  the  original  of  the  great  firm  of  Harper 
Bros.,  and  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  in  the 
book  publishing  business.  Some  j-ears  after  this  was 
completed,  however,  he  was  seized  with  the  desire 
to  push  on  further  westward,  and  we  next  find  him 
in  Peoria.  Soon  after  locating  here  in  1833,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  George  C.  Bestor,  and 
the}"  engaged  in  a  gener.il  lanil  office  business. 

Mr.  Aiken  had  purchased  land  prior  to  coming 
here,  when  Peoria  was  a  little  straggling  town  com- 
prised of  a  few  rude  structures  along  the  river.  He 
was  prospered  in  his  business  enterprise,  and  after 
dissolving  partnership  with  Mr.  Bestor,  associated 
himself  with  his  cousin,  Elisha  Morrill,  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  the}'  prosecuted  a  successful  busi- 
ness for  some  3-ears  until  his  death  in  1881. 

Mr.  Aiken  has  been  a  liberal-minded  and  pro- 
gressive citizen,  taking  a  prominent  part  in  poli- 
tics, and  giving  his  support  to  the  Republican 
party.  He  served  as  Assessor,  and  as  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Health,  and  identified  himself  with 
the  Congregational  Church,  because  it  was  anti- 
slavery  from  the  beginning.  During  war  times  he 
was  a  stanch  Abolitionist,  promulgating  his  princi- 
ples at  every  opportunity,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
active  supporters  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  the 
I'nion.  He  has  cause  fora  reasonable  amount  of  sat- 
isfaction in  his  declining  3'ears  as  he  may  properly 
feel  that  his  labors  and  influence  in  behalf  of  truth 
and  the  right  have  bj'  no  means  been  in  vain. 


4A*^^' 


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^:iy^.^/-tX^V^      ^^/9^Z^Z^^^^. 


'J^ ^  (^^C^^^^ur^ 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


267 


tl?  GRACE  G.  ANDERSOIS'.  A  visitor  to 
jl,  Peoria,  in  noting  the  line  ljuil(lin»s  wliicli 
adorn  its  residence  streets,  will  And  at  No. 
210,  ^loss  Avenue,  an  elegant  home  whose 
)re  eminence  consists  in  the  wide  and  beautiful 
view  which  it  commands.  Tiio  entire  city  of  Peoria, 
the  town  of  Pekin,  and  a  di vers! lied  landscape  ex- 
tending far  into  Tazewell  County-,  are  to  be  seen 
from  one  side,  while  another  view  includes  the 
steamers  plying  on  the  river  for  a  distance  of  five 
miles;  from  the  porch  in  the  rear  a  beautiful  view 
is  given  of  the  fertile  region  whose  beauties  of  held 
and  forest,  lake  and  stream,  make  this  section  of 
the  Prairie  State  a  veritable  paradise. 

The  substantial  residence  has  been  the  home  of 
Horace  G.  Anderson  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  and 
during  this  time  the  place  ha.s  taken  on  the  charac- 
ter of  its  occupants,  as  will  be  noticed  in  all  homes 
worthy  of  the  name.  Its  walls  have  resounded  to 
the  many  tones  of  childish  voices,  to  the  sounds 
which  betoken  the  recreations  and  pursuits  of  youth, 
and  to  all  which  goes  to  make  up  the  enjoyment  of 
cultured  manhood  and  womanhood.  For  some  years 
it  has  been  known  as  a  center  from  which  refine- 
ment and  culture  spread  and  elevating  influences 
are  shed  abroad.  The  owner  of  this  place  has  re- 
tired from  active  business  pursuits  after  3'ears  of 
enterprise  during  which  he  was  prominently  identi- 
lied  with  various  educational  and  social  elements  of 
tlic  city,  as  well  as  with  more  than  one  line  of  its 
liiiancial  interests. 

The  natal  d.a^-  of  Mr.  Anderson  was  September 
13,  1822,  and  his  birthplace  Chautauqua  County, 
N.  Y.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Taylor) 
Anderson,  came  to  what  is  now  Will  County,  111., 
when  the  lad  was  ten  years  old,  their  home  being 
made  fivs  miles  north  of  Joliet.  After  sojourning 
there  seven  years  thej'  removed  to  DuPage  County, 
where  our  subject  completed  the  years  of  youth 
and  attained  his  majoritj-.  He  then  left  home  to 
engage  in  teaching,  afterward  becoming  a  clerk  in 
Aurora,  Chicago,  Lockport,  and  Sheboygan,  Wis. 

In  .lune,  1848,  Mr.  Anderson  came  to  Peoria, 
establishing  himself  on  Water  Street,  in  the  lumber 
business  and  continuing  in  that  line  until  1861.  He 
then  sold  out  .nnd  took  hold  of  the  Peoria  Pot- 
tery   which   he  carried  cui  for  two  years,  then  buy- 


ing the  City  Foundry  cfe  Machine  .Shop,  conducted 
it  successfully  six  years.  His  next  business  enter- 
prise was  a  jobbing  trade  in  hats  and  caps  in  which 
he  embarked  in  1872.  He  was  engaged  in  that 
business  when  the  Governor  api)ointed  him  Canal 
Commissioner,  and  he  devoted  himself  to  the  duties 
of  his  oflice  four  years.  During  that  time  the 
Copperas  Creek  lock  and  dam  was  well  started,  the 
lock  being  three  hundred  and  fift}-  feet  long  and 
fifty  feet  in  width  of  cut  stone.  The  next  public 
appointment  of  Mr.  Anderson  was  as  United  States 
Ganger,  in  which  he  served  seven  years.  Since  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  ollice  he  has  not  been 
engaged  in  any  business  enterprise,  but  busies  him- 
self with  the  care  of  his  estate  and  the  enjoyment 
of  home  and  social  life. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  held  the  position  of  Alder- 
man, representing  both  the  Fourth  and  Seventh 
Wards.  He  has  also  been  County  Supervisor  and 
it  was  during  his  term  of  olfice  that  the  present 
courthouse  was  planned  and  begun.  A  building 
comnuttee,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  had  been 
appointed  to  submit  a  plan  to  the  Board  and  the 
outline  plan  of  the  building  which  is  now  one  of 
the  prides  of  Peoria,  was  drawn  and  submittetl  by 
him.  The  court  house  is  a  model  of  convenience! 
and  artistic  beauty,  being  well  lighted,  roomy  and 
aiipropriately  adorned.  Although  not  an  archi- 
tect, Mr.  Anderson  had  made  plans  for  other  build- 
ings, among  them  the  Second  AVard  school  and 
Douglas  school,  for  which  his  designs  were  accepted 
as  the  best  placed  before  the  committee. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Anderson  served  on 
the  School  Board,  during  that  time  being  instru- 
mental in  the  erection  of  the  first  High  School  build- 
ing. He  was  a  Director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
at  its  organization  and  for  some  years  thereafter. 
He  has  been  connected  with  other  corporations, 
but  not  as  a  Director.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd-Fel- 
lows. He  served  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois  for 
five  or  six  terms,  was  Grand  Representative  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States,  from  the  Grand 
Encampment  of  Illinois,  two  years,  and  for  an 
equal  length  of  time  was  Grand  Patriarch  of  the 
Grand  Encampment  of  Hlinois.  For  a  few  years 
past  ho  has  not  been  particularly  active  in  the  or 


268 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


der.  He  purchaseil  his  present  residence  property 
in  1852,  owning- it  until  tlie  location  of  the  college 
near  him,  wlien  he  sold,  bnt  onh*  to  purchase  it 
back  again  in  a  short  time. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  fortunate  in  securing  for  liis 
wife  a  woman  of  fine  character,  brilliant  mind  and 
pleasing  domestic  qualities.  She  was  born  in  Erie 
County.  X.  Y..  June  12,  1829.  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Melinda  Arnold,  and  became  the  wife  of 
our  subject  September  20,  1852.  To  this  union  have 
come  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living. 
They  are,  Samuel  A.,  now  engaged  in  tlie  rolling 
mill  at  Kewanee,  111.;  Emeliue,  wife  of  J.  E.  Hol- 
comb  of  Rockefeller,  Lake  County;  Horace  G.,  a 
physician  in  South  Chicago;  Zoa  F.  at  home;  Eliza- 
beth D.  also  at  home;  Robert  W.  in  the  planing 
mill  business  in  Peoria,  and  Sophia  M.  who  is  still 
with  her  parents.  All  have  been  given  fine  edu- 
cational advantages,  among  the  means  taken  by 
their  father  having  been  that  of  keeping  a  German 
teacher  in  the  house  for  eleven  }-ears.  Miss  Zoa 
having  evinced  .an  especial  talent  for  music,  was 
sent  to  Germany  to  complete  her  studies  in  that 
artistic  branch  and  remained  abroad  two  years. 
She  is  the  finest  musician  in  Peoria,  whose  citizens 
are  proud  of  her  auility,  deeming  her  skill  a  credil 
to  their  city. 

The  reader  will  be  pleaseil  to  notice,  in  connec- 
tion ftith  this  sketch,  a  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr. 
Anderson,  whose  lineaments  are  familiar  to  all  the 
citizens  of  Peoria. 


—I- 


* 


^ijUGUSTUS  STOWELL  was  but  a  boy  when 
ll  nl  '"®  parents  brought  him  to  this  State.  The 
^^|\  famil}'  first  settled  in  Hancock  County,  and 
resided  about  two  years.  In  1846  tliey  removed  to 
Knox  County  and  lived  in  Truro  Townsliip  for  a 
time,  and  then  left  that  countj',  some  members  of 
the  family  going  to  Utah  and  others  going  to  Kan- 
sas, where  Mrs.  Laura  Baker,  the  sister  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  killed  in  a  cyclone. 

Ml.  Stowell  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer 
and  remained  on  a  farm  until  his  twentieth  year, 
at  which  time  he  began  to  learn  the  harness-making 


trade  in  Pekin.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
less  than  two  years  and  acquired  an  excellent  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  his  calling.  In  1850  our  subject 
opened  a  harness-shop  in  Rochester,  without  means 
but  good  credit,  and  successfully  carried  on  a  busi- 
ness there  for  some  six  years  and  cleared,  above  all 
expenses,  §1,000,  but  owing  to  the  conflneraeut 
undermining  his  health  he  concluded  to  again  de- 
vote himself  to  the  calling  to  which  he  had  been 
bred,  and,  accordingly,  went  to  St.  Croix  County, 
Wis.,  where  he  was  steadily  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1869.  In  that  jear  he  made  another 
move  and  selected  Rochester  as  his  place  of  abode. 
In  the  following  spring  of  1870  he  came  to  Mill- 
brook  Township,  and  located  on  his  present  farm. 
He  owns  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  lying  in  a  body  in  Jlill- 
brook  Township,  and  twenty  acres  in  Princeville 
Township.  He  has  virtually  made  his  farm  what 
it  is  to-day,  and  by  the  hard  work  that  he  bestowed 
upon  it  has  i)laced  it  among  the  best  class  of  farms 
in  this  vicinity. 

Mr.  Stowell  was  married,  in  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber, 1850,  to  Am^'  J.  Hull,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Calista  (Knight)  Hull.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stowell  have 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  the  following  six  are 
living:  N.atlian  A.,  in  Wilson -Country,  Kan.;  Will- 
iam W.,  in  David  City,  Neb.;  Isaac  M.,  in  Mill- 
brook  Township;  Elvira  J.,  at  home;  Maria,  wife  of 
.  Albert  ]\liller,  of  Princeville  Township;  Alice,  wife 
of  Joseph  H.  Miller,  of  David  City,  Neb.  One 
child  died  early  in  life. 

It  will  be  seen  in  the  perusal  of  this  sketch  that 
our  subject  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  f.arming 
communit}'  of  this  count}',  that  is  doing  so  much 
to  sustain  and  extend  the  material  prosperity  of 
this  part  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  is  very  skill- 
ful in  his  calling,  bringing  a  clear  brain  and  a 
thoughtful  mind  to  bear  upon  the  iDroblem.s  that 
confront  the  farmer  who  would  till  the  soil  after 
the  most  approved  methods,  and  his  extensive 
practical  knowledge  of  his  calling,  his  sagacious 
management  of  his  affairs,  and  his  active  enterprise 
have  gained  him  a  substantial  place  among  the  well- 
to-do  citizens  of  this  vicinity.  For  fourteen  j'ears 
he  served  as  School  Director,  being  well  qualified 
for  that  position,  and  has  alwaj's  interested  himself 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALEUM. 


269 


in  eihiL-alional  and  olliiT  public  matters,  contribut- 
ing generously'  to  all  sucL  things.  He  has  sound 
views  on  the  political  questions  of  the  day  and  is  a 
true  Democrat,  giving  faitiiful  support  to  his  partly. 
lie  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  j'ears  in 
Millbrook  Township,  having  also  held  that  ofHce 
for  a  period  of  six  years  while  in  Wisconsin.  After 
the  expiration  of  his  term  here,  he  was  re-elected  to 
tliat  office,  so  well  pleased  had  his  constituents  been 
by  liis  just  and  impartial  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
his  i)Osition,  but  he  declined  to  qualify.  While  a 
resident  of  St.  Croix  County,  Wis.,  he  served  with 
abilily  as  Supervisor  of  Rush  River  Township. 


i>.ILLIAM  WASHINGTON  MOTT,  the  son 

of  a  pioneer,  and  one  who  has  performed 
some  pioneer  labors  himself  and  has  thus 
assisted  in  developing  the  agricultural  resources  of 
Peoria  County,  has  a  well  improved  farm  on  sec- 
ti(jn  34,  Princeville  Township,  where  he  devotes 
himself  to  farming  and  bee  culture. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Oscar  F.  Mott,  who 
was  born  near  Kinderhook,  near  Wayne  Falls, 
Krio  County,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  medical  practicioner 
of  the  Thompsonian  School,  and  also  followed  farm- 
ing. He  disliked  the  medical  profession,  although 
ho  was  well  versed  in  the  Thompsonian  methods, 
and  abandoning  his  i)ractice  he  came  here  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  with  his  family,  to  devote  himself 
to  agricultural  pursuits  more  exclusivel}-.  He  at 
first  rented  land  and  cultivated  it  to  advantage. but 
finally  bought  a  small  farm  of  fifteen  acres,  on 
which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  death 
in  1863,  was  caused  bj-an  accidental  discharge  of  a 
gnn  which  a  man  was  examining  in  a  grocery  store 
in  Princeville,  the  shot  taking  effect  in  his  neck, 
ami  after  a  great  deal  of  suffering  he  died  in  a  few 
days.  He  was  the  first  mail  carrier  here,  carrying 
the  mail  on  horseback  to  Peoria  from  Jubilee  for 
years,  taking  three  days  to  make  the  trip  in  cold 
weather.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  was 
a  Universalist  in  his  religious  faith.  Politically  he 
was  a  follower  of  the  Democratic  party.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Dcidauiia  IJiinip,  anil 


she  was  born  in  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.  Her  father,  Jon- 
athan Bump,  was  a  native  of  New  England  and  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  township,  making 
his  home  among  the  Indians  of  Red  Jacket's  tribe. 
He  cleared  two  farms  and  followed  agriculture  until 
his  demise.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  was  near  there  at  the  burning  of  Buffalo.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  an  inmate  of  his  home 
until  her  death,  and  he  looked  tenderly  aftc  her 
comfort.  She  was  a  Baptist  in  religion  and  was 
ever  true  to  the  faith.  She  died  December  31 ,  1875. 

Three  of  the  children  of  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject grew  to  maturity  :  Richard  F.,  who  died  in 
Santa  Clara,  Cal.;  our  subject,  and  Joseijhine  E. 
Two  of  their  children  died  j'oung — Oscar  Philander 
and  Eugene.  Josephine  JNlott,  who  was  educated 
for  a  teacher  and  has  engaged  in  that  profession, 
malvcs  her  home  with  her  brother. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  was  born 
in  Boston  Township,  N.  Y.,  August  19,  1830,  and 
there  passed  the  first  seven  j'ears  of  his  life.  In  1837 
he  accompanied  his  father  to  Buffalo,  where  they 
embarked  on  a  steamer  for  Chicago,  and  from  the 
latter  place  took  a  team  for  Peoria  County  and 
Princeville  Township.  He  grew  to  a  sturdy  vigor- 
ous manhood  under  the  pioneer  influences  that  he 
obtained  here  in  early  times,  growing  up  with  the 
county,  as  it  were.  It  was, when  he  came  here,  wild 
and  sparsely  settled,  and  there  was  much  wild  game 
roaming  over  the  prairies  and  uplands  and  through 
the  timber,  and  as  he  grew  older  he  took  great  de- 
light in  the  hunt  which  has  alwaj^s  been  his  hobby, 
and  became  very  expert  in  the  use  of  the  rifle, 
often  killing  as  many  as  two  deer  a  day,  which 
supplied  the  table  with  meat.  He  resided  on  the 
fifteen-acre  place  that  his  father  had  purchased  un- 
til 1868,  and  then  bought  a  farm  of  forty  acres  on 
section  27,  on  which  he  located  and  entered  upon 
its  improvement.  He  built  a  substantial  house, 
drawing  the  lumber  for  it  from  Chillicothe  and 
doing  the  carpenter  work  himself  with  an  assistant. 
He  engaged  in  that  trade  somewhat  besides  tilling 
the  soil.  In  1876  he  sold  that  place  and  bought  his 
present  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  34,  which 
was  covered  with  timber,  and  in  the  groves  still 
standing  wolves  are  found  to  this  da3^  Jlr.  I\Iott 
set  luisilj'  about  its  improvement,  put  up  a    com- 


270 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fortable  fl welling,  has  fenced  in  three  large  fields, 
which  he  devotes  to  raising  corn  and  oats,  and 
also  has  a  fine  giaper\'  and  an  apiary  comprising 
twcntj'-seven  hives  of  hees,  the  honey  whicli  lie  se- 
cures being  a  profitable  source  of  income.  Mis  place 
is  supplied  with  good  outlmiidings,  excellent  ma- 
chinery, and  is  always  kept  in  good  order. 

Mr.  Mott  is  of  a  practical  turn  of  mind  and  by 
careful  attention  to  his  calling,  he  has  acquired  a 
competence  amply  sufficiant  to  free  him  from  the 
necessity  of  hard  lalior,  and  to  fortify  his  declining 
years  against  want  and  poverty.  I'.olh  he  and  his 
sister  are  held  in  kindly  regard  l)y  the  i)eople  among 
whom  tlipy  iiave  lived  so  manj'  years.  Mr.  Mott 
has  borne  an  lionorable  p.Trt  in  the  pulilic  life  of  his 
township;  was  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  three 
years;  Palhmastcr  for  six  terms,  and  School  Di- 
rector for  one  term,  and  in  each  and  every  capac- 
it}'  proved  to  be  a  wise  and  helpful  official.  He  is  ■ 
prominently  connected  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd-Fellows, and  assisted'in  organizing  a  lodge  at 
Prineeville,  known  as  Diligence  Lodge,  No.  129, 
after  tiie  first  lodge  tliat  had  been  established  here 
was  closed  during  the  war.  In  his  early  life  our 
subject  was  a  Democrat,  but  is  now  independent  in 
his  politics,  voting  as  he  pleases  and  for  whom  he 
pleases.  lie  is  a  Sabbatarian  a]id  a  purely-  religious 
man. 


RA  SMITH:  If  long  >ears  of  honorable  life 
entitle  a  man  to  the  respect  of  posterit}',  then 
/1\  is  Capt.  Smith,  pre  eminently  deserving  of  a 
place  in  this  Album.  For  near  seventy-fonr  years 
he  walked  tiie  eartli,  and  from  early  life  his  in- 
fluence and  example  were  on  the  side  of  sobriety, 
honesty,  and  unaffected  piety. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Hampden,  Me.,  on  the 
5th  of  Januar3',  .1806,  and  lived  to  be  seventeen 
or  eighteen  years  cf  age  in  the  place  of  his 
birth.  During  this  time  he  pursued  such  studies 
as  were  possible  in  the  schools  of  that  period. 
Being  drawn  to  the  sea,  as  is  the  case  with  many 
of  the  sons  of  the  Pine  Tree  State,  he  followed 
his  natural  bent,  his  first  sea  service  being  during 
a  term  of  enlistment  on  board  a  man-of-war. 


Young  Smith  was  much  troubled  because  he  was 
expected  to  go  forward  and  take  his  grog  with  the 
others,  the  pr.actice  of  su[)pl3'ing  sailors  with  New 
England  rum,  being  then  in  force  on  all  vessels. 
He  tried  selling  the  rum  to  others,  but  this  was 
stopped  b}'  the  officers,  and  his  attempt  to  throw 
his  allowance  away  was  also  put  a  stop  to.  His 
studious  and  orderly  habits  having  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  oflicers,  he  .asked  to  have  his  grog 
stopped,  and  his  request  was  granted.  It  was  then 
aiHKiunced  by  those  in  command,  that  any  others 
who  did  not  want  grog  would  be  allowed  ^2.50  per 
month  extra.     But  few  accepted  the  offer. 

When  Mr.  Smith  became  master  of  his  own  ves- 
sel, he  determined  to  get  a  crew  who  would  go 
without  liquor.  The  harbor-master  told  him  it  was 
impossil)le  to  do  so  in  Boston.  He,  however,  hung 
out  a  sign  announcing  that  he  would  allow  no  grog 
except  in  cases  of  sickness,  and  wanted  onl}'  men 
who  were  willing  to  go  without  it.  It  was  some 
time  bef(^ie  he  picked  up  a  crew,  but  he  finally  suc- 
ceeded, and  was  ihe  first  captain  to  sail  from  Bos- 
ton harbor  under  temperance  regulations. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  three  and  a  half  years 
enlistment  on  a  man-of-war,  Mr.  Smith  continued 
his  seafaring  life,  visiting  different  parts  of  the 
world  until  IS.'iT.  A  few  years  prior  to  this  date, 
he  had  married,  and  through  the  influence  of  his 
wife,  who  desired  to  get  him  far  awa}*  from  the 
sea,  he  came  to  Peoria  County,  III.,  in  June,  of 
that  j'Car.  He  purchased  a  farm,  but  having  al- 
ways been  accustomed  to  activitj'  in  business,  the 
peaceful  life  of  a  farmer  did  not  satisfy  him,  ani 
he  sold  his  land  to  engage  in  the  lumber  trade.  In 
1849  be  established  the  business  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  well  advanced  in  3'ears  when  he  re- 
tired, but  not  being  contented  with  an  inactive  life, 
with  his  son  he  .again  engaged  in  business,  continu- 
ing it  until  his  death,  December  16,  1879.  His 
first  location  was  on  Water  Street,  but  he  afterward 
moved  up  to  Washington  Street.  He  was  one  of 
the  early  lumber  dealers  of  Peoria,  prominent  in 
that  line  of  trade,  and  had  an  excellent  reputation 
for  business  ability  and  honor. 

Mr.  Smith  bought  property  on  the  blutf  on  both 
sides  of  Moss  Avenue  down  to  Seventh  Street,  erect- 
ing a  residence  which  was  a  fine  one  for  that  period. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


271 


Here  his  widow  is  still  liviii"^  in  the  home  wliich 

has  slieltciHMl  her  fm-  iiKire  llian  ;i  third  of  a  cctit- 
ury.  Slie  has  a  hirge  and  elegant  lawn,  tlio  sur- 
ronndinii's  of  lier  dwelling  making  it  very  attract- 
ive and  indicating  the  relineraiMit  of  her  nature. 
She  is  a  native  of  Tlioniaston,  Me.,  horn  Novcniher 
•20,  1813,  lo  David  and  Sarah  R.  Jenks.  After  the 
age  of  sixleen  years,  siie  S|)ent  nnicli  of  her  time  in 
Boston,  where  she  first  met  the  man  to  whom,  on 
October  10,  1831,  she  was  joined  in  wedlock. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  lieeanie  llie  parents  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  Init  four  are  now  living:  Ira, 
■Ir.,  died  at  tiie  age  of  nineteen  j'ears,  and  two  otii- 
ers  in  infancy;  Sarah  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Cal- 
lander, of  Galesburg,  111.,  and  the  mother  of  eight 
children;  JMary  E.  is  the  wife  of  David  K.  Holmes, 
a  ministei'of  the  Congregational  Cluireh,  now  loca- 
ted at  Galva,  111.,  and  their  family  comprises  one 
child;  James  H.  tiow  resides  in  Chicago,  engaged 
in  the  lumliei',  laml.  and  iiis\irance  business;  Kmily 
A.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  .lames  I'idgeon,  autl  the 
mother  of  one  child.  Mrs.  Sarah  D.  Smith  has  ten 
grandchildren,  and  seven  great-grandchildren  liv- 
ing. A  true  gentlewoman,  she  is  .as  thoroughly 
respected  as  any  citizen  of  l'ct)ria,  and  is  looked 
ui)on  as  one  of  the  landnnuks  of  the  place.  She 
is  an  attendant  and  supporter  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  as  w.as  her  deceased  husband. 


E|fe^^ 


l»ILLTAM    GILLFI LLIAN.     No   one  takes 


/^  y,  more  interest  in  I'eoria  County's  welfare 
>^'\j/  or  would  do  more  for  its  adx'ancemcnt 
than  its  native-liorn  citizens,  who  ar(i  to-day  vari- 
ously- identified  with  its  industries.  Our  subject, 
the  son  of  a  pioneer,  is  doing  his  share  in  sustain- 
ing its  high  reputation  as  one  of  the  finest  countries 
for  agriculture  that  the  sun  ever  shr>ne  on.  He 
owns  and  is  managing  with  i)rofit  a  choice  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty-three  acres  on  section  0, 
Chillicothe  Township,  on  vvhich,  during  the  four- 
teen years  it  has  been  in  his  possession,  he  has  made 
several  additional  iniprovements,  greatlj-  increasing 
its  value,  aTid  its  well-tilled  fields  give  evidence  of 
his  careful  cultivation  as  well  as  of  his    practical 


knowledge  of  farming.  He  does  a  general  farming 
business  and  is  interested  in  raising  stock. 

Mr.  Gillfillian  was  born  in  this  township  and 
county,  near  where  he  now  lives,  September  30, 
1852.  His  father,  James  Gillfllli.'in,  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  coming  of  mingled  Irish  and  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  stock.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm  in 
Ross  Count)',  and  e.arly  in  the  '30"s  when  a  young- 
man,  came  to  the  wilds  of  Illinois  with  his  mother, 
his  father,  having  died  |jreviously  in  Ohio.  Thej- 
located  south  of  I'eoria  near  Ivickapoo,  I'eoria  then 
being  a  small  place  known  as  Ft.  Clark.  A  few 
years  later  they  removed  to  Hallock  Township,  and 
there  the  mother  clied  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty 
years,  her  death  occurring  in  1874.  She  was  a 
truly  good  woman  and  was  highly  thought  of  by 
all  who  knew  her.  She  was  the  mother  of  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters,  of  whom  only  one  son  is  now 
living,  Henry,  a  resident  of  Hallock  Township. 

James  (iiillillian  was  first  mariied  in  Indiana  to 
Miss  Mary  Chisam  who  died  after  a  married  life  of 
three  years,  leaving  two  children,  both  of  whom  aie 
now  dead.  Her  death  occtn-red  in  Indiana,  while 
she  was  thereon  a  visit.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  married  a  second  time  in  Hallock  Township, 
taking  to  wife  Miss  Jane  Martin.  She  was  born  in 
Illinois,  and  came  to  Peoria  C(>unty,  when  in 
her  girlhood.  Jlr.  (iillfillian  and  his  wife  lived  in 
Peoria  County,  until  1858,  when  they  went  to 
Kansas  and  thence  to  Texas.  They  were  in  the 
Lone  Star  State  when  the  War  broke  out,  and 
startetl  northward  but  succeeded  only  in  getting  as 
far  .as  Conw.ay  County,  Ark.,  where  they  were  com- 
pelled to  stay  with  the  rebels.  Mr.  (iiillillian  being 
blind  in  one  eye  was  not  compelled  to  serve  in  the 
Confederate  army  against  the  North.  He  and  his 
family  remained  in  Arkansas  until  18Gt,  and  then 
the  presence  of  Union  troops  enabled  them  to  conic 
northward,  and  they  again  located  in  Peoria,  and 
very  soon  afterward  the  father  died  there  when 
past  the  meridian  of  life.  His  widow  is  still  living 
in  that  city,  with  her  daughter  Jose|)hine,  and  is 
now  fifty-two  years  old.  She  is  the  mother  of  three 
sons  and  two  daughters,  whom  she  has  reared  to 
good  and  useful  lives,  and  who  are  still  living. 

William  Gillfillian,  of  this  biographical  rcTiew, 
was  the  oldest  son  and  second  child  of  the  parental 


272 


rORTKAlT   AND  T.K  )( ;1JAP1IICAL  ALBUM. 


family.     He  wasreaictl  to  agiicultinal  pursuits.has 
iiiaile  farming  liis  life  work,  anil  lias  been  prospered 
in  all  his  unclcrtakipgs.     He  was^married  in  C'hilli- 
cotlie  to  Miss  Kate  McDermitt,  and  she  has  been  an 
important   factor  in  promoting   his   success.     She 
was  born  in  Jvew  York  City,  Januarj-  1,  1853.  and 
was  but  a  year  old  when  she  came   here    with    her 
parents,  Barney  and  Anne  (Co.sgrove)  McDermitt, 
wlio  were  both  burn  and  reared   in  Ireland,  and  im- 
mediately after  their  marriage  came  to  this  eountrj'. 
After  coming  to  Illinois  they  settled  in  Chillicothe, 
and  lived  in  this  section  of   the  county  until   1?86, 
when  they  moved  to  C'la}'  County,   Neb.,  and    lo- 
cated on  a  newly  im[)roved  farm  and  are  still  mak- 
ing that  their  home.     They  are  now    upwards    of 
lifi3"  years  of  age.  and  are  good  hard-working    peo- 
ple, and  useful  and  honorable  members  of  the  com- 
munity   where   they    reside.       Mrs.    GillQllian  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Chillicothe,  and   is  a    verj^ 
capable,  refined  and  estimable  woman.     She  is  the 
mother  of  six  children,  one  of  whom,  Anna,  died  at 
the  age  of  four  months.     The  others  are  at  home 
and  uamed  as   follows:    Hose  A.,  John  R.,  Clara 
Louisa,  Kittle  B.  and  Bessie  E. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  open-hearted  hos- 
pitable people,  whose  sterling  characters  commend 
them  to  the  confidence  of  the  conimunity.  Mrs. 
GillflUian  is  a  communicant  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  is  active  in  its  ever}'  good  vvork.  Mr.  Gill- 
flUian, is  much  interested  in  the  political  life  of  his 
country,  and  is  a  lirm  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party. 


^?5)E0RGE  FLACK.  The  members  of  the 
jll  farming  communities  occupy  an  important 

^^^  place  in  the  life  of  our  country,  supplying 
as  they  do  the  primary  needs  of  existence  and 
exhibiting  in  their  lives  the  sterling  virtues  which 
pertain  to  true  manhood.  A  worthy  member  of  this 
class  is  the  gentleman  above  named,  who  occupies 
a  well-developed  estate  in  Rosefield  Township.  It 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres,  where 
during  the  season  fine  crops  may  be  seen  and  where 
various  kinds  of  stock  are  raised   in  considerable 


numbers.  The  possession  of  so  good  a  home  is 
creditable  to  the  owner,  indicating  that  he  has  been 
industrious,  i)rudeiit  and  zealous. 

Mr.  Plack  was  born  in  Biedenkopf,  Prussia,  Oc- 
tober 28,  18,35,  being  the  fourth  child  of  John 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Roht)  Plack.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  the  same  [ilace  as  himself  and  his 
father  was  a  farmer  and  miller.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  German  army,  serving  according  to 
the  custom  of  the  couutrj'.  He  belonged  to  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  which  be  held  the  ofiice  of 
Trustee.  Besides  our  subject,  the  parental  family 
comprised  Elizabeth,  now  the  wife  of  Henry  Kesler 
of  Nebraska;  Maggie,  deceased;  Henry;  John,  now 
living  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  Anna  Maria,  wife  of 
Jacob  Delxl,  of  Jefferson  Count}-,  Mo.  The  father 
died  in  Germany  and  the  mother  came  to  America 
in  1859  with  her  son,  our  subject,  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  settling  in  Jefferson  County, 
Mo.,  where  she  died  about  four  years  later.  The 
oldest  and  youngest  members  of  the  family  had 
emigrated  a  few  years  earlier  than  the  mother. 

After  having  lived  in  Jefferson  County,  Mo., 
until  1871,  George  Plack  came  to  Peoria  County 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  six  acres  of  lard 
on  section  4,  Rosefield  Township.  He  subsequently 
sold  thirty- six  acres,  then  bought  eighty,  and  at 
other  periods  sold  or  bought,  having  at  one  time 
two  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres.  When  he  landed 
in  America  he  had  about  $100  in  money.  In  his 
efforts  to  secure  a  good  home  lie  was  ably  .-ieconded 
by  his  companion  whose  prudent  management  of 
household  affairs  was  an  important  factor  in  his  suc- 
cess. The  wife  to  whom  he  owed  his  comfort  and 
a  portion  of  his  prosperity  from  July  16,  18o9, 
when  they  were  united  in  marriage,  until  her  death 
in  1873,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Helena  Jiede. 

Mrs.  Plack  was  born  in  the  same  section  of  Ger- 
many as  our  subject.  She  became  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  two  of  vrhom  died  with  her  in  Au- 
gust, 1873.  The  survivors  are  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
George  Koch;  Anna  Maria,  wife  of  Henry  Huhn; 
Maggie,  wife  of  Conrad  Schwartz;  Henrj';  Joseph 
and  John.  The  estimable  woman  who  now  presides 
over  the  home  of  Mr.  Plack,  looking  well  to  the 
ways  of  her  household,  was  born  in  Germany  and 
came  to  the  United  States  with  her   mother   about 


T'ORTRAIT  A^M)  lUOfJRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


273 


1874.  She  was  formerly  Miss  Elizabeth  Jiede,  and  is 
the  mother  of  six  chililreii — Louisa  C,  I'hilip, 
Kiltie,  George,  Tlieodore  and  one  wiio  died  when  six 
months  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plack  belong  to  the 
Lutheran  Cluireh,  and  are  highly  esteemed  by  their 
associates  therein  and  by  others  to  whom  the^'  are 
known. 

o<rx>    . 


'   oC<> 

\i;' ASON  H1^■MA^'.  Among  those  who,  after 
laboring  long  and  well  in  the  dcveloiiment 
of.IIallock  Township,  have  gone  to  their 
long  home,  none  are  more  worthy  of  remem- 
brance than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  well 
and  favorably  known  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
lie  had  come  hither  with  but  a  small  store  of  this 
world's  goods,  but  b^'  the  exercise  of  prudence, 
wise  economy  and  unrcmilting  industry,  had  ac- 
cumidated  a  good  property.  His  occupation  was 
that  of  a  farmer  and  dairyman.  At  his  pleasant 
home  he  breathed  his  last,  November  :t,  187().  his 
career  cut  short  in  his  forty-second  year  b}-  the 
(lire  disease,  consumption.  He  was  a  native  of 
Pitcher,  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  his  natal  day 
having  been  March  2,  1835. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  James  Ilinni.in,  a 
native  and  life-long  resident  of  the  Empire  State, 
wlio  passed  away  in  middle  life.  He  was  a  black- 
smith, quite  [)romineiit  in  his  business,  and  consid- 
ered a  worth}'  citizen.  He  left  a  wife  and  nine 
children.  The  widow  and  family  drifted  into  Ohio, 
later  coming  to  Illinois  and  living  for  some  3  cars  in 
Hallock  Townshi)),  Peoiia  County.  Two  daugh- 
ters returned  to  their  native  .State,  to  which  the 
widowed  mother  followed  them  when  quite  old, 
dying  soon  afterward.  She  was  a.  member  of  the 
Cougregational  Church,  to  which  nu)st  of  the  chil- 
dren adhered,  although  a  part  of  the  family  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcoi>al  Church.  Her  uiaidcn 
name  was  Marcia  Terrell. 

Jason  Hinnian  was  one  of  the  younger  mcniljers 
of  the  parental  family,  six  of  whom  arc  yet  living, 
the  most  of  them  residents  of  Illinois.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  learning 
the  trade  of  a  harness-maker,  with  which  equip- 
ment for  the  battle  of  life  he  came  to  Illinois.    Af- 


ter reaching  here,  however,  he  began  farm  work  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  Marcus,  being  thus 
engaged  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  Wp.r.  He 
abandoned  the  plow,  and  joining  the  Eifty-seventli 
Illinois  Infantry,  on  October  20,  1801,  went  at  once 
to  the  front  to  take  his  part  in  the  struggles  to  de- 
fend the  old  Hag.  He  was  enrolled  in  Company  K, 
which  was  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Harry,  and 
with  the  rest  of  the  regiment  first  saw  the  smoke  of 
battle  at  Corinth.  Prior  to  this  he  had  the  measles, 
and  exposure  soon  compelled  him  to  return  home 
on  a  furlough.  As  soon  as  his  health  was  sufH- 
ciently  improved,  he  rejoined  his  regiment,  but  a 
relapse  caused  acute  bronchitis,  and  he  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  in  April,  18(32. 

Mr.  Hinman  resumed  his  agricultural  labors  in 
the  Prairie  State  as  soon  as  his  strength  would  .al- 
low, although  his  condition  continued  to  show  the 
effects  of  the  old  illness  which  ere  long  developed 
into  consumption,  which  terminated  fatally  in  spite 
of  all  the  efforts  which  were  made  to  restore  his 
health.  His  Last  days  were  cheered  by  the  Chris- 
tian's faith,  he  having  long  been  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  Li  politics  he  was  a  sound 
Republican,  active  in  the  local  work  of  his  party. 
The  general  verdict  at  his  death  was  that  an  hon- 
est, upright  and  conscientious  man  had  been  re- 
moved from  earth. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hinman  and  Miss  Mary  J. 
Barker,  was  celebrated  in  the  city  of  Peoria.  The 
bride  was  born  in  Coventry-,  Chenango  Count}',  N. 
Y.,  October  12.  1833,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Armina  (Smith)  Barker.  She  was  well  and 
carefidly  reared  by  most  estimable  parents,  receiv- 
ing the  most  of  her  education  after  coming  to 
Peoria  County.  Her  natural  abilities  have  been 
strengthened  ami  (h'Vfloiicd  by  her  surroundings, 
and  she  has  bcccnne  a  iiromineut  member  of  the 
coniinunity.  She  now  owns  about  one  hundred 
au<l  fifty  acres  of  tine.  wcll-im|iroved  laiul,  in  the 
mau.agement  of  which,  and  the  business  affairs  con- 
nected therewith,  she  manifests  executive  and  busi- 
ness talent  of  a  high  order.  She  is  strong-minded 
in  the  true  sense  of  that  word,  while  her  character 
as  a  Christian  ivomau  is  in  keeping  with  her  mental 
powers.    She  belongs  to  the  Congregational  Church. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Hinman  were  born  in  Greene 


274 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  Piilnam  Counties,  N.  Y.,  respectively,  and  be- 
<;:in  llieir  wedded  life  on  a  farm  in  the  former. 
Some  years  after  their  marriage  they  changed  their 
residence,  and  after  having  sojourned  for  various 
periods  in  Almond,  New  York  City,  and  the  State  of 
New  .Jersey,  they  finally,  in  1846,  came  to  Illinois. 
The}'  began  life  here  somewhat  as  pioneers  in  Peo- 
ria Countj',  but  i^rior  to  his  death,  JNIr.  Barker  had 
secured  a  good  home.  His  demise  occurred  Octo- 
ber 24,  1888,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  he 
having  been  born  November  4,  1803..  lie  retained 
his  mental  and  jihysical  strength  until  his  last  days, 
and  up  to  within  a  very  few  years  of  his  (U'ath,  led 
the  choir  of  tiie  Congregational  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  faithful  member.  He  was  a  great  Bible  stu- 
dent, capable  of  expounding  its  truth  with  force. 
He  was  ever}' where  known  as  one  of  the  most  hon- 
est and  straightforward  of  men.  upright  in  every 
respect.  In  no  sense  an  ollice-seeker,  he  was  a 
strong  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Hinman  is  still  living,  now 
more  than  eighty-five  years  of  age,  but  physically 
active  and  mentally  bright.  She  retains  loving  re- 
membrances of  the  companion  with  whom  she 
spent  sixty-one  years  of  wedded  life,  and  whom  she 
looks  forward  to  meeting  in  the  land  where  part- 
ing will  be  no  more.  She  has  been  for  yeais  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church.  Her  fam- 
ily consists  of  three  daughters,  of  whom  Mrs.  Hin- 
man is  the  youngest.  The  others  are  P^lecta,  wife 
of  Lee  Hallister,  of  Arlington,  Kan.;  and  Augusta, 
wife  of  Munson  Hinman,  a  blacksmith  of  Hallock 
Township,  this  county. 


ATTHKW  MCDONNELL.  No  better 
example  can  be  found  in  Haliock  Town- 
'-K  ship  of  the  practical  thrift,  encrg}-,  and 
industry  which  results  in  the  accumulation 
of  a  goodly  share  of  this  world's  goods,  than  in  the 
person  of  the  gentleman  above  named,  whose  home 
is  pleasantly  located  on  section  20.  He  possesses 
a  large  estate,  comprising  eight  hundred  and  eighty 
acres,  the  most  of  which  is  highly  improved,  while 
the  buildings  which  have  been  erected  upon  it  are 


most  excellent,  comprising  every  structure  needful 
for  the  furtherance  of  his  business.  The  barn  is  a 
noticeable  feature,  justly  considered  one  of  the  best 
in  the  county,  and  is  of  sufficient  size  to  accommo- 
date more  than  one  hundred  head  of  stock,  to- 
gether vrith  feed  for  the  same.  It  is  42x85  feet, 
with  a  basement,  with  the  most  approved  arrange- 
ment and  Sittings.  The  dwelling  is  a  substantial 
one,  within  which  order  and  good  cheer  abound. 

i\Ir.  McDonnell  is  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle, 
born  in  County  Louth  in  1828,  and  represents  a 
good  old  family.  In  184.i  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, and  making  his  home  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
found  employment  as  a  laborer  at  ¥5  per  month. 
When  his  wages  were  advanced  to  19  per  month, 
and  still  later  to  $11,  he  felt  that  he  was  on  the 
high  road  to  prosperity,  and  when,  still  later,  he  re- 
ceived 114  per  month,  he  considered  himself  the 
reci[)ient  of  wonderful  remuneration.  In  1850  he 
removed  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  with  the  determin- 
ation to  make  a  good  home,  and  well  has  he  suc- 
ceeded in  his  efforts.  He  has  been  cautious  in  his 
investments,  quick  to  note  an  opportunity  to  im- 
prove his  methods  or  management,  and  ever  lead- 
ing in  hard  work  those  whom  he  cmploj'ed. 

The  wife  of  Air.  McDonnell  was  formerly  Miss 
Catherine  Cash,  and  like  himself  is  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  but  born  in  County  Kilkenny  in 
1832.  .She  was  about  of  age  when  she  came  to 
America  with  an  uncle  who  settled  in  the  city  of 
Peoria,  III.,  where  she  remained  some  lime.  After 
she  h.ad  been  here  a  few  years,  she  sent  for  her  par- 
ents, John  and  Mary  (Welsh)  Cash,  and  while  they 
were  on  their  way,  the  mother  died  at  New  Or- 
leans, La.  She  was  then  in  middle  life.  Mr.  Cash 
continued  his  journey  to  the  Prairie  State,  and  some 
years  later  died  in  Hallock  Township,  this  county, 
being  about  seventy  years  of  age.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Mrs.  McDonnell  has  ably  assisted  her  husband  in 
the  upbuilding  of  his  fortunes,  her  thrifty-  manage- 
ment of  domestic  affairs  and  good  counsel  being  no 
small  factors  in  his  success.  Their  children  also 
have  done  their  share  since  they  arrived  at  a  suit- 
able age,  in  adding  to  the  comforts  as  well  as  the 
joys  of  home.  The  family  comprises  four  living 
children,  and  six  were  removed  in  early  life  by  the 


zJcAyi.    iy^ 4:  r^i^^Jei^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


277 


hand  of  death.  The  living  ehihlren  are:  John, 
Tlionias,  Callierine,  and  Matliew,  Jr.  The  second 
son  is  working  the  farm,  and  the  two  ciiildren  , 
j'oiuiger  than  he.  "re  also  at  home.  Joiiii  married 
Miss  Kliza  Phiiicivct,  and  the_v  live  un  a  f^uni  in 
Halloelc  Township. 

.Mr.  McDonnell  is  a  sound  Democrat  in  his  politi- 
cal views,  while  in  his  religious  f;iilh  he  isa<levout 
Catholic,  as  were  his  |)arents  before  hiin.  The  en- 
tire family  are  coninuinicauts  of  the  same  church. 
Their  honorable  efforts  to  advance  their  persona! 
interests,  while  treating  tlfose  about  them  with  hon- 
esty and  kindliness,  have  secured  the  respect  of 
other  members  of  the  community,  and  made  many 
to  rejoice  in  the  success  with  which  the^-  have  been 
rewarded. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  another  Mathevv 
McDonnell,  a  native  of  County  Louth.  Ireland. who 
grew  up  to  the  business  of  a  farmer,  and'  was  thus 
engaged  during  his  entire  active  life.  His  last  years 
were  spent  in  the  United  .States,  to  which  he  came 
in  1847,  dying  in  Peoria  County,  111.,  in  185L-  lie 
was  then  about  three-score  j-ears  of  age.  His  wife, 
a  native  of  the  same  counl3-as  himself,  and  of  pure 
Irish  ancestry,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  JaneFedi- 
gan.  She  lived  and  died  in  the  land  of  her  birth, 
passing  away  when  of  middle  age.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  youngest.  He  is  now  the  onl}- 
one  of  the  family  living  to  relate  the  history  of 
their  settlement  here,  to  which  country  four  of  the 
children  came. 


# 


OHN  I5IRKET.  In  order  to  better  preserve 
the  history  of  one  who  bore  a  very  import- 
ant part  in  laying  the  solid  foundation  of 
Peoria's  prosperity,  a  brief  record  of  the  life 
work  of  John  Birket  is  placed  upon  the  pages  of 
this  BioGRAPiiicAi.  Albc.m,  dedicated  to  the  citi- 
zens of  Peoria  County.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  Peoria,  and  for  many  years  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  its  growth;  by  his  liberal 
contributions  to  aid  all  schemes  for  promoting  the 


material,  social  and  religious  advancement  of  the 
city,  he  did  much  to  bring  it  to  its  present  stand- 
ing as  one  of  the  foremost  cities  of  the  State. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Lancashire,  England, 
^larch  8,1798.  He  early  learned  the  trade  of  a 
carixMiter.  and  in  1819.  duiing  the  opening  years 
of  a  stalwart  manhood,  emigrated  to  this  country, 
landing  iu  I'liiladclpliia  some  time  in  the  month  of 
June.  Froi:;  there  he  went  to  Albany.  N.  Y..  by 
sloop,  and  thence  to  Ferrysburg,  Vt.  He  piirsueil 
his  trade  in  the  latter  place  some  si.x  years,  and  then 
started  for  the  wild  prairies  of  Illinois  in  the  fall 
of  1824.  He  did  not  come  directly  here,  however, 
but  stopped  in  Plainsville,  Ohio,  until  the  spring 
of  1825,  when  he  came  to  Peoria  by  w.igon.  He 
was  engaged  en  route  as  a  peddler,  carrying  tea, 
coffee,  calicoes,  etc..  and  arrived  at  the  |)resentsite 
of  Peoria  on  the  6th  of  January.  I82().  At  that 
time  there  were  but  six  families  in  Peoria  besides 
the  Indians  who  still  lived  here. 

On  the  day  after  he  came  Mr.  Birket  bought  a 
claim  comprising  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres 
on  the  northeastern  part  of  section  3,  and  then  es- 
tablished himself  at  his  trade,  and  in  the  spring 
planted  the  first  nursery  in  this  section.  Mr.  Birket 
planted  the  first  nursery  in  Peoria  from  seed 
brought  from  Vermont  in  1826.  He  was  at  one 
time  called  on  as  a  guard  to  care  for  the  first 
murderer  of  the  region,  and  whilst  performlug  that 
duty  the  Indians  entered  his  home.  Luckilj-  he 
returned  soon,  as  two  of  the  Indians  were  still  there, 
and  after  he  had  driven  them  off  he  found  that  the}- 
had  stolen  §200.  At  another  time  several  Indians 
entered  his  house  one  night,and  he  awoke  to  find  one 
of  them  reaching  for  his  throat.  He  jumped  from 
his  bed,  caught  the  Indian  b}-  the  hip  and  demanded 
to  know  what  they  wanted.  Upon  answering  "fire 
water,"  he  told  them  they  could  have  it  at  sunrise. 

At  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  War  ail  the  in- 
habitants for  miles  along  the  Illinois  entered  Ft. 
Clark  for  protection.  Mr.  Birket,  with  cliaracter- 
istic  coolness  and  courage,  remained  outside  bury- 
ing all  his  meats  and  valuables  so  that  the  Indians 
might  not  have  the  benefit  of  them  if  they  came 
in  that  direction.  Prior  to  that  on  one  occasion 
when  the  Indians  were  molesting  the  whites,  he 
was  also  the  only  one  who  remained  at  his  home. 


278 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOCxRAPIIlCAL  ALUl'M. 


and  that  was  the  first  time  that  he  ever  locked  his 
door,  which  was  done  with  a  chip. 

During  the  first  years  of  liis  residence  in  Peoria 
County,  Mr.  Birliet  was  engaged  in  many  pioneer 
enterprises,  and  planted  the  first  orchard  in  what  is 
now  the  corporate  limits  of  the  city  of  Peoria;  from 
this  he  raised  the  first  apples  and  other  fruit  in  the 
county.  About  1831  he  sent  about  a  half  peek  of 
apples  to  a  former  neighbor  who  was  then  living  at 
Ft.  Dearborn  (Chicago).  Those  apples  were  sent 
bv  a  gentleman,  who  in  order  to  secure  a  marriage 
license  had  come  from  that  place  to  Peoria,  then 
the  countj'-.'scat  of  the  northeastern  portion  of  the 
State.  This  illustrates  the  strong  bond  of  friend- 
ship existing  among  the  old  settlers. 

In  1839  Mr.  Birket  removed  to  Tazewell  Count}', 
where  he  bought  four  hundred  acres  of  land  and 
engaged  in  manufacturing  lumber.  After  ten  3'ears 
residence  there  he  returned  to  Peoria  and  lived 
here  until  his  death,  October  IG,  1874;  thus 
was  closed  a  life  well  rounded  in  years  and  filled 
with  those  deeds  that  make  a  man  in  the  fullest 
sense  of  the  word  ;  this  city,  for  which  he  did  much, 
mourned  the  death  of  a  revered  citizen  and  still 
clierishes  his  memory  as  one  of  its  most  useful  pio- 
neers. His  hand  was  felt  in  many  enterprises  that 
were  inaugurated  for  the  benefit  of  tlie  community, 
and  es(>ecially  was  he  generous  in  his  support  of 
the  church,  his  donations  in  that  direction  being 
quite  considerable ;  among  them  were  ten  acres  of 
land,  which  afterward  became  Gallagher's  Addition 
to  Peoria,  and  he  gave  an  acre  of  land  to  Ju- 
bilee College  and  substantial  aid  in  liehalf  of  St. 
Paul's  Church.  He  donated  all  of  block  No.  127, 
and  half  of  block  No.  1 1  G,to  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
diocese  of  Illinois  to  be  used  as  the  site  of  a  church. 
The  land  comprising  Keigliin's  Addition  to  Peoria 
once  belonged  to  him,  and  he  gave  it  all  to  a  man 
for  plastering  his  house,  which  goes  to  show  either 
the  small  value  of  the  land  at  that  time,  or  the 
enormous  cost  of  plastering. 

In  the  accumulation  of  his  proper!}'  Mr.  Birket 
received  substantial  aid  from  his  wife,  who  pre- 
ceded him  in  death  many  3'ears,  dying  December 
24,  1852.  She  was  married  to  our  subject  August 
17,  1831.  Her  maiden  name  was  Maijor}'  Thomas, 
and  she  was  a  daughter  of  Col.  John  Thomas,  who 


was  killed  by  the  Indians  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio.  The 
widow  of  Co).  Thomas  died  in  Peoria, December  27. 
1850. 

John  Charles  Birket,  the  son  of  John  Birket,  of 
whom  we  have  just  written,  was  born  in  Peoria 
February  3,  1834,  and  was  reared  under  the  influ- 
ences of  pioneer  life,  receiving  his  education  in  pri- 
vate schools.  He  gave  his  attention  to  farming 
for  a  number  of  years,  although  he  lias  alwa3's 
dealt  in  real  estate  more  or  less  since  he  began  life 
on  his  own  account,  and  now  makes  it  his  principal 
business.  Mr.  Birket  is  very  fond  of  his  home,  has 
never  cared  to  travel,  and  has  never  been  out  of 
his  native  State.  He  is  a  firm  Republican  in  politics. 

The  union  of  John  C.  Birket  and  Ann  Jane 
Grundy  in  the  hoh'  bonds  of  matrimony  was  cele- 
brated January  1,  1868,  and  has  been  blessed  1)3' 
the  birth  of  five  children,  namely :  Mary  A.  J., 
John  Charles,  Walter  A.  and  William  E.  (twins), 
and  Louisa  Isabel.  Mrs.  Birket  is  the  daughter  of 
Edmund  and  Jane  Grundy,  natives  of  Bolton,  Eng- 
land, where  Mrs.  Bii-ket  was  also  born.  The3'  came 
to  Peoria  in  1849,  and  aided  in  the  development  of 
the  county  from  its  uncultivated  condition  to  one 
of  prosperit3'. 

In  connection  with  this  sketch  the  reader  will 
notice  a  lithographic  portrait  of  the  late  John  Bir- 
ket, whose  name  is  still  held  in  loving  remembrance 
though  he  has  long  since  passed  from  earth. 

iOBERT  ARMSTRONG,  a  man  of  wealth 
and  an  extensive  landowner,  now  residiu"- 
Ji  "^  in  Knox  County,  was  among  the  first  comers 
in  Peoria  County  in  the  earl}-  days  of  its 
settlement,  and  the  historj'  of  this  section  of  the 
State,  as  told  in  the  records  of  the  lives  of  its  citi- 
zens on  these  |)ages.  would  be  incomplete  without  a 
sketch  of  his  life  and  work,  as  he  was  an  earl}-  set- 
tler of  Millbrook  Township,  and  was  prominent 
among  the  leading  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  it 
gives  us  great  pleasure  to  be  enabled  to  represent 
him  in  this  I>u>Gi;ArHic.\L  Album. 

Our  venerable  subject  is  a  native  of  Scotland, 
and  was  born   in  that  countr}'  August   12,    1805, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


279 


coming  of  sterling-  Scotcii  ancestry.  His  parents, 
J;itnes  and  Agnes  Armstrong,  were  also  of  Scottish 
hirlli.  Our  subject  passetl  iiis  cliihlhood,  youth, 
mill  the  (iiieniiig  years  of  his  manhood  in  Dumfries- 
sliire,  the  shire  of  his  nativity,  and  was  mostly  en- 
giigrnl  in  herding  sheep  until  he  came  here.  His 
opportunities  for  attending  school  were  limited,  but 
lie  acquired  some  book-learning  in  si)ile  <  f  the  dis- 
advantages under  which  he  labored,  and  by  self- 
education  has  acquired  a  good  fund  of  useful 
knowledge.  In  183G,  in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous, 
healthy  manhood,  he  left  home  and  native  land, 
ambitious  to  see  if  life  did  not  hold  something  bet- 
ter for  him  in  the  large  and  powerful  Republic 
across  the  sea,  to  which  so  many  of  his  countrymen 
had  wended  their  waj'.  He  embarked  on  a  vessel 
at  Liverpool,  and  six  weeks  and  two  daj'S  later  he 
step|)ed  foot  on  Ameri<'an  soil,  landing  in  tiie  great 
metropolis  of  the  country,  and  coming  directly  to 
this  county.  He  was  not  without  means,  as  are  so 
many  foreigners  who  land  on  these  shores,  but  had 
sutHcicnt  capital  to  invest  in  quite  a  large  tract  of 
wild  land  on  section  (!,  Millbrook  Township,  com- 
prising three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  mostly  in 
timber  and  brush,  and  he  purchased  it  from  theGov- 
ernnu'nt,i)aying  ><1.2r)  an  acre.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
to  settle  in  Millbrook  Township,  and  there  were  not 
many  white  men  ne.'ir  him,  but  there  was  a  trilje  of 
four  hundred  Indians  north  of  him  a  little  way. 
However  he  was  not  long  troubled  with  their  pres- 
ence, as  the  Government  removed  them  further 
westward  the  same  fall. 

When  he  settled  on  bis  homestead,  Mr.  Arm- 
strong bad  a  large  amount  of  [jioneer  work  to  do 
in  clearing  awav  the  forest  and  iireparing  the  land 
for  cultivation,  and  also  had  to  build  a  shoUer  for 
his  family.  He  actively  entered  upon  the  hard  task 
before  him  witli  a  courageous  heart  and  a  steady 
determination  to  succeed  in  his  undertakings.  His 
lirst  employment  was  to  Ijuild  a  log  house,  18x24 
feet  in  dimensions,  which  was  his  dwelling  the  next 
ten  years  until  he  found  time  to  erect  a  more  com- 
modious and  comfortable  house,  with  which  he  at 
leiigth  rei)laccd  his  first  primitive  abode.  In  the 
course  of  years  he  put  his  land  under  excellent  till- 
age, and  constantly  made  valuable  inii)rovements 
until  his  farm  came  to  be   regarded   as  one  of  the 


most  desirable  in  all  Millbrook  Township.  He  has 
added  to  his  original  purchase,  anil  now  has  four- 
hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land  in  Peoria  and 
Knox  Counties.  He  continued  to  live  in  Mill- 
brook Township  until  the  s[)ring  of  1887,  when  he 
removed  with  his  wife  to  their  present  pleasant 
home  near  the  county  line  in  Knox  County,  and 
near  Rochester. 

Mr.  Armstrong  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
first  wedded  to  Mrs.  Rachel  Clifford,  who  bore  him 
two  children,  Agnes  and  Lena,  the  latter  of  whom 
is  deceased.  Agnes  is  the  wife  of  John  Kaus,  of 
Knox  County. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  |)resent  wife  was 
Agnes  Brown,  and  she  is,  like  himself,  a  native  of 
the  land  of  the  Scots,  born  in  A3'reshire,  in  the 
month  of  January,  181C,  a  daughter  of  William 
Brown.  Her  mother  died  when  she  was  a  mere 
child.  Her  early  years  were  passed  in  Scotland, 
and  when  she  was  thirty-three  years  of  age,  she 
came  to  America  and  to  this  county,  and  in  due 
time  married  Mr.  Armstrong,  and  has  been  to  him 
all  that  is  implied  in  the  term,  a  true  wife.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  our  subject  of  this 
union,  of  whom  two  are  living,  Robert,  and  Jane, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Waldon,  of  Knox  County.  The 
name  of  the  child  wlio  died,  was  James. 

The  sunset  of  life  finds  our  subject  and  his  es- 
timable wife  serenely  .awaiting  life's  great  end,  in 
freedom  from  the  cares  and  labors  that  beset  them 
in  the  heat  of  the  day,  in  a  home  whose  comforts 
and  luxuries  have  boon  procured  by  the  ample  com- 
petence that  is  the  fruit  of  their  united  toil  when 
they  were  young.  It  has  been  said  that  the  trials 
and  liardshii)S  that  the  pioneers  encountered  in  their 
struggles  in  building  up  this  count r}', strengthened 
their  character  and  better  fitted  them  for  the  cares 
and  responsibilities  of  after  life,  making  them  have 
a  warmer  side  for  their  fellow-men,  and  creating  a 
willingness  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  those  who  are 
in  distress.  This  is  eminently  true  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Armstrong,  and  their  names  are  synonyms  of  love 
and  charity,  while  many  have  cause  to  bless  their 
benefactions,  and  are  among  the  warm  friends  they 
have  gathered  around  them  in  the  long  3'ears  they 
have  lived  in  this  State.  Thej-  are  true  Christian 
peo[iIe,  and  are  devoted  members  of   the   Congro- 


280 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


gational  Church.  Mr.  Armstrong  has  served  as 
School  Director,  and  has  in  various  ways  earnestly 
sought  to  elevate  the  social,  moral,  and  educational 
status  of  the  community.  A  man  of  intelligent 
views  on  all  subjects,  and  having  decided  opinions 
of  his  own,  he  is  independent  in  politics,  and  votes 
for  the  man  rather  than  for  part3'. 


-»*»- 


-o»o>^y^.,A^..o4o- 


!()SEPH  S.  BARNUM.  This  cognomen  is 
familiar,  not  only  to  the  residents  of  Prince- 
ville,wliere  its  possessor  abides,  but  through- 
out the  county  and  adjoining  country-.  He 
who  bears  it  is  the  editor  of  the  Prinoeville  Tele- 
7)7('i//e,  a  live,  eight-column  folio,  and  the  publisher 
of  the  Home  Advocate,  a  weekly  prohibition  pajier 
that  was  started  June  6,  1889.  under  control  of  the 
Prohibition  party  of  the  Congressional  district.  A 
careful  reader  of  the  accompanying  :jotes  will  form 
a  just  conclusion  regarding  some  of  the  traits  in 
the  character  of  our  subject  and  his  fitness  for  the 
work  which  he  is  now  carrying  on. 

The  Barnum  family  is  oi  English  extraction  and 
members  of  it  settled  in  New  England  man^-  years 
ago.  In  Danbury,  Conn.,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Ijethuel  Barnum,  was  boru,  going  thence 
to  the  Catskill  Mountains  in  boyhood.  Ho  became 
the  owner  of  a  farm,  also  carrying  on  milling  and 
participating  in  the  straggle  against  British  tyr- 
anny in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  centurj'. 
His  son  .labez  became  a  contractor  in  turnpike  and 
similar  work.  About  1830  the  latter  removed  to 
Detroit,  Mich.,  continuing  his  contracting  but  also 
paying  some  attention  to  farming.  He  subse- 
qnentlj'  operated  a  farm  in  Kalamazoo  County', 
whence  in  185G  he  removed  to  Hardin  County, 
Iowa.  There  he  entered  laud  and  continuid  farm- 
ing until  his  death.  lie  filled  various  local  ofHces, 
being  highlj'  regarded  by  his  fellow-citizens.  lie 
was  a  sturdy  Republican,  and  during  slavery  times 
an  .\bolitionist.  He  belonged  to  the  I'.aittist  Church. 
The  wife  of  Jabez  Barnum  was  Anna  Goodsell, 
a  native  of  the  Catskill  region  in  New  York.  Her 
father  was  a  hunter  and  trapper,  and  during  the 
RevoUitioiiary  War  served  the  Colonists  as  a  scout, 


He  finallj'  removed  to  Wayne  County,  Mich.,  where 
he  died  on  a  farm.  He  was  of  Welsh  descent.  Mrs. 
Anna  (Goodsell)  Barnum  breathed  her  h.st  in  Iowa. 
She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom 
grew  to  maturit}-  and  three  are  now  living.  The 
survivors  are:  A.  G.,  of  Ackley,  Iowa;  Joseph  S., 
of  this  notice,  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rice,  of  Frank- 
lin County,  Iowa. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Detroit,  Mich.,  Maj'  3,  1832,  and  reared  to  about 
the  age  of  eleven  j'ears  in  his  native  city.  He  then 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Kalamazoo  County, 
completed  his  education  at  .Schoolcraft  and  Battle 
Creek  Academies,  and  on  the  home  farm  received 
parental  advice  and  instruction.  In  18.5G  he  went 
to  Iowa,  traveling  with  a  team  from  Rock  Island 
to  Hardin  Couutj',  where  he  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He  located  upon  it  and 
made  it  his  home  for  some  jears.  He  devoted  him- 
self to  surveying  four  years,  during  a  part  of  this 
time  filling  the  ottice  of  County  Surveyor,  and 
aftci  the  expiration  of  the  two  years  for  which  he 
was  elected  continuing  his  professional  work.  A 
part  of  the  time  of  his  residence  near  Ackley  was 
devoted  to  teaching. 

In  18G4  Mr.  Barnum  came  to  Peoria  County. 
111.,  on  a  visit,  and  on  the  23d  of  November  his 
marriage  was  celebrated  with  Miss  llattie  Benja- 
min. This  intelligent  and  worthj'  lady  was  boru  in 
Medina  Township,  where  her  wedding  was  cele- 
brated. For  a  time  Mr.  Barnum  engaged  in  various 
pursuits,  among  them  being  farming,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1868  removed  with  his  family  to  Topeka,  Kan. 
He  built  a  home  in  tluit  city,  but  afterward  |Hir- 
chased  three  hundred"  and  sevent\--five  acres  of  land 
in  Jefferson  County,  on  the  Grasshopper  River, 
which  he  improved  and  operated  until  the  spring  of 
1873.  He  then  sold  his  real  estate  and  in  the  fall 
took  up  his  residence  in  Princeville.  this  county. 
He  traveled  as  a  collector  for  Eastern  houses  and 
was  otherwise  occupied  until  December  1,  1880, 
when  he  took  charge  of  the  seven-column  folio,  the 
Princeville  Independent. 

In  1881  Mr.  Barnum  bought  the  sheet  which  he 
was  conducting,  and  making  of  journalism  a  suc- 
cess, he  enlarged  the  paper  which  on  September 
27,  1883,  was  first   issued  under  its   new  name  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


281 


Telephone.  Mr.  Banuim  wields  :i  ready  pen,  evinces 
good  judgment  in  the  selection  of  matter  for  pub- 
lication, and  is  doing  nuich  to  advance  the  welfare 
of  his  town  and  mold  the  sentiments  of  its  people. 
In  addition  to  the  publishing  of  his  own  paper  aiul 
the  Home  Advocate,  he  also  does  general  job  work. 
As  might  he  expected  from  the  publication  of 
which  lie  lias  ciiarge,  Mr.  Baruuni  is  now  a  Prohi- 
bitionist, lie  helped  to  organize  the  Greenback 
party  in  the  Tentii  District  of  Illinois,  at  Elmwood, 
was  nominated  for  County  Clerk  and  ran  ahead  of 
his  ticket.  He  was  Postm.aster  in  Princeville.  dur- 
ing Cleveland's  administration.  To  him  and  his 
good  wife  four  children  have  been  l)orn,  two  of 
whom,  Stella  I),  and  Emory  E.,  are  still  at  home. 
Edwin  J.,  tiie  lirst-born  married  Miss  Lillian  Wear 
an<l  assists  his  father  in  his  journalistic  work;  Dial 
II..  the  second-born,  m.arried  F.  K.  Pennington,  a 
civil  engineer,  whose  home  is  in  Westfield.  Ind. 
On  the  31st  of  .Inly,  1890.  .1.  S.  Barnum.  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  nominated  by  the  joint 
Union  Labor  Convention  of  the  Tenth  Illincis 
Congressional  District,  as  their  candidate  for  Con- 
gress. 


SAAC  FISHER  has  been  carryingon  his  calling 
as  a  practical  farmer  in  Roselicld  Township  for 
several  3'ears,  and  is  cl.assed  among  the  sub 
stantial  agriculturists  of  this  section  of  the  county. 
He  comes  of  stalwart  Revolutionary  ancestr}' and 
of  an  old  pioneer  family  of  Ohio.  He  was  born  in 
that  State  in  the  township  of  Berkshire,  in  the 
county  of  Delaware,  January  17,  1824. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  George  and 
Pli(i'i)e  (ilopkins)  Fisher,  natives,  respectively,  of 
Washington  and  Luzerne  Counties.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  Jacob  and  Eva  (Elie)  Fisher, 
who  came  from  their  native  German}^  after  their 
marriage  and  settled  in  this  country  in  Colonial 
days,  and  he  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  War  for 
Inilependencc.  In  1797  he  and  his  wife  removed 
to  the  wilds  of  Ohio,  and  were  among  its  early  pio- 
neera,  and  there  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- two. 
His  wife  preceded  him  in  death  twenty  j-ears.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  theii  only  child,  and  he 


was  eighteen  j-ears  of  age  when  his  parents  left 
Pennsylvania  to  take  up  their  abode  in  the  pri- 
meval forests  of  Ohio,  and  there  ho  spent  his  remain- 
ing (hi3's,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  His 
wife,  who  was  ten  years  younger  than  himself,  died 
at  the  .age  of  seventy-one  j'ears.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Timoth)'  Hopkins,  who  removed  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Ohio  about  1798.  and  was  one  of  the 
earl)'  settlers  in  that  part  of  iho  cimntry  in  its  terri- 
torial days.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed 
there  amid  its  pioneer  scenes.  He  served  in  the 
Continental  army  during  the  Revolution. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  twelve  children, 
namel)':  Polh'  (Mrs.  Utley),  deceased;  Jacob,  of 
Delaware  County,  Ohio;  .lohn.  who  died,  leaving 
one  daughter;  Henr\-;  (ieorgc,  who  died,  leaving  a 
son  and  daughter;  Sallie  (Mrs.  Beechcr),  of  this 
county;  Eliza  (Mrs.  Roseerans),  of  this  county; 
Phcebe  (Mrs.  Humes),  of  Ft.  Inde[)cndencc,  Kan.; 
Betsey  (Mrs.  Carter),  of  Delaware  County,  Ohio; 
Lydia,  deceased;  Alonzo,  a  resident  of  Ohio.  All 
married  and  reared  families  except  one.  The  fa- 
ther of  our  subject  served  gallantly  in  the  War  of 
1812.  He  purchased  his  first  farm  of  one  hundred 
anil  ten  acres  with  hand-made  linen,  giving  a  yard 
of  linen  for  each  acre  of  land.  He  was  ver)'  mrch 
prospered  in  his  calling,  and  w.as  enabled  to  give 
each  of  his  children  a  good  start  in  life  by  present- 
ing  them  with  a  farm. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer, 
and  although  his  school  privileges  were  limited  he 
gained  suflicient  education  to  enable  him  to  teach 
successfully,  and  he  was  thus  engaged  a  few  terms. 
He  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  and  at  the  age  of  twent}'  obtained  a  po- 
sition as  guard  at  an  asj-lum  for  the  insane  and  was 
thus  employed  for  three  years.  He  had  a  natural 
taste  for  agricultural  pursuits,  and  invested  some  of 
his  money  in  land,  purchasing  his  first  fifty  acres 
In  Ohio,  his  native  State.  He  did  well  there  and  be- 
came somewhat  prominent  in  the  public  life  of  the 
l)lace  where  he  lived,  and  for  four  years  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  thought  that  he  could 
improve  his  financial  condition  b}'  farming  on  the 
rich  soil  of  the  Prairie  State,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1869  he  came  hither  and  located  on  the  place  where 
he  now  resides.     He  first  rented  the  eight)-  acres  of 


282 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


land  that  composed  it,  and  in  1874  purchased  that 
tract  and  has  constantly  been  engaged  in  its  im- 
provement, until  now  he  has  one  of  the  best  tilled 
and  most  productive  farms  in  the  neighborhood, 
wliieh  he  is  conducting  after  the  most  improved 
methods. 

March  14,  1850.  Mr.  Fisher  secured  by  his  mar- 
riage to  Amanda  Malvina  McNair,  a  useful  and 
active  helpmate.  She  was  born  in  Yates  County', 
N".  Y..  January  1,  1826,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Dianna  (Westbrook)  McNair.  who  were  natives, 
respectively,  of  Rhode  Island  and  Pennsylvania. 
The}'  were  earlj'  pioneers  of  Ohio,  and  he  died  in 
Delaware  County  at  the  .age  fifty,  while  her  death 
occurred  in  Wyandot  County  at  the  age  of  sev- 
entj'-three.  She  had  been  three  times  married. 
IMr.  McNair  was  a  son  of  Robert  McNair,  whose 
father  came  from  Scotland.  Robert  McNair  was  a 
shoemaker  by  occupation.  His  wife  was  Sarah 
I'cckam,  and  they  reared  eight  children — nve  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Mrs.  McNair  was  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Sarah  (Lewis)  Westbrook,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  the}-  were  engaged  in  farming. 
They  had  twelve  children  and  reared  eight — three 
sons  and  five  daughters.  Mr.  Westbrook  came  to 
this  countrj-  from  Holland,  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tion, was  a  pioneer  of  Ohio,  and  died  in  Knox 
Count}-,  tiiat  State. 

Mrs.  Fisher  is  one  of  twelve  children,  of  whom 
ten  grew  to  maturity:  Rebecca  (Mrs.  Evans)  of 
Ohio;  Abraham  died  in  California,  leaving  a  fam- 
ily in  Iowa;  Daniel,  a  resident  of  Iowa;  Phebe 
(Mrs.  Frost),  who  died  in  Ogle  County,  111.;  Ma- 
tilda and  Diana,  who  died  young;  Amanda  M. ; 
lluldah  (Mrs.  Secoy),  of  Ohio,  deceased;  James, 
wiio  died  in  Ohio;  Nancy  and  Elizabeth  J.,  who 
died  in  childhood,  and  Wheeler  W.,  of  Van  Wert, 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Fisher  are  enjoying  the  de- 
clining years  of  a  busy  life  in  the  comforts  of  a 
cozy  home.  Of  their  four  children  born  to  them 
two  are  still  living — Henry  W.  and  Phebe  A. 

Mr.  Fisher  possesses  those  solid  virtues  that  mark 
a  man  of  real  worth,  and  he  is  justly  considered 
one  of  our  most  reliable  citizens.  His  sound 
common  sense,  shrewdness  and  discretion  have 
been  made  available  in  the  management  of  public 
affairs,  and  he  has  held  important  local  offices.    He 


is  now  serving  hi*  third  term  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  for  ten  years  was  Road  Commissioner. 
In  politics  he  is  a  sound  Democrat,  and  has  been 
true  to  party  principles  since  he  cast  his  first  vote 
foi'  President  in  1840,  in  support  of  Gen.  Cass. 


ENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  SLANE,  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  early  settlers  of  Peoria 
Connty,  is  classed  among  the  most  prosper- 
ous members  of  its  farming  community. 
As  a  pioneer  of  Princevillc  Township,he  has  wielded 
a  potent  influence  in  bringing  about  its  present 
standing  as  a  well  improved  and  wealthy  farming 
region.  He  has  accumulated  a  handsome  property 
and  contemplates  retiring  from  the  active  life  ne- 
cessitated by  the  proper  care  of  his  extensive  inter- 
ests. 

Our  subject  comes  of  an  old  Virginia  family,  and 
was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  W.  Va.,  April  29, 
1825.  Benjamin  Slane.  his  father,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Va.,  in  Winchester,  and  his  fa- 
ther, of  the  same  name,  was  also  a  Virginian  by 
birth,  and  was  the  youngest  of  a  large  family.  His 
fatiier  was  from  Ireland  and  died  shortly  before,  or 
about  the  time  the  family  came  to  this  country. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  followed  farming, 
until  his  death  in  Hampshire  County,  W.  Va.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Episcopalian  Church  and  was 
strong  in  the  faith. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive county.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  an  in- 
fant and  he  was  the  only  child  of  that  marriage. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier  and 
later  opened  an  establishment  of  his  own  on  Cold 
Stream.  He  failed  in  that  venture  and  in  1830, 
started  westward.  He  stopped  one  year  in  Som- 
merset,  Perry  County,  Ohio,  Gen.  Sheridan's  old 
home,  and  was  there  engaged  in  the  tannery  busi- 
ness. The  following  year  he  came  to  Peoria  County, 
arriving  here  November  7.  He  found  but  three  or 
four  white  families  in  Peoria,  though  the  Indians 
were  more  numerous,  and  the  city  was  then  forti- 
fied and  known  as  F't.  Clark.  Mr.  Slane  remained 
tiiere  until  1  833,  employed  in  various  [mrsuits   and 


I'OKTHAIT  AND   IIKH  ;  RA  1>M  ICAL  ALIJUM. 


283 


ILou  went  to  Ricliwooils  Towiishii>,  and  pre-empted 
Land  and  entered  upon  its  im|)roveraent.  Two 
3-ears  later  he  sold  his  claim  to  S.  Kryc  and  removed 
to  what  is  now  Roselield  Townshii),  on  the  Kicka- 
poo,  where  lie  boujiht  Government  land,  paying 
fifty  per  eenl  interest  on  money  he  borrowed  to  buy 
his  place.  lie  remained  on  it  until  1840,  and  there 
had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  faithful  wife,  who 
had  shared  with  him  in  the  trials  and  hardships  of 
their  [tioneer  life,  her  death  oecurring  in  183i».  His 
next  location  was  in  I'rinceville.and  here  he  farmed 
some  and  en£i;aged  in  various  other  pursuits.  He 
boiiuht  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  where 
the  Sante  Fe  Station  now  is,  and  the  title  to  the 
properly  is  stdl  in  the  family.  Mei'e  the  remainder 
of  his  life  was  passed  and  he  developed  and  im- 
proved his  farm  into  one  of  the  choice  estates  of 
the  vicinity,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in  1875, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  In 
politics  he  was  a  sturdy  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Delilah  Cheshire,  and  she  was  born  in  Hampshire 
County,  \X.  Ya.  Her  grandfather,  John  Cheshire, 
a  farmer,  and  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  spent 
his  last  years  in  Hampshire  County.  .She  was  a 
true  and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Churcli.  She  was  the  youngest  of  her  family 
and  succumbed  to  the  jirivations  of  pioneer  life  in 
18.'}!),  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine  j'ears.  She  was  the 
mt,ther  of  seven  children  as  follows:  Benjamin 
F.,  John  /.  and  Klizabeth  A.,  living  in  Priuceville 
Townshii);  Delilah  J.,  wife  of  N.  E.  Root,  Mission 
('reek,  Pawnee  County,  Neb.;  Samuel  S.  and  J.  T. 
of  I'rinceville  Township.  John  took  part  in  the 
late  Civil  War  as  a  member  of  the  Eighty-sixth 
Illinois  Infantry,  Company  K, enlisting  in  IS62,and 
serving  until  the  close  of  hostilities. 

Our  subject  passed  the  (irst  liveyears  of  his  life 
in  Virginia,  and  then  went  to  Ohio  in  1830,  with 
his  i)arents,  the  journey  being  made  b}'  team  and 
wagons.  A  year  later  the  family  again  started  on  a 
westward  journey,  going  by  team  to  the  Muskingum 
Hiver,  then  by  keel  boat  to  Marietta,  Ohio,  from 
there  by  steamboat  to  Louisville,  then  carrying 
their  goods  around  the  falls  and  re-embarking  on 
the  boat  for  St.  Louis  and  from  there  coming  in  a 
stern  wheeler  to  Peoria,  taking  a  week  to    [)crform 


this  latter  stage  of  the  journey.  Seme  Indians 
were  among  the  passengers  up  the  river  and  they 
still  made  their  home  in  this  co.unty  when  our  sul)- 
ject's  father  first  settled  here.  He  was  given  the 
best  educational  advantages  that  I'eoria  County 
afforded  in  those  days,  the  only  college  being  a  log 
schoolliouse  in  which  the  schools  were  conducted 
on  the  subscrii)lion  plan.  He  was  early  made  to 
assist  in  the  farm  labors  and  when  seventeen  years 
of  age  went  out  to  work  breaking  prairie,  chopping 
wood,  and  tilling  the  soil.  His  father  was  a  famous 
hunter  and  our  subject  also  enjoyed  that  pastime, 
as  wild  game  w-as  very  plentiful  here  in  earlj'  days, 
and  he  has  seen  as  many  as  fifty  and  one  hundred 
deer  in  a  drove.  Hard  labor  was  the  order  of  the 
day  and  the  pioneers  often  suffered  priratious  and 
led  lives  of  self  sacrifice.  Our  sul)ject  worked  for 
his  father  principally  until  he  was  twenty -six  j'ears 
old,  as  the  older  boys  helped  their  father  on  ac- 
count of  his  inability,  being  a  sufferer  from  rheu- 
matism. In  1840,  he  came  to  this  township,  and 
he  and  his  brother,  John,  engaged  in  making  lime, 
in  the  spring  of  1815,  our  subject  went  into  the  busi  ■ 
ness  more  extensivel}'  and  had  two  kilns  for  burn- 
ing lime  and  operated  them  i)rofitably  for  five  j'ears 
and  he  opened  a  stone  quarry,  and  made  a  success 
of  that  also.  He  furnished  lime  to  aji  extent  of 
forty  miles  in  the  north,  west  .anil  east  of  them, and 
lived  most  of  the  lime  in  Akron  Township,  until 
his  marriage. 

This  important  event  in  the  life  of  our  subject 
occurred  in  Princeville  Township,  January  6,  1852, 
when  he  was  united  to  Miss  Sarah  Henry.  She  was 
born  in  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  a  daughter  of  Col. 
James  and  F'annie  Henry,  the  former  a  native  of 
Fayette  Countj-,  Pa.,  and  the  latter  of  Irish  birth. 
Her  father  was  a  farmer  in  Crawford  County,  and 
took  part  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  later  was  Colonel 
of  a  Pennsylvania  State  Militia  regiment.  He  was 
otherwise  |)rominent  in  public  life  and  for  three 
terms  represented  his  district  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture. In  1850,  he  came  here  with  his  family,  and 
as  he  was  a  man  of  some  means,  lived  retired  until 
the  time  of  his  death  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  spending  his  last  years  with  Mrs.  Slanc's 
mother  and  dying  ii^  18fi7. 

Six  children  have  been  born    to   Mr.  and    Mrs. 


284 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL''ALBUM. 


Slane:  Odillon  B.  livinof  on  the  home  farm,  was 
educated  at  the  Peoria  Normal  and  has  been  en- 
gaged princialij-  iu  teaching;  Ida.  living  at  home 
attended  the  Valparaiso  Normal  iu  Indiana;  Oliver 
C.  who  is  in  the  hardware  business  in  Peoria,  is  a 
graduate  of  Bail\''s  Commercial  College  at  Keokuit, 
Iowa;  Kdgi'.r  P.,  a  farmer  in  Monica,  attended  tlie 
Valparaiso  Normal;  ElgieM.,  an  artist  and  a  gradu- 
ate of  tlie  art  department  of  the  Valparaiso  Nor- 
mal, is  the  wife  of  F.  C.  Ralston,  Cashier  of  the 
Meridan  Silver  Plating  Co.,  of  Chicago,  and  Jlina. 
a  school  teacher  living  at  home. 

Our  subject  and  liis  brother  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Princeville  Township, 
located  on  it,  erecting  suitable  buildings,  lived  to- 
gether and  farmed  in  partnership.  AVhile  his 
brother  was  in  the  army,  our  subject  managed  the 
farm  alone.  In  those  tiroes  the  farmers  of  Illinois 
made  money  fast,  as  their  grain  commauded  high 
prices  and  Mr.  .Slane  sold  wheat  at  $'d  per  bushel 
and  corn  at  ¥1  per  bushel.  -  In  1869,  the  brothers 
dissolved  partnorshi]),  our  subject  selling  his  share 
of  the  farm  to  liis  brotiier,  and  he  then  bought  one 
hundred  and  flft}^  acres  of  land  on  section  7,  Akron 
Townsliip.  lie  farmed  it  tliree  years.  Tlie  Rock 
Island  Railroad  Companj'  put  a  part  of  their  road 
through  his  farm  and  lie  and  some  of  his  neighbors 
sued  the  companj'  for  the  value  of  their  land  and 
he  succeeded  in  getting  ^600,  and  after  that  he 
would  not  staj'  on  the  place.  Selling  that  place  in 
1871,  he  came  to  Princeville  Township,  and  in 
1872  bought  his  present  farm  of  Lhree  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  sections  .35  and  36,  for  $15,000.  It 
was  partly  improved  and  he  located  on  section  35, 
aud  commenco<l  the  work  of  its  further  develop- 
ment and  now  has  one  of  the  choicest  and  best  im- 
proved farms  in  this  part  of  the  count}-.  He  has 
been  extensively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  and  has  acquired  wealth.  In  1890,  he  sold 
his  property-  to  his  brother  and  retired  from  farm- 
ing, and  will  probabi}'  move  to  W\-omingand  make 
his  home  there  in  the  future.  He  owns  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  fine  farming  land  near  Monica,  which 
is  under  cultivation  and  is  well  improved. 

Mr.  Slane  is  pre-eminently  a  self-made  man,  well 
endowed  with  those  elements  of  character  that  make 
life  a  success,  and  one  needs  but  to  peruse    these 


pages  devoted  to  his  life  record  to  see  that  he  has 
put  liis  f.aculties  to  good  use  and  is  to-day  a  man  of 
affluence.  These  many  j-ears  that  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  county  have  gained  him  man}'  warm 
friends,  and  his  pleasant  face  and  genial  manners 
make  him  well  liked  b}'  all.  He  has  given  his  ser- 
vices to  the  township  in  various  official  capacities 
and  has  worked  zealously  to  promote  any  scheme 
that  would  iu  any  way  enhance  the  interests  of  this 
locality.  During  the  war  he  was  Collector  for  two 
j-ears,  and  for  nianj'  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  School  Board.  He  was  Supervisor  bj'  appoint- 
ment twice,  but  did  not  accept  the  position.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Detective  Thief  Association.  He  is 
prominent  in  politics,  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  is 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Central  Com- 
mittee, and  has  been  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions. Five  or  six  times  he  has  been  called  on  to 
serve  on  tiie  Grand  Jury. 


AMES  T.  JOHNSON.  In  tlie  thriving  city 
of  Peoria  there  m.ay  be  found  a  numlter  of 
men  in  whom  the  inventive  genius  is  strong 
and  to  whom  the  patent  office  reports  are 
the  most  interesting  of  all  literature.  One  f)f  the 
foremost  of  these  is  James  T.  Johnson,  inventor  and 
patentee  of  the  Acme  Coal  &  Stone  Drill,  and  of 
the  Lightning  Coal  &  Stone  Drill,  which  is  guaran- 
teed to  drill  two  feet  per  minute  in  clean  coal  with 
two-man  i)Ower.  He  first  patented  the  Acme  Drill, 
had  it  manufactured  for  him  and  conducted  its  sale 
throughout  the  United  States  about  two  years,  after 
which  he  began  the  manufacture  himself.  This  was 
in  1887,  since  which  time  he  has  built  shops,  32x70 
feet,  with  steam  power,  at  No.  111-113  Garden 
Street,  where  he  carries  on  the  manufacture  of  his 
inventions.  He  improved  the  first  patent,  and  sub- 
sequently he  and  Isaac  AVantling  invented  the 
Lightning  Drill  which  is  also  having  an  extensive 
sale  throughout  the  country  from  Pennsjivania  to 
Wyoming  and  Montana,  thousands  of  them  being 
in  operation.  Thej^  have  also  invented  a  coal  cut- 
ting, a  coal  mining  and  coal  drilling  machine  all 
combined  and  run  by  either  hand  or  electricity. 


c^m/m 


PORTRAIT  AND  lilOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


287 


Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
near  Ritbuiond  lliil,  September  2,  1846.  He  re- 
moved to  County  Durham  and  there  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  became  interested  in  mining  and  learned 
all  the  practical  details  of  the  business  in  which  lie 
finally  became  a  contractor,  drivingstone  levels  and 
having  many  of  the  largest  contracts  in  tlie  county. 
In  1870,  he  emigrated  to  Araciica,  continuing  his 
work  in  Pennsylvania  and  later  in  Ohio.  He  finall}' 
removed  to  What  Cheer,  Iowa,  and  while  there  in- 
vented his  first  drill.  His  thorough  knowledge  of 
what  was  needed  in  the  mines  was  of  great  advan- 
tage and  turned  his  mechanical  ingenuity  into  an 
excellent  channel.  About  1885  he  removed  to 
Peoria  to  give  his  whole  attention  to  the  sale  and 
manufacture  of  his  Inventions,  this  seeming  to  him 
a  good  center  for  his  operations. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  was  celebrated  in 
County  Durham,  England,  of  which  his  wife, 
lormerl}-  Miss  Elizabeth  Thompson,  is  a  native. 
Priftr  to  their  removal  to  America,  eight  children 
had  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .lohnsou,five  of 
whom  still  live.  Eour  children  have  been  born  in 
lliis  country,  three  of  these  surviving.  The  living 
sons  and  daughters  who  now  make  up  the  household 
band  are  William,  .lames,  Harriet,  Maggie,  Eliza 
belli,  Fred,  .Iosei)h  and  Katie,  not  one  of  whom  has 
yet  left  the  parental  roof-tree.  Mr.  and  IMrs. 
.Idhuson  are  intelligent,  kindly  and  social,  and  have 
iliawn  around  them  a  pleasant  circle  of  accpiaint- 
nnces.  Mr.  Johnson  is  known  as  a  man  of  honor  in 
business  relations,  and  a  law-abiding  citizen  who 
steadfastly  pursues  an  upright  course  in  life. 


'REDERICK  D.  WEIENNETT.     When  the 

wires  flashed  around  the  world  the  news 
of  the  terrible  dis.aster  at  Chatsworth, 
millions  of  hearts  thrilled  with  sympathy  for 
the  unfortunate  victims  and  their  friends.  Yet 
horrified  ami  grieved  as  the  world  was,  none  but 
those  who  have  suffered  in  alike  manner  can  realize 
the  thickness  of  the  pall  that  settled  over  mourning 
homes  whence  loved  ones  had  gone  forth  in  all 
their   manly    strength    or   womanly-  beauty,  to    be 


borne  back  in  a  few  hours  befcft  of  life  or  bearing 
pain  and  sorrow.  Among  the  stricken  households 
was  that  of  Frederick  D.  Weiennett,  who  was  in- 
stantly killed  in  the  wreck,  while  his  daughter 
Pearl  i-eceived  injuries  whose  marks  she  will  carry 
to  her  grave. 

Benedict  and  Mary  Weiennett,  the  parents  of 
our  subject,  were  natives,  respectively,  of  Switzer- 
land and  Bavaria.  Thej'  were  living  in  Saline, 
Mich.,  when  their  son  was  born,  his  natal  day  hav- 
ing been  May  10,  1837.  The  lad  was  reared  in  his 
native  State,  where  he  obtained  an  excellent  edu- 
cation and  won  success  as  a  school  teacher.  He 
alternated  pedagogical  labors  with  attendance  at 
the  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti,  his  reputation 
as  an  earnest  student  and  an  apt  instructor  being 
equally  good.  Lameness  caused  bj'  illness  unfitted 
him  for  severe  physical  exertion,  and  he  therefore 
sought  light  employment  in  which  brains  would 
take  the  place  of  brawn. 

Immediately  after  the  war  Mr.  Weiennett  came 
to  Peoria,  becoming  book-keeper  for  Louis  Creen, 
wholesale  liquor  dealer,  liy  whom  he  was  taken  into 
partnership  in  1870.  He  subsequently  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  grocery  business,  in  which  he  was 
occupied  wlien  elected  County  Treasurer  in  188.3. 
He  had  previously  served  three  different  times  as 
City  Treasurer  and  at  the  same  time  had  held  the 
position  of  Treasurer  of  the  School  IJoard.  In  1887 
he  became  Secretary  of  the  Germania  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company,  in  which  capacity  he  continued 
until  his  career  was  cut  short  by  an  untimely 
death  on  the  10th  of  August,  1887.  The  fact 
that  Mr.  Weiennett  was  strictly  honest  and  up- 
right is  evinced  by  his  election  to  a  treasurership 
so  frequently.  He  was  a  memlier  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  his  friends  were  not  confined  to 
that  political  bod}'.  On  the  contrary  he  was  highly 
respected  b}'  all  to  whom  he  was  personally  known 
or  who  were  acquainted  with  his  business  rcputa- 
tation.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fratern- 
ity and  Turner  society,  taking  great  interest  in 
those  orders. 

The  widow  of  Mr.  Weiennett  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Carrie  E.  Best.  Her  parents,  George  C. 
and  Gertrude  (Schneider)  Best,  removed  from  De- 
troit, Mich.,  to  Peoria  in  18.'3.5,  and  here  the  daugh- 


288 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ter's  marriag:e  was  celebrated.  May  10,  1870.  Mr. 
Best,  who  had  been  a  blacksmith  prior  to  becoming 
a  citizen  of  Peoria,  breathed  his  last  July  17,  1882. 
His  widow  survived  until  December  10,  1884.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  AV^eiennett  seven  children  were  born, 
three  of  whom  are  n':>w  living.  These  are  Pearl, 
Frederick  and  Carrie,  in  whose  devotion  the  wid- 
owed mother  finds  solace  for  her  ever-present,  sor- 
row for  a  faithful  and  loving  companion.  Her 
sterling  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  bring  her  earn- 
est friendships. 

A  portrait  of  the  late  Mr.  Weiennelt  appea''S  in 
connection  with  this  sketch  and  will  be  welcomed 
by  the  many  friends  from  among  whom  he  h.as  gone. 


^^Ni?BNER  II.  SMITH,  who  has  practically  re- 


tired from  active  life,  .ind  is  living  in 
comfort  in  his  cozy  home  in  Elm  wood  City, 
was  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this  county, 
and  for  many  years  sturdily  co-operated  with  his 
fellow  farmers  and  stock-raisers  in  develoi)ing  the 
rich  agricultural  resources  of  this  region.  He  is  a 
survivor  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this  county,  and 
to  him  and  his  good  wife  belongs  the  honor  of 
having  been  the  first  couple  united  in  marriage  in 
Klmwood  Township,  the  ceremony  that  made  them 
one  being  performed  by  Esq.  James  P.  Harkins, 
and  their  happy  wedded  life  of  many  years  is  a 
worthy  example  for  the  young  people  of  to-day 
who  are  starting  out  on  the  same  jouruc3'. 

Mr.  .Smith  was  born  October  22,  1811,  in  Tioga 
County,  Pa.  His  father,  lehabod  Smith,  was  born 
in  Massachusetts  July  19,  1782,  while  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  Harkness,  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  and  was  born  May  22,  1790. 
She  came  of  good  Revolutionary  stock,  her  father, 
James  Harkness.  having  been  a  Revolutionarj^  sol- 
dier, and  after  the  close  of  the  war  a  pensioner. 
His  son  James  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  removed  from  there  to  Ohio  with 
their  family,  July  3,  1817,  and  settled  in  Richland 
County  among  the  few  whites  who  h'ld  preceded 
them   and    the  aboriginal  owners   of   the  soil,  and 


thus  became  early  pioneers  of  that  part  of  Ohio. 
Mr.  Smith  cut  down  the  trees,  and  in  the  space 
thus  cleared  built  a  log  cabin  in  the  primeval  for- 
ests. After  six  years  he  removed  with  his  wife 
and  children  to  Crawford  County,  where  he  again 
cleared  land  and  built  another  log  dwelling,  in 
which  the  family  made  their  home  until  1837.  In 
that  year  they  came  to  Elmwood  Township,  to 
begin  anew  the  pioneer  task  of  building  up  a  home, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Oliver 
(irahara.  Here  the  faithful  wife  and  mother  suc- 
cumbed to  the  trials  and  jirivations  incidental  to  the 
life  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
and  in  December,  1837,  passed  to  eternal  rest.  Of 
the  twelve  children  she  bore  her  husband,  the 
following  are  now  living:  Our  subject,  Edson 
v..  Mrs.  J.  Gibbs,  David  Milo,  James  M.,  Mrs. 
John  W.  Couklin  and  Mrs.  J.  Nickerson.  Their 
father  departed  this  life  November  3,  1856,  leaving 
an  honorable  record  as  a  useful  pioneer  citizen,  and 
as  a  man  of  good  ch.aracter  and  unswerving  in 
tegrity.  After  the  death  of  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject he  h.ad  married  again,  in  1840.  taking  as  his 
wife  Mrs.  Almira  Aldrich,  who  died  in  1888.  Of 
that  marriage  there  were  three  children. 

Abner  Smith,  of  this  sketch,  received  but  limited 
educational  advantages  in  the  primitive  log  school- 
house,  which  he  attended  in  Crawford  County. 
He  was  early  initiated  into  the  labors  of  farming, 
and  became  of  great  assistance  to  his  father,  help- 
ing him  to  clear  three  different  farms,  remaining 
with  him  until  twent}'  years  of  .age.  He  then 
started  out  with  empty  hands,  but  with  a  courage- 
ous heart  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
too  became  a  pioneer,  and  coming  to  Peoria 
County,  arriving  here  J.anuary  21,  1832,  he  lo- 
cated on  the  old  Orton  farm  in   Trivoli  Township. 

Mr.  Smith  found  the  country  round  about  here 
in  a  very  wild  and  unsettled  condition,  and  the 
land  being  still  in  the  hands  of  the  Government, 
was  not  then  in  the  market.  He  built  a  log  cabin 
and  broke  and  fenced  ten  .acres  of  the  land  upon 
which  he  had  settled,  and  carried  on  its  cultivation 
some  two  or  three  3-ears.  In  the  meantime,  in 
1834,  he  revisited  his  parents  and  friends  in  his 
old  home  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  making  the 
entire  journey   there  and   back  to  this  county  on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


289 


foot.  He  held  his  Trivoli  farm  until  the  fall  of 
1x35,  then  sold  it  to  Harkness  ifc  Buell,  and  from 
llicrc  came  to  Elmwood  Township,  and  located  on 
the  section  on  which  Elmwood  City  now  stands. 
This  was  tlien  an  isolated  spot,  with  not  a  house  in 
sight,  excepting  the  hewn  log  house  with  its  nine 
window  liglits  tliat  stood  on  his  purchase.  His 
homestead,  which  comprised  one  luMuh-ed  and 
twenty  acres,  was  parti}'  improved,  and  when  the 
land  came  into  the  market  he  entered  it  at  the 
land-oflice,  and  in  the  busy  jears  of  toil  and  h:ird 
ship  that  followed,  lie  wa.s  constant]}-  eng.iged  in 
its  further  improvement,  and  in  time  had  devel- 
oped a  good  farm,  supplied  with  neat  buildings 
and  every  appurtenance  for  engaging  in  agricul- 
ture. In  1832,  before  coming  to  IClmwood  Tovvn- 
ship.  the  Black  Hawk  War  had  broken  out,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  volunteers  to  aid  in  its  suppression, 
lie  went  to  Galena.  111.,  and  there  enrolled  his 
naine  among  the  other  brave  and  daring  settlers 
uiu)  were  going  to  face  the  dangers  and  ambus- 
cades of  Indian  warfare  that  their  homes  might  be 
s:ifc  in  the  future  from  the  depredations  of  the 
die.ided  foe.  His  warlike  intentions  were,  however, 
speedily  squelched,  as  he  was  taken  sick  with  the 
measles  and  was  obliged  to  let  his  company  go  on 
wiLJioiil  him,  while  he  returned  home. 

L'ke  all  pioneers,  Mr.  Smith  and  his  wife  had  to 
suffer  man}'  trials,  and  to  make  many  sacrifices 
while  living  on  the  borders  so  far  from  the  centers 
of  civilization.  Times  were  very  hard  in  the  early 
chiys.  and  often  times  corn  bread,  which  formed 
thcii-  staple  article  of  diet,  was  the  only  food  they 
had  to  eat.  Mr.  Smith  used  to  have  to  go  twenty- 
live  miles  over  rough  roads  to  mill  in  Ellisville. 
(iaiue,  upon  which  the  early  settlers  depended  so 
much,  was  very  scarce,  as  the  severe  cold  of  the 
season  of  1830,  known  as  the  "winter  of  the  dee|) 
snow,"  had  killed  the  wild  animals  in  large  num- 
bers. 

March  10,  1835,  was  an  event  of  great  impor- 
tance in  the  life  of  our  subject,  as  on  that  date  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Doyle,  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  Doyle,  natives  res- 
pectively of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  Her 
parents  came  to  Illinois  in  1830,  and  after  stayino- 
one   season    in  Warren    County,   removed    to   this 


county  and  settled  at  or  near  Harkness  Grove,  in 
this  township,  being  the  second  family  to  settle 
in  this  region,  and  3Ir.  Doyle  w.is  the  first  .Justice 
of  the  Peace.  Canton  was  the  nearest  town,  about 
seventeen  miles  away,  and  its  only  store  was  the 
place  where  they  secured  their  supplies.  He  owned 
a  large  amount  of  land,  and  was  a  prominent  man 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  His  wife  died  many 
years  ago,  and  he  married  Jane  Lamaster,  and  she 
survives  him.  His  death  in  1879,  removed  one 
of  our  most  honored  pioneers.  Three  of  the  nine 
children  born  of  bis  marriage  with  Mrs.  Smith's 
mother  are  now  living,  namely:  Mrs.  Smith,  Mrs. 
Nancy  Scott  and  Mrs.  Irene  Scott. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  as  follows:  Mary  Ann  and  Henry  C, 
deceased;  Harriet,  wife  of  Frank  Trumley,  of  this 
township;  George  S.,  a  resident  of  Minnesota; 
Edwin  A.,  of  Minnesota,  who -married  Mercy  Cav- 
erly,  and  has  six  children;  William  J.,  a  resident 
of  Elmwood,  who  has  been  twice  married,  the  mai- 
den name  of  his  present  wife  being  Margaretta  Mc- 
Coy; Alice,  wife  of  Justin  Gordon,  of  Galesburg, 
and  the  mother  of  two  children ;  George  has  been 
tivice  married,  and  by  his  first  marriage  had  two 
children. 

March  10,  1885,  was  an  eventful  day  in  the  life 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  as  it  marked  to  them 
the  golden  milestone  of  half  a  century  of  wedded 
life,  and  their  golden  wedding  was  celebrated 
with  thankfulness  and  rejoicing  by  their  children, 
grandchildren  and  the  many  friends  that  they  had 
gathered  around  them  during  the  many  years 
they  have  lived  in  this  county.  The  following 
beautiful  lines  are  the  opening  ones  of  a  poem 
written  by  Clara,  the  wife  of  their  eldest  son,  as 
a  loving  souvenir  of  the  occasion: 

'•Through  fifty  years  we  have  walked  together 
Through   the   sunshine   of  life,  and  its  stormy 
weather. 

And  to-day  to  the  Golden  Gate  have  come, 
That  marks  the  half-century  of  our  home." 

Mr.  Smith  possesses  in  a  rare  degree  those  ster- 
ling qualities  that  mark  him  as  a  man  of  single 
heart  and  pure  purpose,  and  the  uprightness  of 
his  character  and  his  simple,  unassuming  kindness 
have  won  him  both  the  respect  and   the  affection 


290 


I'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  bis  fellow-citizens,  wliich  his  wife  also  sliares. 
They  are  members  of  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  he  was  formerly  Stewavrt,  and 
for  many  years  have  been  identifiert  with  its  every 
good  work.  ]u  early  life  Mr.  Smith  was  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Whig  part}-,  but  on  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  party,  transferred  his  allegiance  to 
it.  and  has  ever  since  remained  a  steadfast  up- 
holder of  its  principles. 


HARLES  JI.  SLAYTON  is  a  fine  type  of 
our  self-made,  self-educated  mcn.oue  whose 
■iJJ  indomitable,  ambitious  spirit  has  conquered 
ever}'  obstacle  tliat  lay  in  the  path  of  his  siiecess, 
and  to-day  he  occupies  au  honorable  position  in 
the  farming  community  of  this  count}-,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  our  best  citizens.  His  farm,  lying 
on  section  6,  Elm  wood  Township,  a  part  of  it  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  Elmwood  City,  is  provided 
with  ii  neat,  substantial  class  of  buildings  and 
ani[)le  farming  machinery,  and  its  soil  is  admirably 
tilled,  .and  yields  to  his  careful  cultivation  ricl; 
harvests,  besides  supporting  a  fine  herd  of  stock. 

Mr.  Sl.ayton  is  a  native  of  Chautauqua  County  Is . 
Y.,  born  May  15,  1843,  to  Hosea  B.  and  Euniie 
(Chandler)  Slayton,  who  were  originally  from  Ver- 
mont, the  fSlaytons  being  an  old  New  England  fam- 
ily, and  on  the  mother's  side  also  he  is  of  honorable 
descent,  as  she  numbered  among  her  ancestors  the 
renowned  Ethan  Allen,  the  hero  of  Ticonderoga. 
The  mother  of  our  suliject  died  in  1.S51,  leaving 
behind  her  a  memory  that  is  still  cherished  in  the 
hearts  of  her  children  of  a  good  and  true  woman. 
Of  the  six  children  born  of  her  marriage,  three  are 
now  living — our  subject;  Almeda.  wife  of  t)rangc 
Daniels  of  Elmwood,  and  Deliska  A.,  wife  of  C.  II. 
Kightlingerof  Elmwood.  Addison  F.  died  in  1889; 
Lucy  died  at  the  .age  of  three  years;  Edwin  died  in 
infancy. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  married  a  second 
time,  and  his  widow  survives  him.making  her  home 
in  Elmwood.     Their  union  was  blessed  to  them  by 


the  birth  of  two  children:  Eunice  E.,  wife  of  Samuel 
Alwelt  of  Elmwood,  and  Alton  B..  who  married 
Susie  Wooten;  they  also  live  in  Elmwood.  Mr. 
Slayton  brought  his  family  to  Knox  County,  in 
1853.  and  settled  among  the  pioneers  of  Elba  Town- 
shi[),  Knox  County.  He  lived  there  until  1857,  and 
then  became  a  pioneer  of  Elmwood,  and  here  re- 
sided until  his  mortal  career  w.as  closed  by  death 
in  1887. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch   was    the 
youngest  member  of  the  family,  and  as  he   was   a 
mere  boj-  of  eight  years  when  his  parents  Ijrought- 
him  to  this  State,  he  was  reared  here  under  pioneer 
influences,  and  early  Ijccame  a   manly,  self-reliant, 
capable  lad,  who  began  life  for  himself  at   the  age 
of  fifteen  years.     In  1858,  he  went  out  to  work  on 
a    farm   by  the  month  at  *il2.50  a  month,  and  was 
thus  employed  the  most  of  the  time  until  18G2,but 
for  two  years  traveled  with  a  circus  over  Illinois. 
Indiana,  Ohio,  Michigan,  and  Upper   Can.ida,  ped- 
dling   lemonade  and  otherwise  engaged,  as  he  was 
determined  by  any  honorable  means  to  earn  money 
to  obtain  a  sound  education.     His  first  schooling 
had  been  in  his  native  State,  and  in  1862  he  studied 
in  the  district  school  near  his  home   in    Ellmwood 
Townshiii,  and   then  entered   Elmwood  Academy, 
and  there  pursued  a  preparatory   college    course, 
studying   Latin,    geometry,    algebra  and    kindred 
branches,  defraying  all  his  expenses  himself.     His 
diligence  and   close   .attention  to   his   books,  soon 
brought  their  due  reward  in  the  shape  of  a  teacher's 
certificate,  showing  him  to  be  amply  qualified  to 
enter  the  profession,  and  he  left  school  for   a    time 
In  order  to  take  charge  of  a  school  during  the  win- 
ter session,  and  then  went  back  to  the  academy. and 
the  following  winter  and  summer  .again  took  up 
teaching.    The    first   terra    he  taught  lie  received 
the  princely  salary  of  %\Q  a  month,  the  next  year 
!ji50,    and    the    third    year    t^GO    a    month,    and 
after  that  he   declined  to   teach.     In  the  summer 
vacation  of  18G2.  he  kept  an  ice  cream  parlor    at 
Elmwood,  and  can  led  it  on  profitably.  He  returned 
to  the  academy  in  the  spring  term,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  season  ofiened  a  bakery  and  restaurant  with 
C.  H.  Kightlinger,  his  brother-in-law.  .and  for  three 
years  they  were  engaged  in  that  business  together, 
and  then   our  subject  bought  out   his   i)artner,  and 


ruUTRAIT  AND  lilOCiUAl'llK  AL  ALUUM. 


291 


(.•oiitimied  it  for  two  years  nioro.  when  lie  sold  it  at 
!i  good  piico. 

Mr.  Slay tou  next  gave  liis  !itteiitii)n  to  fariiiin<4, 
spending  a  year  in  Kansas  on  a  farm  of  one  b\nidred 
and  sixty  acres  that  lie  bouglit  in  Franklin  County. 
After  his  return  to  this  Slate,  lie  ha\ing  sold  his 
Kansas  property,  he  bought  his  present  place  in 
KS72,  which  then  comprised  but  eighty  acres,  hut 
since  then  lie  has  added  another  eighty ,an(l  twenty 
live  .acres  of  his  farm  is  within  the  city  limits.  lie 
has  been  constantlj-  improving  it  ever  since,  and 
has  placed  the  lauil  under  excellent  tilliige.  He  has 
addeil  to  his  residence,  and  has  a  commodious, 
comfortably  furnished  dwelling,  the  centre  of  a 
eharining  hospitality,  wherein  host  and  liostess  vie 
with  each  other  in  making  their  guests  feel  at  ease 
and  at  home.  In  1885,  JMr.  Sl.ayton  erected  a  good 
barn  at  a  cost  of  si, 000  and  also  put  up  other 
convenient  outbuildings;  he  raises  both  grain  and 
stock,  and  has  been  fortunate  in  his  work,  as  we 
have  seen,  acquiring  a  desirable  pro|)erty. 

Mr.  Slayton  was  married  in  18G8,  to  Miss  Mattie 
Harper,  and  her  untimely  death  in  1883,  while  3et 
in  the  prime  of  a  gracious  and  kindly  womanhood, 
deprived  him  of  a  good  wife  and  their  offspring  of 
a  tender  mother.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  four  children  of  that  marriage:  Edward  V. 
(deceased),James  A,, Fred  H.,and  Nellie  M.  Fd  ward 
was  a  bright  and  promising  youth,  was  a  graduate 
of  the  Elmwood  High  School,  and  was  in  the  Fresh- 
man year  at  Knox  College,  when  death  cut  short 
his  life.  James  is  a  well-cducatetl  young  man,  a 
graduate  of  the  Elmwood  High  School,  and  he  also 
took  a  course  of  study  in  the  Business  College  in 
I'eoria.  Fred  is  a  stuilent  at  the  High  School,  and 
Nellie  is  in  the  Intermediate  Department. 

Mr.  Slayton  was  married  to  his  present  estimable 
wife  in  1884,  and  iu  her  has  found  a  congenial 
companion  and  a  wise  counselor,  and  his  children 
have  in  her  a  <levoted  stepmother.  She  is  a  woman 
of  culture  and  Uigh  Christian  character,  and  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mrs. 
Slay  ton's  maiden  name  was  Flora  E.  Lucas,  and  she 
is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Simerson) 
Lucas,  of  Erimfield  Township.  She  received  ex- 
cellent educational  advantages,  was  a  pupil  of  the 
Brimfleld  High  School,  in    which  she   pursued   a 


course  in  some  of  the  higher  branches,  and  she  also 
took  lessons  in  instrumental  music.  Her  marri.age 
with  our  subject  has  brought  them  one  child,  Stella 
M.ay,  who  is  five  years  old. 

Ill  his  career  Mr.  Slayton  has  not  stayed  to  ques- 
tion "Is  life  worth  living.^"  but  has  worked  quietly 
and  |)ersistently  to  make  it  so,  and  has  grandly 
risen  above  circumstances.  His  vigorous,  cultured 
mind,  and  clear;  thoughtful  views  on  all  subjects 
of  general  interest  make  his  original  opinions  of 
worth,  and  his  advice  of  value.  The  political  issues 
of  the  day  have  an  interest  for  him,  and  us  he  is 
alw.ays  read}'  to  champion  any  reform  that  he  can 
in  anywise  forward, we  naturally'  find  him  afliliating 
with  the  Prohibitionist  partj',  and  giving  it  his 
hearty  support  whenever  occasion  offers.  He  is 
not  connected  with  any  church  .as  a  member,  but  is 
an  attendant  at  the  Methodist.  His  part  in  assist- 
ing iu  the  public  work  of  the  township  is  as  Over- 
seerof  Highways,  and  it  is  the  general  opinion  that 
no  better  man  could  have  been  selected  for  the 
office.  Our  subject  was  formerly  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order. 


-^ 


f/OHN  .1.  HARDING  is  an  old  settler  of  Peo- 
ria County,  and  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  Rosetielil  Tovvnsliip.  The  line  est.ate 
upon  which  he  lives  comprises  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  well-tilled  land,  supplied  with  all 
that  goes  to  make  up  a  well-regulated,  comfortable 
farm  home,  and  under  the  efficient  management  of 
one  who  has  long  devoted  his  energies  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  soil,  produces  abundantly  of  va- 
rious grains  and  fruits. 

Jlr.  Ilariling  is  a  native  of  Bratten  Fleming, 
Devonshire,  England,  born  June  3,  1819,  to  John 
and  Mary  (Gill)  Harding,  who  were  natives  of  the 
same  parish  and  there  entered  into  rest.  Their 
family  consisted  of  ten  sons  and  daughters,  the 
record  of  those  younger  than  our  subject  being  as 
follows:  Ann  died  at  Geneva,  N.  Y..  while  on  her 
way  from  England  to  I'eoria,  III.;  William  came 
to  this  State  in  1848,  but  is  now  living  in  Saline 
County,  Neb.;  James  and  Henry,  twins,  emigrated 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  Canada,  wlicnce  the  former  finally-  returned  to 
his  own  land;  Charles  belonged  to  the  English 
arinj-,  went  to  India  during  the  rebellion  there 
and  has  not  since  been  heard  from ;  Thomas  came 
to  Canada,  tlience  to  Woodford  Count}',  111.,  and 
was  killed  in  a  coal  mine,  leaving  a  widow,  a  son 
and  a  daughter;  Elizabeth  married  A.  Kin}on,and 
died  in  Woodford  Count}-,  leaving  a  son  Fred: 
Jane  is  now  Mrs.  Jones,  of  England;  Samuel,  now 
living  in  Nebraska,  entered  the  Union  Army  from 
Illinois,  serving  under  Gen.  Steele  in  Arkansas. 
The  father  of  this  familj'  was  a  gardener.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  seveutj--five  years,  his  widow 
surviving  him  until  eightj--uine  years  and  six 
months  old. 

(Air  subject  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion in  his  native  land,  whence  he  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1845,  leaving  England  April  o, 
and  reacliing  Peoria  June  24.  In  the  mother 
country  he  had  been  engaged  in  farming,  but  after 
his  removal  he  secured  a  clerkship,  continuing  that 
occupation  for  several  years  in  the  county  so.it. 
In  1861  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Lo- 
gan Townsliip.  later  adding  another  eightj'  over 
the  line  in  Roselield  Township.  About  187;>  he 
bought  that  upon  which  he  now  lives,  on  sections 
30  .and  31,  and  deeded  the  other  farms  to  his  sons. 

The  career  of  ^Ir.  Harding  has  been  such  as  to 
win  honor  and  respect  from  all  who  know  him,  on 
account  of  his  moral  worth,  industry  and  good 
judgement.  He  had  -$50  when  he  entered  Peoria, 
and  from  that  small  capital,  secured  bj'  his  own 
exertions  elsewhere,  has  grown  his  present  solid 
financial  standing.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  to  which  his  estimable  wife  also  be- 
longs. 

The  first  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place  in 
England,  March  29,  1845,  his  bride  being  Mary, 
daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Tucker.  .She  was 
born  in  Swinebridge.  Devonshire,  and  died  in  Peo- 
ria, 111.,  in  September,  1847.  The  present  wife  of 
Mr.  Harding  is  likewise  a  native  of  the  mother 
countrj'.  born  in  Egerton,  Lancashire,  and  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Jane  (Pilkington)  Greenough. 
Mr.  Greenough  was  a  superintendent  of  cotton 
manufactures.  In  1842  he  came  to  America,  set- 
tling in  Brimfield.  this  county,  but  dying  in  Stark 


County.  His  wife  had  breathed  her  last  in  Eng- 
land. Their  family  included  Robert,  who  was 
drowned  in  the  Baltic  Sea;  William,  who  was 
killed  by  a  boiler  explosion  in  Stark  County; 
James,  wlio  died  in  \7ilson,  Kan.;  Hugh,  now 
living  in  that  State;  Mrs.  Ann  Wrigle}-.  of  Peoria; 
Jane,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Mrs.  Alice  IMorris, 
of  Sterling,  Kan.;  Roger,  now  living  in  Colorado, 
who  was  a  Union  soldier  and  wounded  at  Vicks- 
burg;  Margaret,  who  died  in  early  yontii. 

Our  subject,  b}'  his  first  marriage  had  one  child, 
wlio  died  wlien  five  years  old.  The  second  has  re 
suited  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children  :  John 
J.,  Henry  W.,  Robert  G.,  Eleazer',  William  W.  and 
Adoniram  J.  Robert  G.  lives  in  Trivoli  Townshi|); 
William  in  Brimfield  Township;  and  Eleazer  is  an 
attornej'  'u  Elmwood. 

^^ — ^^I'n? — ^  ■ .  -^    —  , 


jjEV.  THOMAS  PACEY.  This  name  will  be 
^  readil}-  recognized  by  man\-  of  our  readers 
]^  as  that  of  a  prominent  resident  of  Jubilee 
Township,  who,  occupying  a  pleasant  farm, 
carries  on  general  agricultural  work  and  likewise 
finds  time  to  prepare  himself  for  the  work  which 
he  pursues  on  the  Lord's  Daj- — that  of  preaching 
the  Gospel  as  a  local  Elder  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
cop.al  Church.  Of  English  birth  and  ancestry,  he 
possesses  the  stern  integrity  and  indomitable  spirit 
which  had  been  exemplified  so  often  by  Englishmen 
whose  names  have  become  famous  the  world  over, 
and  by  means  of  well-directed  studies  the  )jowers 
of  his  mind  have  been  developed  and  his  memory 
has  become  a  storehouse  of  knowledge. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Brown  Pace}',  a 
native  of  Lmcolnshire,  England,  who  followed 
farming  there  until  his  death.  His  mother  was 
Mary,  a  daughter  of  William  Topper,  a  well-to-do 
farmer  and  the  owner  of  the  land  which  he  tilled. 
The  mother,  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  lived  until  1888.  The  parental 
family  consisted  of  -eight  children  who  grew  to 
manhood  and  womanhood.  Of  these,  William, 
Mrs.  Jlary  Sharp,  Elizabeth,  and  Eliza  are  living 
in    their    native    laud.       John    came    to  America 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


293 


and  lost  his  life  in  the  Civil  War;  Joseph  is  living 
in  Peoria  and  Uicliard  in  La  Harpe.  Our  subject 
is  the  second  in  order  of  bii'th  in  the  family  and 
was  the  first  to  come  to  America. 

JjUn  Pacey  was  livinsj  in  Brimlicld  when  the 
Civil  War  broke  out  and  desiring  to  aid  in  the 
preservation  of  tlie  I'niou,  enlisted  in  1801.  He 
was  wounded  before  Richmond,  taken  [)risoner.  and 
after  tlie  amputation  of  his  limb,  sent  to  Libhy 
Prison  where  lie  tlicd  nearly  three  years  after  his 
enlistment.  Richard  was  a  member  of  the  same 
reirinient,  was  wounded  in  the  Siienandoali  N'alley 
and  before  his  recovery  was  sent  to  a  hos[>ital  at 
Chicago,  where  he  acted  as  nurse  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  service.  It  had  been  the  inten- 
tion of  our  subject  to  join  the  same  regiment,  but 
the  daj^  after  writing  to  his  brothers  of  his  intention 
lie  was  taken  with  intermittent  fever,  which  eon- 
fined  him  to  his  room  almost  two  mouths. 

The  village  of  Scopwick,  Lincolnshire,  England, 
was  the  birthplace  of  Rev.  Thomas  Pacey,  whose 
early  years  were  spent  upon  a  farm  where  the  school 
■system  did  not  furnish  great  advantages  for  acquir- 
ing an  education.  He  was  early  set  to  work  on  the 
farm  which  he  assisted  in  cultivating  from  his 
twelfth  year  until  he  was  fifteen,  when  he  went  out 
to  work  by  the  year.  He  continued  as  a  farm  la- 
borer until  twentj'-two  years  old,  when,  ijersuaded 
that  he  could  better  his  condition  in  America,  he 
bade  adieu  to  home  and  friends  and  set  out  for 
the  New  World. 

Leaving  Liverp(n)l  on  a  sailing  vessel  in  the 
spring  of  1851,  Mr.  Pacey  reached  New  Orleans 
after  an  ocean  voyage  of  seven  weeks,  whence  he 
came  up  the  river  and  canal  to  Chicago.  From  that 
place  he  went  to  Kenosha.  Wis.,  then  to  Big  Foot 
Prairie,  Walworth  Count\',  where  he  engaged  on  a 
farm  near  Beloit.  For  three  years  he  worked  hard 
on  the  farm,  then  began  to  supi)ly  the  dehciencies 
in  his  early  schooling  by  entering  the  seminary  at 
Wheaton,  111.  After  attending  that  institution 
about  two  and  a  half  years,  he  began  teaching  dis- 
trict schools  in  DuPage  and  Cook  Counties,  making 
his  home  in  Madison  Township,  UuPage  County. 
He  owned  a  farm  of  twenty-five  acres  there  which 
he  sold  in  1803  and  going  to  Iowa  located  at  Water- 
loo, near  which   town  he  bought   eighty  acres  of 


raw  land.  After  having  taught  school  one  winter 
he  turned  his  attenticjii  entirely  to  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  his  property,  which  he  sold 
in  December,  1800,  for  the  |)ur|)ose  of  removing  to 
Peoria  County,  III.,  in  which  his  brothers  were 
living. 

Mr.  Pacey  taught  one  winter  after  coming  to  this 
county,  then  gave  his  attention  to  farming,  renting 
land  in  Jubilee  Township  until  1880.  At  that 
time  he  purchased  fort}'  acres  on  section  20.  upon 
which  so  little  improvement  had  been  made  that  it 
may  be  said  its  present  condition  is  cntlrel}-  due  to 
his  efforts.  He  has  been  obliged  to  remove  stumps, 
enclose  and  subdivide  the  land  by  adequate  fencing, 
.and  supply  it  with  the  various  buildings  necessary 
to  carry  on  his  work  and  make  a  pleasant  home  for 
his  famil}'.  A  fine  spring  furnishes  water  for  his 
herds,  which  include  good  grades  of  cattle  and 
horses.  Grain  and  hay  are  the  principal  crops,  and 
a  proper  amount  of  attention  is  paid  to  the  orchard 
and  garden,  which  furnish  of  their  abundance  to 
supply  the  family  needs. 

The  noble  character  and  rifio  intelligence  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Pacey  are  recognized  by  his  .associates  who 
have  reposed  in  him  various  [mblic  resi)Oiisibilities. 
He  has  been  a  School  Director  and  is  now  Town- 
ship School  Treasurer,  an  oltice  which  he  has  held 
since  1878.  He  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
continuously  since  187;i.  He  is  and  has  long  been 
a  member  of  the  Township  Central  Committee,  .and 
he  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to  count}'  con- 
ventions of  the  Republican  party,  whose  principles 
he  stanchly  upholds  both  on  election  day  and  when 
political  topics  are  the  subject  of  discussion. 

In  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Brimfield, 
Mr.  Pacey  has  been  Class-Leader,  Steward  and 
Trustee,  and  has  likewise  held  the  office  of  local 
I'.lder  for  years.  He  began  exhorting  when  alioiit 
twenty-four  j-ears  old  and  entered  the  local  minis- 
tiy  in  Iowa  in  the  fall  of  1864.  At  the  same  time 
he  was  ordained  as  a  traveling  minister,  being  on 
the  circuit  about  two  years.  In  Black  Hawk  County 
he  hacl  a  charge  prior  to  his  removal  to  Illinois,  and 
he  now  preaches  nearly  every  other  week,  although 
he  lias  not  joined  the  Conference  here. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Pacey  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
Haj'es  was  celebrated  in  Chicago  in  1862.   The  bride 


294 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


a  nntivc  of  Wiltsliire,  EngLiiid,  belongs  to  a  family 
whose  history  is  given  in  liic  sketeli  of  Charles 
Ha3'es  in  this  volume.  She  entered  into  rest  Janu- 
ary 13,  1888,  leaving  five  eiiiltlren.  Immortal 
through  her  virtues,  her  memor)'  is  held  in  loving 
reverence  bj'  her  husband  and  ehildren.  who  are 
comforted  in  their  atiliction  by  the  hoiie  set  before 
ihem  of  meeting  to  part  no  more,  when  their  work 
on  earth  is  done.  Her  place  at  the  head  of  the 
household  is  sni)plied  as  well  as  it  may  be,  by  her 
daughter  Nellie,  the  third  of  Ihe  family.  Harry 
and  Thomas,  Jr.,  are  also  at  home.  Addison,  the 
eldest  son,  after  having  spent  some  time  in  school- 
teaching,  is  now  engaged  in  a  pi-inling  office  at 
linrnfu'ld.  Lincoln,  the  second  son,  now  in  the  mill 
at  r>i  iiiifield,  also  labored  for  some  lime  in  the  field 
of  pedagogy. 


%^^  OMER  C.  TUCKER  may  well  be  looked 
upon  as  a  representative  citizen  of  Brim  held 
Township,  in  which  he  has  si)ent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  and  in  whose  prosiierity  he 
has  assisted  in  various  ways.  He  is  the  owner  and 
occupant  of  a  beautiful  farm  on  section  22,  much 
of  which  was  secured  to  him  by  his  own  persever- 
ing efforts  and  excellent  management.  As  the  sou 
of  pioneer  settlers  in  the  township,  he  began  quite 
early  in  life  to  assist  in  reclaiming  from  its  primi- 
tive wildness  the  tract  of  land  on  which  they  were 
located,  and  to  replace  the  long  grass  of  the  prairies 
with  the  more  useful  grains. 

Our  subject  is  of  English  stock  and  a  son  of  Ezra 
and  Sarah  (Eurncss)  Tucker,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  the  Green  INIountain  State  and  exhibited  in 
their  lives  the  thrift  and  energy  which  seem  breathed 
in  with  the  air  of  their  native  hills.  In  1843,  the 
pnrcnts  determined  to  take  up  their  permanent 
abode  in.  Illinois,  which  the  father  had  visited  sev- 
eral years  before  and  in  which  he  had  entered  four 
hundred  acres  of  Government  land.  Their  prepa- 
rations for  removal  being  completed, the}'  set  out  for 
the  West,  traveling  in  a  canal  boat  to  Buffalo  from 
which  place  the  party  of  ten,  together  with  their 
necessary  household  goods,  was  conveyed  in  a  car- 


riage and  wagon  each  drawn  b^-  two  horses.  Seven 
weeks  and  three  d.ays  were  consumed  in  travel  from 
the.  Empire  State  to  Brimfield  Township.  Peoria 
County,  whore  their  future  home  was  located.  Mr. 
Tucker  paid  the  (iovernment  price  of  $1.25  per 
acre  for  his  land,  which  he  took  possession  of  in 
the  condition  in  which  it  had  been  left  by  the 
Aborigines. 

In  the  death  of  Ezra  Tucker,  which  occurred 
December  31,  1854,  the  county  lost  a  hard-work- 
ing, reliable  and  public-spirited  citizen,  whose 
example  had  exerted  a  good  influence  upon  those 
about  him.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  His 
good  wife  survived  him  a  few  years,  passing  awav 
in  July,  18G0.  Thej-  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Ilartz  of  Wyom- 
ing, this  State;  Homer  C,  our  subject;  Ezra,  a 
farmer  of  Brimfield  Township;  Eliza,  wife  of  C.  L. 
Wing  of  Elm  wood;  Sarah,  wife  of  J.  M.  l>eet  of 
Chicago;  Saphonia,  wife  of  Dr.  Pratt  of  Wichita, 
Kan.,  and  Marian,  wife  of  A.  J.  Klock  of  Wyom- 
ing, this  State. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Madison 
County,  N.  Y.,  March  16, 1834,  but  having  come  to 
Illinois  during  his  boyhood,  grew  to  manhood  amid 
the  scenes  of  pioneer  life  in  this  county.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  New  York  and  Illi- 
nois, but  his  advantages  not  being  equal  to  those  of 
the  present  day  he  has  depended  largely  upon  his 
own  efforts  in  becoming  well  informed  regarding 
topics  of  practical  and  general  interest.  He  has  been  ■ 
a  life- long  farmer,  at  present  combining  with  that 
honorable  occupation  that  of  buying  and  shipping 
stock.  For  five  years  he  shipped  grain  from  Brim- 
field, always,  however,  occupying  and  controlling 
the  farm.  His  estate  consists  of  two  hundred  and 
ten  acres  which  bears  every  needful  building  and 
under  intelligent  management  yields  an  excellent 
income. 

The  presiiling  genius  of  the  home  of  Mr.  Tucker 
is  an  intelligent  Christian  woman,  who  was  form- 
erly known  as  Miss  Emily  M.  Ellis.  She  became 
the  wife  of  our  subject  in  May,  1865,  and  is  the 
mother  of  four  children,  of  whom  two  are  settled  in 
homes  of  their  own,  while  Allie  Mabel  and  Duane 
H.  still  remain  with  their  parents.  Brimfield  is  the 
home  of  the  two  married  daughters — Clemie  being 


^^7^-t^ 


^^^^, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIK  AL  ALHUM. 


297 


the  wife  of  Harry  CLichester,  and  Carrie  M.    of 
Lewis  Dungan. 

Mr.  Tucker  1ms  served  as  Townshii)  Supervisor 
one  term  and  as  Road  Commissioner  scvcntcen- 
j'ears.  It  is  his  intention  to  assist  in  everytliing 
wliicli  he  thinks  will  advance  the  material  and  social 
interests  of  llie  coniuiiinity  or  in  any  w.a^"  add  to 
tlie  pulilic  welfare.  lie  Votes  tlie  Kepulilican  ticket 
on  every  election  day.  He  was  formerly- identified 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mrs. 
Tucker  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Churcli 
at  Briuifield.  which  the  oilier  memljcrs  of  the  fam- 
ily attend. 


^i|= 


c-^^HOMAS  B.  N0RVP:LL,  M.  D.  The  learned 
professions  are  well  rejiresented  in  Peoria 
by  men  of  mucli  mental  culture,  [iractical 
knowledge  an(l  professional  skill  in  their  various 
departments.  One  of  those  wiio  have  a  high  stand- 
ing, botli  professioually  and  socially,  is  Dr.  T.  1>. 
N'orvell,  whose  portrait  is  presented  on  the  opi)o- 
site  page  and  who  is  estaljlishing  a  fine  [iractice  in  the 
city  which  has  been  his  home  but  a  few  short  years. 
He  has  not  yet  readied  the  prime  of  life,  iiaving 
been  born  December  2,  1851,  to  George  W.  and 
Liivisey  (Boyd)  Norvell.  His  birthplace  was  Mon- 
iteau County,  Mo.,  where  his  father  was  engaged 
ill  fanning.  The  parental  family  comprised  eight 
cliildren,  five  of  whom  are  now  living  and  all  of 
the  sons  being  professional  men.  .John  8.  has  de- 
voted himself  to  missionary  work  and  has  been 
sent  liy  the  Baptist  Churcli  to  China;  Joseph  E.  is  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  minister  in  South  Dakota;  tlie 
next  is  our  subject;  Mary  and  Martha,  twins,  are 
living  in  Iowa,  being  the  wives  of  Anthony  Hyine 
and  William  Williams,  respectively. 

Dr.  Norvell  was  reared  in  Mills  Count}',  Iowa, 
where  his  father  removed  during  his  infancy.  After 
liaving  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  Ilawkeje 
.Stale,  he  entered  Talior  College  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  and  not  long  after  began  reading  medicine 
with  Dr.  Merrill  Otis,  in  Tabor.  Iowa.  After  three 
years  of  student  life  there  he  attended  the  Chicago 
Medical  College,  and  after  becoming  a  full-fledged 


physician  began  practicing  in  Fremont  County, 
Iowa.  Thence  he  finally-  removed  to  this  countj^ 
making  his  headquarters  for  the  first  three  years  at 
Ilarker's  Corners  and  removing  to  the  counts-seat 
in  1879. 

In  Fremont  County,  Iowa,  Dr.  Norvell  met, 
wooed  and  won  for  his  wife  Miss  Alice,  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  (Burns)  Lumm,  their  marriage 
riles  lieing  celebnited  December  31,  1875.  Mrs. 
Norvell  is  a  lady  of  intelligence  and  refinement,  well 
fitted  to  make  a  lia|)py  home.  Two  children  have 
come  to  bless  the  happy  union,  and  are  named 
Helena  Dee  and  Justin  Woodlej'. 

Dr.  Norvell  is  a  man  of  decided  views,  not  easily 
moved  from  any  opinion  or  course  in  which  his  judg- 
ment has  conciii  red.  He  is  an  tindeviating  Repub- 
lican. Theoiily  social  order  with  which  he  is  identi- 
fied is  the  society  of  Druids.  His  profession.-d  skill  is 
acknowledged  by  all  who  are  familiar  with  his 
work  and  is  bringing  him  his  fair  share  of  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  citizens,  while  bidding  fair  to  secure 
to  bin,  both  fame  and  fortune  in  the  years  to  come. 
He  and  his  wife  are  considered  additions  to  society 
and  have  already  made  many  friends  in  the  city 
which  they  have  adopted  as  their  home. 


-^^ 


^(^^ALENTINE  W^EBER.  The  business  enter-' 
^\///  prises  of  Princeville  would  be  poorly  repre- 
^  sented  indeed,  were  no  mention  made  in 
these  pages  of  the  life  and  efforts  of  Valentine 
Weber,  the  oldest  resident  merchant  in  the  town. 
He  has  a  fine  store,  well  stocked  with  boots  and 
shoes,  and  lie  is  also  the  successful  patentee  of  the 
Perfection  Grain  Weigher.  Always  pleasant  and 
agreeable,  he  is  deservedly  popular  in  society, 
while  his  intelligence  and  energy  of  character  iiave 
been  utilized  in  the  municipal  and  religious  work 
of  his  chosen  home. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  of  eight  children 
born  to  Cassamire  and  Christine  (Kutz)  Weber, 
who,  like  tbeir  son,  were  natives  of  Achern,  Ger- 
many. The  father  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and 
operated  an  estate  in  his  native  land  until  1852, 
when  he  emigrated  to  America.     He  selected  a  lo- 


298 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cation  in  Erie  County',  N.  Y..  near  Buflfalo.  and  pur- 
chasing a  farm,coutinued  his  agricultural  work  until 
liis  death  in  1864.  His  wife  also  died  in  the  Em- 
pire State.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  a  Catholic. 
The  five  children  who,  besides  our  subject,  grew  to 
mature  years  are:  Mrs.  Emrinza  Fischer,  who  died 
in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  Mrs.  Emily  Petre  and  Anton, 
who  lives  near  that  city:  Mrs.  Gertrude  Bogner,  of 
Marshall  County,  111.;  and  Christine,  widow  of 
Moritz  Hamberg,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

The  uatal  day  of  our  subject  was  February  14, 
1847.  He  was  about  five  years  old  when  the  fam- 
ily left  Havre  on  a  sailing-vessel,  which  lauded 
them  in  New  York  thirt3--six  days  later.  The 
next  ten  years  of  his  life  were  spent  on  a  farm  near 
Buffalo  in  a  German  settlement,  where  his  studies 
were  conducted  in  his  native  tongue  until  thirteen 
years  old.  His  knowledge  of  English  has  been 
mostly*  acquired  by  his  own  efforts,  as  he  had  very 
little  English  schooling.  Soon  after  entering  his 
teens  be  found  emplo3'meut  in  a  sawmill  and  cheese 
box  factorv  in  Cattaraugus  County  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the  siioe- 
maker's  trade  in  Buffalo.  He  served  four  years 
under  Beu  Weber,  then  did  journe}-  work  in  the 
same  city  until  1867. 

We  next  find  Mr.  Weber  coming  to  Peoria.  111., 
ami  working  at  his  trade  six  months  for  Henr^' 
Thielbar.  He  then  followed  his  trade  for  six 
months  in  Washington,  Tazewell  County',  after 
which  he  opened  a  shoe  shop  in  Princeville,  doing 
both  repairing  and  manufacturing.  His  enterprise 
proved  successful,  compelling  him  to  emplo}'  two 
hands,  and  in  1871  he  put  in  a  small  stock  of 
ready-made  goods.  Ere  long  he  bought  and  re- 
modeled a  store,  which  was  subsequently'  destro.yed 
by  fire,  and  he  then  built  the  brick  structure  which 
he  now  occupies  and  which  is  18x60  feet  in  dimen- 
sions. No  other  dealer  in  the  place  has  been  stead- 
il}-  engaged  here  as  long  as  he.  He  handled  sewing 
machines  and  musical  instruments  six  3'ears,  but  in 
the  fall  of  1889  disposed  of  his  entire  stock  in  those 
lines. 

In  1884  Mr.  Weber  and  J.  A.  Harrison,  a  thresher, 
conceived  the  idea  of  constructing  and  patenting  a 
grain  weigher.  The  models  were  perfected  in 
1885,  and  the  Perfection  Grain  Weigher  is  proving 


satisfactor)',  being  the  only  arrangement  in  that 
line  that  is  so.  It  is  an  instrument  attached  to  the 
side  of  the  separator  and  is  in  three  parts — the 
elevator,  hopper  and  convej'or.  Improvements 
are  being  made  upon  it  from  time  to  time  as  the 
inventor  sees  how  its  usefulness  can  be  enhanced. 
It  is  now  manufactured  bj-  Selby  Starr  &  Co.,  of 
Peoria,  and  will  uudoubtedl}-  bring  Mr.  Weber  a 
pleasing  reward. 
I  The  estimable  lady  who  presides  over  Mr.  We- 
;  ber's  home  is  a  native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Ger- 
man}', and  was  formerly  known  as  Miss  Barbara 
Smith.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Smith,  of  Kick- 
apoo,  who  emigrated  to  the  States  whan  she  was 
two  5'ears  old.  The  marri.nge  riles  of  Iierself  and 
our  subject  were  celebrated  at  her  home  November 
24,  1868.  The  marriage  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  eight  children,  those  now  living  being 
Julia,  Christine,  Joseph,  Anton  and  George.  All 
are  still  inmates  of  the  parental  home. 

Mr.  Weber  has  been  a  member  of  the  \illage 
Board  four  years,  and  was  President  the  first  j-ear. 
He  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Church,  assisted  much 
in  the  erection  of  the  building,  being  one  of  the 
committee,  and  in  other  wa3S  aids  in  enlarging  the 
organization.  He  is  a  stanch  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican |>arty.  He  has  prospered  in  worldl)-  affairs, 
and  in  addition  to  his  busmess  projierty  owns  otlicr 
lots  and  a  pleasant  residence. 


■5v  HARLES  HAYES.  The  sturdy  persistence 
~^,  of  the  English  character,  which,  having  once 
aimed  at  a  certain  mark  will  vanquish  ob- 
stacles which  would  seem  insurmountable  to  a  less 
determined  spirit,  is  well  exemplified  in  the  career 
of  the  gentleman  above  named,  a  resident  of  Jubi- 
lee Township.  He  has  a  most  excellent  reputation 
as  a  public  school  teacher,  perhaps  one  of  the  best 
proofs  of  the  regard  in  which  he  is  held  being  the 
fact  that  he  has  taught  the  home  school  eight  suc- 
cessive years  and  has  again  had  it  in  charge  two 
years.  It  being  generally  true  that  a  '-prophet;  is 
not  without  honor  save  in  his  own  country  and 
among  his  own    people,"  it  is  a  great  credit  to  one 


I'OKTIIAir   AND  BIOGRAPinCA.L  ALBUM. 


•29!) 


engaged  in  llic  piot'os!<i<)n  of  U-aching,  to  liave  the 
suffrage  of  Hie  people  in  liis  own  neighborhood 
3-ear  after  year. 

Although  seliool  teaching  has  been  the  prineiiwl 
business  of  Mr.  llnyes  since  his  nineteenth  year  he 
has  done  good  work  in  opening  up  a  farm,  in  car- 
rying ou  the  same,  and  in  local  public  affairs.  He 
is  now  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  Jubilee 
Township,  and  Treasurer  of  the  Townsliip  IJoard  of 
Commissioners.  lie  was  first  elected  to  this  ofHce  in 
1888  for  a  two  year's  term,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  was  again  elected,  this  time  for  three 
years.  From  1878  until  1888  he  w.is  Township 
Clerk  and  he  has  also  served  as  School  Director 
three  years.  His  political  adherence  is  given  to  the 
Democratic  party  and  he  votes  a  straight  ticket. 
With  a  fine  mind  which  he  has  cultivated  under 
good  instructors  and  by  well-directed  personal 
efforts,  with  pleasing  manners  and  an  upright  char- 
acter, he  is  well  esteemed  by  those  with  whom  his 
lot  in  life  is  cast. 

lioberl  Hayes,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject. 
was  an  Knglisii  laboring  man  and  his  sou  .Tames 
became  an  inn-keeper  at  White  I'arisli,  Wiltshire. 
The  latter  married  JIary  Russell,  a  native  of  the 
same  shire  and  daughter  of  Peter  Russell,  a  dairy 
farmer.  To  this  couple  nine  children  were  born, 
he  of  whom  we  write  being  next  to  the  youngest. 
The  seventh  child,  Sidney,  died  in  England.  'J'he 
others  accompanied  theii  father  to  America  in 
18.5li,  their  mollier  having  died  four  years  previ- 
ously, -lames  Hayes  and  his  family  spent  two 
months  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  then  went  to  Chicago, 
where  they  sojourned  six  months.  The  father  did 
not  like  the  country  and  returning  to  his  former 
neighborhood  in  England,  leaving  his  children  be- 
hind him  in  the  United  States,  engaged  in  farming. 
Although  now  seventy-six  years  old  he  still  follows 
that  occupation.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  members  of  the  parental  family  now  living 
are  Mrs.  Sophia  Legassick,  of  Delaware  County, 
Iowa;  Thomas,  of  Mt.  Ayr,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Harriet 
Stride,  of  Sioux  Falls,  S.  Dak.;  our  subject;  and 
Mrs.  Jennie  Herriott,  of  Brimfield,  this  county. 
Mrs. Elizabeth  L.Pacey  died  in  Brimfield  Township, 
this  county,   in     1888.     George  and   Henr\-   gave 


their  lives,'in'sup|)ort  of  the  Union  flag  duiing  the 
late  war.  George  enlisted  in  1861  in  an  Illinois 
Regiment  and  served  until  he  sickened  and  died  in 
Kentucky.  Henry  also  enlisted  in  1861,  going 
from  Iowa  to  join  the  Twenty-first  Missouri  In- 
fantry, and  dying  of  disease  two  years  later. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  at  White 
Parish,  England,  January  1),  18  18,  and  reared  at  his 
birthplace  until  he  was  eight  years  old.  He  left 
London  with  the  other  members  of  the  family  on 
the  sailing  vessel  "Palestine"  in  August,  18,')6,  and 
after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks  landed  at  New  York, 
whence  they  went  at  once  to  Cleveland.  He  re- 
mained in  Cuyahoga  County,  not  far  from  Cleve- 
land, with  an  .lunt  about  a  year,  after  which  the 
children  together  moved  to  Dyersville,  Delaware 
County,  Iowa,  and  began  working  out.  Our  sub- 
ject worked  on  a  farm  ft>r  a  cousin,  attending 
school  winters  and  finally  engaged  in  teaching  when 
nineteen  years  old.  He  taught  winter  schools  only 
during  the  first  two  years,  after  wliich  he  [ml  in  an 
entire  year's  time  at  pedagogy. 

In  the  fall  of  1809,  young  Hayes  came  to  Peo- 
ria County,  111.,  to  follow  his  profession,  his  first 
school  here  being  in  Rosefield  Township.  Tn  1870, 
he  attended  the  Peoria  County  >,'ormal  School,  in 
the  fall  returning  to  his  work  as  instructor,  since 
which  time  he  has  taught  each  winter  and  also 
some  summers.  Although  he  has  had  a  High 
S  'hool  position  offered  him  he  has  not  accepted,  but 
continues  to  labor  in  the  district  schools  to  which 
he  tlevotes  about  six  months  in  each  j'ear.  For  a 
time  he  devoted  the  summers  to  employment  for 
others,  but  in  1874,  was  able  to  buy  a  small  farm. 
It  consisted  of  forty  acres  on  section  7,  Jubilee 
Township,  the  price  beiug  -"^lioOO. 

Locating  u[)on  the  land  he  had  purchased,  Mr. 
Ilaj'es  engaged  in  fanning  for  himself  and  has  now 
made  a  nice  place  out  of  his  estate.  He  purchased 
an  additional  fort^'  acres,  has  hedged  and  tiled  the 
entire  acreage,  set  out  a  good  orchard  and  groves 
upon  it,  and  erected  a  cozy  dwelling,  adequate 
barn,  granaries,  etc.  A  portion  of  the  estate  was 
grubbed  and  broken  by  Mr.  Hayes  himself.  It  is 
watered  by  a  smjvU  stream  fiowing  through  it  and 
contains  a  valuable  deposit  of  coal,  the  bank  being 
now   rented,  although   operated  four  years  by  the 


300 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


owner.  Mr.  Haj'es  feeds  numbers  of  hogs  and 
cattle,  raises  graded  cattle  and  swine,  and  some  ex- 
cellent horses.  He  has  a  convenient  market,  being 
but  two  and  a  quarter  miles  from  Brimfiekl.  His 
professional  labors  in  the  county  liave  included  two 
years  in  Kosefleld  and  BrimBeld  Townships,  each, 
the  rest  of  the  time  having  been  given  to  labor  in 
his  own  township,  and  as  before  stated,  largely  in 
his  own  district. 

An  important  step  in  the  life  of  our  subject  took 
place  in  Jubilee  Townshij),  December  28,  1875,  it 
being  no  less  than  his  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hindle.  This  young  lady  is  a  daughter  of  John 
Hindle,  of  England,  whose  history  is  incorporated 
in  the  sketch  of  his  son,  James  Hindle,  which  occu- 
pies a  place  in  this  Ai.bdm.  She  was  born  in  Jubi- 
lee Township.  April  7,  1859,  is  an  intelligent, 
amiable,  useful  woman,  finding  her  highest  enjoy- 
ment  in  her  home  duties  and  the  society  of  husband 
and  cliildren.  but  b}' no  means  neglecting  her  many 
friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayes  have  six  children 
living,  viz:  Arleigh,  Roxanna,  Leslie,  May,  Harry 
and  Jennie  A.  They  lost  an  infant  daughter  Edith, 
who  died  when  but  five  days  old. 


3ge  of  this  gentleniau  not  onh'  to  watch 
much  of  the  growth  of  this  county,  but  also 
to  materially  aid  its  advancement  as  a  great 
agricultural  center,  and  for  many  j'ears  he  stood 
among  the  foremost  farmers  and  stock-growers  of 
this  part  of  Illinois.  He  acquired  a  fortune,  and 
was  enabled  to  retire  from  active  life  in  1879,  to 
enjoy  his  wealth  ere  old  age  had  overtaken  him, 
and  is  now  living  in  one  of  the  pleasantest  homes 
of  Elmwood  City,  where  be  is  held  in  honor  as  a 
noble  t^-pe  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  whose 
true,  upright  lives  have  contributed  to  elevate  its 
citizenshii). 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  April  27, 
1815,  to  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Bevins)  Grah.am, 
natives  respectively  of  County  Down,  Ireland, 
and  Pennsylvania.  They  married  and  resided  in 
the  Keystone  State  until  1818,  when  they  removed 


to  Highland  County-,  Ohio,  of  which  they  were 
early  pioneers.  The  father  opened  up  a  new  farm, 
which  he  afterward  disposed  of,  and  came  with  his 
family  to  Illinois  in  1853.  He  died  in  1854,  and 
his  wife  in  about  1860,  and  both  are  peacefully 
sleeping  their  last  sleep  in  Pleasant  Grove  Ceme- 
tery, Logan  Township,  Peoria  County.  To  those 
worthy  people  twelve  children  were  born,  of  whom 
two  are  now  living,  our  subject  and  his  youngest 
sister.  Mrs.  Maria  Sherwood,  of  Logan  County. 

iMr.  Graham  was  a  boy  of  three  years  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  from  his  native  State  to 
Ohio,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  large  enough  he  aflorde.l 
his  father  great  assistance  in  clearing  and  improv- 
ing his  farm  in  the  primeval  forests  of  that  State. 
At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  left  home  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  w.as  employed  at  that  four 
months,  but  apparently  not  having  a  taste  for  it, 
he  resumed  farming,  and  worked  by  the  raontli  in 
his  father's  neighborhood  for  ^8  and  s9  permontb, 
continuing  so  eugaged  for  three  years.  In  1835, 
he  went  to  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  worked  on  a 
farm  there  until  June  of  that  year,  and  then  drove 
some  sheep  to  Michigan,  going  through  the  famous 
Black  Swamp,  where  there  were  plenty  of  Indians, 
and  three  months  were  consumed  in  making  the 
trip.  He  returned  to  his  home  in  the  fall,  and 
worked  by  the  month  until  September  2G,  1837, 
which  was  the  date  of  his  marriage  to  Miss  Ruth 
Ruse,  a  daughter  of  John  Ruse.  Her  fattier  was 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  one  of  the  ear- 
liest pioneers  of  Ohio.  The  family  was  of  (Quaker 
stock,  and  all  now  are  deceased. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Graham  settled  in  High- 
laud  County,  and  was  employed  by  the  mouth  there 
the  ensuing  three  years.  He  was  ambitions  to  make 
more  money,  as  his  finances  were  very  low.  and  he 
decided  tliat  he  could  better  his  condition  by  com- 
ing to  Illinois,  and  the  year  1810  found  him  a  resi- 
dent of  this  State,  he  having  arrived  in  Elmwood 
Township.  October  12.  Here  he  immediately  found 
work  and  was  employed  by  the  da\-  and  month,  and 
carefully  saved  up  his  earnings  to  buy  him  a  piece 
of  land.  In  1845  his  object  was  accomplished,  and 
he  became  the  possessor  of  a  forly-acre  tract  of 
land  on  section  36,  this  township.  He  actively  en- 
tered upon  its  improvement,  as  it  had  been  but  lit- 


I'OnrU.MT   AND   lUOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


301 


tie  develoi)Ccl.  and  in  time  i)unli:iseil   fully    tuies 
adjoining.     Tliere  was  a  small  house  on  the   place, 
weather-boarded  and  clap-boarded,  and   in  that  he 
made  his  home.      During  the  four   years  tiiat  he 
staid  there  he  adiled  many  improvements,  and  then 
sold  it  for  §700  in  tlie  fall  of   1849,  which   was   an 
advance  of  8400   on   the  purchase    price.     In    the 
same  season  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  raw    prairie 
land  in  Logan  Township,  paying  11,000  for  it.    He 
put  Mji  a  house  and  barn,  and  moved  onto  the  place 
])eceml)er  .'),  and  that  winter  fenced  it,  drawing  the 
rails  a  distance  of  eight  miles.     The  next  summer 
he  brolic    the   prairie  sod,   and   in    the  fall  sowed 
wheat.     He   was  then  in   debt  >!2,000,  but  in  two 
years,  so  industrious  had  lie  been,  and  so  well  had 
his  croi)s  turned  out,  that  he  was  out  of  debt,  and 
was  cnal)le<l  to  buy   another  tract  of  forty  acres  of 
land  adjoining  his  homestead.      He  kept  tliat    farm 
one  year  longer,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time 
sold  it  for  -^,').800   cash.     The  next   February  he 
bouLdit  two  liundred  and  twenty   acres  of   laud    in 
the  same  townslu[),  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
whicli  was  in  its  natural  state,  forty  acres  were  im- 
proved, and  twenty  acres  of  it  was  in  timber.      lie 
improved  one    liundred   and    eighty   acres  of  that 
place,  and   again   iiauled   rails  a   distance   of  eight 
miles  to  fence  it,  and  at  tiie  end  of  six  montiis  sold 
tlie  wliole  tract  at  an  advance  of  §12. .50  on  an  .acre. 
Ml-,  (iraiiam's  next  move  was  to  Iowa.    He  spent 
two  montlis  in  INIarion  County,  but   evidently    did 
not  like  that  State  well  enough  to  locate  there,   as 
he  liien  returned  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in    Trivoli 
Tllwn^llip.  two  miles  east  of  Farmington,  on  the  old 
"Orton  farm,"  one  hundred   ai:d   twenty   acres   of 
which   was  improved.     He  stajed   there  eighteen 
months,  then  took  advantage  of  a  good  opportu- 
nity to  rent  it  for  three  years,  and  subsequently 
bouglit  his    JiOgan    Township    farm.     He    resided 
thereon  seven  years,  and  at   the  end    of  that  time 
sold  one  hundreil  and  forty  acres  at  *(!.')  per  acre. 
He  next  became  a  resident  of  Kimwood   Township, 
where  he  pureiiased  live  lunidred  .acres  of    land  on 
sections  27  and  .'i4.  paying  §10  an  acre  to  its  origi- 
nal owner,  .loel  Blakesley.     It  was   improved,  and 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  its  cultivation  'the   en- 
suing five  years,  and  made  eonsideraliie    money  by 
his  labors.    He  then  gave  and  sold  some  of  his  farm 


to  his  family,  and  retired  from  the  cares  of  his  ex- 
tensive agricultural  business  in  1879,  to  his  pres- 
ent home  in  Elmwood  City.  He  had  paid  out  for 
land  in  his  neighborhood,  Lehigh  Prairie,  in  all 
§34,400,  and  during  his  whole  career  as  a  tiller  of 
the  soil  and  a  raiser  of  stock,  displayed  remark- 
able foresigiit,  business  t.aet  and  judgment,  which 
brought  him  wealth. 

After  a  calm  and  hai)py  wedded  life  of  fifty  years 
and  six  months,  the  wife  of  our  subject,  who  h.ad 
cheered  and  encouraged  him  in  his  work  by  her 
kindly  presence  and  ever  iielpfnl  assistance,  w.as 
taken  from  his  side  to  walk  .-  ith  him  on  earth  no 
more,  and  now  lies  sleeping  in  Elmwood  ceraeterj-. 
Her  death  was  a  severe  blow  to  her  husband,  but 
he  does  not  mourn  as  one  without  hope,  as  his  per- 
fect faith  and  trust  in  one  "who  doeth  all  things 
well,"  leads  him  to  believe  that  they  will  once  more 
meet  where  there  is  no  death. 

By  his  marriage,  our  subject  became  the  father 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  now  living. 
The  names  of  the  mcmlters  of  his  family  are:  Sam- 
uel S.,  Nancy  J.  (Mrs.  McFarland),  William, 
George,  Henry,  Charles  F.,  Elizabetii,  Leander, 
and  Albert,  the  last  three  being  dead.  His  son, 
William  was  a  brave  soldier  in  the  late  Civil  War, 
and  sacrificed  much  for  his  country.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
while  fighting  at  the  front  at  the  battle  of  Perrys- 
ville,  was  wounded  in  the  arm  ami  side,  and  at 
Kenesaw  Jlountaiu  received  a  second  wound,  and 
is  now  a  cripple. 

Mr.  Graham  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man,  as 
he  began  life  in  comparative  poverty,  and  all  that 
he  has  and  all  that  he  is,  is  due  entirely  to  his  own 
exertions.  His  family  seem  to  have  inherited  his 
energetic  traits  of  character,  and  talent  for  business. 
and  are  all  rich,  and  some  of  them  have  already 
retired  from  active  life.  In  all  his  dealings,  his 
straightforward  honesty  anil  unswerving  integrity 
have  been  conspicuous,  and  no  man  is  more  thor- 
oughly trusted  than  he.  He  is  a  man  of  marked 
force  of  character,  self-respecting  and  resolute,  and 
is  always  found  on  the  right  side  in  any  movement 
in  which  he  interests  himself.  He  has  been  an  in- 
fluential member  of  the  IMcthodist  Episcopal  Church 
for  twenty  years,  and  his   lieloved    wife    was   also 


302 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


connected  with  that  denomination.  lie  has  been  a 
Class-Leader.  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
and  is  now  Trustee,  and  was  ver3'^  active  in  help- 
ing- to  build  the  church  called  Graham  Chapel,  on 
Lehigh  Pr.iirie,  generously  contributing  one-fourth 
of  the  cost  of  the  building,  he  being  a  member  of 
the  building  committee.  His  eldest  son  has  been 
the  Secretary  of  the  society  for  years.  Our  subject 
has  alwa3's  been  zealous  in  the  cause  of  education, 
and  bits  been  a  strong  supporter  of  the  free  schools 
and  at  diffei'ent  times  has  been  School  Director. 
He  has  interested  himself  greatly  in  [X)lities,  and  at 
tlie  age  of  twenty-one  j-ears  became  an  enthusiastic 
Abolitionist.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  V.an  Biiren, 
the  only  Democratic  candidate  that  he  ever  sup- 
ported, and  after  that  he  became  a  IJepnblican,  and 
i.s  still  identified  with  that  party. 


^  IfclLLIAM  H.  TODD.  No  one  of  Peoria 
\/iJr  County's  native-born  citizens  is  more 
W^  worthy  of  representation  in  this  biograpli- 
ical  volume  than  William  Todd,  ex-Supervisor  of 
Millbrook  Township,  wiio  has  been  a  life-long 
farmer,  and  has  his  farm  on  section  20,  under  fine 
improvement. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  this  county.  July  31, 
1855'?  and  is  a  son  of  the  well-known  pioneer, 
Alaxander  Todd  and  his  wife  Ann  (Jlanes)  Todd. 
His  mothei  is  now  deceased,  having  died  September 
3,  1884,  leaving  behind  her  the  blessed  record  of  a 
good  and  true  womanhood. 

Alexander  Todd  was  born  in  the  North  of  Ireland 
October  31,  180G,and  emigrated  from  that  country 
to  this  when  a  young  man.  He  sought  and  found 
employment  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  being  engaged  by 
a  banker  in  making  collections.  He  subsequently 
learned  the  trade  of  a  weaver  and  followed  it  for  a 
lime.  He  was  married  in  Philadelphia  and  became 
tlie  father  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing nine  are  living:  Alexander,  in  California;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  M.  A.  Gardner  of  this  county;  Robert 
M.,in  Princeville  Township;  John  in  Kansas;  Mary, 
wife  of  Andrew  German  of  Yates  City,  III,;  Quin- 
tin,  in  Western  Iowa;  Aichibald   in    Missouri,  and 


William  H.  Three  of  his  sons  bore  a  brave  part 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  late  War.  James 
gave  up  his  life  for  his  country,  having  served  in 
the  army  about  a  year  before  his  death.  John  and 
Robert  were  members  of  the  Forty-second  Illinois 
Infantry;  .lohn  was  out  three  years  and  Robert  was 
in  the  army  one  year. 

In  1840,  the  father  of  our  subject  came  to  this 
couiily,  and  settled  in  Timber  Township  on  a  new 
farm,  ho  being  one  of  the  first  pioneers  to  locate 
there.  His  land  was  mostlj'  covered  with  timber 
and  was  in  .ibout  the  same  condition  that  the  In- 
dians had  left  it.  He  actively  entered  on  his  pio- 
neer labors  of  felling  trees,  clearing  the  laml,  and 
preparing  it  for  cultivation,  and  in  the  course  of 
years  had  it  under  good  improvement.  In  1867,  he 
took  up  his  residence  in  Millbrook  Town.ship,  on 
section  20,  and  has  lived  here  ever  since.  His  farm 
comprises  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  20,  and 
in  every  respect  is  in  a  fine  condition,  with  substan- 
tial buildings,  well  tilled  fields,  good  fences  and  a 
complete  sj^stem  of  drainage. 

j\Ir.  Todd  is  now  among  the  oldest  pioneers  still 
living  in  this  county,  and  is  held  in  honor  for  the 
substantial  part  he  has  taken  in  promoting  the 
growtii  of  this  section  of  conntrv.  He  has  always 
been  found  among  those  who  are  active  in  advanc- 
ing the  interests  of  the  community,  and  he  has 
done  good  service  in  a  civic  capacity,  as  an  Assessor 
in  lioth  Timber  and  Millbrook  Townships. 

William  H.  Todd,  our  subject,  passed  the  earl}- 
years  of  his  life  under  the  influence  of  the  pioneer 
modes  of  living  that  still  prevailed  in  his  younger 
days,  and  he  has  done  much  pioneer  laltor  himself 
in  his  character  as  a  practical  farmer.  He  gleaned 
a  good  education  in  the  public  schools,  mostly  in 
Millbrook  Township,  and  is  a  thoughtful,  intelli- 
gent, well-informed  man,  having  decided  opinions 
of  bis  own.  He  is  quite  a  politician,  has  alwaj-s 
taken  an  active  interest  in  political  matters,  using 
his  influence  in  favor  of  the  Republican  party. 
For  two  years  he  served  on  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors,  and  his  wise  caution  and  straightfor- 
ward discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office  made  him 
very  acceptable  as  a  public  official.  We  always 
find  liini  abetting  all  useful  schemes  that  will  in 
any  way  enhance   the   m.alerial,  social    or    religious 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


303 


progress  of  the  township.  He  is  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  I'"reucU 
Grove,  in  which  he  serves  as  I':ifier,  and  his  gener- 
ous aid  and  liberal  contributions  encourage  the 
good  work  his  church  is  carrying  on. 

September  19,  1878,  William  II.  Todd  and  Anna 
K.  Stewart,  were  united  in  a  marriage  that  has 
proved  the  source  of  happiness  to  both  of  them. 
Mrs.  'I'odd  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(  Brooks)  Stewart,of  Logan  'l'ownshi|),  of  which  they 
were  early  settlers.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
had  six  children,  five  of  whom  arc  living,  as  fol- 
lows: Charles,  Archibald,  Lillie,  Lois,  and  Bruce. 
The  death  of  their  son  James  was  a  grievous  blow 
to  them. 


— 3"»- 


EDWIN    IIARKNESS.     A    compendium    of 
biographies    in    Peoria    Count}'   would  be 
)  sadly    incomplete  did   it    lack  that  of  the 

gentleman  whose  well-known  cognomen  is  found 
al)Ove,  and  whose  deeds  are  worthy  of  record 
within  its  pages.  As  a  loyal  and  gallant  soldier 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  War,  as  a  fear- 
less ranchman  in  the  western  wilds,  as  a  reliable 
citi/.en  and  public  olficer,  and  as  a  man  of  honor 
and  trustworthiness,  he  claims  the  respect  and 
good-will  of  his  fellow-men.  It  affords  the  biog- 
rapher pleasure  therefore,  to  incorporate  in  these 
Ijages  some  brief  notes  regarding  his  career. 

Mr.  Ilarkness  is  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State, 
in  which  his  eyes  opened  to  the  light  June  24, 
18  13.  and  is  a  twin  of  Edson  Ilarkness,  whose 
sketch  api)ears  elsewhere  in  this  Album.  Their 
parents,  Daniel  and  Eliza  (Scott)  Ilarkness,  natives 
of  the  Old  Dominion,  lived  from  childhood  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  there  began  their  wedded  life. 
In  1816  they  removed  to  the  comparatively  un- 
settled region  of  Central  Illinois,  locating  upon  a 
farm  in  Elmwood  Township,  Peoria  County,  and 
here  our  subject  grew  toward  manhood.  He  ac- 
quired n  common-school  education  in  the  township 
schools,  and  in  addition  learned  much  not  to  be 
found  in  text-books,  regarding  Uie  various  depart- 
ments of  agricultural  life  and  the  principles  which 


should  govern  one's  conduct  toward  all  human- 
kind. 

The  l)reaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  found  our 
subject  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  full  of  enthus- 
iasm in  regard  U)  liis  duty  as  a  loyal  citizen,  and 
persuaded  in  his  own  mind  that  his  place  was  at 
the  front.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Ninth 
Illinois  Caxalry  for  a  term  of  eighteen  months, 
went  through  all  the  grades  to  Orderly  Scu-geant 
in  Company  L,  and  was  tinally  promoted  to  a  Sec- 
ond Lieutenancy.  He  was  (iurolled  at  Chicago, 
December  12,  ISGl,  and  on  March  IG,  !8(;4,  the 
regiment  veteranized.  They  wore  finally  mustered 
out  in  October,  1865,  receiving  th('ir  discharge 
papers  in  November. 

The  regiment  when  first  mustered  in  was  sent  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  thence  to  Iron  Mountain,  there 
l)ut  unilerthe  command  of  Gen.  Steele  and  marched 
to  .lacksonport,  some  skirmishing  taking  place  on 
the  w.a}'.  Proceeding  down  the  White  River  to 
Helena,  Ark.,  with  Gen.  C'urtis,  the  boys  endured 
some  terribly  hard  campaigning,  during  whicli 
they  were  often  obliged  to  drink  swamp  water,  and 
had  several  sharp  skirmishes.  They  also  had 
pitched  battles  with  the  enemy  at  Waddell's  and 
Stewart's  plantations,  finallj',  however,  reaching 
their  objective  point,  where  they  remained  until 
March,  1863,  the  tedium  of  camp  life  being  re- 
lieved bj'  somewhat  frequent  skirmishes.  Their 
next  expedition  was  under  (ien.  C.  C.  Washburn, 
his  operations  being  performed  in  the  vicinity  of 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  for  about  a  year,  after  which  they 
went  to  Corinth.  The  Guntown  exi)edition,  the 
exploits  of  (!en.  A.  J.  Smith  at  Tupelo  and  Hurri- 
cane Creek,  the  battles  of  Salem  and  Wyatt  (Miss.), 
Saulsburg  (Tenn.),  West  Point,  Okolona,  Mt.  Ivy, 
and  Coldwater  (Miss.),  gave  them  abundant  oppor- 
tunitj'  to  display  their  bravery  and  powers  of  en- 
durance. 

After  re-eidisting  the  regiment  marciied  to  Mem- 
phis, thence  going  to  the  North  on  a  thirty-days 
furlough.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  they  re- 
turned to  Memphis,  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Abbcyville,  Miss.,  and  then  pursued  the  cavalry  of 
Gen.  Wheeler.  They  subsequently  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Campbellsville,  am)  that  at  Franklin,  the 
latter  being  one  of  the  most  bloody  conflicts  in  which 


304 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


they  boro  a  part.  Tlie  more  notable  affrays  and 
campaigns  of  their  army  life  are  sufficient  to  indi- 
cate to  all  who  understand  the  soldier's  duties,  and 
know  amid  what  scenes  the  battles  were  fought, 
that  much  is  left  untold  of  arduous  toil,  dangerous 
sallies,  and  situations  in  which  discretion  and  stern 
courage  were  demanded. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Darkness  returned 
to  his  home  in  the  Prairie  State,  and  with  liis 
Inother  Edson  labored  on  the  parental  homestead 
in  Elmwood  Township,  tins  county,  until  1874. 
He  tlien  took  up  the  life  of  a  ranchman  near  Chey- 
enne, AV.yo.,  spending  two  years  in  stock-raising, 
and  herding  one  hundred  head  of  cattle.  The  In- 
dians becoming  hostile,  he  finally  chose  a  new  lo- 
cation near  Ft.  Fetterman,  where  for  two  j-ears  he 
carried  on  operations  in  stock  on  a  still  larger  scale 
than  he  had  previously  done.  Another  year  was 
spent  by  him  in  the  vicinity  »f  Cheyenne,  after 
wliich  he  located  on  Hat  Creek,  remaining  there 
until  1883.  Space  forbids  us  to  detail  his  exper- 
ience during  the  nine  years  tiiat  he  spent  in  the 
great  grazing  lands  of  the  Rock}'  Mountain  region. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  a  cool  head,  a  keen  eye,  a  firm 
scat  in  the  saddle,  and  an  intrepid  spirit  are  need- 
ful to  him  who  would  succeed  "on  tiie  range"  and 
pass  tlirough  its  scenes  in  safety. 

In  1883  Mr.  Harkness  determined  to  join  those 
who  were  making  use  of  unclaimed  land  in  the  In- 
dian Territory'  as  a  range  for  tiieir  cattle,  and  he 
therefore  made  tiiat  section  of  the  country  the 
headquarters  for  his  stock  business  until  188G.  He 
then  returned  to  the  famil}',  from  whom  he  iiad 
been  separated  much  of  the  time  for  over  a  decade, 
and  prepared  to  enjoy  with  them  the  fruits  of  his 
industrious  labors.  He  is  not  now  in  active 
business,  finding  sufficient  to  occupy  him  in  a  gen- 
eral oversight  of  his  investments,  and  tlie  duties  of 
Assessor  of  Elmwood  Township,  which  he  is  dis- 
charging in  a  capable  and  satisfactory  manner.  His 
political  views  have  been  quite  conservative,  and 
he  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  a  temperance  man  both  in  theory  and  prac- 
tice. 

Mr.  Harkness  was  fortunate  in  winning  for  his 
wife  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence, 
appreciative    nature,    ami    fine,    womanly   traits  of 


character.  This  lady.  Miss  Sarah  Arabella  Mettler. 
was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  February  13, 
1851,  and  became  his  wife  November  27,  1879. 
Her  parents;  John  and  Amanda  M.  (Rea)  M(tttler, 
both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  came  to  Illinois  in 
1853,  first  settling  in  Fulton  Count}^  and  later  re- 
moving to  Elmwood  Township,  Peoria  County. 
There  the  mother  died  in  1871,  and  the  father  in 
1879.  Mrs.  Harkness  spent  two  summers  with  her 
husband  in  Wyoming,  and  there  their  eldest  child, 
Erlow  M.,  died.  Four  fine  looking  children  add 
to  the  joys  of  home  the  graces  of  childhood  and 
their  ever  increasing  intelligence.  The  little  fam- 
ily consists  of  Eula  Belle.  Edwin  Rea,  Mary  Lucille 
and  an  infant  named  Willie. 

ETER  W.  HAWI>EY,  the  son  of  a  family 
which  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
section  of  the  State,  is  himself  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  count}-  and  is  occupying  and 
managing  a  large  farm,  which  he  entered  from  the 
Government  moi'c  than  forty  years  ago. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Truman  and 
Betsej^  (Younglove)  Ilawley,  natives,  resi)ectivelv, 
of  Vermont  and  New  Jersey.  At  some  period  of 
their  married  life,  in  the  year  1815,  thej'  removed 
from  their  New  England  home  among  the  hills  of 
Yerraont,to  New  York  State  and  cast  in  tlieir  lot  with 
the  pioneers  of  Oswego  County.  In  1835  they  again 
became  pioneers  of  a  newly  settled  region,  taking  up 
their  residence  in  Medina  Township,  this  county, 
where  their  remaining  j'ears  were  passed.  Until  the 
father's  death  the}'  lived  on  the  old  homestead,  and 
then  the  mother  made  her  home  with  our  subject 
until  she  died.  Mr.  II,awley  was  a  well-known  .and 
liigidy-reputed  citizen  of  Medina  Township,  and 
was  quite  prominent  there.  He  was  the  first  Post- 
master at  Mt.  Holl}',  und  held  the  position  for 
several  3'ears,  till  his  demise.  He  and  his  wife  were 
the  paients  of  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  the  famil}',  and 
was  born  in  the  pretty  town  of  Arlington.  Vt.,  Sep- 
tember 24,  1813.  He  was  two  years  old  when  his 
parents   emigrated    to  the  State  of  New  Yo''k,  and 


rp^tr^ 


"-V^ 


''(y^-^'>nn,JCc^ 


TytrTn-i 


PORRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


309 


there  he  grew  to  man's  estate.  la  1835  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  this  cnnty,  and  lived 
with  them  until  his  marriage.  Hiwas  bred  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer  and  has  always  foowed  that  call- 
ing, and  is  still  proprietor  of  thebmestead  that  he 
piircliased  from  the  Government!!  1838,  which  is 
;)le:ii;antly  located  on  section  25,  Kdnor  Township. 
It  comprises  three  hundred  and  tie  acres  of  well- 
lilied  land,  and  all  the  improveienls  upon  it,  in- 
cluding a  good  set  of  farm  buildigs,  are  the  work 
of  his  own  hand,  and  he  has  e«y  reason  to  be 
proud  of  what  he  has  accomplish^. 

The  comforts  of  the  home  th;  lie  has  built  up 
here  are  due  in  a  great  measure  t  the  thoughtful 
care  of  his  good  wife,  to  whom  h  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Medina  Township,  r>!.'ember24,  1846. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Adalet  Heman,  and  she  was 
horn  in  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  Foruary  28,  1825. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Asa  and  Rebecca  (Hurd) 
llenraan,  who  were  also  nativesof  that  part  of 
Xew  York.  They  were  the  parent'of  two  children, 
(if  whom  she  was  the  j'oungest.  \jEter  her  father's 
death  her  mother  married  Justusl'orrey,  and  they 
came  to  this  county  and  were  arang  the  pioneers 
of  Medina  Towns'jip,  where  theyUed. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawlej-  are  theparents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  two  died  wheir|uite3-oung,  and 
the  following  still  live — Alden  L.Frank  J.,  Deroy 
L.,  .Justus  T.,  Peter  T.,  Guy  and  harles  B. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hawley  firmlj' elieves  that  the 
policj-  of  the  Republican  party  i  the  best  to  be 
pursued  in  the  guidance  of  nationl  affairs,  and  he 
is  accordingly  a  stanch  Republitn.  He  is  a  fair- 
minded,  honest  man  of  exemplry  habits,  whose 
line  reputati(m  gives  him  a  placiamong  our  most 
liighly  considered  citizens,  and  asi  pioneer  of  Rad- 
nor Township  his  name  will  evei'^e  linked  with  its 
histor3'. 


^  AMES  MOONEY,  of  Media  Township,  is  a 
gentleman  whose  life  haslieen  marked  by 
no  wonderful  events,  but  ^y  a  steady  per- 
sistence in  the  calling  whih  he  chose,  and 
a  quiet  pursuance  of  what  he  judes  right  in  his  as- 
sociation with  huinniiitv  and  in  iimestic  life.     He 


m 


occupies  the  Mooney  homestead  on  section  11,  Me- 
dina Township,  is  numbered  among  the  farmers 
who  have  acquired  a  considerable  share  of  worldly 
goods,  and  is  an  excelhnt  representative  of  the 
agricultural  community.  The  homestead  was  se- 
cured by  his  father  in  1835  as  a  military  tr.act,  and 
is  now  considered  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
county.  It  has  been  the  home  of  our  subject  since 
he  accompanied  his  parents  hither,  and  he  has  be- 
come one  of  the  best  known  men  in  this  section  of 
the  county.  Besides  owning  the  present  homestead 
he  has  possessed  other  well-improved  property, 
having  given  each  of  his  five  sons  an  eightj-acre 
tract. 

Grandfather  ilooney,  who  bore  the  given  name 
of  Thomas,  was  a  native  of  County  Louth,  Ireland, 
a  fanner  and  man  of  influence  there.  Being  in  op- 
position to  some  of  the  tyrannical  forms  of  Gov- 
ernment, his  life  was  threatened,  and  he  fled  to 
America  with  his  family  in  1798.  He  located  in 
New  York  Citj',  dying  there  when  quite  an  old 
man.  In  his  native  land  he  had  married  Mary 
Graj',  an  Irish  lady  of  the  same  countj%  who,  like 
himself,  was  a  life-long  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and 
two  daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  all  marrj'ing  but  one. 

Among  the  children  of  the  couple  above  men- 
tioned was  a  son  Thomas,  who  was  born  in  County 
Louth,  Ireland,  and  was  ten  years  old  when  his  par- 
ents settled  in  the  United  States.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  New  York  Citj%  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  harness-maker,  after  having  completed  his  edu- 
cation. He  finally  went  into  New  Jersey,  and  there 
married  Helen  Stagg,  a  native  of  Passaic  County, 
and  descended  from  old  Dutch  stock.  Her  father, 
James  Stagg,  was  the  son  of  a  commissioned  officer 
of  the  Colonial  Army.  James  Stagg  was  a  farmer 
who  lived  to  the  age  of  more  than  three-score,  dy- 
ing in  his  native  count}%  where  his  widow  also  died 
at  an  advanced  age. 

After  his  marriage,  Thomas  Moonej%  Jr.,  opened 
a  grocer3'  store  in  New  York  City,  continuing  in 
the  business  until  1835,  when  he  determined  to  lo- 
cate in  the  West.  AVith  his  wife,  four  sons  and  a 
daughter,  he  set  out  for  Illinois,  going  up  the  Hud- 
son River  to  Albany,  thence  by  the  Erie   Canal  to 


310 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Buffalo,  crossing  the  lake  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  then 
crossing  the  Bucke\-e  State  to  Portsmouth,  and  con- 
tinuing his  journey  down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Illinois  Rivers  to  Peoria.  A  period  of 
four  weeks  was  consumed  in  the  journe}".  Mr. 
Mooney  at  once  secured  three  iiundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  prairie  land,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  tiralier  in  Medina  Township,  and  began 
life  in  the  pioneer  style.  The  surrounding  coun- 
try was  wild  and  sparsely  settled,  and  neighbors 
were  few. 

A  log  house  was  built,  which  was  replaced  bj'  a 
more  coaifortable  dwelling  after  Mr.  Moone}-  had 
made  a  start  in  the  improvement  of  his  farm.  He 
continued  his  labors  thereon,  ably  assisted  by  his 
wife,  until  they  were  surrounded  bj'  man\'  evi- 
dences of  comfort  and  prosperity.  He  liecame 
quite  prominent,  holding  some  of  the  local  offices, 
and  serving  as  County  Commissioner.  He  was  a 
man  of  genial  nature,  industrious  and  enterprising 
ill  the  pursuit  of  that  to  which  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion, a  devout  believer  in  the  principles  of  Cathol- 
icism, and  a  strong  Democrat  in  politics.  He 
died  at  liis  home  at  the  extreme  age  of  ninety  j'ears, 
his  remains  Ijcing  deposited  in  the  cemetery  of  tlie 
St.  Joseph  Catiiolic  Church,  which  he  had  helped 
to  organize.  Mrs.  Mooney  had  been  brought  up 
under  the  Presb3'terian  faith,  but  died  in  tliat  of 
the  Catholic  Church  vriien  ne.irly  three  score  j'ears 
old. 

Our  subject  is  the  oldest  member  of  the  i)areutal 
family.  He  has  two  brothers  and  a  sister  still  liv- 
ing. His  natal  day  was  November  15,  1814,  and 
his  birthplace,  Passaic  Countv.  N.  J.  He  was 
reared  in  the  (-ity  of  New  York,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation there  and  being  nearly  of  age  when  his  par- 
ents came  West.  He  was  married  in  the  townshii) 
which  is  now  his  home,  to  Elizabeth  Jenett,  an  in- 
telligent and  capable  woman  who  has  been  devoted 
to  the  interests  of  her  husband  and  children  dur- 
ing a  long  and  happy  married  life.  Mrs.  Mooney 
was  born  in  County  Louth.  Ireland,  in  1S22,  and 
leaving  lost  her  parents,  came  to  America  with  her 
brother  Michael  when  about  seventeen  years  old. 
They  at  once  settled  iu  the  Prairie  State,  which  has 
since  been  their  home.  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Mooney  be- 
long   to    St.   Joseph's   Catholic  Cliurch,    and    Mr. 


Mooney  takes  an  active  part  in  local  politics,  ex- 
erting his  influence,  and  casting  his  vote  for  the 
Democratic  party. 

The  family  of  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Moonej'  consists  of 
five  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  we  note  the 
following:  William  married  Anna  Burk,  and  lives 
on  a  farm  in  Ilallock  Township;  ]\I.  Thomas  mar 
ried  Ann  Rogers,  and  is  farming  in  the  same  town- 
ship; George  W.  is  a  grocer  in  Chillicothe;  James, 
who  married  Belle  Hughes,  occupies  a  farm  in  Me- 
dina Township;  Oliver  K.  married  Mary  Brennan, 
his  home  being  a  farm  in  Medina  Township;  Marj- 
A.  is  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Dolan,  a  real-estate  dealer 
in  Peoria. 

In  connection  with  this  sketch  we  present  litho- 
graphic portraits  of  Mr.  Mooney  and  his  estimable 
wife. 


/^N  IIARLES  L.  BOWERS,  an  honored  resident 
ill  ^  of  Elmwood  City,  where  he  owns  and  oc- 
^^Jf'  cupies  a  comfortable  and  well-appointed 
home,  is  the  proprietor  of  a  good  farm,  lying 
partly  in  Elmwood  Township  and  the  remainder 
in  Brimfield  Township.  By  his  skill  as  a  farmer 
he  has  secured  an  ample  competence,  and  was  en- 
abled to  rent  his  place  -at  a  good  advantage  and 
retire  from  active  business  while  yet  scarcely  past 
the  meridian  of  life. 

Mr.  Bowers  comes  from  a  brave  and  sturdj*  an- 
cestry that  settled  in  America  in  Colonial  times, 
and  representatives  of  the  family  fought  loyally 
in  both  the  Revolution  and  in  the  U'ar  of  1812, 
and  again  in  the  late  Civil  War  was  the  family 
represented  in  the  person  of  our  subject,  who  did 
gallant  service  for  the  Union  cause  and  received 
deserved  promotion  from  the  ranks,  and  bj'  his 
brother  Harrison.  A  native  of  Muskingum  County, 
Ohio,  our  subject  was  born  in  1833.  His  father 
was  John  Bowers,  of  Pennsylvania  birth,  while 
his  mother  was  Rebecca  (Vernon)  Bowers,  also 
of  Pennsjdvania.  His  parents  went  to  Ohio  in 
their  j'oung  days,  and  there  married  and  estab- 
lished their  first  home.  They  lived  there  till 
1853,  and  then  went  to  Iowa  and  located  in  that 
Stat€  permanently.     She  died   in  1872  and   he  died 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALRUM. 


311 


in  1878,  both  leaving  records  of  honorable  lives 
well  spent.  The  Bowers  faniil}'  are  descenfled 
from  English  and  German  stock.  The  father  of 
our  siiliject  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
vvliile  his  father,  John  Bowers,  served  in  the  Revo- 
lution and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Corn  ■ 
wallis  at  Yorktown.  On  the  mother's  side,  the 
ancestry  of  our  subject  was  of  mingled  English, 
Scotch  and  Irish  blood.  His  uncle,  Joseph  Ver- 
non. scr\ed  under  Gen.  W.  H.  Harrison  in  the 
War  of  1S12.  One  of  the  brothers  of  our  subject, 
Ihirrison  Bowers,  gave  up  his  life  on  the  altar  of 
his  country  during  the  late  Civil  War.  He  was  a 
member  of  Company  K,  Fourth  Iowa  Cavalry,  re- 
ceived an  injur}-  from  a  horse,  and  died  from  tlie 
effects  of  it  at  tlie  age  of  twenty-three  3'ears. 

Mr.  Bowers  is  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  eleven  are  now  living.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Ohio  and  Iowa,  coming  westward  at  tlie  age  of 
twenty  years.  He  remained  witli  Ijis  father,  assist- 
iiiu  him  greatly  in  the  management  of  his  agricuit- 
iirnl  interests,  till  he  was  twenl\^-(ive  years  old. 
lie  tlien  entered  upon  his  career  as  an  independent 
f.iriner  and  improved  a  farm  in  Henry  Count}', 
iosva,  wliicli  he  sold  in  1863  at  a  good  advance, 
!ind  came  to  Illinois  to  take  advantage  of  its  ex- 
(cptioually  fine  agricultural  resources.  He  bought 
;i  farm  in  Brimfield  Township,  and  actively  en- 
tered upon  its  cultivation,  and  in  the  years  that 
fiilldwed  placed  it  under  substantial  improvement. 
It  is  very  desirably-  located,  and  comprises  eighty 
acres  in  Brimfield  Township  and  eighty  acres  in 
••'.Iniwood  Township,  all  of  which  is  under  admira. 
Iile  tillage. 

Mr.  Bowers  was  first  wedded  to  ]\Iiss  Emiline  .T. 
.More.y,  their  marriage  taking  place  May  24,  1860. 
Her  parents.  David  and  Elizabeth  (Conroe)  JMo- 
rey,  natives  of  Ohio,  came  to  this  count}-  in  pio- 
neer days,  and  after  living  here  for  a  lime  moved 
to  Iowa.  In  1866  they  returned  to  tliis  part  of 
the  country,  and  settled  in  Elmwood  Township, 
which  they  made  their  home  till  his  death.  His 
widow  survives  him  and  makes  her  home  in  Kan- 
sas. By  their  marri.age  thej-  became  the  parents 
of  six  children.  Mrs.  Bowers  was  born  in  1841, 
and  after  a  luief  but  hai)py   wedded  life    with    our 


subject,  died  in  1866,  leaving  two  children,  Ida  B. 
and  H.  G.  The  former  is  the  wife  of  H.  P.  Zink, 
of  Brimfield  Township,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren. The  latter  a  resident  of  BriniQeld  Town- 
ship, married  Slar}'  Reed  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren. 

Mr.  Bowers  was  married  a  second  time  June  27, 
1867,  to  Mary  E.  Burt,  a  daughter  of  Charles  P. 
and  Lucretia  (Davis)  Burt,  natives  of  \'ermont. 
They  came  West  in  1853,  and  cast  in  their  for- 
tunes with  the  pioneers  of  Brimfield  Township, 
and  there  he  rounded  out  a  useful  life  in  1870, 
and  she  in  1874.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children,  of  whom  Mis.  Bowers,  the  third  in  order 
of  birth,  was  born  January  20,  1841,  in  the  village 
of  Rockingham,  Vt.  She  received  an  excellent 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Brimfield  Town- 
ship, and  adopted  the  profession  of  a  teacher,  and 
has  taught  school  successfully  in  Peoria  and  Knox 
Counties.  She  is  a  woman  of  rare  intelligence, 
and  of  a  fine  character  and  has  been  a  great  help 
to  her  husband.  The  only  grief  of  their  wedded 
life  has  been  in  the  death  of  the  two  children  born 
to  them. 

In  the  fall  of  1863,  our  subject  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  Fourth  Iowa  Cavalry,  of  which  he  became 
Corporal,  and  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  sup- 
pression of  the  rebellion.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
battles  of  Tupelo,  Guntown  and  Ripley,  Miss.; 
Sclma,  Ala.;  his  regiment  was  the  first  to  occupy 
Montgomeiy,  Ala.,  and  he  was  in  front  of  the 
breastworks  at  Macon,  Ga.,  when  word  was  re- 
ceived of  Lee's  surrender.  Our  subject  v/ith  his 
company,  was  at  Columbus,  Ga.,  May  16,  1865, 
and  was  subsequently  mustered  out  at  Atlanta  and 
was  discharged  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  August, 
1865,  he  having  shown  throughout  his  military  life 
true  soldieiy  qualities,  proving  himself  to  be  effi- 
cient, cool  headed  and  self  reliant,  in  all  times  and 
at  all  places. 

Mr.  Bowers  has  intelligent  views  on  all  matters 
of  public  import,  and  especially  is  he  interested  in 
the  cause  of  temperance,  and  is  an  active  temper- 
ance worker,  supporting  the  straight  Prohibition 
ticket,  though  he  had  formerly  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  party  from  the  days  of  Fre- 
mont to  the  time  of  (iarficld.     All  who  know  our 


312 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


subjeol.  and  he  has  many  fiiends,  are  agreed  that 
he  is  a  thoroughly-  good,  upright  man,  with  a 
kindly,  sincere  and  honest  nature,  that  involunta- 
rily calls  out  the  res[)ecl  and  trust  of  all  who  come 
in  contact  with  him.  He  and  his  wife  are  niem- 
liers  in  high  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Ehnwood,  and  are  never  beliiud  their 
fellows  in  good  works, whether  of  a  charitable,  social 
or  religious  character. 


-^-*'^- 


!)HOMAS  AARS,  <a  resident  of  Edelstein, 
where  he  is  living  in  a  beautiful  home,  in 
^^^f'  honorable  retirement  from  an  active  busi- 
ness life,  is  one  of  the  most  prorainent  citizens  of 
Hallock  Township,  where  he  long  carried  on  .agri- 
culture, acquiring  a  handsome  comi)etence  thereby. 
He  is  also  one  of  its  trusted  civic  oHicials, 
discharging  the  duties  of  one  of  its  most  responsi- 
ble offices  in  a  thoroughly  business-like  manner, 
redounding  to  the  financial  benefit  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Vars  has  been  connected  with  the  interests 
of  this  township  and  county  since  185t.  He  then 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixt3-  acres  of  wild 
land,  comprising  a  quarter  of  section  9,  Hallock 
Township,  and  there  began  life  as  a  general  farmer 
and  stock-raiser,  his  success  in  which  work  has 
been  complete,  and  he  has  developed  a  farm  which 
is  finely  improved  and  is  well  ordered  iu  every 
particular.  He  has  erected  a  neat  set  of  farm 
buildings,  including  a  fine  residence,  large  barns, 
etc.  He  resided  on  this  place  until  within  a  few 
months,  when  he  retired  from  farming  to  his  pres- 
ent home.  He  has  also  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of 
land  east  of  his  homestead,  which  is  -well  devel- 
oped, and  under  excellent  improvement.  He  came 
to  the  countj'  with  but  little  of  this  world's  goods 
in  his  possession,  and  has  made  his  competency 
since  then  by  hard  labor,  directed  by  sagacious 
forethought  and  excellent  methods  for  carrying  on 
his  work. 

Mr.  Yars  is  a  native  of  Rensselaer  County, 
N.  Y.,  his  birth  taking  place  in  Berlin,  September 
7,  1824.     His   father,   Benjamin   Vars,  is  thought 


to  have  been  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  as  he  is  a 
descendant  of  an  old  Colonial  family,  who  had  set- 
tled in  that  State  in  earl\-  times,  coming  to  New 
England  from  their  native  France,  and  for  many 
generations  were  represented  in  that  State.  They 
first  spelled  their  name  DeVars,  but  later,  with 
the  democratic  simplicity  characteristic  of  the 
New  I'.nglaiulers,  dropped  the  prefix  and  have 
since  been  known  bj'  the  plainer  cognomen  that 
the  family  bears  to-day.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  Thomas  Vars,  who  had  gone  from  his 
New  England  home  to  become  a  pioneer  of  New 
York,  after  his  marriage  to  Abigail  Sheldon,  a  na- 
tive of  Rhode  Island  and  a  descendant  of  early 
settlers  of  that  State.  They  located  in  what  is  now 
Berlin,  in  Rensselaer  County,  and  Thomas  Vars, 
who  was  a  mechanic  with  a  good  deal  of  mechan- 
ical genius  .and  an  adept  with  carpenter's  tools, 
followed  that  trade  in  connection  with  farming, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  Berlin,  where 
he  died  when  an  old  man,  and  his  wife  also  lived 
to  a  ripe  old  age.  They  were  both  prominent 
members  of  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  Church. 

Benjamin  Vars  w.as  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  fam- 
ily and  grew  to  man's  estate  in  the  pioneer  home 
of  his  parents  in  Berlin.  He  was  married  in  that 
town  to  Miss  Olive  Walker,  a  native  of  the  place, 
who  came  of  a  respectable  Y'ork  .State  family. 
After  marriage  they  took  up  their  residence  on 
the  farm,  and  there  their  remaining  daj-s,  which 
were  many,  were  passed  in  quietness  and  peace  and 
plenty.  All  their  days  they  were  adherents  of  the 
Seventh  Day  Baptist  faith,  and  were  well  known 
and  greatly  respected.  Benjamin  \'ars  was  a 
Whig  iu  the  latter  years  of  his  life.  He  and  his 
wife  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom 
three  are  yet  living,  our  subject  being  the  only 
one  who  resides  in  Illinois  or  the  West. 

t)ur  subject  was  reared  to  a  stalwart  and  rigor- 
ous manhood  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  e.srly 
adopted  the  calling  of  a  farmer,  to  which  he  had 
been  bred,  and  we  have  seen  what  he  has  accom- 
plished since  he  became  a  citizen  of  the  Prairie 
State. 

It  was  the  good  fortune  of  Mr.  Vars  to  secure 
in  the  person  of  Miss  Helen  Hull,  a  wife  who  has 
been  devoted  to  his  interests.     They  were  married 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


313 


in  their  native  township,  where  she  was  born  July 
19,  18-27,  the  eei-emony  mailing  them  one  taking 
place  October  28,  1848.  Her  parents,  Benjamin 
and  Maria  (Jones)  Hull,  were  also  natives  of 
Rensselaer  County,  and  were  there  reared  and 
married  and  began  their  wedded  life  in  Berlin 
Township,  which  was  their  birthplace,  and  there 
they  finally  died  at  a  good  old  age.  Mr.  Hull  was 
scventj'  j'ears  old  when  he  passed  from  the  scenes 
of  his  usefulness,  while  his  wife  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety  years  before  death  called  her 
hence.  Thej'  were  both  hard  working  jieople, 
were  well  known  and  highly'  thought  of  in  their 
native  county.  Benjamin  Hull  was  the  son  of 
Daniel  Hull,  who  was  a  native  of  Little  Rhody. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  pioneer  of 
Rensselaer  County,  he  going  from  his  New  Eng- 
land home  to  New  York,  after  his  marriage  to 
Phoebe  Greene,  who  was  likewise  a  native  of  that 
part  of  the  country,  born  either  in  Rhode  Island 
or  Connecticut,  who  it,  is  supposed  came  from  an 
old  New  England  family.  I)  niel  Hull  anil  wife 
spent  their  active  years  in  Berlin  Township,  and 
there  died  when  quite  old  people. 

'i'he  wife  of  our  subject  was  carefully  reared  by 
her  parents,  and  was  trained  to  be  an  excellent 
housewife,  and  knows  well  how  to  manage  the 
alTairs  of  her  household.  She  is  the  mother  of 
four  children,  one  of  whom,  Adella,  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years.  The  other  children  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  are:  Lillie.  widow  of  I'udolph 
Ayres,  who  resides  with  her  two  chihiren  on  the 
old  homestead;  Morton,  managing  his  father's 
homestead;  and  Olive,  who  lives  at  home.  Mor- 
ton married  Nettie  Potter. 

No  nian  is  more  deservedly  held  in  the  high  re- 
gard that  is  accorded  to  him  on  all  sides,  than  our 
subject.  His  reputation  is  of  the  best,  and  it  is 
the  universal  testimony  of  all  who  know  him  that 
his  life,  past  and  present,  is  above  reproach. 
Such  a  man  is  an  invaluable  aid  in  the  manage- 
ment of  publie  affairs,  and  his  fellow-citizens,  rec- 
ognizing that  fact,  having  often  called  him  to 
olfice  and  he  has  held  all  of  the  townshii)  public 
positions  from  that  of  Supervisor  down  to  the  low- 
est in  the  civic  list,  and  is  now  Township  Treas- 
urer.    He  and  his  sons    hold    sound    views   on  all 


political  questions  and  favor  the  Republican  party 
with  their  supiiort.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  \'ars  are  prom- 
inent members  of  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  Church 
and  Mr.  Vars  has  given  liberally  to  the  order. 
They  are  both  members  of  the  Olil  Settler's  Society 
of  this  county. 


TEDMOND  WHITNEY,  has  a  well-culti- 
vated farm  on  section  15,Elmwood  Town- 
ship, and  holds  an  honorable  [jlace  among 
the  men  of  character  and  principle,  who 
have  had  the  making  of  the  township,  and  are  ac- 
tive in  sustaining  its  substantial  prosperity  as  one 
of  the  richest  farming  centers  in  a  county  noted  for 
its  exceptionally  fine  agricultural  resources.  He  is  a 
not/able  figure  in  the  [)ublic  life  of  his  community 
as  one  of  its  leading  and  most  intelligent  otHcials, 
who  performs  his  civic  duties  with  an  eye  single  to 
the  good  of  the  public. 

Jfr.  Whitney  is  a  native  of  Allegany  Countj', 
N.Y..  his  birth  occurring  there  November  2G,  1823. 
His  father,  Horace  Whitney,  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont and  a  farmer.  His  mother,  Hannah  (Town) 
Whitney,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain 
State.  His  parents  vvere  there  married  and  later 
removed  to  New  York  State,  where  they  made  their 
permanent  home.  A  whole  family  of  Whitneys 
had  emigrated  from  the  old  home  among  the  hills 
of  Vermont,  including  the  father  and  seven  broth- 
ers, uncles  of  our  subject,  and  they  located  near  to- 
gether in  Allegany  County,  forming  a  settlement 
that  is  known  to  this  day  as  Whitney's  Valley. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  <lied  in  1851,  and  the 
father  rounded  out  his  life  in  1872.  They  were  ll;e 
parents  of  eight  children,  (jf  whom  five  are  now 
living. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Stedraond  Whitney,  of 
whom  we  write,  were  i)assed  in  New  York,  and  his 
education  was  gleaned  in  the  common  schools.  He 
gained  a  good  practical  knowledge  of  agricidture 
in  all  its  brandies  and  after  attaining  manhood 
still  remained  at  home  with  his  parents,  and  his 
labors  were  given  for  the  benefit  of  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  thirty  years  old.     The  first  few 


314 


rORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3-ears  of  his  married  life   were  spent   in  his  native 

State,  but  in  the  spring  of  lb57,  lie  ilecidedto  take 
up  his  residence  in  Illinois,  to  avail  himself  of  its 
marvelous  farming  facilities.  He  first  settled  in 
Elinwood  Township,  but  after  a  two  j'ears  resi- 
dence here  removed  to  Elba  Township,  Knox 
County.  Six  years  later  lie  returned  to  Elmwood 
and  has  ever  since  made  Ins  residence  here,  and  has 
always  carried  on  farming.  When  he  came  here  he 
was  not  in  very  good  circumstances  and  he  was 
obliged  to  rent  land  for  a  period  of  eight  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  thr.t  time  he  purcliased  a  resi- 
dence and  eight  acres  of  lanil  in  Elmwood,  but 
still  continued  to  rent  farms.  In  the  spring  of 
laT.T.  he  traded  for  his  present  farm.  It  originally 
com[)rised  both  prairie  and  limber,  and  was  already- 
improved  when  it  came  into  his  hands.  Its  one 
hundred  acres  are  all  well  tilled,  and  supjilied  with 
necessary  buihlings,  and  here  he  carries  on  mixed 
farming,  having  standard  grades  of  stock,  and  is 
constantly  adding  imi)rovements  to  his  place. 

Mr.  Whitney  is  connected  by  marriage  with  the 
Ewalt  family, the  first  pioneers  of  this  township.  His 
wedding  with  Miss  Mary  Campbell  was  solemnizeil 
December  27,  lb54,  and  has  been  one  of  exceeding 
happiness.  Mrs.  Whitney's  i)arents  were  Jonas 
and  Sovena  C'ampl>cll,wlio  were  natives  respectively' 
of  New  Hami)sliire  and  Pennsylvania.  They  had 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living. 
Their  daughter.  Mrs.  Whitney,  was  born  July  28, 
1830.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitney  have  been  blessed 
with  a  fine  family  of  three  children:  HoUis,  wlio 
married  May  McCann  and  lives  on  section  16; 
Florence  and  Frank.  All  have  been  given  liberal 
educational  advantages  and  are  graduates  of  tlic 
Elmwood  High  (School.  Frank  has  been  engaged 
in  the  teacher's  profession  for  the  past  two  years, 
and  Miss  Florence  also  holds  a  teacher's  certificate. 

Mr.  Whitney's  intelligence  and  character  as  a 
man  of  honor  and  sterling  integrity  give  him  a  high 
place  in  this  community.  His  fellow-citizens,  ap- 
preciating his  wisdom  and  genuine  worth  often 
call  him  to  public  life,  and  he  has  well  served  the 
township  in  various  capacities.  He  is  now  Trustee 
of  Elmwood  Township,  this  being  his  second  term 
in  that  office,  and  he  has  also  been  Assessor  and 
Township  Collector  for    several  years.     While    a 


resident  of  Elmwood  City  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Council.  He  is  classed  with  the  active  politicians 
of  this  vicinitj',  and  has  always  lieen  associated 
with  the  Republicans.  In  his  early  manhood  he 
supported  the  AVhig  partj',  but  on  the  formation 
of  the  Republican  party  transferred  his  allegiance 
to  it  and  he  voted  for  its  first  candidate,  John  C. 
Fremont.  His  sons  are  also  both  stanch  Republi- 
cans, and  Hollis  has  been  a  delegate  to  county  con- 
ventions. 

>^A  IIARLES  W.  DAW.SON  is  a  native  of  this 
county  and  is  now  classed  among  the  most  in- 
telligent and  progressive  farmers  and  stock- 
growers  of  Rosefield  Township,  where  he  is  con- 
ducting Ills  agricultural  interests  very  profitably. 
Our  subject  was  born  east  of  Oak  Hill,  on  section 
6,  this  township,  August  28,  1845.  His  father, 
Rodinuis,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  part 
of  the  county.  He  was  born  near  Wlieeling,  W. 
A'a.,  Februaiy  23,  1813.  He  married  for  his  first 
wife  Mary  Ann  Johnson,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
who  was  also  born  near  that  city,  her  birth  taking 
place  November  17,  1813.  She  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years,  closing  a  well-spent  life  ami  leav- 
ing behind  her  the  memor3-  of  a  virtuous  and  up- 
right woman.  The  father  of  our  suliject  married 
Am3-  Hutchinson  for  his  second  wife  and  lives  with 
her  in  Oak  Hill.  When  he  came  to  this  county  he 
settled  in  this  township  on  an  eighty-acre  tract  of 
land  which  he  improved  and  to  which  he  subse- 
quentl}'  adiled  another  forty  acres.  In  1856,  he 
moved  to  Marion  County,  Iowa,  and  thence  to  Ma- 
haska County  in  the  same  State,  where  he  resided 
eight  j'ears.  He  was  better  pleased  with  this  lo- 
cality, however,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  returned  to  Rosefield  Township,  and  located  on 
a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres  of  land  on 
section  7.  He  acquireil  a  competence  and  for  the 
past  three  years  has  lived  in  retirement  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Oak  Hill.  He  and  his  wife  are  true  Christ- 
ian people  and  in  them  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  has  two  of  its  best  members. 

By  his  marriage  with  the  mother  of  our  subject. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


315 


Mr.  Dawson  became  the  father  of  seven  children, 
nanu'lj':  Cornelius,  a  resident  of  Farmington,  who 
served  in  Company  I,  Eighteenth  Illinois  Infantry; 
Rebecca;  Mary,  wife  of  Sanuiel  Finarty;  Charles 
W. ;  James,  a  resident  of  Iowa  County,  Iowa,  who 
served  in  the  Seventy- seventh  Illinois  Regiment; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Ilanunerbauker,  and  .Ten- 
nie,  wife  of  W.  II.  Bower. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  the  life 
of  a  faruKU-  and  early  began  to  assist  his  father  in 
his  work.  He  was  given  a  common-school  educa- 
tion and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  began  life  for 
himself  as  a  railroad  man,  and  was  thus  employed 
for  the  space  of  one  year.  He  had  not  attained  to 
manhood  when  the  war  broke  out  but  he  watched 
its  progress  witli  intense  and  [latriotic  interest  and  as 
soon  as  hecould.entered  the  army,  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany I,  Kighteenth  Illinois  Regiment,  February  28, 
1805,  and  in  his  service  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  proved 
himself  to  possess  good  soldierly  (pialitics.  He  was 
Ininni-ably  discharged  in  the  numtli  of  December, 
IHUo,  at  Pine  Bluff. 

Since  his  return  from  Iowa.  Mr.  Dawson  has 
lived  ou  the  homestead  where  he  now  resides  and 
has  been  busily  engaged  in  general  farming  and  in 
stock-raising.  He  has  acquired  considerable  valn- 
alilc  propi'i'ty,  and  is  the  proprietor  of  a  Hnc  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Dawson  County, 
Neb.  He  lives  very  comfortably  on  his  Rosefield 
homestead,  which  is  provided  with  a  substantial 
set  of  buildings,  and  everything  about  the  place 
indicates  care  and  good  management. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  married  March;).  1870,  to  Mary 
A.  Bower,  who  is  all  to  him  that  a  devoted  wife 
and  able  heliiraate  can  be.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Catheiine  (Stall)  Bower,  who  came 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Rosefield  Township,  about 
185  L  They  had  a  family-  of  three  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Our  subject  ami  his  wife  have  five 
children — Edgar  Charles,  Nettie  O.,  Hiram  Rcuel, 
Maggie  Alsasia  and  Myra  Edna. 

Mr.  Dawson's  course  through  life  has  been  hon- 
orable to  himself  and  creditable  to  his  native  town- 
ship, and  all  who  know  him  will  certify  to  his  high 
moral  character  and  steady  sober  habits.  He  and 
bis  wife  are  Christians  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  i 
word   and  are  zealous  in   the  cause  of  religion  as  J 


represented  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  they  are  members  of  high  standing.  So- 
cially, Mr.  Dawson  is  identified  with  the  Ancient 
F'ree  and  Accepted  Masons. 


AMES  M.  KELLEY,  a  veteran  of  the  late 
war,  has  done  yeoman  service  in  aid  of  the 
grand  work  carried  on  by  men  of  his  class 
and  calling  in  the  upbuilding  of  this  county, 
and  to-day  occupies  an  honorable  position  among 
the  farmers  and  stock  men  of  Brimfield  Townshi|), 
where  he  is  possessed  of  a  good  farm. 

Mr.  Kelley  is  a  native  of  Green  County,  Pa., 
born  February  25,  1828.  His  parents.  George 
and  Mar}'  (Dougherty)  Kelley,  were  natives  of 
^'irginia,  and  migrated  from  there  to  Maryland, 
and  thence  to  Pennsylvania.  Hi.s  father  did  gocjd 
service  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  181 2,  and  fought 
in  the  famous  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane. 

James  Kelley  was  reared  to  man's  est.ate  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer, 
gaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  calling.  Mis 
educational  advantages  were  limited,  hut  by  much 
reading  and  observation  he  has  become  a  well-in- 
formed man.  He  was  in  life's  prime  when  the  war 
broke  out,  and  with  pati'iotism  worthy  of  the  son 
of  an  old  soldier,  he  eidisted  in  the  fall  of  1861, 
having  detcu-mined  to  do  his  share  in  suppressing 
the  rebellion  and  saving  the  LInion,  He  became  a 
member  of  Company  F,  First  Penns3'lvania  Cav- 
alry, which  subsequently  formed  a  |)art  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged with  his  regiment,  some  three  months.  A 
part  of  the  time  the  man\'  hardships  and  piivations 
that  he  was  called  upon  to  endure,  told  so  gre.-itl}' 
on  his  health,  that  he  was  obliged  to  be  in  the  hos- 
pital for  treatment.  He  remained  in  the  service, 
however,  nearly  a  year,  and  in  1 802  was  hon(^rably 
discharged.  f 

The  coming  of  oui'  subject  to  this  county  in  the 
fall  of  18(12,  was  an  important  turning  point  in  his 
life.  The  first  two  Aears  of  his  stay  here  he  worked 
on  a  farm  by  the  month  for  M.  Wiley,  in  Elmwood 


316 


rORTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Tuniisliip.  He  \y.as  subsequently  employer!  bj^  the 
month  for  tliree  3'ears,  and  by  frugality  and  bard 
lal)or  earned  and  saved  up  money  until  he  was  en- 
abled to  marry  and  establish  a  home  for  himself. 
After  marriage,  for  some  years  he  farmed  as  a 
renter,  and  then  bought  the  farm  he  now  owns,  and 
settled  thereon  in  the  S|iring  of  1874.  and  has  lived 
here  continuousl.y  since.  His  farm  is  ver3-  plcas- 
a'ltly  located,  the  soil  is  exceptionally  fertile,  and 
frcini  it  he  garners  plenteous  harvests.  He  has  its 
eighty  acres  well  tilled,  and  has  a  neat  set  of  build- 
ings, and  everthins  about  the  place  is  in  a  good 
condition. 

Mr.  Kelley  and  Miss  Mary  M.  Patterson,  united 
their  lives  and  fortunes  December  31 ,  18C1).  One 
son  has  been  born  of  their  pleasant  wedded  life, 
whom  they  have  named  Frank.  .lanuary  26,  1870, 
is  the  date  of  his  birth.  Jlrs.  Kelle}"  is  3  native  of 
Preble  County.  Ohio,  born  February  14,  1835,  to 
John  and  Sarah  Patterson.  She  is  a  sister  of  John 
M.  Patterson,  of  Brimfield  Township,  whoso  biog- 
raphy appears  in  this  volume.  She  came  to  this 
county  with  her  parents  when  she  was  in  her  eight- 
eenth year.  The  surrounding  country  was  theu 
open  prairie,  there  being  not  many  settlements  here 
and  she  has  been  an  interested  witness  of  much  of 
the  growth  of  the  county. 

The  life  which  our  subject  has  led,  is  creditable 
to  himself,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  has  been  useful  to 
his  ado|itod  township.  He  and  his  wife  have  so 
conducted  themselves  in  their  relations  with  all 
about  them,  that  none  know  them  but  to  esteem 
them.  Mr.  Kelley  is  a  sincere  believer  in  the  policy 
of  the  Democratic  part}-,  and  gives  it  his  hearty 
support.  All  plans  for  forwarding  the  material  or 
social  interests  of  the  township,  lind  favor  with 
him. 


<*^  IfelLLIAM  ANDREW,  Postmaster  of  Chase 
\&J//  Post-otHce,  Millbrook  Township,  occupies 
\^^J  a  leading  position  in  his  community  and 
is  identified  both  with  the  agricultural  and  mer- 
cantile interests  of  this  county.  Mr.  Andrew  is  a 
native  of  England  and  was  born  in  Devonshire, 
June    29,  1828.     His    parents   were    Thomas   and 


Eliza  (Jones)  Andrew,  who  were  likewise  of  Eng- 
lish birth  and  antecedents.  When  he  was  ten 
years  old  he  accompanied  his  father  and  mother 
to  America,  taking  passage  at  Liverpool  on  a  sail- 
ing-vessel, and  after  a  voyage  of  about  eight 
weeks  landed  in  the  citj'  of  New  York.  Thej-  went 
directly  from  there  to  Erie  County,  Ohio,  and  set- 
tled amcmg  its  pioneers,  and  they  bore  an  honor- 
able part  in  its  development.  Our  subject  passed 
the  remaining  years  of  his  boyhood  and  the  open- 
ing 3-cars  of  his  manhood  in  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try. He  had  but  little  schooling  as  the  educational 
advantages  were  then  somewhat  limited,  but  in  the 
parental  home  good  principles  were  early  instilled 
into  his  mind  and  he  acquired  industrious  habits, 
which  have  been  of  great  use  to  him  in  his  after 
career. 

In  18;)5,  when  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  life,  he 
came  to  this  county  to  take  advantage  of  its  won- 
derful agricultural  resources,  and  for  some  three 
years  was  engaged  in  farming  as  a  renter  in  Mill- 
bi-ook  Township.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  bought  a  farm  of  his  own  in  this  t(.)wnslnp  and 
was  actively  engaged  in  its  im|)rovement  until  the 
fall  of  1888,  and  in  the  meantime  had  developed 
his  property,  comprising  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  very  productive  land,  into  one  of  the  best 
regulated  and  best  tilled  farms  in  all  the  region 
around,  placing  uiiou  it  a  good  class  of  buildings, 
antl  suppl3'ing  it  with  am])le  machinery  for  all  the 
necessar3' operations  in  conducting  farming.  \Vhen 
he  abandoned  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Chase, 
and  now  has  here  a  well-ai)i)ointed  and  conveni- 
entlN'  .irranged  store,  well  stocked  with  general 
merchandise,  and  the  substantial  building  in  which 
he  carries  on  his  trade  is  of  ample  dimensions, 
being  20x40  feet.  He  has  built  up  quite  an  ex- 
tensive trade,  partl3-  on  account  of  his  honorable 
dealings,  as  his  customers  have  come  to  learn  that 
that  they  may  place  implicit  reliance  on  his  word 
and  judgment.  He  is  gifted  with  a  good  facult3' 
of  business,  is  methodical  in  his  work,  and  makes 
it  a  jKjint  to  do  with  others  as  he  would  be  done 
b3'.  In  connection  with  his  mercantile  business, 
he  has  charge  of  the  post-office  at  Chase,  receiving 
his  appointment  as  Postmaster  Jul3'  IC.  1889.  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


31!) 


he  is  found  to  he  llie  riglit  man  in  the  right  place, 
his  geninl  nnd  friendly  mnnner  making  him  well 
liked  by  tlie  pnlilio  in  general. 

The  marriage  of  our  sulijccl  wilh  Mary  Morse, 
a  native  of  England,  took  place  in  Ohio  in  18."j.3, 
and  has  been  a  felicitous  and  hnppy  one,  which 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living:  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
Abraham  Rarick,  of  Miilbrook  Township;  and 
Eva,  wife  of  II.  W.  Crone,  of  Miilbrook  Township. 
The  greatest  sorrow  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew's 
wedded  life  has  been  in  tlic  deatii  of  their  daugh- 
ter, Alice,  and  their  son,  William. 

Mr.  Andrew  is  a  self  made  man  in  the  l)est 
sense  of  the  term,  and  has  been  successful  in  a 
career  in  which  he  started  out  with  no  adventi- 
tious aids  of  fortune  and  name,  and  has  gairied  a 
high  position  among  the  solid,  reputable  men 
of  this  community.  He  is  broad  and  sensible  in 
his  views  and  in  })olilics  is  inclined  to  be  inde- 
licndcnt,  though  favoring  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  a  member  in  high  standing  of  the  iSIethodist 
Episcopal  Church,  at  Elmore,  is  serving  as  Trus- 
tee of  the  same,  and  carries  his  religion  into  the 
every  day  affairs  of  life. 


-^^- 


OUROW  P.  REED, the  present  Supervisor  of 
Brimlield  Tinvnship,  is  one  of  Iheoklest  set- 
k\  tiers  in  the  neighborhood  and  one  who  has 
been  an  eye  witness  of  much  of  the  growth 
of  the  county  during  the  half  century  just  past. 
He  has  shared  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  work 
of  development  as  a  member  of  farming  commu- 
nities, and  while  aiding  thus  has  advanced  his  own 
financial  interests  and  become  the  owner  of  an 
excellent  piece  of  property.  His  estate  consists 
of  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  well  culti- 
vated land  on  section  3,  the  same  being  marked 
with  a  complete  line  of  good  buildings  and  the  va- 
rious useful  accom|)animents  of  a  well-regulated 
fai  ni.  In  the  accumulation  of  his  projierty,  in  the 
careful  rearing  of  his  children,  and  in  all  which  has 
pertained  to  his  interests  since  his  marriage,  he  has 
been  ably  assisted   by  his   worthy  wife,  who    now 


shares   with   him    the    fruits  of  their  inilustrj-  and 
prudence. 

Mr.  Reed  is  a  native  of  this  county,  having  lieon 
born  in  Peoria,  June  11),  1840.  His  parents  were 
George  W.  and  Joannah  (Patterson)  Reed,  natives 
of  \'irginia  and  I'ennsylvania,  respectively.  The 
father  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  who,  having  lo- 
cated in  Peoria  about  18.'54,was  there  married,  the 
lad}'  of  his  choice  having  preceded  him  to  that 
city  a  short  time.  The  famil}'  of  the  good  couple 
consisted  of  six  children,  of  whom  onr  subject  is 
the  second.  The  others  are  Mary  and  Thomas,  wlio 
reside  in  Kansas;  Joannah,  wife  of  Joseph  Morri- 
son, of  Ohio;  Louisa,  jNIrs.  Joseph  Langlois,  who 
also  lives  in  Kansas,  and  George,  deceased.  The 
fatlier  entered  into  rest  in  1849,  the  mother  surviv- 
ing until  1857. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  reared  in  Peoria 
until  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  after  tlie 
death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
nine  years  old,  had  soon  to  begin  to  assist  his 
mother.  He  attended  the  common  schools  of  the 
city,  in  which  his  advantages  were  not  equal  to 
those  now  afforded  in  that  thriving  place,  but  such 
as  they  were,  he  improved  them  as  long  as  he  was 
able  to  attend  school,  and  by  self  etfort  has  added 
to  the  knowledge  then  obtained.  About  the  time 
that  he  entered  his  teens  he  began  working  on  a 
farm,  receiving  during  the  summer  ^6  per  month 
and  his  board.  Until  1802  he  was  employed  mainly 
as  a  farm  hand,  then  renting  land  he  worked  for 
himself  until  his  enlistment  in  the  Union  Army. 

On  the  nth  of  February,  1805,  Mr.  Reed  be- 
came a  private  in  Comi)any  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty -eighih  Illinois  Infantry,  serving  until  Sep- 
tember 22,  following,  when  he  was  discharged  at 
Springfield,  111.  During  his  army  life  he  had  been 
engaged  in  guard  duty  on  the  Nashville  &  Chatta- 
nooga Railroad.  At  its  expiration  he  returned  to 
Peoria  County-  where,  the  following  year,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Jane  A.  Whittaker,  the  date  of  the 
ceremony  being  February  22,  1800.  During  that 
year  the  couple  settled  on  a  farm  which  is  now^  in- 
cluded in  their  present  place  of  residence,  where 
they  have  labored  assiduously  in  developing  their 
land  and  making  of  their  home  an  abode  of  peace 
and    plenty.     For  a  short   time,  during    1861,  Mr, 


320 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Reed  tilled  the  soil  in  Missouri,  but  with  that  ex- 
ception and  tlie  time  devoted  to  his  country's  cause 
he  has  lived  in  Peoria  County. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  boni  in  County 
Queens,  Ireland,  being  a  daughter  of  John  C.  and 
Susan  (Carter)  Whittaker,  who  were  likewise  na- 
tives of  the  Emerald  Isle.  Her  union  with  our 
subject  has  been  productive  to  them  of  twelve 
children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  surviv- 
ors are:  George  W.,  Susan  A.,  .Toannah  L.,  Nettie 
J.,  Lottie  B.,  Ella  O.,  Henry  A.,  Clara  E.,  and 
Margaretta  P.  Susan  A.  is  now  the  wife  of  George 
A.  Pursell,  of  Elm  wood;  George  W.  married  Mmy 
M.  Moore,  of  Millbrook  Township. 

Mr.  Reed  was  appointed  to  fill  a  vacancy"  as  Su- 
pervisor of  BrimBcld  Township  in  1882,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  annually'  elected  to  the  position. 
He  has  previously  acted  as  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways. He  is  a  member  of  the  Lodge  of  Modern 
Woodmen  at  Brimfield,aud  of  G.  L.  Fort  Post,  No. 
177,  G.  A.  R.,  in  the  same  place.  It  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  say  that  he  and  his  wife  are  respected 
for  the  uprightness  of  their  lives  and  the  part  which 
they  have  borne  in  the  progress  of  this  section  of 
country.  In  politics  he  identifies  himself  with  the 
Republican  party. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  is  invited  to  a  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  Mr.  Reed,  which  is  presented  on 
anothir  page  of  this  volume. 


,'OHN  S.  POTTER.  The  smaller  towns  of 
this  county  contain  many  beautiful  homes, 
which  if  less  preteutious  than  some  in  the 
(^JA/  large  cities,  are  pleasing  in  design,  substan- 
tial in  construction,  and  so  surrounded  bj'  evidences 
of  order  and  good  taste,  as  to  prove  very  attract- 
ive to  the  passer-by.  who  at  once  concludes  that 
their  owners  are  people  of  refinement.  Such  a 
dwelling  is  that  occupied  by  the  widow  of  the  late 
John  S.  Potter,  who  erected  the  house,  fitted  it  up 
for  his  family,  and  gave  to  them  all  the  comforts 
that  his  financial  success  warranted. 

The    gentleman     whose    name    introduces    this 
SKCtch,  was  born  in  Allegany  County,  N.  Y.,  July 


6,  1834,  being  the  younger  of  two  children  born  to 
Asa  C.  and  Lucy  (Eldred)  Potter,  the  parents  also 
being  natives  of  the  Empire  State.  Thither  they 
removed  in  1850,  settling  in  Fulton  County,  111., 
near  Farmington.  but  afterward  removing  to  Akron 
Township,  this  county.  The  wife  and  mother  still 
survives  at  an  advanced  age,  but  the  husband  and 
father  breathed  his  last  April  13,  1883.  Our  sub- 
ject received  a  part  of  his  education  in  his  native 
State,  completing  it  after  his  removal  to  the  West, 
aud  .adopting  the  occupation  of  farming,  in  which 
he  occupied  himself  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  Kuoxville,  Knox  County,  July  17,  1858.  Mr. 
Potter  was  united  in  marri.age  with  Miss  Ellen  M. 
Brassfield,  a  lady  of  noble  and  generous  nature,  in 
whom  he  found  a  fitting  companion.  After  their 
marriage  they^  settled  in  Akron  Township,  residing 
there  until  December,  1883,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year,  during  which  they  lived  in  Jit.  Holly. 
At  the  date  named  they  removed  to  Dunlap,  where 
Mr.  Potter  erected  his  fine  dwelling,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  and  stock  business  until  his  death. 
That  sad  event  took  place  August  8,  1889,  remov- 
ing from  the  town,  one  of  its  best  and  most  public- 
spirited  citizens.  In  addition  to  his  town  property. 
Mr.  Potter  left  an  estate  of  some  eight  hundred 
acres  of  fine  land.  He  voted  the  Democratic  ticket, 
ever  taking  an  active  part  in  political  affairs,  and 
keeping  well  informed  regarding  the  issues  of  the 
day.  For  several  years  he  served  as  Township  Su- 
pervisor, performing  his  duties  satisfactorily.  He 
was  also  Assessor  and  Collector  of  the  township 
at  different  times.  He  was  highly  respected,  and 
sincerely  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  when 
called  hence. 

Jlrs.  Potter  is  the  third  child  of  Michael  and 
Ruth  (Freeman)  Brassfield.  having  one  brother  and 
two  sisters.  Her  parents  were  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina, but  shortly  after  their  marriage  settled  in 
Parke  County,  Ind.,  whence  they  came  hither  about 
1839.  For  a  time  they  resided  in  Radnor  Town- 
shio  this  county,  but  subsequently  made  their  home 
in  Fulton  County,  where  the  father  died  in  1857. 
Mrs.  Brassfield  is  still  living,  now  quite  aged. 
Their  daughter.  Ellen  M.,  was  born  near  Farming- 
ton.  Fulton  County.  Jlay  3,  1841,  remaining  an 
inmate  of  the  parental  home  until  her  marriage  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALKUM. 


321 


0111'  siibjecl,  and  acquiiing  niueh  useful  knowledge, 
liolii  of  books  and  of  home  duties.     She  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal   C'hureh,  and   one 
who  eanicslly  endeavors  to  make  her   life  eorn^s 
pond  with  the  principles  of  her  religious  belief. 

The  fine  family  of  our  subject  and  bis  good  wife 
comprises  eight  children,  several  of  whom  are  set- 
tled in  homes  of  their  own  :  Nettie  L.  married  Mor- 
ton B.  Vars;  Devillo  M.  married  Miss  Ella  Gallup; 
Asa  E.  Won  for  his  wife  iliss  Helena  Myer;  Frank 
married  ]Miss  Lydia  Shane;  Ida  E.  is  the  wife  of 
William  Myer;  Charlie  died  when  a  litllc  more  than 
seven  years  old;  and  Noel  J.  when  about  three 
years  of  age;  Lottie  R.  is  unmarried,  assisting  her 
mother  in  the  hospitable  management  of  the  home, 
which  is  a  gathering  place  for  the  best  society  of 
the  town. 


J^HOMAS  MATHERS.  More  than  three- 
score and  six  years  ago  there  was  born  in 
the  humble  home  of  a  i)ioueer  family  in 
Oliioa  son,  who  grew  to  a  sturdy  manliood  amid 
the  scenes  of  the  primeval  forests  and  wild  prairies 
of  that  State.  His  social  and  educational  advantages 
were  of  the  primitive  order,  and  he  had  to  begin 
the  battle  of  life  early.  He  was  well  fortified  for 
the  struggle,  however,  as  the  privations  and  sacri- 
fices of  the  people  of  a  newly  settled  eountr}'  had 
hardened  and  strengthened  •  him  for  the  conflict, 
fitted  him  for  the  work  he  had  to  do,  and  have  en- 
abled him  to  attain  a  high  position  among  the 
wealthy  and  substantial  farmers  and  stock- raisers 
of  Peoria  County,  and  in  him  we  have  a  worthy 
subject  for  representation  in  this  Biographical 
Aluu.m.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  landowners  in 
Millbrook  Township,  having  a  valuable  farm  on 
section  10,  whose  broad,  well-cultivated  fields  yield 
rich  harvests.  The  improvements  that  he  has 
placed  upon  it  are  of  a  substantial  order,  and  his 
extensive  agricultural  interests  net  hiin  a  good  in- 
come. 

Mr.  Mathers  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Ohio.  .June  10,  1824,  a  son  of  William  and  Sarah 
(McDonnell)  Mathers,  who   were  early  settlers  of 


the  BiK-keye  State,  having  gone  there  from  Vir- 
ginia, tiieir  native  State.  Our  subject  passed  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  in  Dliio,  having  but  lim- 
ited educational  advantages,  l)ut  acquiri!ig  a  sound 
practical  knowledge  of  farming  that  has  been  of 
great  benefit  to  him  in  his  after  years.  When  he 
was  sixteeu  years  old  he  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  his  father,  and  when  about  eighteen  years 
of  age,  he  started  out  in  the  world  on  his  own  ac- 
count. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Matliers  came  to  Hliuois  to  invest 
his  earnings  in  land,  shrewdly  foreseeing  that  this 
State  was  to  be  tlie  paradise  for  a  wide-awake 
enterprising  farmer.  He  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Millbrook  Township,  paying  $10  an  acre 
for  it,  and  afterwards  brought  his  family,  then 
consisting  of  his  wife  and  two  children,  to  this 
county  from  Ohio,  performing  the  journey  with 
one  team  and  a  wagon,  camping  by  the  wayside  at 
night,  and  in  twent^'-two  days  arriving  at  their 
destination.  In  1.S64,  he  settled  on  his  present 
farm,  which  was  then  without  cultivation  or  im- 
provement. By  hard  and  untiring  labor  he  has 
brought  it  to  its  [jresent  condition  and  its  five 
hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  of  land  to-day  con- 
stitute one  of  the  most  desirable  and  i)roductive 
farms  in  the  neighborhood.  He  was  a  poor  man 
when  he  came  here,  and  it  is  only  by  the  exercise 
of  keen,  far  seeing  judgment  and  superior  man- 
agetnent  that  he  has  been  enabled  to  accumulate 
this  valuable  property. 

For  forty  years  our  subject  has  had  the  active 
co-operation  of  a  helpful,  capable  wife,  to  whom  he 
was  married  March  11,  1850.  Mrs.  Mathers' 
maiden  name  was  Anne  Shuttlcsworth,  and  she  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Ohio.  Her  marriage 
with  our  subject  has  been  [iroductive  of  three  chil- 
dren, namel3' :  Boone,  a  resident  of  Millbrook 
Township;  Adeline,  wife  of  John  F.  Kidder,  of 
Monica,  111.;  and  LaFayette,  of  Millbrook  Town- 
ship, all  of  whom  are  well  settled  in  life  and  are 
useful  citizens. 

Mr.  Mathers  is  well-known  and  greatly  respected 
for  his  honesty  and  integrity  in  business,  and  pos- 
sesses the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  neighbors 
and  many  friends.  Millbrook  Township  is  indebted 
to  him  for  what  he  has  done  in  developing  its  re- 


322 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sources  and  he  is  valued  as  one  of  its  most  useful 
citizens,  wlio  favors  all  tilings  tliattend  to  advance 
its  prosperity.  In  politics  lie  is  a  sturdy  Democrat 
and  gives  his  party  generous  support.  He  has 
served  as  Highway  Commissioner  of  Millbrook 
Tovirnship  for  three  years,  and  is  found  to  )ie  one  of 
the  most  eflicient  men  who  has  ever  held  that  im- 
portant (ilHce. 


m^^^M 


fLBEKT  A.  M.  MARSHALL.  In  tlie  agri- 
cultural districts  of  Jubilee  Towushl|),  no 
more  piominent  or  useful  man  can  be  found 
than  he  with  whose  name  we  introduce  tliis  sketch. 
He  comes  of  a  fine  New  England  family  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  has  inlierited  an  abundance  of  energy, 
quickness  of  perception  and  firmness  of  principle, 
to  which  manv  sterling  traits  have  been  added  by 
example  and  training.  He  began  his  active  life  at 
an  early  age,  the  years  which  arc  spent  by  ninny  in 
study  and  recreation  having  been  devoted  by  him 
to  hard  work  in  a  coni|iaratively  new  country.  He 
takes  great  delight  in  all  which  jiertains  to  country 
life,  from  his  childhood  having  enjoyed  much 
which  would  prove  irksome  to  others.  The  sight 
of  green  things  growing  fills  him  with  pleasure, not 
due  alone  to  his  success  in  securing  that  end',  but 
to  his  artistic  iierceptions  and  genuine  love  of  na- 
ture. 

Our  subject  is  a  direct  descendant  of  John  Mar- 
shall, a  member  of  the  Colonial  Army,  who,  having 
been  taken  prisoner  by  the  iMiglish,  was  held  in  a 
prison  ship  off  New  York  Harbor  three  months. 
Those  familiar  with  the  history'  of  that  period  know 
that  this  confinement  was  one  from  wliifh  few 
escaped  alive.  The  ixarty  of  which  Mr.  Marshall 
made  one  were  fed  on  beans  which  were  cooked  in 
copper  kettles,  thus  endangering  the  lives  of  all 
who  partook  of  them.  Thirteen  of  the  numlier  at 
last  jum()cd  overboard,  only  three  of  them  reach- 
ing shore  and  making  their  way  back  to  their 
homes.  Mr.  Marshall  was  one  of  these,  and  in  later 
years  liecame  well-to-do. 

The  next  in  the  direct  line  of  descent  was  Elijah 


Marshall,  born  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  who  bought  a 
farm  in  his  native  State,  but  the  title  proving  de- 
fective, accompanied  a  colony'  to  Vermont.  They 
located  on  new  land  in  a  heavily'  timbered  region 
where  he  obtained  his  financial  start  by  making 
black  salt  and  potash.  He  carried  on  an  extensive 
dairj'  business,  owning  one  hundred  and  twent}'-five 
cows  and  three  hundred  acres  of  land.  His  son, 
Marvin,  the  father  of  oursuliject,  was  born  at  Ches- 
ter, Vt.,  and  reared  on  a  farm.  When  grown  to 
manhood  he  settled  in  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  buy- 
ing forty  acres  of  land  on  the  Hudson,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick.  For  years 
he  made  a  million  and  a  half  of  brick  per  annum, 
sending  them  by  boat  to  New  York  City  where  he 
received  $2.50  per  thousand. 

For  a  year  Marvin  Marshall  lield  a  |)Osition  as 
overseer  of  a  brick  yard  in  Rhode  Island, and  a  few 
months  after  his  return  to  the  East  made  up  his 
mind  to  become  a  farmer  .and  to  locate  in  the  Prairie 
Slate.  He  therefore  embarked  with  his  family  on 
the  Hudson  River,  and  upon  reaching  Troy  took 
the  cars  to  Buffalo,  embarked  upon  a  steamer  for 
Toledo,  and  there  took  the  canal  for  LaFayette, 
Iiid.  The  iiarty  then  boarded  the  stage  which  con- 
veyed them  to  Olney,  111.,  whence  with  a  prairie 
schooner  they  completed  their  journey  to  Peoria 
wlicre  they  arrived  on  Sunday  morning  August  2, 
1850.  The3'  had  spent  four  weeks  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Olney,  but  Mr.  Marshall  did  not  like  it 
tliere  and  so  came  on  to  Peoria  County.  From  the 
county  seat  they  drove  out  to  the  home  of  Cyrus 
Brooks  at  Brimfield,  shortly  afterward  locating  on 
land  in  Jubilee  Township. 

Mv.  Marshall  had  but  125  when  his  family  was 
located  and  for  some  time  he  had  a  hard  struggle 
to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door.  He  finally  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  ,'50,  to  which  he 
.added  as  his  circumstances  would  allow  until  his 
landed  estate  amounted  to  four  hundred  acres. 
When  sixty-two  years  old  he  divided  this  among 
his  heirs,  and  retiring  to  Brimfield,  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  quiet  comfort.  He  breathed 
his  l.ast  June  4,  1883,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years,  during  the  Last  three  of  which  he  was  an  in- 
valid. 

lie  was  originally  a  member  of  the  Whig  party, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOaRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


523 


later  aRt'iniblicaii  of  tUc  strongest  t\-pe,  and  (hiring 
slavery  days  an  Abolitionist  of  the  deepest  dye. 
Tlie  needs  of  liis  family  was  all  that  prevented  his 
bearing  arms  daring  the  Civil  War.  He  became  a 
Captain  in  the  Now  York  Militia  when  twenty-five 
years  old.  He  hail  held  nearly  every  township 
office  excei>t  Supervisor  and  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Wide-awake  in  every  respect,  he  never  became  dis- 
couraged, but  was  always  confident  that  behind  the 
cloud  was  the  sun  still  shining.  He  was  converted 
in  1851,  and  until  his  death  was  a  devout  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  known  in  her 
girlhood  as  Lois  Bruce.  She  was  born  in  Chester, 
Vt.,  of  which  her  father,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Bruce, 
was  also  a  native.  He  attended  school  but  six 
months  in  his  life,  became  a  self-made  man,  and  en- 
tering the  Baptist  ministry  did  efHcient  work  as  a 
Ruling  Elder  until  his  death.  He  owned  a  small 
place  where  he  found  rest  during  the  interims  of 
his  ministerial  labors.  lie  was  of  Scotch  descent. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband,  the  mother  of  our 
subject  sold  the  residence  in  Brimfield,  went  to 
lUica,  Neb.,  and  remained  there  about  tvvo  years. 
She  then  returned  to  IJrim field  and  after  a  time, 
being  nearly  blind,  became  an  inmate  of  the  home 
of  our  subjec't,  remaining  with  him  until  her  death. 
She  breathed  her  last  June  25,  1886,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years,  cheered  in  her  passage  through 
the  dark  valley  by  the  faith  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
with  which  she  had  been  identified  since  the  age  of 
sixteen  years. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  ton  children,  six 
of  whom  reached  j'ears  of  maturity,  the  oldest  ^>{ 
these  being  our  subject.  The  second  was  Reuben 
H.,  who  fell  at  Kenesaw  Mountain.  The  third  was 
James  N.,  now  living  in  Iroquois  County;  Charles 
E.  is  living  in  Fillmore  County,  Neb.;  Cassius  M., 
in  Chase  County,  Neb.,  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Ilockenbary 
in  Hamilton  County,  Neb.  Reuben  enlisted  in 
1862  in  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
served  faithfully  until  jjierced  through  the  heart 
by  an  enemy's  ball.  James  enlisted  in  1863,  when 
but  seventeen  years  old,  in  the  Eleventh  Illinois 
Cavalry,  and  is  now  an  invalid  from  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  service. 

The  gentleman  with  whose  name  this    skeloh    is 


introduced  was  born  in  the  village  of  Coxsackie, 
(5reene  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  banks  of  the  Hud- 
sou,  May  3,  1838.  llo  was  reared  in  the  village 
with  the  privilege  of  attending  good  sch(jols  during 
a  greater  part  of  the  year  until  he  was  twelve  3'oars 
old,  wlion  the  family  came  West.  After  reaching 
Illinois  his  schooling  amounted  to  but  three  months 
per  year.  He  was  put  to  work  immediately  upon 
his  arrival,  learning  to  drive  oxen,gnidc  the  break- 
ing plow,  and  do  other  man's  work  during  the  years 
of  hard  times  which  were  made  more  trying  to  the 
family  by  reason  of  botli  father  and  mother  being 
sick  the  first  year.  He  learned  to  turn  his  hand  to 
anything  which  would  aid  in  the  improvement  of 
the  farm  and  in  the  family  resources,  remaining 
under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty-fouryears  old, 
although  at  the  age  of  twentj'-one  he  began  work- 
ing for  himself. 

After  having  worked  for  wages  a  year,  yowng 
Marshall  rented  land  of  his  father  until  his  m.ar- 
riage  which  occurred  in  Jubilee  Township,  in  Au- 
gust, 1862.  Ho  then  bought  and  located  on  eighty 
acres  on  section  30,  which  comprises  a  part  of  his 
present  estate.  He  built  a  comfortable  dwelling, 
made  various  improvements,  and  in  the  course  of 
time  had  a  good  farm,  where  once  there  had  been 
an  undeveloped  tract.  Mrs.  Marshall,  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  who  bore  the  maiden  nanu!  of  N.ancy 
S.  Sweet,  was  taken  ill  six  mouths  after  marriage 
and  aft,er  almost  four  3'ears  of  suffering  entered  into 
rest  in  June,  1866.  At  her  death  Mr.  Marshall  was 
$1,100  in  debt,  but  continued  perseverance  and  un- 
remitting industry  enabled  him  to  discharge  his 
obligations,  and  as  years  passed  by  become  the  pos- 
sessor of  more  land  with  all  the  accompanying  con- 
veniences. 

He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  on 
section  32,  in  addition  to  his  original  tract,together 
with  nine  acres  in  Rosefield  Township.  All  is  well 
improved,  enclosed  and  divided  by  good  fences, 
much  hedge  being  used  for  this  purpose.  He  di- 
vides his  attention  between  stock  and  grain,  the 
produce  of  the  soil  being  of  excellent  quality  and 
above  the  average  in  quantity,  while  the  stock  arc 
full-blooded  Poland-China  hogs,  good  grades  of 
Miort-horn  and  Durliam  cattle,  and  good  grades  of 
horses.     Mr.    i\Iarsliall   has  been    fortunate    in  his 


324 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


dealings  in  swine,  by  wiiicli  he  has  made  quite  a 
good  deal  of  mone}-. 

Mr.  Marshall  contr.i.cted  a  second  matrimonial 
alliance  January  1.  1867,  his  bride  being  Miss  Ab- 
bie  R.  Willard.  and  the  marriage  rites  celebrated  at 
the  residence  of  Deacon  Hathaway,  in  Jubilee 
Township.  The  bride  was  born  in  this  township, 
being  a  daughter  of  Alpheus  and  Maria  (Sabin) 
Willard,  the  former  an  earl^'  settler  here,  who  came 
from  Rockingham,  Yt.  He  died  in  India  some 
\ears  since.  His  widow,  a  native  of  Vermont,  now 
lives  in  Farminglon,  Fulton  County.  By  his  first 
union  Mr.  ilarshall  is  the  fatlier  of  one  son,  Ruben 
II..  who  works  for  himself,  but  lives  at  home.  The 
second  union  has  tieen  iiroductive  of  eight  children, 
viz:  Birdie  A,,  Cora  M.,  Ernest  \V.,  William  A., 
Harry  E.,  Janie  McC,  Nellie  M.  and  Stella.  Birdie 
and  Cora  are  teachers,  both  being  graduates  of 
Brimfield  .^chools. 

For  twenty-five  }'ears  Mr.  Marshall  has  served  as 
School  Director.  He  votes  the  straight  Republi- 
can ticket,  has  been  delegate  to.count}'  conventions 
and  member  of  the  Central  Committee.  He  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Brimfield.  in  which 
he  has  been  Trustee  and  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school.  When  the  edifice  in  which  the  so- 
cietj-  worships  was  contemplated,  he  spent  about 
four  months  in  soliciting  and  collecting  funds,  him- 
self giving  more  money  than  anj'  otiier  member, 
and  acting  ,as  a  member  of  the  building  committee. 
For  the  jiast  decade  he  has  had  poor  health  and  h.as 
therefore  been  obliged  to  abandon  to  some  extent, 
tlie  active  religious  and  other  public  work  in  which 
lie  has  ever  taken  such  delight. 


^ 


<^f^)pSON  HARKNESS.  This  name  will  be  at 
^  once  recognized  .as  that  of  an  almost  life- 
^  long  resident  of  f^lmwood  Township — one 
who  from  early  boyhood  has  borne  a  part  in  the 
work  which  has  made  of  this  section  one  of  the 
finest  agricultural  regions  in  the  State.  Ilis  father. 
Daniel  Harkness,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  is  well 
remembered  bj'  the  older  settlers  here,  among  whom 
he  began  his  labors  in  1840.  surviving  to  realize  a 


good  reward  for  the  industry  and  indomitable  cour- 
age which  led  him  from  poverty  to  a  condition  of 
comfort.  Inheriting  the  sturdy  qualities  for  which 
both  father  and  mother  gained  deep  respect,  it  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at  that  our  subject  discharges 
well  his  duties  in  life,  and  is  held  in  good  repute 
throughout  this  region. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  after  his  marriage, 
made  his  home  in  Pennsylvania  for  some  3"ears.  th.at 
State  having  been  the  residence  of  himself  and  wife 
for  some  years  prior  to  their  union.  In  1830.  he 
and  his  brother  Isa.ac  walked  fi-om  the  Ke3'stone 
State  to  Peoria,  III.,  that  being  their  first  visit  to 
the  region  which  was  destined  to  become  the  scene 
of  their  efflcient  labors.  After  a  short  .sojourn  they 
returned  to  the  Keystone  State,  from  which  Daniel 
Harkness  removed  his  famih'  by  wagon,  in  1840. 
A  location  was  secured  on  section  32,  Elm  wood 
Township,  where  the  father  breathed  his  last,  in 
December,  1867.  He  had  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  arc  now  living. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living,  m.aking 
her  home  with  the  son  of  whom  we  write.  She  w.as 
born  in  Halifax,  Vt ,  December  21,  1804,  and  is 
tlierefore  in  her  eighty-sixth  year.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Eliza  Scott,  her  p.arents  being  Asahel  and 
Elizabeth  (Peek)  Scott,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  AVindom,  Vt.,  July  2.  1768.  and  the  latter 
in  New  Hampsliire,  in  1772.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott 
lived  in  theGreen  Mountain  State  until  1810,  when 
they  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where  the  husband 
died  in  1823.  and  the  wife  in  1847.  Of  the  eight 
children  born  to  them,  the  only  survivor  is  Mrs. 
Harkness,  who  still  enjoys  quite  good  health,  but 
is  crippled. 

From  his  third  year  the  subject  of  this  notice 
has  lived  in  Elmwood  Township.  He  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  June  24,  1843,  having  a  twin  brother, 
Edwin,  now  Assessor  of  Elmwood  Township.  As 
before  stated,  the  parents  were  poor,  consequently' 
the  boys  obtained  but  a  common  school  education, 
and  were  early  taught  to  avail  themselves  of  every 
opportunitj-  to  assist  in  securing  a  capital  with 
which  to  begin  life  when  thej'  had  grown  to  man- 
hood. The  twin  brothers  picked  wild  lilackberries 
and  sold  them  for  fifty  cents,  with  which  they 
bought   n  young  pig,  and   had  another  given   them 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


325 


b3'  their  uncle,  Ben  Dnell.  They  ti-arlerl  tliem  off, 
and  finally  when  our  subject  came  of  age,  he  hart 
tliree  horses  as  the  result  of  his  siiare  of  the  black- 
berries. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  our  sultject  took 
charge  of  the  home  farm  upon  which  he  still  makes 
his  abode.  lie  now  has  two  hundred  and  three 
acres  of  land  in  a  body,  a  portion  of  which  is  left 
to  hardwood  timber  growth,  while  a  large  amount 
is  devoted  to  pasturage,  he  being  quite  extensively 
interested  in  stock-raisiug.  Sixty  acres  are  under 
cultivation,  the  diversified  crops  equalling  in  qual- 
it}-  and  quantity  per  acre,  any  to  be  found  in  this 
section.  The  stock  is  all  of  good  grades,  the  cattle 
being  Herefords,  of  seventh-eighth  blood.  This 
herd  runs  from  thirty  to  ninety,  at  the  head  being 
a  grand  specimen  of  the  breed,  an  imported  animal 
weighing  seventeen  hundred  pounds.  Mr.  Hark- 
ness  is  fully  convinced  that  it  pays  to  market  beef 
of  high  grades.  He  raises  about  fourteen  head  of 
horses,  and  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  hogs  per 
year. 

The  residence  now  occupied  bj'  the  Harkness  fam- 
ilj',  was  built  in  1866.  It  is  a  comfortable  and  suf- 
ficiently commodious  dwelling,  and  under  the 
charge  of  an  efficient  housekeeper  and  woman  of 
taste,  presents  an  attractive  and  homelike  ap|)ear- 
ance.  It  is  verj-  different  from  the  home  occupied 
by  our  subject  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the 
Chicago.  Burlington  &  Quinc\'  Railroad  through 
tills  township.  His  father's  family  then  occupied 
a  log  house,  12x14  feet,  having  but  two  rooms,  one 
above  and  one  below.  lu  addition  to  sheltering 
the  family,  it  was  utilized  as  a  boarding  place  for 
tliirteen  of  the  railroad  men,  the  parents  desiring 
to  add  to  tlieir  income  in  every  possible  way.  Be- 
sides his  land  in  this  township,  our  subject  also 
owns  an  imitroved  tract  in  Nebraska. 

Tiie  trials  and  successes,  joys  and  sorrows,  of  Mr. 
Harkness  have  been  shared  since  1871,  by  a  lad}' 
who  was  former!}'  known  as  Miss  Anna  Kightlinger. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  John  Kightlinger.  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  whose  father  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Elba  Township,  Knox  County.  Her  mother, 
Martha  Jane  Smith,  was  born  in  Richland  Count}', 
Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  with  her  father, 
lehabod   Smith.     The   parents    of    Mrs.    Harkness 


finally  settled  in  Elmwood  Township,  where  the 
mother  died  January  8,  1859,  and  the  father  Au- 
gust !),  1862.  They  had  four  children,  two  yet 
living.  Mrs.  Harkness  w.as  born  Februarj- 4,  1852, 
receiving  a  common-school  education,  and  devel- 
oping a  character  which  exerts  an  influence  in  what- 
ever society  she  m.ay  be.  She  and  her  husband  are 
the  parents  of  two  children,  but  have  been  bereft 
of  both  b}'  the  hand  of  death. 

Mr.  Haikness  has  been  Director  in  his  school  dis- 
trict, and  Trustee  of  Klmwood  Township,  in  these 
stations,  as  in  a  private  capacity,  doing  all  that 
in  him  lies  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  peo- 
ple. He  is  one  of  those  who  believe  that  the  elect- 
ive franchise  should  not  be  neglected  by  an}-  loyal 
citizen,  and  he  never  fails  to  deposit  his  vote, 
whicii  is  given  to  the  support  of  Republican  can- 
didates and  principles. 


^ ^HE-B- 


\I/,^^  ENRY  R.  GERDES,  senior  member  of  the 
)jl  firm  of  Gerdes  &  Barton,  of  Bartonville, 
.^y^  and  also  Postmaster  of  the  village,  is  one  of 
the  best  educated  and  most  upright  of  its 
citizens.  He  is  a  son  of  R.  H.  and  Trinke  Gerdes, 
of  Limestone  Township,  in  which  he  was  born  No- 
vember 29,  1863.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  went  to  t.ake  a  position  in  a  grocery  store, 
which  he  held  about  four  years,  during  that  time 
attending  a  business  college  at  night.  His  quick- 
ness of  apprehension  and  ardent  desire  to  become 
well  fitted  for  the  battle  of  life,  had  given  him  a 
better  understanding  of  those  branches  usually 
found  in  the  curriculum  of  the  public  schools  than 
is  sometimes  the  case.  The  determination  which 
led  him  to  devote  his  evenings  to  study  rather  than 
to  the  sports  generally  indulged  in  by  youth,  has 
accompanied  him  in  his  career  as  a  business  man, 
and  has  been  one  of  the  most  important  factors  in 
his  success. 

After  the  period  mentioned,  Mr.  Geides  entered 
the  employ  of  Robert  Hill,  in  Bartonville,  and  at 
the  death  of  his  employer,  two  years  later,  formed 


326 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALP,UM. 


.1  partnership  with  Williaui  W.  Harton.-  The  con- 
nection began  March  29,  1886,  since  which  time 
the  business  of  the  firm  has  been  steadily  increas- 
ing, liaving  now  grown  to  such  proportions  as  to 
require  the  almost  constant  labors  of  four  salesmen. 
Messrs.  Gerdes  &  Barton  have  now  a  fine  stock  of 
all  the  goods  needed  to  supply  the  countr3-  trade, 
as  well  as  to  gratify  the  wishes  of  the  residents  in 
the  town.  Mr.  Gerdes  attend.?  very  strictly  to  his 
l)usincss  interests,  in  which  he  displays  a  creditable 
amount  of  financial  ability,  while  the  reputation  of 
the  lirm  for  honorable  and  straightforward  de.al- 
ings  in  ever}'  transaction  is  unimpeachable. 

Under  Cleveland's  administration  Mr.  Gerdes 
was  appointed  Postmaster,  and  beginning  the  du- 
ties of  the  office  on  New  Year's  da}',  1886,  while 
still  clerking  for  Mr.  Ilill,  he  has  continued  them 
since  that  time.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  La- 
l)or,  in  whose  workings  he  takes  an  active  part.  He 
is  the  eldest  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  other 
survivors  are:  Tobias,  Emma,  George  and  Benja- 
min. Emma  is  the  wife  of  AVill  Wolfsclilag.  The 
brothers  and  sister  have  each  received  good  educa- 
tions in  both  German  and  English,  it  having  been 
a  [iractice  of  their  parents  to  send  them  to  school 
about  twelve  months  in  a  year.  Parents  and  chil- 
dren belong  to  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  consist- 
ently follow  the  teachings  of  their  faith. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  October  23,  1836,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  own  laud.  "When  twentj'- 
four  years  of  age  he  sailed  from  the  Fatherland  to 
the  Inited  States,  his  port  of  entr}'  being  Balti- 
more, in  which  he  landed  just  at  the  time  the  first 
Northern  troops  reached  that  city  on  their  waj-  to 
the  seat  of  war.  Ft.  (Sumter  having  just  been  fired 
upon.  The  emigrants  were  detained  a  day  on  ac- 
count of  the  fighting  in  the  Monumental  Citj-,  but 
immediately  thereafter  Mr.  Gerdes  came  on  to  Peo- 
ria County,  111.  He  bought  land  where  he  now 
lives,  and  has  devoted  his  attention  to  horticulture, 
taking  his  fruit  to  the  Peoria  market.  He  has 
twelve  acres  of  small  fruits,  where  during  the  sea- 
son a  dozen  fruit  pickers  find  employment.  He 
has  lield  the  ofifice  of  Road  Commissioner,  and  like 
his  son,  our  subject,  belongs  to  the  Democratic 
part}'.     He  and  his  wife  are  looked  upon  as  honest, 


industrious  and  frugal  citizens,  who  are  ever  read}' 
to  assist  those  in  need,  and  bear  a  part  in  any  good 
work  which  may  be  instituted  in  the  noighbor- 
liood. 


^  ETER  C'AHILL  is  one  of  the  most  agreea- 
)j  ble,  hospitable  and  enterprising  men  of 
r^  the  count}',  and  is  in  cciusequence  one  of 
its  most  iiopular  citizens.  He  resides  in  a 
pleasant  and  comfortable  dwelling  on  section  30, 
Jubilee  Township,  where  he  is  always  glad  to  re- 
ceive old  friends  or  make  the  acquaintance  of  new 
ones.  His  ability  and  popularity  is  attested  by  the 
fact  that  he  has  been  chosen  Chairm.an  of  the 
County  Hoard  of  Supervisors,  and  it  is  universall} 
conceded  that  he  is  the  right  man  in  the  right  place. 
Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  having  been 
born  in  that  country  February  12,  1843.  in  County 
Mealh.  His  father  was  a  native  of  County  Jleatii, 
Ireland,  where  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing until  his  death  when  our  subject  was  a  child 
of  four  years.  The  mother,  Catherine  McDonnell, 
also  a  native  of  County  Meath,  was  a  daughter  of 
Alex  McDonnell,  a  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  wliere 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  de- 
parture for  the  shores  of  America  in  1847.  He 
accompanied  his  daughter,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, but  did  not  long  survive  the  change,  dying  the 
first  summer  he  S[)ent  in  this  country  at  his  new 
home  in  Peoria  Countv.  Following  the  death  of 
her  husband  the  mother  of  our  subject  emigrated 
to  America,  bringing  with  her  the  family  of  three 
children.  The  trip  was  made  from  Liverpool  to 
New  Orleans  in  a  sailing  vessel  and  occupied  nine 
weeks,  but  the  tedious  voyage  did  not  dampen  their 
ardor  and  they  were  soon  on  their  way  to  Peoria 
yia  the  Mississippi.  Upon  arriving  in  the  county 
she  went  to  her  brother  in  Millbrook  Township, 
where  she  remained  until  the  next  fall  when  she 
bought  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 30,  Jubilee  Towushii),  for  *5  per  acre,  upon 
which  she  located.  As  the  farm  was  improved  she 
was  enabled  to  begin  farming  oper.ations  at  once, 
and  by  industry  was  able  to  make  a  success  of  her 
life  work  and  retire  in  old  age  from  active  duty  to 


^■ 


^; 


-^^■>fe 


^yO?'  Z^/U/yc^i^     /^.^^5^^^/i^t^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


329 


the  home  of  her  son,  our  subject,  who  was  then  in 
fh.ar<;e  of  the  place,  wherein  she  finally  departed 
from  the  duties  of  this  life  and  entered  upon  the 
future  one  January  26,  1888,  at  tlie  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  She  was  a  devout  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church  and  was  a  consistent  Ciiristian 
who  made  many  friends  by  hor  kind  deeds  and 
loving  words. 


EDWIN  M.  COLBURN,  M.  D.     With  perhaps 
one   exception   the   late  Edwin  M.  Colburn 
1   was  undoubtedly  better  known  and  exerted 

a  more  powerful  influence  than  anj-  other  resident 
Peoria  ever  had.  His  death,  which  took  [)laco  May 
29,  1890,  awoke  expressions  of  universal  sorrow, 
not  only  .-iniong  those  who  knowing,  loved  him, 
but  from  all  who  beheld  the  influence  of  his  spot- 
less life  upon  the  community.  Few  men  whom  the 
world  has  known  combined  in  so  just  a  proportion 
the  qualities  which  we  include  in  the  word  "{.'entle- 
man," — in  the  best  sense  of  that  term — sincerity, 
tenderness,  courage  and  modesty.  He  was  without 
reproach  in  his  personal  and  domestic  relations; 
wise  and  prudent  in  the  conduct  of  his  professional 
business,  just  and  generous  in  all  business  transac- 
tions, a  steadf.ast  friend  and  a  safe  counselor.  He 
was  a  true  lover  and  disciple  of  science,  in  which 
his  attainments  were  neither  few  nor  small.  That 
he  did  not  rise  to  more  than  local  eminence  was 
owing  to  the  circumstances  of  his  life. 

Dr.  Colburn  was  of  Puritan  ancestry,  former 
generations  having  resided  in  Connecticut.  He 
was  born  in  Rome,  N.  Y.,  September  L3,  1813, 
early  in  life  showed  signs  of  unusual  brilliancj-, 
and  although  reared  as  a  merchant,  in  early  man- 
hood determined  to  devote  himself  to  a  pi'ofessional 
career.  Going  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Jledical  College  in  1837,  and  removing  to 
Bloomington,  111.,  began  the  practice  which  he  con- 
tinued for  more  than  half  a  centurv.  His  talents 
soon  won  for  him  a  high  place,  not  only  in  medical 
practice,  but  in  Ihe  fields  of  literature  and  science. 
He  was  a  close  and  constant  student,  who,  by  a  long 
and  careful  sludv  of  the  gieat  authors,  both  ancient 


and  modern,  acquired  a  broad  literary  culture,  and 
his  3'ears  were  pioliflc  in  scientific  research.  In 
18.50  he  removed  to  Peoria,  continuing  his  practice 
until  disabled  by  a  fall  which  developed  into 
progressive  paraljsis  and  eventually  caused  his 
decease. 

Dr.  Colburn  was  the  leading  siiirit  of  the  Peoria 
Scientific  Association  and  for  seven  ^-ears  its  Presi- 
dent. He  gave  the  society  the  benefit  of  his  knowl- 
edge, being  a  constant  source  of  information  to  his 
co-workers.  The  "  great  object  of  his  life  was  to 
arrive  at  the  real  truth  of  things,  just  as  God  made 
it,  and  to  him  all  truth  was  sacred,  whether  of  the 
earth,  of  the  air,  or  of  the  sky."  His  fame  as  a 
scientist  was  such  as  to  win  for  him  an  honorary 
fellowship  in  the  Association  for  the  Advancement 
of  Science  and  in  the  American  Academy  of  Social 
and  Political  Science,  of  Philadelphia.  His  life 
was  a  model  for  the  3'oung  men,  the  highest  honor 
that  can  be  paid  to  his  memorj'  being  to  emulate 
his  wisdom,  purity  and  reverential  faith. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  medical  profession  of  Peoria, 
Majr  31,  1890,  the  following  resolutions  were 
adopted:  "Whereas,  our  old  friend  and  co-laborer, 
Dr.  E.  M.  Colburn,  has  departed  this  life,  therefore. 
Resolved,  That  in  his  demise  the  medical  profession 
has  lost  one  of  its  oldest  and  most  distinguished 
members — one  who  labored  faithfully  and  well  and 
was  an  ornament  to  the  profession  during  a  period 
of  over  fifty  years.  Resolved,  That  the  profession 
has  lost  one  who  always  had  its  good  at  heart  and 
maintained  its  dignity  and  honor.  Resolved,  That 
in  his  demise  the  sick  have  lost  one  of  their  kindest 
and  truest  friends — one  who  was  ever  ready  to  sac- 
rifice his  personal  comfort  to  give  them  the  most 
alile  counsel  and  to  sympathize  with  them  in  their 
afflictions.  Resolved,  That  Peoria  has  lost  one  of  its 
bestcitizens,oneof  its  most  genial  and  dignified  gen- 
tlemen— one  who  for  forty  years  has  been  a  leading 
member  of  society,  whose  integrity  was  unimpeach- 
able and  whose  character  was  unsoiled.  Resolved, 
That  we  tender  to  his  family  our  heartfelt  sympa- 
thy in  this  their  great  bereavement." 

At  the  regular  monthly  executive  session  of  the 
Scientific  Association  soon  after  the  death  of  Dr. 
Colburn,  no  formal  program  was  prepared,  no 
stereotyped    resolutions   offered,   but  the  occasion 


330 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was   eonverte(i   into  a  memorial  where  each  of  the 

intelligent  audience  was  privileged  to  speak  freely, 
and  where  earnest  tributes  to  the  memory  of  the 
deceased   menilier  of  the  society  found   utterance. 

Dr.  Culburn  was  married  November  21,  1841, 
to  Mrs.  JNLarj'  Angeline  (Phelps)  Parcells.  the  only 
living  reiiresentalive  of  their  union  being  Walter 
P.  Colburn,  of  the  firm  of  C'olburn,  Birks  &  Co., 
wholesale  druggists.  Mi's.  Colburn  died  in  this 
city  October  9,  187.3. 

A  portrait  of  the  late  Dr.  Colburn  appears  in 
connection  with  this  sketch. 


^^REDERICK  STEGENS  came  to  this  coun- 
IJ^ZyCi  try  from  Germany  a  quarter  of  a  centu- 
_lv  "^  r_v  ago,  and  when  he  landed  on  these  shores 
found  himself  in  debt  to  the  extent  of  ■^25.  Now 
the  balance  is  decidedly  in  his  favor  and  he  is 
numbered  among  the  moneyed  men  of  Rosefield 
Tovvnshi|i,  with  whose  farming  and  stock-raising 
interests  he  is  closely  identified. 

-  Mr.  Stegens  was  born  in  Oldenburg,  Germany, 
December  20,  18.37.  His  parents,  Frederick  and 
Katie  (Schultz)  Stegeiis,  were  natives  of  the  same 
place  as  himself,  and  there  they  lived  and  died, their 
occupation  during  life  being  that  of  farming.  They 
reared  six  children:  Martin,  Fred;  Deitrich,  and 
Mattie,  deceased;  Katie,  who  died  leaving  one  son 
and  one  daughter;  and  Louisa  who  lives  in  Ger- 
many. 

Our  subject  gleaned  a  good  education  in  the 
excellent  schools  of  his  native  land  and  subse- 
quently learned  the  trade  of  a  ship  carpenter.  May 
1,  18G5,  in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous  manhood  he 
came  to  this  country  with  his  brother  Martin,  who 
ha:l  been  in  the  United  States  since  1858.  Our  sub- 
ject settled  in  Jefferson  County,  Bio.,  whence  he 
came  to  this  county  in  1866,  and  located  ndiere  he 
now  resides.  He  at  first  worked  on  a  farm  for  his 
brother  on  shares.  In  1873,  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land,  then  ten  acres,  then  a  one  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  acre  tract,  then  added  forty-four 
more  acres  to  his  original  purchase,  and  subse- 
quently bought  ten   acres  more  land,  and  now  h.as 


in  his  possession  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  acres 
of  landed  property,  which  he  has  so  improved  and 
has  placed  under  such  good  till.age  that  it  is  now 
one  of  the  choicest  farms  in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Stegens  hag  been  twice  married.  He  was 
first  wedded  May  15,  1862,  to  Ann  Stalling  who 
was  a  native  of  the  same  place  as  himself.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Barnard  Stalling,  she  being  one 
of  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 
The  daughters  all  came  to  the  United  States  and 
Helena  is  now  deceased;  Christina  married  John 
Renemann,  and  both  are  now  deceased,  leaving  one 
son  and  two  daughters ;  the  wife  of  our  subject 
died  March  23,  1882,Ieavingnine  children,  namely: 
Deitrich,  Maggie,  wife  of  Commodore  Snider; 
Kiltie,  Anna,  Sallie,  Ilanna,  Harinena,  Fred  and 
William.  Mrs.  Stegens  w.as  a  woman  of  most  ex- 
cellent character,  was  a  sincere  Christian  and  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  was  well 
thought  of  by  all  who  knew  her. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  present  esti- 
mable wife  was  Mary  Slane,  and  she  is  a  native  of 
Peoria,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Slane,  one  of 
its  pioneers.  She  is  well  fitted  to  be  the  help- 
mate of  her  husband,  understanding  thoroughly 
the  management  of  the  household,  and  is  respected 
by  the  community. 

Our  subject's  industi'ious  habits,  his  push  ami 
enterprise  have  made  for  him  a  substantial  place 
among  the  farmers  .and  stock-raisers  of  the  county 
and  he  is  doing  well  financially.  His  fellow-citi- 
zens hold  him  in  respect  for  his  man^'  estimable 
(pialities  and  find  in  him  a  good  and  obliging  neigh- 


bor. 


.^^g-J#^S-4e 


"ifJACOB  KREUTER  was  for  many  years  a 
prominent  merchant  in  Peoria,  and  at  his 
death  the  city  lost  a  most  estimable  citizen, 
one  who  had  contributed  his  quota  to  bring 
about  its  commercial  prosperity.  Mr.  Kreutcr  was 
greatly'  assisted  in  his  business  by  his  wife,  who 
still  survives  him,  making  her  home  at  No.  707 
Green  Street.  After  his  death  she  conducted  the 
business  alone  very  successfully  for  three  years, 
and  then  handed  it  over  to  her  S(_>n  Ilenrj'. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM, 


srji 


The  Kreuters  came  from  Germany  in  1  846.  They 
became  acquainted  while  on  hoard  the  vessel  on  the 
lono-  voyage  across  tlie  Alianlie,  and  their  acquaint- 
ance, which  was  continued  in  New  York  Citj'  dur- 
ing Ihcir  short  stay  there,  Hnally  terminated  in  their 
marriage  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  whicii  was  solemnized 
July  14,  l!SU5.  Mr.  Krcutcr  had  learned  the  trade 
of  a  miller  in  the  Fatherland,  of  his  father  Peter 
Krcutcr,  who  had  a  mill  in  Darmst.adt,  Germany, 
which  was  the  birthplace  of  our  subject,  where  he 
was  born  April  G,  1819.  Mrs.  Krcnter's  maiden 
name  was  Theresa  .Stesc,  and  her  father  was  Jobann 
Stese,  who  was  a  farmer.  She  was  Ilia  only  one  of 
the  family  to  come  to  America. 

Mr.  and  INIrs.  Kreutcr  went  to  Memphis,  Teun., 
in  the  fall  of  184G,  and  there  opened  a  store.  In 
1817,  they  removed  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  Miss.,  where 
they  continued  in  the  same  business.  In  1853 
they  returned  to  Ohio,  and  after  earr3'ing  on  a  store 
for  a  w'hile  in  Devertown,  built  a  mill  there  which 
proved  a  b.ad  venture,  and  after  a  year  of  unsuc- 
cessful operation,  they  traded  it  for  a  farm. 

In  1  858,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kreuter  came  to  Peoria. 
H'hes'  had  a  hard  time  of  it  here  for  awhile,  but  af- 
Uv  a  few  months  their  prospects  brightened,  as  they 
had  an  opportunity  to  take  charge  of  the  old  tavern 
three  ir.iles  from  the  city,  which  the3-  managed  ver_y 
protitably  for  about  three  months.  Thej^  did  so 
wi'U  Ihat  the  proprietor,  Mr.  Clark,  became  jealous 
as  he  thought  thej-  were  making  too  much  money, 
and  he  worked  to  get  rid  of  his  tenants,  and  soon 
succeeded.  The  Kreuters  then  came  into  Peoria, 
and  entered  u|)on  their  successful  mercantile  career 
in  this  cit3%  They  then  opened  a  store,  which  is 
still  in  existence.  At  the  expiration  of  a  year  they 
bought  the  property,  and  the  store  is  still  in  the 
hands  of  tiie  family,  Ilenry  Kreuter,  the  son  of  our 
sulijcct  being  the  proi)rictor.  Here  by  years  of  in- 
dustry, careful  attention  to  the  business  in  all  its 
details,  and  by  the  exercise  of  far  discerning  judg- 
ment and  due  discrimination,  they  i)uilt  up  a  laro-e 
and  lucrative  trade. 

February  19,  1879,  Mr.  Kreuter  departed  this 
life,  leaving  behind  him  the  blessed  incmorv  of  a 
good  uian,  who  was  conscientious  and  honest  in  his 
dealings,  and  was  true  in  all  things.  In  his  politi- 
cal views  he  w^as  a  pronounced  Democrat.      He  was 


a  good  citizen,  and  generously  aided  ever}^  cause 
that  would  in  any  waj'  promote  the  welfare  of  his 
adopted  city.  He  was  happy  in  securing  as  a  wife 
and  hel))mate  one  who  is  very  capable,  and  is  a 
thorough  business  woman,  aud,asatruc  wife  should, 
looks  upon  his  interests  as  her  own.  Three  of 
their  eight  children  are  now  living,  as  follows: 
Rosa,  wife  of  George  Schmuck,  a  machinist;  Car- 
rie, wife  of  Nicholas  Ulrich,  an  attorney  at  law  in 
Peoria;  Henry,  now  proprietor  of  the  store.  The 
other  children  all  died  in  cliildhooil,  with  the  ex- 
cei)tion  of  Louis,  who  was  drowned  in  a  cistern 
whilst  the  family  lived  in  Ohio. 


<^  EREMIAH  MOFFITT,  deceased,  was  in  his 
day  one  of  the  foremost  pioneers  of  Peoria 
County,  who  was  prominently  identified 
/  with  every  enterprise  for  the  upbuilding  of 
the  city  of  Chillicothc,  and  at  his  death,  April  3, 
1857,  it  lost  one  of  its  most  valued  citizens.  He 
was  an  early  settler  of  this  part  of  the  county,  and 
was  at  one  time  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
Chillicothe  Township,  and  later  became  interested 
in  its  commerce  as  a  dry-goods  merchant,  carrying 
on  business  with  a  firm  under  the  title  of  J.  &  J. 
Moffltt.  A  few  years  after  he  entered  into  part- 
nership with  H.  McFudden,  now  of  Havana, 
111.,  and  they  carried  on  an  extensive  lumber  and 
grain  trade  until  the  death  of  our  subject  one  year 
later.  Mr.  Moffltt  through  his  business  relations 
was  widely  known,  and  his  name  was  greatlj'  hon- 
ored in  financial  and  social  circles,  as  he  possesseil 
rare  judgment  and  exceptional  business  talent,  and 
was  honest  and  straightforward  in  his  dealings. 

Mr.  Moffltt  came  to  this  county  and  State  in  the 
earlj'  '30s,  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneers 
who  had  preceded  him,  and  began  the  upbuildino' 
of  a  home  on  land  that  he  purchased  from  the 
Government  as  soon  as  it  came  into  the  market. 
He  remained  a  resident  of  this  county  until  1856, 
when  he  made  a  tour  to  the  Territory  of  Kansas, 
designing  to  settle  there  if  he  was  pleased  with  the 
prospects.  He  made  his  way  to  Topeka,  then  a 
new   town,   and    bought   properly   on  speculation. 


332 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


but.  under  the  regime  then  extant  he  di<l  not  like 
the  surroundings,  and  so  returned  to  Illinois.  In 
this  connection  it  is  noteworthy  that  after  seeing 
Kansas  in  those  troublous  days  before  the  war,  he 
was  converted  from  a  stanch  Democrat  into  a  solid 
and  unchangeable  Republican,  holding  to  that  party 
to  the  da}'  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Moffitt  was  born  in  Richmond.  Ross  County, 
Ohio,  November  2,  1810.  His  parents.  John  and 
Lydia  (Cox)  Mo/filt,  were  natives  of  North  Caro- 
lina, and  are  thought  to  have  been  of  .Scotch-Irish 
descent.  After  a  few  j-ears  married  life  in  their 
native  Slate  thej^  removed  to  Tennessee,  in  early  pio- 
neer times,  where  one  or  two  of  their  children  were 
born,  and  then  they  made  another  move  and  located 
in  Ross  County  very  early  in  the  settlement  of  Ohio, 
going  there  prior  to  1810,  when  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  .State  was  an  unbroken  wilderness  filled  with 
wild  game  and  Indians.  John  Moffitt  and  his  wife 
and  small  familj',  began  their  life  there  as  pioneer 
settlers,  and  it  is  also  thought  tliat  his  parents  had 
accompanied  him  there  and  died  in  Ross  County 
when  old  people.  The  name  of  his  father  was 
either  James  or  Hugh  MofHtt,  .and  he  and  his  wife 
were  of  Quaker  stock  and  were  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  After  the  birth  of  all  their 
children,  and  after  they  had  mostly  grown  to  man 
and  womanhood,  John  MoHitt  and  his  wife  came  to 
Illinois,  about  1830,  securing  a  Government  claim 
in  Chillicothe  Township,  which  became  their  home. 
After  making  improvements  and  witnessing  most 
of  the  development  of  the  countrj^  into  pleasant 
farms  and  thriving  towns,  thc}'  both  p.assed  away 
full  of  years,  aud  as  they  were  united  in  life,  in 
death  were  not  long  divided,  they  dying  within 
a  few  days  of  each  other.  Though  reared  to  the 
Quaker  f.aith,  Mr.  Moftitt  had  married  out  of  the 
church,  and  ever  afterwards  declined  all  association 
with  the  Societj-  of  Friends.  He  was  the  father  of 
a  large  family  of  some  eleven  children,  all  of  whom 
are  now  deceased,  but  they  have  man}'  representa- 
tives hring  in  Peoria  County,  some  of  whom  are 
among  its  leading  citizens. 

Jeremiah  Moffitt,  of  whom  we  write,  was  well 
reared  and  received  a  ver}'  good  education  in  the 
public  schools  during  the  log  cabin  da^s  of  Ross 
County.     He  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and 


was  nearly  of  age  when  he  came  to  this  county,  a 
single  man.  He  was  married  near  the  present  city 
of  Chillicothe  to  Miss  F^lizabeth  Jlcad,  aud  to  her 
able  assistance  he  was  great]}-  indebted  for  the 
success  that  he  achieved.  She  is  a  very  capable 
woman,  possessing  quite  a  talent  for  business,  and 
is  now  managing  with  success  the  large  property 
left  by  her  husband.  Mrs.  Moffitt  was  born  in 
Chillicothe,  Ross  County,  Ohio,  June  23,  1815.  a 
daughter  of  Hezekiah  and  Julia  (Tuttle)  Mead, 
natives  respectively  of  Connecticut  and  Massachu- 
setts. Her  father  came  of  good  New  England 
stock,  and  from  i)cople  well-to-do,  and  his  father 
was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  saw  the  burning 
of  the  town  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  by  the  British. 
Hezekiah  Mead  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
State  and  there  followed  the  trade  of  a  carpenter. 
He  went  from  Connecticut  to  Massachusetts,  where 
he  married  his  wife.  She  had  lost  her  parents,  who 
were  Massachusetts  people,  when  a  young  girl,  and 
she  was  reared  in  that  State  by  her  maternal  grand- 
father, John  Bull,  who  was  a  prominent  man  of 
his  town.  After  marriage  Mrs.  Moffitt's  parents 
removed  to  New  York,  where  Mr.  Mead  carried  on 
his  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  builder,  aud  he  erected 
the  first  public  hotel  that  was  put  up  at  Saratoga 
Springs,  that  now  famous  summer  resort.  He  sub- 
sequently came  with  his  family  as  far  West  as 
Ohio,  and  carried  on  his  calling  in  Chillicothe, 
Ross  County,  until  his  death  in  the  latter  part  of 
1816,  when  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  was  a  skilled 
workman,  and  was  in  every  respect  a  good  man. 
His  wife  survived  him,  and  w.as  married  a  second 
time  in  Worthington,  Ohio,  taking  as  her  husband 
David  W.  B.ates,  a  native  of  Granville,  Mass.,  a 
descentant  of  a  good  old  Massachusetts  family,  and 
a  cousin  of  Senator  Isaa<:  C.  Bates,  of  Northamp- 
ton, Mass.  He  himself  was  a  prominent  man,  was 
a  Major  in  the  War  of  1812.  and  fought  at  the 
battle  of  Lundy's  Lane.  With  his  wife  and  step- 
children he  emigrated  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in 
1837,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Marshall  County, 
and  there  he  died  after  some  years  at  an  advaiiced 
age.  His  wife  survived  him  some  few  years,  and 
died  while  staying  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Rogers, 
in  Mason  County,  her  death  taking  place  in  1862, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.     She  was   a  good 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


333 


woman,  a  sincere  Christian,  and  a  devoted  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Her  second  husband, 
Mr.  Bates,  iiad  been  reared  for  tlie  ministry,  but 
he  never  entered  the  profession,  as  he  grew  rather 
free  in  thought,  though  he  was  always  a  very 
strictly  moral  man. 

Mrs.  MotHtt  was  reared  by  her  mother  and  step- 
father, who  brought  her  to  Peoria  County  when 
she  was  a  young  woman.  Her  marriage  to  our 
subject  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  children, 
one  of  whom,  .Jeremiah,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  Her  daughter  Maud  is  the  wife  of  Joiin  M. 
Uhden,  of  Chillicothe  Township.  Our  sul>ject's 
son.  Frank  I?.,  who  lives  in  Chillicothe,  uuirried 
Miss  JLaria  Anderson,  a  Scotch  lady  who  died  in 
July,  1889,  and  left  four  children.  Mrs.  Moflitt's 
daughter,  Laura  C.  is  the  wife  of  George  B.  Tem- 
ple, of  whom  see  biography.  Her  son  Eugene,  who 
makes  iier  home  witii  her,  is  the  Casiiier  of  the 
Pruitt  JIathews  &  Co.  Bunk,  of  Chillicothe.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  j'oung  men  of  the  city,  and  is 
well-i'ducated  nnd  wuU-read.  being  very  fond  of 
books.  iMrs.  MoHitt.  wlio  holds  a  high  place  in  the 
community,  and  is  known  and  liked  for  her  liberal- 
ity and  charitableness,  is  identified  witli  the  I'ni- 
vcrsalisl  faitii  and  is  a  sincere  Christian. 


-4- 


-^¥r 


-^ — ■ 


il^^^ENRY  MANSFIELD,  a  veteran  of  seventy- 
tiiree  years  and  a  highly  respected  resident 
of  Peoria,  is  pr.aetically  retired  from  ac- 
(,5^  live  business,  employing  his  time  in  look- 
ing after  his  private  estate.  He  has  been  a  resi- 
dent here  for  a  space  of  over  fifty  years,  having 
hmilcd  in  Peoria  January  2,  1840,  and  here  lie  has 
since  mantained  his  residence.  He  is  a  New 
Yorker  by  birlh  and  born  in  Schoharie  Count}', 
March  22,  1817. 

The  fatiier  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  North 
Haven,  Conn.,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits, 
spending  his  last  days  in  Illinois.  When  about 
twelve  vears  olil  Henry  went  to  Connecticut, 
where  he  spent  a  few  years  and  thence  to  Albany, 
N.  v.,  where  he  was  emjiloyed  in  a  tliug  store  for 
about  three  years  and  until   a  joutli   of  eighteen. 


At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  decided  upon 
seeking  the  western  country  and  engaged  with  a 
Government  surveying  party  in  the  nortliL'Vn  part 
of  Michigan,  one  hundred  miles  from  a  white  set- 
tlement and  among  the  Chii)pewa  Indians.  He 
was  thus  occupied  about  four  years  and  we  next 
find  him  in  Peoria,  where  he  associated  himself 
in  partnership  with  Dr.  N.  S.  Tucker  in  the  drug 
business,  their  store  occupying  Nos.  122  and  204 
Main  Street.  This  partnership  continued  until  Dr. 
Tucker's  death,  in  1888,  a  period  of  forty  nine 
years  and  nine  months,  during  which  the  two  men 
continued  with  the  most  friendly  intercourse  and 
were  uniformly  successful.  The}'  never  gave  a 
note  or  purchased  any  goods  on  credit  or  asked 
for  a  discount,  thus  following  up  the  true  princi- 
ples and  the  only  safe  course  in  conducting  busi- 
ness. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Mansfield  invested  a  large 
amount  of  his  capital  in  farm  lands  and  city  prop- 
erty and  still  has  a  large  amount  of  the  latter. 
Dr.  Tucker  at  his  death  left  $30,000  to  his  rela- 
tives and  the  balance  of  his  estate  was  left  by  will 
to  Mr.  Mansfield.  He  h.as  in  Peoria,  Tazewell, 
Mason  and  Fulton  Counties,  five  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  all  under  culti- 
vation and  the  source  of  a  fine  income.  In  the 
city  he  has  stores,  warehouses  and  residences  to  the 
number  of  about  fifty,  located  in  its  business  part 
and  of  great  value. 

Mr.  Mansfield  has  lieeu  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortune,  having  only  a  small  amount  from  his 
father's  estate,  beginning  life  practically  without 
means.  The  habits  of  industry  and  economy  which 
were  compulsorj-  in  his  youth  later  laid  the  foun- 
dations for  a  fortune.  He  is  a  man  well  informed 
ui)on  the  general  topics  of  the  day  and  an  active 
worker  in  tlie  Democratic  party,  being  sent  as  a 
delegate  to  the  various  conventions  and  working 
in  its  interest  as  opportunity  occurred.  About 
1842  he  identified  himself  with  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, .and  with  which  lie  still  continues.  His  mar- 
ried life  began  in  184G,  tlie  maiden  of  his  choice 
being  Miss  Harriet  A.  Elding,  who  was  at  that  time 
a  resident  of  Peoria.  Mrs.  Mansfield  was  born  at 
Reil  Hook,  Dutchess  County,  N.  i'.,  and  came 
i    with  her  parents  to  Illinois  at  an  early   day.     She 


334 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


became  the  mother  of  three  children  and   departed 

this  life  ;it  lior  home  in  Peoria,  in  lb52.  Of  these 
there  is  only  one  now  living,  a  daughter.  Fannie. 
Mis.  Blakesley   of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Mansfield  contracted  a  second  marriage  with 
Jliss  Isabel  F.  Servos,  the  wedding  taking  place 
at  the  bride's  home  in  Ihecitj-  of  New  York.  Mrs. 
Isabel  F.  Mansfield  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
and  of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  are  seven 
children,  all  living.  Louise  P.  is  the  wife  of  C. 
W.  Mosher.  of  Lincoln.  Neb.;  Henry,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  that  city,  was  educated  in  the  military 
school  at  Lexington.  Va.,  and  later  studied  law  in 
the  Universit}'  of  Virginia  for  a  term  of  six  years. 
Nathaniel  T.  remains  at  home  with  his  parents; 
Eleanor  is  the  wife  of  A.  Lee  Newton,  of  this  city; 
!Mar<i;aret,  Eliza  and  Belle  are  still  at  liorae. 


.  f-^..;;..^-,  — . 


,  LIVER  M.  MILLER.  A  list  of  the  good 
citizens  of  Hallock  Township  would  be  in- 
?'  complete  without  the  name  which  stands 
above,  its  possessor  and  his  estimable  wife  being 
este<'med  for  sturdy  viitues  of  character  and  the 
displaj'  of  industry  and  zeal  in  the  prosecution  of 
the  labors  which  lie  before  them  as  owners  and  oc- 
cupants of  a  good  farm.  Their  home  is  located  on 
section  16,  where  one  hundred  and  sixtj'-oue  acres 
of  the  fertile  soil  are  devoted  to  the  raising  of  di- 
versified crops  and  tlie  home  comforts  of  a  fine 
famil}'. 

Before  outlining  the  career  of  our  subject  it 
may  be  well  to  say  something  of  the  family  which 
he  so  worthily  represents.  The  Millers  are  of  Ger- 
man descent,  but  two  or  three  generations  of  the 
familj'  were  natives  of  the  Southern  States.  In 
South  Carolina,  Jacob  Miller,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  and  passed  his  early  life.  In  liis 
young  manhood  he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he 
began  his  career  as  a  farmer.  When  but  eighteen 
years  old  he  enlisted  and  under  Gen.  Brown's  com- 
mand served  throughout  the  hostilities  of  the  War 
of  1812.  He  was  shot  in  the  leg  and  carried  a  Brit- 
ish bill  to  his  grave.     He  died  in  Putnam  County, 


Ohio,  in  1 864.  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  Po- 
litically, he  was  first  a  Democrat,  and  subsequently 
a  Whig.  Of  excellent  moral  character,  he  yet  was 
not  a  member  of  any  religious  body  or  a  believer 
in  any  church  creed. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  JNhuy  Buyher,  and  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Jacob  Miller,  in  Knox  County,  Ohio.  She  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania. of  the  old  Dutch  stock,  and 
when  young  accompanied  her  parents  to  Jefferson 
Countv,  Ohio.  There  she  grew  to  womanhood. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband  she  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  her  youngest  sou,  our  subject,  under 
whose  roof  she  breathed  her  last  August  25,  1887. 
She  had  reached  the  great  age  of  ninety-six  years 
and  twenty-five  days.  She  belonged  to  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  throughout  her  long 
life  had  exemplified  the  virtues  of  a  Christian  char- 
acter. She  was  the  mother  of  four  sons  and  six 
daughters,  of  whom  two  sons  and  four  daughters 
are  yet  living,  all  married. 

Oliver  M.  Miller,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  August  29,  1837,  in  what  is  now  Morrow,  but 
was  at  that  time  Knox  County,  Ohio.  He  was 
carefully  reared  by  his  worthy  parents,  given  the 
advantage  of  such  schooling  as  the  section  afforded, 
and  fitted  as  wjell  as  possible  for  a  successful  and 
honorable  career  in  life.  He  (vas  not  3'et  of  age 
when,  in  18;j7,  he  became  a  resident  of  the  Prairie 
States,  spending  one  year  in  Fulton  County,  but  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  since  his  ariival  in  the 
county  where  he  has  now  become  quite  well  known. 
Since  1858  he  has  improved  two  farms  in  Hallock 
Township,  one  of  which  he  has  traded  for  eighty 
acres  in  ^'ormillion  County.  Ind.  That  tract  is 
mostly  im|)rove(l,  and  is  capable  of  affording  a  ver3' 
comfortable  support  to  whomsoever  operates  it. 

In  the  city  of  Peoria  the  rites  of  wedlock  were 
celebrated  between  our  subject  and  Miss  Amelia 
Vautassell.  The  bride  was  born  in  Hallock  Town- 
ship, this  county.  April  2.  1837.  belongs  to  a  good 
family,  and  is  one  of  the  nine  children  of  Alonzo 
and  Harriet  (Richmond)  Vautassell.  Her  parents 
were  born  in  the  Keystone  State  and  accompanied 
theii  respective  progenitors  to  Illinois  when  quite 
j'oung.  They  were  married  in  this  county,  and 
always  afterward   lived   in    Hallock  Township,  dy- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


335 


ing  on  the  farm  which  Ihcy  had  improved  from 
wild  praii-io.  Their  residence  here  ilated  from 
very  early  in  the  '30s  or  late  in  the  '20s.  Mr. 
Vaiitassell  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  War. 
In  an  early  day  he  was  a  manufacturer  of  castor 
oil  in  Medina  Township,  this  county,  being  the 
first  to  enter  into  that  enterprise  here.  He  died 
when  quite  old,  but  his  wife  departed  this  life  in 
middle  age. 

Mrs.  Miller  was  reared  and  educated  in  this 
county,  was  left  motherless  when  quite  young,  but 
remained  with  her  father  until  she  was  fully  grown. 
She  is  the  mother  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter, 
of  whom  the  three  youngest — George  W.,  Orin 
M.  and  Lewis  O. — are  still  inmates  of  the  par- 
ental home.  The  oldest  son,  Augustus,  mariied 
Sarah  Russell  and  occupies  a  farm  in  Vermillion 
County,  Ind.;  Sarah  J.,  the  second  child,  is  the  wife 
of  John  Frost,  a  farmer  of  Cass  County,  Mo. ;  Amos 
E.  married  Matilda  Mossersmith,  and  is  farming  in 
Stark  County,  this  State..  Mr.  Miller  and  his  sons 
give  their  earnest  adherence  to  the  principles  ad- 
vocated by  the  Republican  partj-.  They  are  classed 
among  the  citizens  who  can  lie  relied  upon  for  hon- 
esty, good  purpose  and  steady  conduct,  and  are 
respected  by  their  fellow-citizens  as  they  deserve. 
Mr.  Miller  has  for  three  years  been  President  of 
the  Centerville  Cheese  Company,  whose  factory  is 
located  in  Ilallock  Township. 


•^OIIN  C.  ATJ.KN  is  quite  well  known  in 
Peoria,  where  he  is  fulfilling  the  duties  of 
United  States  Storekeeper  in  a  creditable 
/  manner.  He  was  chosen  to  the  position  in 
August,  188'J.  His  integrity  is  beyond  question, 
and  no  citizen  is  more  highly  respected  for  intelli- 
gence and  industiy.  He  was  born  in  Jacksonville, 
this  State,  iMarch  1  8.  ISoO,  reared  in  tl. at  "Athens 
of  the  West,"  enjoying  its  excellent  educational 
advantages,  und  conqjieting  a  course  of  study  in 
the  Washington  High  School. 

In  187;")  Mr.  Allen  came  to  Peoria,  holding  the 
position  of  Assistant  Marki^t-Master  for  two  years. 
In  1878  he  was  appointed    teacher    in  the  Lincoln 


School  of  Quincy,  winning  so  good  a  reputation  in 
pedagogical  labor  that  in  1880  he  was  elected 
Principal  of  the  Broadway  High  School  at  Madi- 
son, Ind.  The  responsible  position  gave  him  abun- 
dant opportunity  to  display  his  mental  powers  and 
executive  ability.  Under  his  control  the  school 
advanced  in  reputation,  many  pupils  being  there 
fitted  for  honorable  positions  in  life. 

While  performing  the  arduous  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession, Mr.  Allen  made  a  sj'stematic  disposition  of 
his  time,  b}'  so  doing  being  enabled  to  prepare  a 
seholarl}'  production —  "A  Pedagogue's  Diver- 
sions"—  on  which  the  copyright  has  been  secured 
and  which  is  now  in  the  press.  Mr.  Allen  finds 
time  while  discharging  the  duties  of  his  present 
responsible  position,  to  continue  the  reading  in 
which  he  delights  and  add  to  the  extended  knowl- 
edge which  he  already  possesses.  He  is  unmarried, 
and  the  stay  of  his  aged  parents,  Lafa3'ette  and 
Caroline  Allen,  who  reside  at  No.  117  Fifth  Street, 
Peoria. 

-   ocx>    . 


OCJO 


LGENK  GAUSS,  of  the  firm  of  Gauss,  Shurt- 
Icff  &  Co.,  is  a  fine  representative  of  the 
-41  young  business  men,  natives  of  Peoria,  who, 
within  the  last  few  years,  have  taken  their  place 
among  the  men  of  great  enterprise  and  energy, 
who  are  pushing  forward  the  interests  of  their  city 
in  every  direction.  His  name  already  stands 
high  in  commercial  circles,  and  he  has  a  bright  fu- 
ture before  him  in  his  honorable  career  as  a  mer- 
chant. 

Mr.  Gauss  was  born  in  Peoria,  April  3,  1802,  to 
Julius  and  Pauline  (Bauch)  (!auss.  (P\)r  parental 
history  see  sketch  of  William  Gauss).  Our  subject 
was  reared  and  educated  in  this  city,  and  when 
quite  young,  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  store  of 
AVilliam  Gauss,  at  that  time  a  retail  grocer  on 
South  Madison  Avenue.  He  continued  with  him 
for  thirteen  years,  and  became  thoroughly  conver- 
sant with  the  trade  in  every  branch.  In  the  month 
of  November.  1887,  he  established  himself  in  his 
present  business,  in  company  with  Flavell  Shurtlcff 
and  R.  A.  Schimpff,  opening  their  store  where  they 
now  are,  and  by  their  honorable  dealings,  and  strict 


336 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


attention  to  business,  they  li.ivc  worked  up  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  profitable  trades  in  town. 
Their  store  is  neatl}-  fitted  up,  and  the^-  carry  a 
cqmplete  stock  of  everything  in  their  line  that  is 
demanded  by  their  custom,  and  they  have  an  etJi- 
cient  corps  of  six  clerks. 

Mr.  Gauss  is  a  young  man  of  excellent  personal 
habits,  and  bears  a  fine  reputation.  He  is  wide- 
awake, possesses  a  large  degree  of  enterprise  anil 
business  acumen,  and  is  already  in  prosperous  cir- 
cumstances, and  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the 
wenlthy  men  of  his  native  city.  He  is  bright  a.id 
intell'gent,  |)ossesses  pleasant  social  qualities,  and 
is  of  good  social  standing.  He  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Knights  of  Pythi.as,  belonging  to  both 
branches,  the  lodge  and  the  uuiformed  ranks. 


E^- 


<fl  IkILLIAM  a.  ARNOLD.  VVc  are  pleased 
\/\l//  to  transcribe  to  these  pages  a  brief  record 
\y\V  of  the  life  of  this  gentleman,  who  is  hon- 
ored and  revered  by  his  fellow  townsmen  not  only 
as  a  pioneer  settler  and  an  industrious  farmer  of 
Brimfleld  Township,  but  as  one  of  its  most  deserv- 
ing citizens,  whose  life,  guided  as  it  is  by  purit}' 
of  purpose  and  rectitude  of  act,  is  an  example 
worth}'  for  all  to  follow.  He  has  a  comfortable 
home  <m  section  16,  and  a  good  farm  that  compares 
in  point  of  cultivation  and  improvement  favorably 
with  the  best  in  its  vicinity. 

Mr,  Arnold  comes  of  fine  New  England  stock  and 
Revolutionary  ancestry.  He  was  born  amid  the 
beautiful  scenery  of  Windham  County,  Vt.,  October 
8,  1826,  a  son  of  William  G.  and  Mary  F.  (Brooks) 
Arnold.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  English,  and 
his  great-grandfatiier  Arnold  was  born  in  England, 
became  a  settler  of  New  England  in  Colonial  times, 
and  here  his  son  was  reared  to  manhood  and  took 
an  active  part  in  the  Revolution.  The  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  1797,  in  Vermont,  his 
father,  who  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island  having 
been  an  early  settler  of  the  Green  Mountain  State. 
When  our  subject  was  in  his  eighteenth  year,  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  performing  the 
entire  journey  from  his   early  New  England  home 


with  a  wagon  and  two  teams.  They  started  on  that 
momentous  trip,  November  1,  1843,  and  arrived  at 
tlieir  destination  on  the  Brimfield  Prairies  the  first 
day  of  the  following  February  in  1844,  having 
journeyed  leisurely,  camping  by  the  wayside  at 
night.  The  father  was  killed  by  lightning  April 
22,  1844,  while  standing  in  a  doorway  a  short  dis- 
tance north  of  P>riniHold.  Tlie  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject survived  until  March  13,  1888,  when  she  died 
at  a  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-two  years,  lacking  three 
months.  His  worthy  parents  had  a  family  of  nine 
children  of  whom  the  following  five  are  still  living: 
George  B..  in  Elmwood;  William  A.;  Cyrus,  in 
Henry  County;  Marietta,  wife  of  T.  O.  Owen,  of 
Henry  County;  and  Ami'lia  L.,  wife  of  Joseph  L. 
Barnes  of  Bushnell,  HI. 

The  one  of  whom  we  write  was  reared  in  his 
New  England  birthplace,  and  much  of  his  time  was 
spent  in  his  father's  sawmill  and  he  also  performed 
some  labors  on  the  farm.  His  education  was  con- 
fined to  his  attendance  in  the  subscription  and  early 
public  schools  of  Vermont,  and  since  then  by  much 
reading  and  exercise  of  his  observing  powers,  he 
has  become  very  well  informed. 

In  the  fall  of  1850  Mr.  Arnold  settled  on  his 
present  farm  which  was  then  in  a  state  of  nature, 
just  as  its  aboriginal  owners  had  left  it.  In  their 
attempts  to  develop  that  wild  tract  of  land  he  and 
his  wife  experienced  the  vicissitudes  and  hardships 
of  pioneer  life,  but  steadil}'  persevered  through  all 
and  as  a  result  have  placed  one  hundred  and  twelve 
and  one-half  acres  of  land,  which  comprises  their 
homestead,  under  substantial  improvement,  provid- 
ing it  with  an  excellent  set  of  buildings,  and  the 
soil  is  well  tilled  and  yields  abundantly. 

June  6,  1850,  was  the  date  of  the  marriage  of 
our  subject  with  Louisa  N.  Fisher,  a  native  of  Rut- 
land County,  Vt.  She  was  born  August  4,  1834, 
to  Amos  and  Lydia  (Stoddard)  Fisher,  natives  of 
New  England.  Her  father  was  of  English  descent 
an:1  her  mother  was  of  mingled  Welsh  and  English 
origin.  Her  mother's  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolution  and  fought  at  Bunker  Hill,  where  he 
is  supposed  to  have  been  killed  as  he  was  never 
heard  of  after  that  famous  conflict.  In  1842,  Mrs. 
Arnold  accompanied  her  parents  to  Illinois,  they 
becoming  at  that  time  pioneer  settlers  of  Metamora, 


^Ss***"  ."-V^^.^ 


/  4i,.^^Sr^vwi 


POHTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


339 


Wooilfonl  County.  Mie  was  then  eiglit  years  old, 
.iiul  was  tliere  reared  to  a  true  and  useful  vvoman- 
liooil  and  at  the  time  of  her  mnrriaiie  witii  our 
subject  was  well  fitted  for  the  duties  and  responsi- 
bilities that  fell  upon  her  in  the  care  of  a  house- 
hold. She  is  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
of  whom  seven  survive,  namely  :  Kmerald,  a  resi- 
dent of  Woodford  County;  Martha,  wife  of  Elijah 
Marshall,  of  Woodford  County  ;  Mrs.  Arnold  ;  Ann, 
wife  of  L.  M.  Fuller,  of  Woodford  County  ;  Rosina, 
wife  of  F.  D.  Learned,  of  Woodford  County;  Ezra, 
a  i-esident  of  Butler  County,  Kan.;  Cynthia,  wife  of 
E.  Palmer,  of  Grafton,  Vt.  P'rancis  W.  Fisher  w.as 
a  soldier  in  the  late  Civil  War  and  died  bravely 
fiijlitinn:  for  his  country  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  have  three  children:  Au- 
gustas W.,  a  resident  of  Butler  County,  Kan.; 
Lydia  L.,  wife  of  E.  G.  Edson,of  Woodford  County, 
now  deceased;  and  Mary  C,  wife  of  E.  .1.  Kobin- 
son,  of  Sedgwick  County,  Kan. 

Mr.  Arnold  is  prudent  and  wise  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  affairs,  displaying  cool,  cautious  judg- 
ment in  his  transactions  which  are  at  the  same  time 
conducted  with  extreme  fairness  and  unswerving 
honesty.  Coming  to  this  county  before  lie  had  at- 
t'lined  manhood,  the  better  part  of  his  life  h.as  been 
passed  in  Brimfield  Township  and  he  has  contrib- 
uted much  to  elevate  its  citizenship,  and  b}'  his 
cordial  eo-operation  with  his  fellow-citizen,s  in  their 
jilans  for  improvement  has  forwarded  its  m.aterial 
welfare.  He  is  a  true  Republican  in  politics,  giving 
his  party  substantial  supi)ort.  He  and  his  wife  are 
among  the  most  valued  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Brimtield,  and  he  is  now  serving  it 
worthily  as  Deacon. 


-mi 


v|p\,EV.  ELIJAH  F.  HOWE  resigned  the  pas- 
|Li/  torate  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
of  Peoria  in  April,  1887,  on  account  of 
i' failing  health,  and  entered  into  rest  Au- 
gust 1 1  following.  As  a  pulpit  orator,  he  was  rich 
and  original  in  thought,  clear  and  forcilile  in  ex- 
pression, earnest  in  appeal  and  enthusiastic  in  the 
presentation   of   the    Gospel.     So   often    were  his 


thoughts  recalled  during  the  week  that  '-as  Mr. 
Howe  said,"  became  quite  a  stereotv|)ed  expression 
with  many  who  attended  his  services.  Ills  por- 
trait, presented  on  another  l>age,  will  be  valued  liy 
his  many  friends. 

The  birthplace  of  Mr.  Howe  was  Grafton,  Mass., 
and  his  natal  day  September  19,  1832.  He  was 
prepared  for  college  at  Munson,  Mass.  The  Rev. 
.lames  Tufts,  a  professor  in  the  academy,  says  of 
him:  '-E.  Franklin  Howe  called  at  my  boarding 
|)lace  in  the  spring  of  1853,  to  see  me  in  regard 
to  entering  the  Academy  to  prepare  for  college. 
He  was,  I  saw  at  once,  a  mature,  prompt,  earnest 
young  man,  desiring  if  he  came  to  teach  penman- 
ship in  the  academy-  in  aid  of  his  sui)port,  which 
he  did  very  successfully  through  his  course.  He 
commenced  his  studies  the  spring  term,  and  con- 
tinued here  the  two  following  years,  entering  Yale 
College  well  prepared  in  1855. 

"Mr.  Howe  was  not  a  brilliant  scholar,  and  prob- 
ably did  not  leai'n  so  easily  as  if  he  had  com- 
menced his  studies  younger,  but  he  was  alw.ays 
industrious  and  faithful,  striving  to  get  every  les- 
son as  well  as  he  could.  Such  scholars  usually 
irnpiove  rapidly,  so  that  Jlr.  Howe  stood  much 
higher  relatively  .as  a  writer  and  scholar  when  he 
entered  college  than  when  he  commenced  his 
preparation.  Uncommonly  patient  and  persistent, 
he  did  all  his  work  thoroughly  as  he  was  able, 
never  relaxing  his  efforts,  no  matter  how  great  the 
dilli(ndties.  This  was  especially  noticeable  in  his 
wi'iting  and  his  composition  exercises.  Though  he 
could  debate  fluently  and  speak  accei>tably  in  re- 
ligious meetings,  yet  he  could  not  write  and  com- 
pose easily,  and  had  none  of  that  felicity  of  diction 
which  he  afterward  developed.  Still  his  patience 
never  failed.  There  w.as  not  a  student  in  school 
who  showed  more  persistence  in  learning  to  think, 
write  and  compose  than  Mr.  Howe,  till  he  really 
began  to  excel  in  a  cle:ir,  terse,  thoughtful  style, 
somewhat  as  he  afterward  ai)peared  in  his  pulpit 
performances." 

After  being  graduated  from  Yale  in  the  class  of 
1859,  Mr.  Howe  studied  theology  at  Y'ale  and 
Princeton.  He  began  his  pastoral  life  al  South 
Canaan.  Conn.,  in  1861.  His  second  pastorate  was 
at  Terre    Haute,  Ind.,   where    he  remained  eleven 


3-10 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


years,  from  18P5  to  187G.  He  then  accepted  a  call 
to  Isewtoiiville,  Mass.,  aiirl  in  1882.  a  unanimous 
call  to  tlie  First  Conjireijational  Churcii  of  Peoria, 
placed  him  in  ciiarge  of  the  |)iilpit  in  September  of 
that  year. 

The  Rev.  Hiram  Eddy  writes  of  him,  '•!  like  to 
write  about  that  dear  man.  E.  Frank  Howe  was 
■  one  of  my  nearest  neighbors  in  the  ministr\-  here 
in  Connecticut,  and  while  he  and  1  remained  in  the 
Slate  we  were  ciuite  intimate.  I  loved  him  and  1 
think  he  loved  me.  1  had  great  confidence  in  his 
mental  culture  and  in  the  depth  of  his  Christ- 
wanned  experience.  He  was  always  ready  for  any 
good  deed,  for  any  good  work.  You  felt  a  Christ 
in  his  sympathy  and  here  was  the  charm  of  bis 
preaching.  It  was  luminous,  warm,  and  coming 
home  to  the  hearts  of  the  hearers.  He  was  more 
like  the  lovely  and  loveable  John  than  like  Peter 
or  Paul.  He  drew  not  in  the  sensational  sense  but 
in  the  sense  of  winning.  His  people  loved  him 
and  they  felt  he  was  one  of  them.  He  was  a 
brother  among  their  brothers,  a  child  among  their 
children,  a  neighbor  among  their  neighbors  and 
was  a  member  of  all  their  homes.  Of  course  souls 
were  won  to  Christ  and  many  will  call  him  blessed. 
Let  us  thank  God  for  such  a  noble  ministry." 

A  college  classmate  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howe  pays 
this  tribute  to  him:  "I  was  one  of  the  many 
class-mates  of  Frank  Howe  who  knew  him  and 
loved  him  well,  but  I  also  stood  in  a  closer  and 
more  sacred  relation  to  him,  for  there  were  few 
who  knew  him  and  loved  him  as  I  did,  and  fewer 
still  whom  I  loved  and  knew  as  I  knew  and  loved 
E'rank  Howe.  He  was  one  of  the  deacons  of  the 
College  Church  from  our  class,  and,  while  all  the 
deacons,  so  far  as  I  now  remember,  wore  faithful 
men  and  ofBcers,  yet  it  is  no  disparagement  to  the 
others  to  saj'  that  not  one  in  all  the  college  was 
more  faithful  or  more  useful  than  IJeacon  Howe. 
During  his  student  life  his  prominent  characteristics 
were  his  unl  esitating  adherence  to  the  right  in 
everything,  his  burning  desire  to  do  good  to  all 
about  him  and  to  develop  the  very  best  that  there 
was  in  himself,  his  cheerful  spirit,  his  livel}'  afifec- 
tions,  and  before  all,  above  all  and  throughout  all, 
his  pronounced  personal  religion."  Numerous 
were  the  letters  expressive  of  similar  sentiments  to 


the  above  sent  to  the  bereaved  widow,  and  the 
congregation  for  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howe  minis- 
tered until  so  short  a  time  before  his  death. 

We  make  the  following  extract  from  a  tribute 
from  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Peoria, 
written  by  Miss  S.  S.  Lines,  one  of  its  meml)ers: 
"He  was  pre-eminently  a  man  who  had  the  cour- 
age of  his  convictions.  Aggressive  and  strong  in 
his  own  opinions,  he  gave  forth  no  uncertain 
sound,  yet  he  was  tolerant  of  and  listened  with 
deference  to  the  opinions  of  others,  and  his  paciHc 
spirit  often  during  heated  discussions  or  argument 
'kept  the  balance  true  and  fair.'  His  sense  of  hu- 
mor was  keen  and  his  scorn  of  meanness  intense. 
His  sympathy  with  honest  doubt  and  his  clear 
presentation  of  the  truth  won  the  confidence  of 
some  whose  only  safety  fi'om  agnosticism  had  been 
their  belief  in  the  fatherhood  of  God.  He  was 
quick  to  give  and  respond  to  a  sympathetic  touch. 
His  name  was  known  and  loved  among  those  who 
were  not  of  his  own  parish,  and  many  who  were 
outside  of  any  church  relation  will  long  remember 
his  thoughtful  kindness.  None  looked  to  him  in 
vain  for  help.  The  handful  of  choice  flowers,  the 
blooming  plant,  the  little  note,  the  timelj^  word, 
the  warm  pressure  of  the  hand,  the  appreciative 
glance,  the  pra3'er  which  voiced  the  agon}'  and 
strong  crying  for  help  and  which  seemed  to  bring 
the  answer  down,  are  all  remembered  and  cherished 
by  countless  hearts.  Literally,  he  entered  into 
our  joj'S  and  shared  our  sorrows.  The  little  child 
in  its  innocence;  the  young,  looking  forward  with 
expectant  eyes;  the  strong  man  in  the  stir  and 
rush  of  business  life,  some  of  whom  have  said  no 
other  man  ever  came  so  near  to  them;  ihe  mother 
weary  of  her  household  round ;  the  gray  haired 
man  and  woman,  sinking  under  the  burden  of  help- 
lessness; the  joyous,  the  suffering  and  the  sinning 
he  carried  in  his  great,  true  heart,  they  were  his 
people  and  knit  to  him  by  tender  choi'ds  of  love." 

The  maiden  name  of  the  first  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject was  Frances  Gates,  of  Munson,  Mass.  They 
had  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
living.  They  are:  Frank  C,  an  attorney  in  Peo- 
ria; Lewis  B.,  a  stenographer;  Grace  G.  and 
Fannie  C,  all  of  whom  are  at  home.  Mrs.  Fran- 
ces (Gates)  Howe  died   in   November,  1882.     The 


Pt)RTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAl'IIICAL  ALBUM. 


341 


second  wife  of  the  Rev.  Elijah  F.  Howe  was  in  licr 
youth  .^arali  Ston's,  and  was  born  December  12, 
1845.  Her  father,  Chailes  Storrs,  a  commission 
merchant  of  New  York  City,  lived  and  died  in 
Brooklyn.  On  May  5,  18G9,  Sarah  Storrs  was 
nnited  in  marriage  with  David  Proctor,  tlien  of 
Peoria,  111.,  and  to  them  were  born  thrte  chihlien, 
Charles,  Julia  and  David.  Mr.  Proctor  was  a  man 
of  wcallh.  and  died  in  December.  1 880.  On  Oc- 
tober 20,  188.5,  his  widow  became  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.  E.  Franklin  Howe,  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
grnphical  notice.  She  now  occupies  an  elegant 
home  on  Perry  Street,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


il^'^^i 


^  IfclLLIAM  p.  HAWVER.  The  thriving  town 
\/jJ//  of  Monica  is  greatly  indebted  to  this  gen- 
W^  tleman  who  is  one  of  its  leading  business 
men,  and  Ins  been  foremost  in  establishing  it  on  a 
sound  financial  basis.  He  was  the  6rst  merchant  to 
locate  here  after  the  village  was  platted,  as  with 
his  customary  enterprise  and  forethought,  he  seized 
the  excellent  opening  offered  to  a  live  business  man, 
and  his  Store  was  the  first  Iniilding  to  be  completed 
here,  and  he  was  the  first  man  to  sleep  in  the  new 
town.  He  has  since  built  up  an  extensive  trade  as 
ilruggist  and  grocer,  and  although  other  stores 
have  been  built  here  since,  that  are  larger,  there  are 
none  better  finished,  or  more  complete  in  all  their 
appointments  than  his. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Adam  Hawver,  who 
was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson  River.  His  father  was  a  pioneer  farmer  of 
'hat  section  of  the  country,  and  there  made  his 
home  until  1856.  when  he  came  to  Henry  County, 
and  in  18C5  he  moved  to  Mercer  Countj%  111.,  his 
death  taking  place  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninet}- 
four  years,  he  dying  very  suddenly. 

Dr.  Hfiwver  was  reared  in  his  native  county,  and 
learning  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker  when  a  boy,  fol- 
lowed it  for  soinc  years,  and  kept  a  number  of 
bands  at  work  under  him,  and  built  up  riuite  a 
trade  as  a  slioe  manufacturer.  In  185(j  he  came  to 
Henry  County,  111.,  and  settled  on  a   farm.     There 


he  entered  upon  the  |)ractice  of  medicine,  having 
gained  his  medical  knowledge  b}'  study,  experience 
and  observation.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Aledo, 
in  Mercer  County,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  patent  medicines  of  his  own  get  up,  and 
practiced  as  a  specialist,  traveling  considerabl}'  in 
the  interests  of  his  business.  He  was  ver}-  active  in 
the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church,  serving  in  vari- 
ous capacities  as  Class-Leader,  etc.  He  was  a  stronir 
Republican,  in  his  political  views.  He  rounded 
out  a  long  and  useful  life  of  ninety-four  years  in 
his  home  in  Aledo,  his  death  occurring  in  1888. 
His  wife  whose  maiden  name  was  Clarissa  Dean, 
and  who  was  a  native  of  New  York  State,  died  in 
1859  of  typhoid  fever.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Betsey  C,  Mrs.  Cass, 
died  in  New  York  in  188G;  .John  H.,  who  was  a 
soldier  in  the  late  war,  gave  up  his  life  for  his 
country;  William  P.,  our  subject;  Dianna,  Mrs. 
Davis,  died  in  New  York;  Eliza,  Blrs.  Hanion,  died 
in  New  York,  and  Andrew  and  George  died  of  tv- 
phoid  fever  in  1859. 

He  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  in  Green  County, 
N.  Y.,  February  1,  1830,  and  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  as  his  father  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
in  connection  with  the  manufacture  of  shoes.  He 
learned  the  rudiments  of  farming  and  clearing  the 
soil,  and  in  the  meantime  acquired  the  shoemaker's 
trade  under  his  father,  and  became  a  prollicient 
shoemaker  before  he  was  twentj'-one  years  old.  His 
education  was  obtained  in  the  common  schools,  and 
after  he  attained  his  majority,  he  worked  out  as  a 
farm  hand,  farming,  chopping,  logging,  etc.  The 
next  year  he  took  a  job  of  peeling  two  hundred 
cords  of  hemlock  bark  up  in  the  Catskill  Mountains. 
Me  then  determined  to  go  to  California  and  seek 
his  fortune,  and  in  1852  set  out  on  the  long  and 
venturesome  journey,  going  from  New  York  City 
on  a  ship  by  the  way  of  Panama  to  San  Francisco. 
After  his  arrival  on  the  Pacific  Slope,  he  went  up 
into  the  mining  regions,  and,  .-"s  his  finances  were 
at  a  low  ebb,  be  first  began  clerking  in  a  drug  store 
in  order  to  get  some  money.  After  that  be  en- 
gaged in  prospecting  in  the  Middle,  Coloma,  and 
Northern  mines  for  two  j'ears.  He  w.as  not  overly 
successful,  .and  he  next  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing in  San  Jose,  and  the  ensuing  three  years  was 


342 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


actively  engaged  at  tbat  calling,  and  made  a  suc- 
cess of  that  venture.  With  tlie  money  thus  ac- 
quired, lie  returned  to  Xew  York  bj'  the  waj'  of 
Panama,  and.  as  in  the  meantime  his  father  had 
come  to  this  Slate,  he  followed  him  directly  to 
Henry  County.  He  bought  property  in  Galva,  but 
it  proved  not  to  be  a  good  investment.  He  farmed 
awhile  in  tiiat  place,  and  went  from  there  in  1862  to 
Elrawood,  and  there  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  chain  water-elevating  pumps,  manufactur- 
ing them  by  the  hundred,  and  carrying  on  that 
business  for  one  3'ear.  From  boyhood  he  had  been 
a  worker  in  wood,  and  bad  shown  himself  to  pos- 
sess natural  talent  as  a  mechanic,  and  can  make 
most  anything  of  that  material.  In  1863  he  sold 
that  business,  and  devoted  himself  to  farming  in 
Princeville  the  ensuing  year.  He  then  located  in 
the  village  of  Princeville,  and  carried  on  the  manu- 
f.acture  of  shoes  about  two  years.  He  next  i-e- 
moved  to  O'Brien's  corner,  in  West  Princeville,  and 
opened  a  grocery  store  and  also  carried  a  stock  of 
boots  and  shoes.  When  the  town  of  Mouica  was 
located  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
rciad,  he  at  once,  as  soon  as  the  town  was  laid  out, 
bought  lots  and  began  the  erection  of  his  present 
itore.  This  is  a  well-litted  up  and  convenienll}' 
arranged  building,  and  some  of  the  fanc}'  work 
that  adorns  its  interior,  is  his  own  handiwork.  He 
started  in  business  here  December  1,  1871.  and  was 
the  pioneer  merchant  of  the  place.  He  transferred 
his  stock  of  groceries  from  O'Brien's  corner  to  this 
store,  and  about  a  year  later  put  in  a  slock  of  boots 
and  shoes,  which  he  sold  for  some  two  years,  when 
he  sold  them  out  and  put  in  a  slock  of  drugs,  and 
since  then  has  dealt  solelv  in  groceries  and  drugs. 
He  manufactures  some  medicines,  such  asllawver's 
Pile  Remedy,  and  Hawver's  Diarrhea  Cure,  a  salve, 
and  several  other  medicaments. 

Mr.  Hawver  has  been  married  four  timts.  He 
was  first  wedded  in  Cambridge,  111.,  in  1858  to  Miss 
Mar}'  A.  Price,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania;  she  died 
in  Galva.  leaving  two  children,  who  grew  to  msi- 
turily:  Harriet  C,  who  was  a  school  teacher  here 
until  her  marriage  with  Burk  DeBord,  a  farmer  and 
an  ex-Supervisor  of  Princeville  Township;  and 
Mary  C.  who  married  George  Piukerton,  and  died 
in  1889,  of  diphtheria.     Mr.  Hawver's  second  mar- 


riage took  place  in  Galva,  when  he  was  united  to 
Miss  Lovina  J.  Cox,  a  native  of  Ohio.  She  died  in 
that  town,  leaving  two  children:  Avis  M.,  wife  of 
Leslie  Hurd,  a  telegraph  operator  in  Nebraska,  and 
George  A.  The  latter,  a  bright  young  man,  taught 
school  three  years  before  he  was  twenty-one  years 
old,  and  is  now  attending  the  Horological  or  Jew- 
elry College  at  LaPorle.  Ind.  The  maiden  name  of 
our  subject's  third  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
Wyoming,  was  Nancy  A.  Davis,  a  native  of  Peun- 
sj-lvania,  but  a  resident  of  Princeville,  at  the  time 
of  their  marriage.  They  had  one  child,  Andrew, 
who  died  when  nine  months  old. 

Mr.  Hawver  was  married  to  his  present  wife  in 
Princeville,  Februarj'  1,  1883.  She  is  an  estimable 
ladv,  and  a  member  of  the  Presbj'lerian  Church. 
Mrs.  Hawver's  maiden  name  was  Julia  E.  Wheeler, 
and  she  was  born  in  Greenfield,  Huron  Countj-, 
Oliio,  and  lived  there  until  slie  was  eighteen  years 
old.  At  that  age  she  came  to  Illinois,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  dre.ss-making,  and  in  1876  came  to 
Princeville,  and  made  her  home  with  her  sister,  Mrs. 
Herrick,  until  her  marriage.  Mrs.  Hawver's  father, 
Nahum  Wheeler,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Kean, 
N.  H.,  where  he  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer. 
He  went  from  there  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Huron 
County,  in  early  days,  cleared  a  farm  from  the 
wilderness,  and  was  successfullj-  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  there  for  many  3-ears.  In  1871, 
he  sold  his  property  in  Ohio,  and  came  to  Iroquois 
County,  111.,  and  located  near  Watseka,  where  he 
now  lives  retired  from  active  labor,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty  five  3'ears.  A  ralher  peculiar  cir- 
cumstance led  to  the  founding  of  the  Wheeler  fam- 
ily in  America.  Gr.andfather  Asial  Wheeler,  was 
born  in  Cork,  Ireland,  and  when  a  very  small  boy, 
he  wandered  away  from  his  home  to  the  docks  of 
that  city,  his  curiosity-  leading  him  there,  and  wliile 
there  he  explored  a  vessel  lying  in  the  dock,  and 
before  he  knew  it.  had  started  on  the  long  ocean 
vojage  to  America.  He  was  too  young  to  remem- 
ber his  parents'  names,  other  than  Wheeler,  and  so 
could  not  be  identified,  and  after  landing  in  this 
country,  the  little  lad  had  to  make  his  own  w.ay  in 
the  world.  He  finally  engaged  in  farming  in  New 
Hannishire,  and  liccamo  well-to-do.  Mrs.  Hawver's 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Maiy  Andrus,  and  she 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3i3 


was  born  in  Oraii^f  County,  N.  Y.,  and  died  in  Illi- 
nois in  1875.  Five  of  her  children  are  living  as  fol- 
lows: George,  in  Crawford  County,  Pa.;  LeRoy,  a 
farraer  in  Iroquois  County,  this  State;  Mark,  a  car- 
penter in  Di"  iSmet,  S.  Dak.;  Cornelia,  wife  of  O.F. 
Herrick,  a  harness-maker  at  Princeville;  and  Mrs. 
Hawver. 

Mr.  Ilawvcr  possesses  that  sturdy  self-respect  and 
rectitude  of  character  that  commands  the  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  since  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  this  count)-,  he  has  associated  himself 
with  the  element  that  is  most  forward  in  promoting 
all  that  will  in  any  way  (jrove  a  benefit  to  the  com- 
munity, [le  is  inlei'ested  in  politics,  keeping  him- 
self well-informed  concerning  the  affairs  of  the 
countrj-,  and  is  a  follower  of  the  Republican  part}'. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient,  I'"ree  and  Accepted 
Masons,  at  Princeville.  He  has  been  .School  Di- 
rector, and  in  that  capacity  did  good  service  in  ad- 
vancing educational  matters  in  this  locality. 


ENRY  MALLKN.  Among  the  well-culti- 
vated  and  attractive  farms  which  abound  in 
•-^y:-^  Medina  Township,  one  located  on  section  2, 
is  owned  and  occupied  bj"  our  subject.  The 
three  hundred  broad  acres  which  compose  it  are 
carefully  and  intelligentlj'  managed,  producing 
crops  which  rank  with  the  best  in  quality  and  quan- 
tity, and  supplied  with  the  various  improvements 
which  are  expected  of  a  man  of  enterprise. 

Mr.  RLillen  is  of  Irish  ancestry  and  birth,  being 
a  son  of  Patrick  and  Catherine  (T.aylor)  Mallen, 
natives  of  County  Mealh,  who  spent  tiieir  entire 
lives  there.  The  father  died  when  forty-five  years 
old  and  the  mother  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  life. 
They  were  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  They 
had  eight  children,  most  of  wiiom  lived  to  mature 
years  and  came  to  America;  three  are  still  living. 
He  of  whom  we  write  was  liorn  in  County  Meath, 
in  August,  1838,  reaching  man's  estate  while  still 
residing  there. 

In  June,  1852.  he  cmbarkeil  on  a  sailing  vessel 
at  Liverpool  aiul  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks 
handed   in  New  York  City.     He  remained  in    the 


Empire  State  a  year,  then  came  to  Illinois, where  he 
lias  since  been  engaged  in  farming  in  the  township 
•where  he  now  resides.  Here  he  married  Mary 
Mooney,  who  was  l)orn  in  New  York  City,  May  18, 
183.3,  being  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Helena 
(Stagg)  Mooney,  whose  historj'  may  be  found  in 
the  sketch  of  James  Mooney  on  another  pMgc  of 
this  Alhum. 

Under  the  care  of  good  parents  Mrs.  Mallen  was 
reared  and  educated,  having  from  the  time  she  was 
three  years  old  lived  upon  the  farm  she  now  owns 
as  a  gift  from  lier  fathei'.  Slie  is  one, of  the  excel- 
lent mothers  of  the  township,  devoted  to  her  chil- 
dren thougli  not  neglecting  the  duties  which  she 
owes  to  society-,  nor  failing  to  surround  her  home 
with  the  comforts  wl'.ich  her  husband  appreciates 
when  the  toils  of  his  day  are  done.  She  and  her 
husband,  together  with  the  members  of  their  family, 
belong  to  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church,  of  Medina 
Township.  j\Ir.  Mallen  is  a  firm  believer  in  the 
principles  of  Democracy,  ever  read}^  to  cast  his  vote 
in  their  support.  Their  family  includes  nine  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom,  Helene  T.,  liied  at  the  age  of 
two  years.  The  living  arc  John  E.,  Kate,  Mary  A.. 
S.  Jane,  Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Henr}-  T.  and  Agnes. 
Jane  is  tlie  wife  of  Thomas  Carroll,  who  lives  on  a 
farm  in  this  township;  Margaret  is  a  teacher. 


-€-*-B- 


<;|J0SEPH  F.  MURPHY.  The  principal  part  of 
the  population  of  Rosefleld  Township  is  com- 
posed of  farmers  and  stock-raisers,  and  as  a 
worthy  member  of  this  industrious,  intelli- 
gent community  Joseph  Murphj'  occuuies  n<j  un- 
important position.  He  has  been  successful  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  calling,  has  established  here  a 
comfortable  home,  and  is  the  proprietor  of  as  good 
a  farm  as  may  be  found  in  the  whole  neighborhood. 
Mr.  Murphy  was  born  in  County  Armagh,  Ire- 
land, in  the  month  of  December,  1835,  to  Michael 
and  Mary  (McGiven)  Murphy,  who  were  also  na- 
tives of  that  county.  Paul  Murphy,  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  twice  married.  He  and  the  grand- 
mother of  our  subject,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
McDermott  family,  had   several    children,  among 


344 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPEIICAL  ALBUM. 


whom  are  mentioned  Patrick,  whom  came  to  Amer- 
ica; Barney,  Micliaol;  Bridget,  who  married  P. 
Larkin  and  Mary,  the  former  dying  and  leaving  a 
family,  a  part  of  whom  came  to  America.  The  sub- 
ject's mother  was  the  only  daughter  of  Patrick  Mc- 
Given,  and  she  had  one  brotlier,  Peter,  who  came 
to  the  United  States.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
a  farmer,  and  was  a  life-long  resident  of  Ireland. 
Of  the  eight  or  nine  children  boi'n  to  him  and  his 
wife,  but  three  grew  to  maturity:  Palmer,  who 
died  in  Peoria  without  children;  .Joseph  F. ;  Mar3% 
who  married  Charles  Cratz,  and  died  leaving  one 
son  and  two  daughters.  After  the  deatii  of  her  hus- 
band Sirs.  Murphy  came  to  the  United  States  with 
the  tiiree  children  mentioned,  landing  on  these 
shores  in  July,  1851.  They  lived  in  the  East  about 
a  year,  and  in  1852,  came  to  Peoria.  The  mother 
spent  her  remaining  days  in  this  county,  and  finally 
died,  aged  seveuty-three  years,  in  the  home  of  our 
suliject  January  13,  1877,  surrounded  b}'  all  tlie 
comforts  that  filial  love  could  procure.  The  sister 
of  our  subject  died  two  years  earlier  than  his 
motlier  in  the  month  of  August,  and  his  brotlier 
died  May  1,  1870. 

After  coming  to  this  count}',  Mr.  Murphy  lived 
in  Peoria  for  about  tweut}' years  and  then  removed 
to  his  present  place  of  residence  on  section  25,  in 
Rose-field  Township,  where  he  is  conducting  his 
agricultural  interests  very  profitabl}'.  lie  at  first 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  he 
placed  under  excellent  improvement,  and  has  since 
added  to  his  farm  by  the  purchase  of  other  land, 
until  it  now  comprises  two  hundred  acres  of  choice 
farming  land.  He  is  also  the  proprietor  of  vfilu- 
able  realtj'  in  Peoria,  comprising  three  lots  located 
in  a  desirable  part  of  the  cit}',  one  of  which  he 
purchased  when  he  first  settled  there. 

September  25,  1870,  our  subject  and  Miss  Mary 
Martin  united  their  lives  and  fortunes  and  have 
since  led  a  happy  wedded  life.  Mrs.  Mur|ihy  was 
born  in  County  Tipperarj',  Ireland ;  her  parents, 
Patrick  and  Julia  (Bohan)  Martin,  came  to  the 
United  Stales  in  1852  or  1853,  and  first  located  in 
Ohio.  They  subsequentlj'  resided  for  a  time  in  Peo- 
ria and  then  removed  to  Johnson  County,  Iowa. 
They  had  five  children  of  whom  three  were  reared 
to  malvirit}':  .lames,  who  w.as  killed  in  battle  during 


the  late  war;  John,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  and 
was  killed  in  Nevada,  and  Mrs.  Murphy.  Their  fa- 
ther, Patrick  Martin,  also  served  in  the  war  and 
about  fifteen  years  later  died  in  Iowa  City.  Two 
of  his  brothers  and  three  of  his  sisters  came  to  the 
United  States,  namely:  James,  a  resident  of  Peoria; 
Thomas,  who  died  in  Iowa;  Mary  and  Margaret, 
who  are  living  in  Iowa,  and  Ella,  a  resident  of  the 
Keystone  State. 

Mr.  Murphy  has  worked  hard  to  bring  his  farm 
to  its  present  fine  condition,  and  has  conducted  his 
labors  with  wise  prudence  and  frugality,  though  at 
the  same  time  he  has  spent  money  liberally  wher- 
ever it  would  be  of  the  most  use.  lie  inherited  the 
genial  characteristics  of  his  countrymen,  is  warm 
hearted  and  hospitable,  and  his  neighbors  find  in 
him  a  good  friend  who.Ti  they  respect  for  his  many 
excellent  qualities.  He  and  his  wife  are  worthy 
Christian  i»eople  and  are  devoted  members  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church. 


-i^^h 


the  pioneers  of  Illinois  are  now  as  active  in 
its  interests  as  were  their  fathers  before 
^)thcm,  and  have  taken  up  and  are  success- 
fully carrj'ing  forward  the  work  so  well  begun  by 
their  sires  in  the  development  of  the  wonderful  re- 
sources of  this  State.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
a  fine  type  of  these  and  alreadj'  occupies  a  high 
[losition  among  the  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
this  county,  as  the  proprietor  of  a  large  and  well 
raunaged  farm  on  section  9,  Millbrook  Township. 
Mr.  Biederbeck  was  born  in  Knox  County,  Ma}- 
28,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of  the  well-known  William 
Biederbeck,  a  pioneer  of  this  State,  whose  biogra- 
l)hy  a|)pears  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  When 
Richard  was  quite  young  his  parents  removed  to 
this  county,  and  he  gleaned  a  sound  education  in  its 
pul)lic  schools,  and  here  grew  to  man's  estate.  He 
had  a  decided  taste  for  agriculture  and  adopted 
that  calling  for  his  life-work,  and  now  has  in  his 
possession  a  well-improved  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  fort3'-three  acres  of  land  that  is  under  admir- 
aMc  tillage,  and  is  [)rovided  with   a  good   class    of 


rORTRATT  AND  BIOCxRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


34,5 


buildiiii^s.  and  with  exci'lk-iU  farming  wuicliiiR'ty, 
and  is  vvell-stoclvcd  with  cattle,  horses  and  hogs  of 
good  grades. 

Mr.  Biederheck  and  ^Miss  P^mnia  L.  Aby  were 
united  in  marriage  February  19,  1880,  and  they 
have  estal)lished  a  charming  home,  to  which  the 
gracious  Ivindncss  of  the  hostess  and  the  genial 
courtesy  of  tlie  host  attracts  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 
Mrs.  Biederbecli  is  a  daughter  of  Elder  Aby,  a 
highly  res|)octed  citizen  of  Millbrook  Township, 
whose  biography  will  be  found  on  another  page  of 
this  work.  The  following  is  the  record  of  the  four 
children  that  have  blessed  the  happy  marriage  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife:  Willie  B..  born  March  4, 
1881;  Nellie  E.,  in  the  month  of  February.  1883; 
Alice  L..  in  December.  1884;  Ralph,  .Tanu.ary  3, 
1887. 

Strong  of  character,  keen  in  intellect,  full  of  re- 
source, J[r.  Biederbeck  is  well-equipped  for  the 
battle  of  life,  and  he  is  meeting  with  unqualitied 
success  in  his  ventures.  The  genuine  interest  that 
he  feels  for  his  adopted  township,  and  the  public 
spirit  that  he  manifests  are  important  factors  in  the 
promotion  of  its  welfare.  He  is  now  serving  as 
School  Director  of  District  No.  5,  and  is  contribu- 
ting his  quota  in  maintaining  the  excellent  school 
system  that  has  been  established  here.  He  is  a  true 
Republican  in  his  political  vievvs,  and  advocates 
with  Voice  and  vole  the  policy  of  his  party. 


\Y^'  OSEPH  WRIOLEY  is  a  progressive  and  able 
farmer  and  stock-raiser,  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  faiming  communitj'  of  Trivoli 
Township.  He  is  mi  old  soldier,  and  the 
privations  and  sufferings  that  he  endured  uncom- 
plainingly in  those  trying  times  of  the  great  Rebel- 
lion, proved  his  devotion  to  his  country,  and  his 
war  record  reflects  credit  on  this  his  native  county. 
Robert  Wrigle\'.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Lancashire,  England,  where  his  father, 
bearing  the  same  name  as  himself,  was  a  merchant 
and  an  inn  keeper.  His  grandfatlier  owned  a  farm, 
and  on  that  the  son  passed  his  early  years  until 
within  two  years  of  the  time  when  he  emigrated  to 


America,  and  in  that  period  he  engaged  in  carting. 
In  1841.  he  came  with  his  wife  and  child  to  this 
country.  He  had  intended  to  settle  in  Ohio,  but 
was  advised  to  come  to  Illinois,  and  did  so,  taking 
up  his  residence  in  this  county.  He  was  without 
means,  having  but  $5  left  after  all  his  expenses 
were  paid.  He  worked  at  farming  and  other  em- 
plo3'men1s  in  Peoria  for  one  year,  and  then  entered 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Rosefield  Township,  two 
miles  east  of  Old  Trivoli,  in  the  Texas  neighbor- 
hood. He  improved  it  and  added  to  it  as  he  could 
find  the  money,  and  became  possessed  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  on  section  30,  Rosefield 
Township,  of  eightj^  acres  on  section  6,  Logan 
Township,  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 1,  Trivoli  Township,  comprising  in  all  three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  he  also  had  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  Rosefield  Township,  outside  of  his 
home  farm.  He  engaged  extensively  in  farming 
and  stock  business,  and  in  1880,  rented  his  land 
and  retired  from  active  work,  having  become 
wealthj'.  He  still  owns  two  tracts  of  land,  com- 
prising one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  and  has  built  in  Peoria  a  fine 
residence.  He  is  very  prominent  as  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  having  been  a  lo- 
cal preacher  while  in  England,  and  also  since  com- 
ing to  this  country.  He  is  self-educated,  having 
had  no  schooling  after  he  was  seven  3'ears  old,  ex- 
cepting what  he  learned  in  the  Sunday-schools.  lie 
is  a  firm  Prohibitionist. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Ann  Fenton,  was  born  in  England,  and  died  in 
Rosefield  in  187(j.  In  her  early  life  she  was  a  silk 
weaver.  Five  children  were  born  of  her  marriage: 
Thomas,  a  resident  of  Farmington;  Joseph;  .lane, 
now  Mrs.  Wrigley,  a  resident  of  Chicago;  William 
I).,  who  lives  in  Trivoli;  and  Eunice,  Mrs.  Bower, 
who  died  in  Logan  Ton-nshi[),  in  1H7G. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review,  was  born 
June  14,  1841,  on  Jones'  Prairie,  Limestone  Town- 
ship, this  county.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  on  the 
Texas  Road.  He  obtained  his  education  under 
difHculties,  as  the  school  which  he  had  to  attend, 
which  was  first  conducted  und(M'  the  subscription 
plan,  was  four  miles  distant.  He  was  early  put  to 
work,  and  afterward  attemled   school  only  during 


346 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  winter  session.  He  remained  with  liis  parents 
until  he  enlisterl  in  August  8.  1862,  when  he  volun- 
teered to  aid  the  brave  soldiers  of  our  country  in 
the  great  struggle  that  was  tbeu  being  carried  on 
between  the  North  and  South.  He  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Comixiny  D..  Eight} -sixth  Illinois  lufautrj-, 
was  mustered  in  at  Peoria,  and  was  sent  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky.  He  fought  in  tiie  battles  of  Perryville 
and  Nashville,  and  did  garrison  dut}-  in  the  latter 
place.  He  displayed  such  good  soldierly  qualities 
in  obedience  to  his  superiors,  in  devotion  to  bis  du- 
ties, and  in  braverj'  in  face  of  the  enemy,  that  he 
was  promoted  to  the  position  of  Corporal. 

In  the  fall  of  1863,  Corporal  Wrigley  was  taken 
from  garrison  dut}-  at  Nashville,  and  with  his  com- 
panj'  was  sent  to  take  part  in  the  battles  of  Chicka- 
mauga  and  Missionary  Ridge.  The}-  afterward 
helped  fight  the  battle  of  Knoxville.  His  regiment 
wintered  about  McAflfee  Church  and  Gordon  Mills, 
and  were  often  engaged  in  raiding  and  skirmishing. 
He  and  his  fellow  soldiers  then  marched  through 
Georgia  with  Sherman,  and  did  noble  service  in 
the  battles  of  Resaca  and  Rome,  Ga.  Our  subject 
was  wounded  in  the  latter  eng.'igement,  his  left  arm 
being  broken  above  the  elbow  byarausket  ball.  At 
the  time  he  was  lying  down  behind  a  rail  fence,  but 
as  he  could  not  load  his  gun  in  that  position,  he 
rair.ed  himself  to  his  knees,  and  while  in  the  act  of 
loading,  the  ball  struck  him  and  broke  his  arm, 
the  musket  ball  being  split  b}'  the  force  of  the  con- 
cussion. It  was  extracted  from  the  flesh,  and  he 
carried  it  home,  and  still  has  it  in  his  possession  as 
a  relic  of  his  militar}-  days.  After  being  wounded 
he  made  his  way  to  the  rear  alone  until  he  found 
an  ambulance,  and  was  carried  to  the  field  hospital, 
which  was  in  an  old  plantation  house,  where  his 
wounds  were  dressed.  He  desired  the  surgeon  to 
save  his  arm,  and  thence  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital 
in  Rome,  wheie  he  was  given  a  three  months'  fur- 
lough. He  reported  at  the  hospital  in  Springfield, 
with  his  arm  in  a  sling,  and  while  there  gangrene 
set  in,  and  it  had  to  be  burned  out  by  nitric  acid, 
which  nearly  killed  him.  He  had  an  abcess  on  the 
shoulder  joint,  and  was  unable  to  move,  and  for  a 
whole  month  suffered  indescribable  torture.  He 
was  finall}'  discharged  from  the  Springfield  hospital 
in  the  month  of  March,  1866.     He  had  desired  to 


leave  in  November,  as  he  wished  to  go  to  school, 
but  it  was  not  thought  safe  for  him  to  do  so  on  ac- 
count of  his  condition. 

On  his  return  home  Mr.  Wrigley  went  to  school 
until  harvest  time,  and  then  drove  a  reaper,  al- 
though his  wound  did  not  heal  until  October,  1865. 
After  that  he  arranged  to  go  to  farming,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1866  he  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  his  father  on  section  29,  Rosefleld  Town- 
ship, which  was  partly  improved.  He  located  on 
il,  and  did  well  in  farming  and  raising  stock,  con- 
tinuing to  live  there  until  1885,  when  he  sold  that 
place  aud  bought  his  present  farm,  as  it  w.is  more 
convenient  in  its  situation,  and  the  land  was  much 
belter  than  his  old  farm.  It  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-two  acres  on  section  13,  Trivoli 
Township,  all  of  which  is  improved  and  supplied 
with  necessary  buildings,  is  wall  tilled,  and  neatly 
hedged,  is  pleasantlj'  located  one  half  mile  from 
town,  aud  is  classed  among  the  best  farms  in  the 
count}-.  Mr.  Wrigley  has  here  some  high  graded 
Short-horn  cattle,  and  some  good  horses  for  gen- 
eral purposes,  using  two  teams  in  the  work  on  his 
place,  and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  high  graded  Po- 
land-China hogs,  having  from  seventy-five  to  one 
hundred  and  ten  head  on  his  place  all  the  time. 

Mr.  Wrigley  and  Miss  Sarah  P.  Sutton  weie 
united  in  marriage  in  Trivoli,  February  10,  1867. 
She  is  a  native  of  Trivoli,  .ind  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Mary  (Young)  Sutton.  They  came  from 
Maine,  emigrating  to  this  county  in  the  early  days 
of  its  settlement,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Mrs.  Wrigley  has  been  an  invalid  for  the  last 
twelve  years,  but  bears  her  suffering  with  resigca- 
tion.  Her  pleasant  wedded  life  svith  our  subject 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  two  chil  • 
jlren,  Everett  Y.,  aud  Fenton  E.  Both  are  at  home 
and  assist  in  the  management  of  the  farm.  Ever- 
ett learned  telegraphy  at  Farmington  and  Dixon, 
but  prefers  to  follow  agriculture. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  prominent  in  the  30cial, 
political,  public,  and  religious  life  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  is  a  member  of  the  Daniel  McCook  Post, 
O.  A.  R..  at  Elmwood.  He  has  been  School  Di- 
rector for  the  past  four  years,  and  while  a  resident 
of  Rosefield,  was  Township  Trustee.  He  is  very 
active  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3li> 


he  is  Steward  ami  Trustee,  and  he  has  been  SiipiM- 
intendent  of  the  Sunday-schocl.  His  nllegianfc  to 
the  Re|julilie:iii  party,  is  as  linn  as  in  the  ilays  wlicn 
he  was  fi.yliting  for  his  country.  Ho  has  been  a 
delegate  to  County  Conventions.  Me  lias  served 
on  the  Petit  Jury.  lie  is  a  strong  advocate  of  tem- 
perance in  word  and  act. 


■:>^^3Pr^?.. 


i^m^w 


11^-^  ON.  P.  R.  K.  BROTHKRSON.  This  name 
ji,  will  be  at  once  recognized  as  that  of  a  gen- 
tleman who  has  been  connected  with  the 
[^1  business  interests  and  public  labors  of  Peo- 
ria for  a  number  of  years,  and  one  who  is  still 
identified  with  tiie  moral  and  social  prosperity  of 
that  city.  Mr.  Brotherson  enjoys  tiie  distinction  of 
l)eing  the  first  Republican  ever  elected  to  the  lAIay- 
orally  of  Peoria,  that  event  having  taken  place  in 
18(J8  and  he  having  been  re-elected  with  a  greatly 
inei'eased  majority  in  1872.  The  older  residents  in 
the  citj'  will  recall  the  fact  that  he  established  the 
first  exclusively  wholesale  grocery  house  here, 
which  was  conducted  for  some  years  under  the 
style  of  Brotherson  &  McReynolds. 

Phili])  Brotherson.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Deniarara,  South  America,  and  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  New  York  when  twelve  years  old. 
Settlement  was  made  on  the  North  River  where 
Philip  was  reared  to  mercantile  pursuits.  There  he 
l)ccanie  an  associate  of  Washington  Irving,  who 
w:,s  wont  to  frequently  pass  an  evening  with  him 
in  order  to  receive  his  criticism  on  the  latest  pro- 
(hictions  of  a  fertile  lirain.  ^Ir.  ili'otherson  was  a 
hearty  admirer  of  the  genial  author,  from  whom 
ho  did  not  withhold  the  ealled-for  criticism,  in 
New  York  M r.  Brotherson  wooed  and  won  Miss 
Catherine  Kissam,  a  native  of  the  metropolis  and 
daughter  of  an  old  Knickerbocker  family.  They 
made  their  home  in  Saratoga  County,  where,  July 
11,  1811,  the  sidiject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  He 
was  the  third  of  live  children  and  is  now  the  sole 
survivor.  A  se<-ond  niariiagc  of  his  father  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  four  daughters. 

'I"he  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was    reared  to 


a  like  pursuit  with  his  father,  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship in  New  York  City,  where  he  clerked  for  a 
dry-goods  house  on  Broadway  and  for  a  time  was 
in  the  employ  of  Blatthews  &  Ostrander.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  with  Richard  F.  Seabury. 
In  1833  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Frances  B.  McReynolds,  a  native  of  Elmira,  and 
after  his  marriage  entered  into  business  relations 
with  his  father-in-law  in  a  general  store.  In  1836 
the  firm  removed  to  Cadiz,  Ohio,  where  they  spent 
fourteen  years  in  general  merchandising,after  which, 
in  the  spring  of  1850,  they  established  themselves 
in  Peoria  as  wholesale  grocers. 

Six  years  later  Mr.  Brotherson  sold  out  and  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  and  pork  business  with  Alex- 
aniler  G.  Tyng,  the  firm  of  Tyng  &  Brotherson 
continuing  to  operate  until  1877,  when,  having  met 
with  heavy  losses,  our  subject  retired  from  the 
business.  In  addition  to  the  service  which  he  ren- 
dered Peoria  as  Maj^or,  he  has  served  several  terms 
as  Alderman.  The  construction  of  the  water  works 
was  accomplished  during  his  incumbency  of  the 
Mayor's  chair,  he  having  been  very  active  in  pro- 
moting the  good  of  the  people  in  that  regard. 

Mr.  Brotherson  was  at  one  time  President  of  the 
Adams  Street  Horse  Railway, of  which  he  was  also  a 
Director.  He  has  laid  out  two  additions  to  Peoria, 
embracing  forty  acres  and  bearing  his  name.  He 
and  his  wife  were  active  in  sanitary  work  during 
the  war.  There  is  probably  no  citizen  in  Peoria 
better  informed  than  Mr.  Brotherson  regarding  the 
news  of  the  day  and  those -topics  which  bear  ui)on 
the  national  and  social  welfare,  while  few  indeed 
can  claim  a  better  reputation  than  he. 

Mrs.  Frances  B.  M.  Brotherson,  who  died  De- 
cember 27,  1879,  was  a  remarkable  woman.  She 
was  possessed  of  rare  mental  endowments  and  a 
most  estimable  character,  the  golden  rule  of  her 
life  being  to  do  good.  Her  soul  w\as  thrdlcd  by 
strains  of  poesy  and  her  brilliant  mind  and  vivid 
imagination  found  expression  in  verses  which 
thrilled  others  in  return.  A  volume  of  her  poems 
has  been  published  by  her  daughters  so  that,  al- 
though dead, -she  still  lives  to  uplift  and  cheer 
lonely  hearts  with  the  bcautifid  anil  refined  sen- 
timents   in   which    her   works   abound.     Many   of 


350 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


her  poems,  es|)ecially  that  written  for  Decoration 
Da3%  1878,  have  attracteil  much  attention.  She 
was  the  mother  of  three  chilli ren:  Mrs.  L.  B.  T^'ng, 
wife  of  8.  G.  Tyng;  Mrs.  M.  B.  Re3'nolds,  wife  of 
William  Rej-nolds;  and  Philip,  who  died  in  Jan- 
uaiy,  1866,  at  the  age  of  twent3--three  years. 

In  connection  with  the  personal  sketch  of  Mr. 
Brotherson.  we  present  his  lithographic  portrait 
on  another  page. 


tfo^ >•• 

•! 

jl/^^  ENRY  BISHOP  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  farming  cominunitj'  of  Peoria  County, 
and  is  closel}-  identified  with  its  social  and 
J)'  religions  interests.  He  has  a  well-ordered 
and  highly-productive  farm  on  section  10,  of  Kick- 
apoo  Township,  and  has  greatly  assisted  in  the  de- 
velopment of  this  rich  agricultural  region. 

Our  subject  is  of  English  antecedents  and  birth. 
His  father,  Richard  Bishop,  and  iiis  mother,  Eliza- 
l)eth  Brewer,  were  natives  of  Cornwall,  England, 
where  they  married  and  spent  the  early  years  of 
tlieir  life.  In  1848  they  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  Mr.  Bishop  was 
chiefly  engaged  as  manager  for  different  mines. 
They  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Virginia, 
whore  he  accepted  the  position  of  manager  of  the 
mining  department  of  the  Iron  Works,  having 
charge  of  one  hundred  men.  He  removed  witli 
iiis  family  from  the  Old  Dominion  to  the  Lake  Su- 
perior countrj',  and  located  at  a  place  called  Cape 
Hope,  where  he  engaged  in  a  copper  mine  as  fore- 
man for  a  mining  company.  The  family-  subse- 
q.ientlj'  returned  to  Virginia,  and  after  living  in 
dififerent  places,  flnjilly  came  to  Illinois  about  1856. 
Mr.  Bishop  purchased  q.  coal  mine  about  one  mile 
above  Edwards'  Station,  and  operated  it  for  some 
two  years.  He  then  removed  to  Tazewell  Count3-, 
and  worked  a  mine  there  for  Jacob  Funk.  His 
death  in  that  count3-,  in  1858,  of  congestion  of  the 
brain,  was  a  blow  to  the  industrial  interests  of  the 
county  and  a  good  citizen  was  lost  to  the  commu- 
nity. His  widow  continued  to  reside  there  for 
about  four  years  and  tlien  married  John  Felton.  of 


this  county.  The3'  located  in  Radnor  Townshij), 
where  her  death  occurred  June  13,  1888.  There 
were  five  children  born  of  her  first  marriage,  one 
son  and  four  daughters. 

Henry  Bishop  was  tiie  oldest  of  the  family,  and 
he  was  born  in  Cornwall.  England,  April  .30.  1846. 
He  was  quite  3'oung  when  his  parents  brought  him 
to  America,  and  he  remained  an  inmate  of  their 
household  until  the  death  of  his  father,  when  he 
started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  being  em- 
ployed as  a  farm  laborer  the  ensuing  four  years. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was  in  the 
prime  and  vigor  of  early  manhood,  and  with  pa- 
triotic interest  he  watched  its  progress,  and  in 
June,  1862,  volunteered  to  take  a  part  in  suppress- 
ing the  Rebellion.  He  enlisted  in  Company  G, 
Sixty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  for  a  term  of  three 
months,  which  was  extended  to  five  months.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  was  mustered  out 
and  returned  to  Peoria  County,  and  the  ensuing 
two  years  followed  coal  mining  and  teaming.  After 
that  he  again  enlisted  in  Compan3'  G,  beiuo-  at- 
tached to  the  Eleventh  Illinois  Infantry,  and  joined 
the  regiment  at  Memphis,  Tenn.  He  remained  with 
that  nine  months,  and  was  then  transferred  to  the 
Eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  as  a  member  of  Company 
I,  and  for  three  months  was  located  in  Texas.  He 
was  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf  and  bore  a  gal- 
lant part  in  several  skirmishes,  being  in  the  charge 
of  the  Spanish  Fort,  at  which  time  he  had  a  nar- 
row escape  from  being  wounded  in  the  leg,  a  ball 
passing  through  his  pantaloons. 

After  his  experience  of  military  life  Mr.  Bishop 
returned  to  Peoria,  and  for  three  years  was  act- 
ively eng.aged  in  coal  mining,  operating  a  coal  bank 
in  company  with  II.  Walters,  of  Limestone  Town- 
ship. A  year  Liter  he  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing on  his  step-father's  farm,  in  Radnor  Township, 
lie  remained  there  one  3'ear,  and  then  rented 
another  farm  in  that  township,  which  he  operated 
one  year,  when  he  again  went  into  the  coal  busi- 
ness, though  he  still  continued  farming,  beino-  lo- 
cated in  Limestone  Township.  About  1873  Mr. 
Bishop  gave  himself  up  wholly  to  farming,  con- 
tinuing to  live  in  Limestone  Township  until  1879. 
when  he  settled  on  section  10,  Kickapoo  Townshin, 
where  he  owns  one  of  the  most  desirable  f.-irnis  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


351 


the  locality.  Tt  comprises  one  iuindred  and  sixty 
acios  of  very  fertile  land,  wliieb  is  carefully  culti- 
vated and  provided  witli  substantial  improvements. 

While  residing  in  Limestone  Township,  Mr. 
Bishop  contracted  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss 
Mai-y  M.  I'xmtz.  who  is  to  him  one  of  the  best  of 
wives,  the  ceremony  that  made  them  one  being  sol- 
emnized May  10,  1871.  Mrs.  Bishop's  parents  are 
Conrad  and  Mary  M.  (Bcl*elyon)  Bontz.  natives 
of  IJavuria.  (;ermany.  They  met  and  married  in 
I'eoria  County  and  settled  in  Limestone  among  its 
pioneers,  and  still  resiile  there.  He  is  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  has  a  good  farm  under  his  control. 
Mrs.  r.ishop  was  the  second  of  nine  eliildren,  and 
was  born  in  Limestone  Township  August  26,  1818. 
Tliree  children  have  been  born  of  her  union  to  our 
subject:   Kstelia,  Grace  E.  and  (lertrude  A. 

Mr.  r.ishop  is  justly  held  in  high  consideration 
by  the  entire  community,  as  he  possesses  in  a  full 
degree  those  qualities  th.at  mark  him  as  a  loyal, 
)iublies|)irited  citizen,  and  a  man  of  high  princi- 
ph'  and  unswerving  integrity.  Li  his  relations  with 
bis  fellow-citizens  he  is  always  kindly  and  consid- 
erate, and  his  domestic  life  is  above  reproach.  He 
h:is  held  the  offices  of  Highway  Commissioner  and 
School  Trustee  in  Kickapoo  Township,  and  in  pol- 
itics is  a  true  Democrat,  although  in  local  elections 
lie  votes  for  those  whom  he  considers  best  fitted 
f'lr  the  office.  He  is  active  in  religious  matters, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has  held 
the  oflice  of  Steward.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishop  are 
also  zealous  promoters  of  the  Grange  movement, 
:uid  with  their  two  eldest  daughters  arc  members 
of  Orange  Grange. 


^1^  ATHER  PATRICK  McGAIR.  If  thorough 
L^   scholarship,  cordial,  kindly  manners,  and  a 
J,  devotion  to  the  work  which  lies  before  bim, 

entitle  a  man  to  represeiiiation  in  a  volume  of  this 
nature,  then  is  Father  McGair  especially  deserving 
of  our  notice.  He  is  now  in  charge  of  the  parish  of 
St.  Mary's  of  the  Woods,  at  Princeville,  and  also  of 
the  Catholic  Church  at  Dunlap.  His  congregation 
in  the  former  place  is  one  of  the  best  .ind  wealthiest 


in  the  county,  being  made  up  of  the  better  class  of 
citizens  and  proving  a  most  pleasant  field  of  labor. 
The  church  edifice  is  the  largest  in  the  county  out- 
side of  Peo'-ia  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  over 
§10.000,  the  magnificent  structure  being  due  largely 
to  the  efforts  of  our  subject.   It  was  put  ui)  iu  1889. 

Father  McGair  is  still  quite  a  young  man,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Providence.  R.  L,  February  8, 
1854.  He  had  the  best  of  school  advantages,  im- 
proving them  so  well  that  ho  was  graduated  from 
till!  High  School  when  bui  fourteen  years  old.  He 
then  entered  St.  Charles  (,'ollege  near  Baltimore, 
Ijrosecuting  bis  studies  therein  four  years,  and 
thence  going  to  La.Sump'ion,  Canada.  In  the  col- 
lege at  that  place  he  still  further  advanced  his  edu- 
cation, remaining  there  four  years  and  being  then 
transferred  to  the  tutelage  of  Bisho))  Spalding  of 
Peoria.  In  1877,  he  joined  the  Peoria  diocese  and 
entering  St.  Frances  Theological  College  at  Mil- 
waukee, completed  his  studies  for  the  priesthood 
and  was  ordained  that  year. 

On  June  29.  1878,  Father  McGair  was  ordained 
at  Peoria  by  Bishop  Spalding  and  sent  to  Wataga, 
Knox  Count}',  where  he  remained  one  year  and 
three  months,  serving  two  churches.  He  then  went 
to  Gilman,  Iroquois  County,  where  with  one  as- 
sistant he  served  four  missions.  He  labored  ardu- 
ously, building  a  largo  parochial  house  and  finishing 
the  church,  also  erecting  a  church  at  Ashkum,  and 
finishing  one  at  Watseka  ami  Crescent  City  each. 
In  March,  1884,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
Princeville  congregation  which  had  been  organized 
by  Feather  Albright  in  1868.  The  society  had  pur- 
chased the  old  Presbyterian  Church  and  used  it 
until  recently,  when  they  were  able  to  take  posses- 
sion of  their  beautiful  new  edifice. 

The  family  of  which  our  subject  is  the  fourth 
member,  includes  Mrs.  Catherine  O'Neil  and  Mrs. 
Susan  McCarthy  of  Providence,  R.  L;  James,  of 
I'rinceville,  111.;  F'rank,  of  the  Regular  Army  sta- 
tioned at  Ft.  Adams,  Newport;  Mrs.  Mary  McCabe, 
of  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Byrnes,  of  Prince- 
ville Township,  this  county;  and  Margaret,  of 
Providence,  R.  I.  The  mother,  formerly  Miss 
Margaret  Meenan,  a  native  of  Ireland,  emigrated 
to  America  when  seventeen  3-ears  old ;  she  is  now 
sixty-eight. 


352 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  P.  McRair,  horn 
in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  reared  in  Rhode 
Ishxnd  to  which  lie  was  brought  by  his  parents 
wiien  five  years  old.  He  studied  engineering,  became 
thoroughly  practical  in  his  business  and  finally  rose 
to  the  position  of  Su|)erintendent  of  tiic  Pruit  Works 
in  Pi-ovidence.  Tliere  he  was  accidentally  killed, 
liis  clothes  having  caught  on  a  siiaft  and  his  spine 
being  broken,  death  ensuing  eight  daj's  later,  Sep- 
tember 17,  l.S7<S.    He  was  then  fifty-five  years  old. 


i)EV.  JACOB  S.  CHAMBERLAIN,  A. 15.,  of 
"Robin's  Nest  Farm"  and  Rector  of  Clui.st's 
Ciinich,  Jubilee,  is  an  old  settler  of  tlie 
county,  and  is  widely  known  and  hcmored 
as  one  of  the  early  missionaries  of  the  West,  who 
has  been  a  ))otent  infiuenee  in  elevating  the  religious 
status  of  tliis  part  of  the  country.  His  life  has 
been  a  busy  one,  and  lie  has  had  a  remarkable  and 
varied  experience.  He  has  ever  been  ready  to  re- 
spond to  an}'  call  for  his  services,  and  has  traveled 
far  and  wide  in  the  interests  of  both  religion  and 
education.  He  and  his  wife  are  looked  upon  with 
reverence  and  affection,  and  hold  important  places 
in  this  community. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  January 
16,  1820,  a  son  of  .Sylvester  Cliaml)erlain,  a  native 
of  Columl)ia  County,  N.  Y.,  whose  father,  Jonathan 
Cliamlierlain,  was  born  of  English  parentage  near 
(Springfield,  ISIass.,  and  was  an  early  settler  of  Co- 
lumbia County.  The  grandfather  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Austerlitz,  on  the  Green  River,  where  he 
reared  his  family.  His  ancestry  were  noted  for  their 
integrity,  simplicity  and  deep  religious  principles, 
and  these  he  inherited  to  a  large  degree. 

The  father  of  our  subje(  t  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
but  while  j'oung  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith. 
He  enlisted  in  the  militia  and  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  under  Gen.  Scott. 
He  was  well  pleased  with  the  country  there,  and 
soon  after  liis  discharge  returned  home  and  made 
arrangements  for  moving  to  Western  New  York, 
and  located  in  Buffalo.  He  established  himself  as 
a  blacksmith  there,  and  worked  at  the  forge  until 


he  had  to  retire  on  account  of  an  injur}'  he  had 
received.  He  then  eng.aged  in  tlie  manufacture  of 
wagons  and  carriages,  was  one  of  the  first  manu- 
facturers of  vehicles  in  that  city,  and  was  also 
among  the  largest  in  his  day.  His  homestead  wsis 
on  the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Mohawk  Streets.  He 
was  cpnte  a  local  politician,  was  a  Whig  in  his 
views  and  worked  towards  Rei)ublicanism.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Hannah  Miller,  and 
she  was  born  in  Franklin,  N.  Y.  She  was  a  Pres- 
byterian in  religion,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer.  Her  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Sherrill. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  the  following  is  recorded:  Hunting  S.,  a 
manufacturer,  died  in  Buffalo;  Theresa  died  in 
Chicago;  William  H.  H.,  a  manufacturer,  died  in 
Milwaukee;  Horace,  who  was  Captain  of  a  Texas 
company  in  the  Texas  Rebellion,  under  Gen.  Hous- 
ton, died  in  Texas  a  few  years  after  from  the 
effects  of  a  svvord  wound  in  the  eye;  Jonathan  is  a 
retired  manufacturer  of  Buffalo;  the  next  in  order 
is  our  subject,  Jacob  Sherrill;  Maria,  residing  in 
AVashington,  is  the  widow  of  Mr.  Rueker;  Samuel 
Miller,  who  was  an  attorney  and  a  member  of  the 
editorial  profession,  was  editor  of  the  New  York 
Times  one  year,  and  editor  of  the  Buffalo  Morning 
Expi-ess  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  and  died  in 
that  city;  Edward  O.,  a  mechanic  of  Buffalo,  served 
in  the  late  war. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Chamberlain,  of  tliis  sketcii,  was 
reared  in  his  native  county,  and  received  good 
school  advantages  for  that  d.ay.  When  he  was 
fourteen  5'ears  old  he  entered  Fredonia  Academy, 
in  Chautauqua  County,  and  studied  there  three 
years  to  prepare  himself  for  college,  but  on  account 
of  his  father's  failure  in  business,  he  had  to  give 
up  the  idea  of  entering  college,  .and  he  then  began 
the  study  of  law  in  Buffalo  under  Stevens  &  Wing, 
and  later  with  Judge  Rodgcrs.  In  1839,  when 
nineteen  j'ears  old,  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  in 
that  then  small  village  finished  his  legal  studies 
under  the  tuition  of  Butterfleld  &  Collins,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar  in  1  840.  He  first  es- 
tablished himself  as  a  practitioner  of  the  law  in 
Chicago  in  partnership  with  Col.  Hamilton,  and  later 
continued    in    practice   l)y  himself  until  1845.     In 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


353 


the  meantime  he  had  united  with  tlie  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  witli  religious  zeal  had  de- 
termined to  enter  the  ministry,  and  came  to  Jubilee 
College  to  prepare  liimself.  He  entered  the  college 
and  seminary  in  the  spring  of  18-15,  and  was  grad- 
uated in  tlie  spring  of  1847  with  the  degree  of  A. 15. 
He  was  immediately  ordained  and  became  a  mission- 
ary for  this  region,  and  traveled  in  Woodford, 
Tazewell  and  Peoria  Counties  in  pursuit  of  his  call- 
ing,organizing  congregations  and  building  churches. 
In  1849  he  located  in  Peoria,  secured  the  present 
site  of  the  St.  Paul's  Protestant  Eijiscopal  Church, 
and  built  the  first  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  for  three 
years  acted  in  the  double  capacity  of  pastor  for  its 
congregation  and  a  missionary.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  time,  after  the  parish  had  been  well  organized 
and  the  church  had  been  built,  he  went  to  Pekin 
and  other  places  in  Woodford,  Tazewell  and  other 
counties,  and  did  missionary  work,  \vhil<!  he  left 
his  family  in  Peoria.  At  that  time  he  received 
liule  ui'  UK  salary  and  had  to  support  himself,  and 
in  order  to  do  so  engaged  in  teaching  a  select 
school.  He  started  at  that  lime  a  girls'  school  in  the 
old  Moss  nninsioii,  on  the  bluff,  under  the  name  of 
"St.  Mary's  School." 

In  1852  our  subject  went  to  IMiiinesota,  and  be- 
gan missionary  work  there.  His  mission  was  known 
as  '"St.  Anthony's  Falls  Church  Mission,"  in  which 
he  wits  actively  engaged  forelevcn  3'ears,  and  during 
that  time  he  traveled  in  the  interests  of  his  mission 
many  miles,  his  circuit  extending  over  one  hun- 
dred miles,  from  Chaska,  on  the  Minnesota,  to 
Sauk  Rapids,  on  the  Mississii)p!.  Forsev(!ral  years 
he  traveled  on  foot,  and  then  by  vehicles.  He 
built  thirteen  Episcopal  Churches  within  the  one 
hundred  miles,  and  remained  in  Minnesota  until  the 
spring  of  1864,  when  he  came  Iiack  to  .Jubilee 
Township.  He  had  then  just  recovered  from  a 
siege  of  the  smallpox.  He  had  left  his  family  at 
the  "Robin's  Nest,"  and  as  soon  as  he  was  well 
enough  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  was 
employed  by  the  Government  in  the  Treasury  De- 
partment until  the  winter  of  1864.  He  was  ac- 
quainted with  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  attended 
many  of  his  receptions,  and  heard  him  tell  many  of 
his  famous  stories,  which  he  h;is  remembered  and 
treasured  up  for  years. 


In  the  winter  of  1864,  Mr.  Chamberlain  received 
the  appointment  from  President  Lincoln  as  Chaplain 
of  Nelson  general  hospital,  Camp  Nelson,  Ivy.  He 
proceeded  to  that  place,  reported  for  duty,  received 
his  commission  and  went  to  work  with  a  will.  He  was 
.mustered  out  in  July,  1865,  at  Louisville,  Ky.,and 
returned  to  Jubilee  by  the  way  of  Chicago.  He 
resumed  his  old  work  as  missionary  in  the  Illinois 
diocese,  and  was  thus  engaged  in  Knox,  Mercer 
and  Rock  Island  Counties.  He  was  the  founder  of 
St.  Mary's  School,  in  Knoxville,  he  procuring  the 
site  and  property  and  securing  the  services  of  Dr. 
Leffengwell  as  its  head,  going  to  Winconsin  to  per- 
suade the  doctor  to  undertake  the  charge,  and  con- 
tracting with  him  to  teach  the  first  five  j'ears.  The 
school  progressed  well,  was  a  success  from  the 
start,  and  is  to-day  a  flue  institution.  In  1882 
Mr.  Chamberlain  received  a  call  from  Wichita, 
Kan.,  and  was  pastor  of  the  church  there  for  two 
years.  At  the  expii'ation  of  that  time  he  was  ap- 
|x>inted  Superintendent  of  Christ  Hospital,  at  To- 
peka,  and  he  directed  its  organization  anil  was  very 
busily  engaged  in  that  fur  more  than  three  years. 

In  September,  1887,  our  subject  retired  from  the 
duties  of  that  onerous  [losition  on  account  of  ill- 
health,  and  for  a  year  lived  retired  in  Jubilee.  He 
then  accepted  the  position  of  Rector  of  Jubilee 
Chapel,  his  predecessor  having  resigned  at  the 
beginning  of  188!),  and  is  devoting  his  energies  to 
carrying  on  its  work.  He  is  also  Missionary  Rec- 
tor of  Grace  Church,  Mercer  County,  which  he  es- 
tablished j'ears  ago.  He  has  led  a  very  active 
life,  and  has  selilom  had  less  than  five  or  six  con- 
gregations under  his  charge,  and  lias  built  twenty 
churches,  and  organized  a  still  larger  number  and 
has  otherwise  greatly  advanced  the  cause  of  relig- 
ion in  various  places.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons  lodge  at  Cambridge,  and  in 
his  political  views  is  a  stanch  Rei)td)lican. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice  married.  In  1843 
he  was  united  to  Sarah  E.  Hyde,  who  was  born  at 
Darien,  Genesee  County',  N.  Y.  She  died  after 
thirteen  months  of  married  life.  Oin-  subject's  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Chase,  only  daughter  of 
Bishop  Philander  Chase,  D.D.,  was  solemnized 
Atn'il  11,  1817.  To  them  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  is  recorded:  Sherrill, 


354 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


11  vvell-lo  do  farmer  in  Harper  County,  Kan.,  at- 
tended Racine  College  two  years;  Philander  C,  who 
attended  Hobart  College  for  three  years,  is  now  stnff 
correspondent  and  distributor  of  the  To[ieka  Daily 
Capital,  having  been  engaged  on  that  pajjer  for  over 
eleven  years,  since  it  started,  he  taking  the  first  im- 
pression of  the  paper  from  the  press;  Ernest,  who  is 
engaged   in  general  farming  and  stock-raising  on 
the  home  farm,  is  the  naturalist  of  the  family,  and 
has   the    finest   and    largest   collection   of    Illinois 
birds'   eggs   in  the  Stale;  Ruth,  a  graduate  of  St. 
Mary's,  of  Knoxvillc.  is  the  wife  of  .Toim  C.  Lewis, 
a  farmer  of  Warren  County;  Grace,    who   resides 
with  her  father,  was  for  three  years  ward   matron 
of  Christ  Hos|)it:il,  Topeka;  Mary  C.  is  the  wife  of 
IMr.  Clark,  of  Champaign,  III.,  where  he  is  taking  a 
mechanical  engineer's  course  at  the  State  University. 
Mis.  Chamberlain  was  educated  at  Jubilee  Col- 
lege in  the  same  classes  with  her  husband.     She  has 
devoted  herself  to  teaching  some  in  the  vicinit)-  and 
some  in  Peoria,  and  .is  a  lad3'  of  culture  and  marked 
ability  has  been  a  great  help  to  her  husband  in  his 
work.  Ilcr  father,  Bishop  Chase, was  one  of  the  fore- 
most educators  and  ministers  of  his  day  in  the  West. 
He  wag  a  native  of  Cornish,  N.  II., and  was  graduated 
from  Dartmouth  College  in  the  class  of  171)6.     He 
studied  theology  under  the  Episcopal  Church  Rec- 
tor at  Albany,   N.    Y.,  and    became  a    Doctor  of 
Divinity.     He  was  a  Missionary  in  that  State  until 
he  was  chosen  Rector  of  Christ's   Church  in  Hurt- 
ford,    Conn.,  which  position   he    occupied   a  long- 
time.    He  then  acted  as  Rector  of  Christ's  Church 
at  New  Orleans,  La.,  for  some  j-uars.     After  that 
he  came  North  to  Worthington,   Ohio,  where  he 
was  elected    Bishop  of   the  Diocese  of  that  State. 
He  was  the  founder  of  Kenyon  College,  at  Gambler, 
Ohio,  and  was  at  its  head,  until  he  resigned  to  go 
to  Michigan.    Going  to  Michigan  he  bought  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Gilead,  Branch  County,  where  he 
farmed  and  did  missionarj-  work.     In  1835  he  was 
elected  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of   Illinois,  and   in 
1836  he  came  to  Jubilee.     He  had  received  funds 
from  the  friends  of  the  Protestant  Ei)iscopal  Church 
in  England   and   America   from    which  to  found  an 
institution  of  learning,    and  lie  selected  a  site   on 
section  25,  in  this  township,  and  as  soon  as  possible 
laid  the  foundation  of  tke  school,  laving  the  corner 


stone  of  the  chapel  of  the  institution  which  he 
called  Jubilee  College  (from  which  the  township 
afterward  received  its  name)  April  3,  1839.  He 
also  selected  a  site  for  his  own  home  and  private 
property,  located  on  north-half  of  section  36,  where 
he  built  the  "Robin's  Nest,"  afterward  erecting  a 
brick  residence,  which  still  bears  the  name.  This 
property  now  contains  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres 
of  land,  located  on  the  Kickapoo,  and  is  a  fine  farm, 
containing  all  the  necessary  conveniences.  It  is 
located  in  a  picturesque  and  beautiful  spot,  and  is 
a  lovely  place.  The  Bishop  in  his  "Reminiscences" 
called  it  the  "Robin's  Nest"  because  it  was  then  "a 
rude  dwelling  built  of  mud  and  sticks  and  filled  with 
3'oung  ones."  This  beautiful  property  was  in- 
herited by  the  wife  of  our  subject,  and  they  make 
it  their  home.  By  his  personal  inlluence  the  Bishop 
secured  the  establishment  of  a  p(>sl-oflice  here, 
which  was  named  "Robin's  Nest,"  and  retained 
that  name  until  some  two  years  ago,  when  it  was 
changed  to  its  present  title  of  Jubilee,  and  he  was 
api)oinled  first  Postmaster. 

Rj'  his  energy  and  good  management  Bishop 
Chase  established  a  college  in  the  wilderness,  which 
was  at  that  lime  one  of  the  foremost  institutions  of 
learning  in  the  West,  as  to  the  number  of  students 
in  attendance  and  in  regard  to  its  end<jwments  and 
future  jn'ospects.  At  the  time  of  his  death  the 
buildings  had  been  erecle<l,  and  he  had  secured 
over  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land,  in  Juliilec 
Township,  free  from  incumbrance  and  one-half 
under  the  plow.  The  institution  was  planned  to 
be  largely  supported  by  llie  rents  of  its  agricult- 
ural lands,  occupied  b^-  an  Ei)iscopal  colony.  The 
trustees  of  Jubilee  College  were  appointed  by 
Bishop  Chase's  will,  according  to  the  conditions  of 
the  charter  which  he  had  procured  from  the  Leois- 
lature  of  the  State.  After  the  Bishop's  death,  the 
administration  fell  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Chase,  great  nephew  of  the  Bishop,  and  Vice- 
President.  Dr.  Chase  kept  the  college  open  for  a 
time,  but  during  the  war,  like  man}-  other  institu- 
tions of  ihe  kind  at  that  time,  it  failed  to  receive 
suliicient  support,  many  of  the  pupils  enlisting  in 
the  armj-.  and  in  the  second  year  it  w.as  closed,  as 
the  Vice-President  was  appointed  Chaplain  of  the 
Twelfth  Illinois  Regiment.     The  Bishop  had  estab- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOItRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


355 


lislieil  a  priiitinjj  office  at  Jubilee,  and  did  all  the 
printing  in  connection  with  the  institution,  and  the 
publishing  of  a  nionthlj-  paper,  "Tiie  Motto  of 
Jubilee  College."  lie  had  overyihing  in  fine  order 
and  the  institution  established  on  a  solid  financial 
basis,  when  he  met  his  death  acci*lentaily  while  out 
driving,  on  September  20,  1852,  in  his  seventy-sixth 
year.  Peoria  County  then  lost  one  of  its  most 
learned  and  most  respected  citizens. 

Mrs.  Cliamberlaiii's  mother's  maiden  name  was 
8oi>hia  May  Ingiaham,  and  she  was  born  al  Ams- 
terdam, Holland,  where  her  parents  were  visiting. 
Her  mother  was  a  Greenleaf,  of  Boston,  a  very 
prominent  family,  and  tlie  Ingrahams  were  also  of 
the  best  people.  She  was  a  remarkable  and  noble 
char.acter,  was  well  educated  and  was  of  great 
assistance  to  the  Bishop  in  his  work.  "She  was  a 
perfect  woman,"  said  one  who  knew  her  well.  She 
w.as  loved  by  all,  and  her  death  in  the  fall  of  1864  of 
paralssis.  at  the  "Robin's  Nest,"  was  greatly 
mourned.  The  Bishop  had  been  twice  married. 
But  one  is  livitig  of  the  tiiree  children  born  of  his 
first  marriage,  the  Rev.  Dudley  Chase,  who  is  now 
retired  Past  Chaplain  of  the  United  States  Army, 
living  in  Philadelpliia,  Pa.  There  were  three  chil- 
dren of  the  second  union,  namely:  Henry  I.,  a 
resident  of  Riverside,  Chicago,  and  inventor  of  the 
'•Cliase  Elevator;"  ftlary,  wife  of. our  subject,  and 
tliu  Rev.  Philaiuler  Ciiase,  Jr.,  who  died  in  Stark 
Count}-,  this  State. 


rj^^ATHAN  GILES  is  held  in  h(jnor  .as  a  pio- 
I  1/  "*''^'  ^^  I'eoria  Count}',  who  has  taken  an 
l^,Mi  active  part  in  its  development,  and  has 
done  good  service  in  the  past  as  a  valu.nble  pul)lic 
otlicial.  He  is  one  of  the  ()ld  settlers  of  North 
Peoria,  be  having  come  to  his  present  location  on 
Knoxville  Avenue,  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of 
the  court-house,  in  1844. 

Thomas  Giles,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Wales,  and  early  took  up  the  life  of  a  sol- 
dier, and  when  a  young  man  was  sent  to  St.  Hele- 
na's Island  b}'  tiie  British  Government  as  one  of 
Bonaparte's  guards.     He   there  married  Miss  Ann 


Pickin,  and  on  that  island  three  of  their  children 
were  born.  After  coming  to  this  country,  Mr. 
Giles  occupied  himself  as  a  stonemason  in  New 
York,  and  in  1 836  emigrated  from  that  State  to 
this,  and  bouglit  the  property  now  owned  by  our 
subject.  It  comprised  eight}'  acres  of  land,  whicii 
he  purchased  of  William  Hale  for  about  #8  or  *10 
an  acre.  He  entered  upon  its  imi)rovement,  but 
his  useful  career  was  cut  sbort  by  his  deatii  in 
1838.  He  was  in  every  way  worthy  of  respect, 
and,  of  the  Bajjtist  faith  in  religion,  was  promi- 
nient  in  the  ciiurch.  His  wife  survived  him  until"' 
1855,  when  she  too  passed  away.  They  had  the 
following  children  —  Thomas,  loseph,  William, 
Alice  (wife  of  James  Peters),  Nathan,  George  and 
Sarah.  Sarah,  who  was  the  third  child  in  order  of 
birth,  was  killed  by  lightning  in  Utica,  N.  Y..  in 
1837. 

Oui-  subject  w;is  born  while  his  parents  were  liv- 
ing in  Oneida  County.  N.  Y..  November  15,  1827, 
being  the  date  of  his  Ijirth.  Tiie  family  subse- 
quently removed  to  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
remained  there  eight  years,  coming  to  this  State  in 
June,  1836.  Nathan,  however,  remained  at  Rich 
land,  N.  Y.,  until  the  spring  of  1843,  when  he 
turned  his  face  Westward,  and  coming  to  Wiscon- 
sin, was  engaged  in  the  lead  mines  near  Galena  for 
ten  months.  The  following  spring  he  crossed  the 
State  line  and  came  to  this  county,  where  he  rested 
from  his  wanderings  until  the  spring  of  1849.  At 
tliat  time  the  people  hereabouts,  as  in  all  parts  of 
the  country,  were  much  excited  over  the  discovery 
of  gold  in  California,  and  our  subject,  catching  the 
fever,  determined  to  join  the  many  men  who  were 
crossing  the  plains  and  mountains  in  search  of  the 
precous  metal.  He  and  his  brother  William,  and 
their  friend,  Paul  Keim,  joined  a  company,  twelve 
or  fourteen  trains  going  out  from  Peoria  with  ox- 
teanis.  Tlie  first  night  out  tliey  found  shelter  in  a 
house,  which  was  the  last  roof  that  covered  their 
licads  until  they  left  the  mines  in  1853.  The 
corai)any  W(;nt  by  the  way  of  St.  Joseph,  covering 
the  old  route  tlirough  Brownsville,  Ft.  Kearney, 
by  the  way  of  tlie  North  I'iattc,  etc.  They  took  a 
boat  and  rope  witli  tliem,  and  ferried  themselves 
.across  every  stream  excc|)t  the  INIissouri  River, 
finally  selling  their  boat  and  rope  at  Green  River, 


356 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


Utali,  fur -rJ-.'iM).  They  passed  Ft.  Hall,  and  went 
by  llie  northern  trail  from  Mary's  River,  [and 
leaciied  the  Sacramento  River  at  (ioose  Lake,  and 
then  followed  tlie  stream  down  to  Lawson's  Ranche, 
going  throngh  the  valley  proper  of  the  Sacrauienlo. 
They  first  stniek  the  mining  regions  at  Readding's 
Springs,  and  after  three  months  went  to  Sacramento 
City  to  stock  iqi.  Tliey  returned  to  the  mines  at 
Rose's  Bar,  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Yuba,  and 
there  spent  the  ensuing  winter,  finding  a  fair 
amount  of  gold.  They  next  went  to  Deer  Creek, 
and  six  montlis  later  passed  over  the  north  fcu'k  of 
t!ie  Yulia,  farther  up  the  stream,  and  in  the  fall 
William  Giles  returned  home,  coming  by  tiie  w.ay 
of  ^Mexico  and  New  Orleans.  Our  subject  leaving 
tlial  part  of  tlu^  mines,  went  down  into  tlie  valley 
with  a  view  of  entering  the  cattle  business.  Not  satis- 
fied witli  ths  prospects  tliere,  he  soon  returned  to 
Readding's  Springs,  and  in  the  following  February 
accompanied  a  party,  comprising  Moses  Y.  Duscn 
berry,  jNIilton  Hasbrook  (both  known  in  Peoria), 
John  Rodham,  George  Wells  and  Henry  Bowman, 
to  Shasta  Yallo}-,  which  was  then  perfectly  unknown 
and  had  never  been  prospected  by  vvhite  men,  they 
doing  tiie  first  mining  that  was  ever  done  on  the 
Shasta  River,  which  afterward  i>roved  to  be  a  very 
rich  mineral  country.  The  following  May  i\Ir. 
Giles  went  down  the  Klamouth  River,  and  crossing 
the  divide  to  Clear  Creek,  discovered  gold  in  the 
extreme  northwestern  part  of  California  on  that 
creek  and  its  tributaries.  They  worked  there  until 
leaving  for  home,  and  during  the  time  our  subject 
visited  Oregon  three  times,  going  to  Portland  and 
Oregon  City.  After  leaving  Clear  Creek  our  sub- 
ject and  his  friends  went  to  Crescent  City,  Cal.,  and 
there  took  steamer  for  San  Francisco,  where  the}- 
stopped  twenty  days.  Mr.  Giles  then  started  for 
home  via  Panama  and  New  York,  arriving  in  Peo- 
ria December  22  or  2.3,  1853,  after  an  absence  of 
four  and  one-half  years.  He  at  once  entered  into 
business,  opening  a  brickj'ard  on  the  land  he  now 
occupies.  He  continued  to  manufacture  brick  for 
ten  years,  and  then  turned  his  atteutioh  to  farming 
in  Richwood  Township,  and  was  there  actively 
engaged  in  tilling  the  farm  and  stock-raising  for  i 
ten  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  traded 
for  more  of   the  original   eighty  with  his  brother, 


and  now  owns  eighteen  acres  of  it,  having  sold  off 
the  remainder  at  a  good  price.  In  188.j  he  erected 
his  present  commodious  and  convenientl\' arranged 
residence,  and  hero  lias  one  of  the  most  coz3'  and 
comfortable  homes,  in  wliicli  he  lives  retired  from 
active  life,  simply'  attending  to  his  few  acres  of 
land. 

December  18,  18.56,  our  subject  married  Cather- 
ine Clausen,  and  in  her  has  found  all  that  a  good 
wife  sliould  be.  To  them  have  come  five  children, 
all  of  whom  were  reared  to  maturity- — Margaret 
Ann  married  Arthur  Kerthley,  of  this  city;  Loui'se 
Anna  C,  who  married  Frank  Corrington,  is  now 
deceased;  Olive  mairied  J  E.  Sherwood,  of  Bea- 
trice, Neb.;  Alice  is  at  home;  Andrew,  in  business 
in  the  cit3%  makes  his  home  with  his  parents. 

Mr.  Giles  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this 
county,  whose  interests  he  has  been  instrumental  in 
advancing  during  his  many  years  residence  here, 
where  he  has  won  the  friendship  of  many  by  his 
helpfulness,  constant  kindness  and  other  personal 
qualities.  He  has  mingled  in  the  public  life  of  the 
county,  and  in  his  capacity  of  Supervisor  of  Rich- 
wood  Township,  which  iiosition  he  held  for  eleven 
years,  his  wise  counsels  and  zealous  devotion  to 
the  interests  of  the  public  ma<le  him  a  valuable 
official.  During  his  incumbenc}-  of  that  office  the 
county  court  house  was  erected,  and  he  was  one  of 
the  building  committee.  He  can  say  trnthfnllj', 
that  not  another  court-house  can  compare  with  it 
for  beauty,  utility  and  ventilation.  He  h.as  also 
been  Trustee  of  the  village  of  North  Peoria,  but 
since  then  has  refused  the  office.  He  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  polities,  was  a  Democrat  until  1861, 
when  he  joined  the  Republican  partj-,  and  bas  since 
then  seen  no  reason  for  change  in  his  political 
views. 

7;RANK  C.  MAHLER.  Few,  if  any,  of  the 
ly  young  business  men  of  Peoria  have  brighter 
prospects  for  the  future  than  the  gentleman 
above  named,  who  as  junior  member  of  an  old  es- 
tablished firm  has  already  become  quite  promi- 
nently known  in  business  circles.  The  business  in 
which  he  is  engaged  is  that  of  general  brass    foun- 


iJrC  ^a^l^ 


POUTRAIT  ANM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


361 


{living  and  maniifactmiiii^  of  brass  goods  and  oop- 
liersniiLliintf.  espfcial  attcnlioii  being  given  to  ttoani 
titlin^s  and  llu!  coi)per  work  nscd  in  distilleries. 
The  ware  rooms  and  otiiee  are  loeatc^l  at  No.  400 
South  A<lains  Street  with  the  machine  shop  in  the 
rear,  and  furnisii  eniplojnienl  to  a  force  of  forty 
men.  The  business  was  establisluHl  in  ISoO,  by  S. 
A.  Kinsey  and  John  C.  Mahler,  the  latter  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  and  the  first  change  made  in 
the  firm  was  in  1882  wiien  the  business  w.as  incor- 
porated, y.  A.  Kinsey  then  became  President,  War- 
ren Kinsey  Secretary,  and  F.  C.  iMaliler  Treasurer, 
the  capital  stock  of  the  company  being  |i50,000. 

Our  subject  is  of  (ieruian  ancestry,  his  father 
having  been  born  in  the  Fatlierknd,  whence  he 
emigrated  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  vvhen  a  young  man. 
There  he  married  Miss  Catherine  Bittner,  removing 
to  Peoria  and  organizing  the  firm  which  has  grown 
to  its  present  proportions.  He  was  a  practical  cop- 
persmitii.  He  breathed  his  last  iu  1873.  His  son, 
our  subject,  was  born  in  this  city  April  17;  1868, 
and  educated  in  its  schools.  During  tiie  last  five 
years,  since  completing  his  education,  he  has  given 
his  time  and  attention  to  the  business,  altiiough  his 
interest  extenils  over  a  much  greater  period. 

Mr.  Mahler  is  a  young  gentleman  whose  informa- 
tion on  various  toi)ics  is  quite  extensive  and  whose 
financial  ability  is  commended  by  all  with  whom  he 
has  dealings.  In  his  own  circle  of  acquaintances  he 
has  many  friends  who  speak  highly  of  his.  social 
qualities  and  kindly  nature. 


^^i 


ON.  JOHN  HAMLIN.  For  many  years 
j\l  the  late  .loiui  Hamlin  was  a  loading  spirit 
in  Peoria  County.  He  was  in  many  res- 
|)ccts  a  remarkable  man,  and  seemed  es- 
pecially qualified  by  nature  for  frontier  life,  having 
the  intrepid  spirit,  coolness  in  time  of  danger  and 
faculty  of  arriving  quickly  at  a  decision,  which  are 
necessary  to  those  who  take  their  place  in  the  van- 
guard of  civilization  With  these  ti aits  he  com- 
bined the  keen  observation,  quick  perceptions  and 
accurate  judgment  which  made  him  a  power  in  the 
community  as  the  population  increased,  and  led  to 


his  being  selected  to  represent  the  peo|)le  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  and  the  State  Senate. 

Mr.  Hamlin  was  a  native  of  AVilbraham,  Mass., 
born  there  October  25,  1800,  and  in  early  manhood 
liecamc  a  trader  at  Ft.  Clark,  now  Peoria,  III.  He 
went  on  trading  expeditions  northward  and  west- 
ward, visiting  many  localities  which  are  now  the 
centers  of  advanced  civilization,  but  which  in  those 
early  days  were  but  rude  hamlets,  simple  trading 
posts,  or  a  wilderness  trodden  only  by  the  feet  of 
savages  and  an  occasional  white  man.  His  treat- 
ment of  the  red  men  uniformly  secured  their  good- 
will, and  his  house  was  always  open  to  them,  a  lock 
or  key  being  unknown  to  his  cabin.  Many  anight 
Indians  slept  in  the  kitchen,  one  of  the  number 
keeping  watch  while  the  others  slumbered. 

Upon  one  occasion  while  en  route  to  Wisconsin 
Mr.  Hamlin  was  importuned,  being  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  to  marry  a  couple  at  Ft.  Dearborn,  now 
Chicago.  He  said  that  he  di.l  not  know  the  mar- 
riage ceremony,  but  the  prospective  bridegrooni, 
Dr.  Wolcott,  being  prepared  for  such  an  emergency, 
offered  to  teach  him.  This  was  done,  and  upon 
his  return  trip  Mr.  Hamlin  performed  the  rites 
which  m.ade  Dr.  Alexander  Wolcott  and  Miss 
Kinzie  man  and  wife,  this  being  the  first  marri.age 
ceremony  ever  performed  in  what  is  now  Chicago. 
It  occurred  some  time  in  the  '20s,  prior  to  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Hamlin. 

When  Mr.  Hamlin  took  a  companion  and  lo- 
cated permanently  in  Peoria  there  were  but  few 
families  here.  Samuel,  Josiah  and  Seth  Fulton 
and  wife,  John  Dixon,  who  keiit  the  ferry,  a  lawyer 
named  Bogardus,  Caldwell,  the  village  blacksmith. 
Dr.  Longworthy  and  the  families  of  Joe  Smith, 
and  Aquillaand  Alva  Moffatt,  were  living  in  or  near 
the  hamlet.  The  old  fort  was  in  a  dilapidated 
condition,  but  was  rebuilt  and  strengthened  during 
the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  became  the  rendezvous 
of  settlers  during  those  troublous  times.  Mr.  Ham- 
lin was  the  first  man  to  run  a  keel  boat,  bringing 
supplies  from  St.  Louis  to  this  market.  Subse- 
quently he  became  part  owner  of  a  steamer  which 
plied  the  waters  of  the  Illinois.  He  and  a  Mr. 
Shari)  built  tiie  first  gristmill  on  the  Kickapoo, 
where  they  did  grinding  for  all  the  country  round 
about.     For  many  years  after    quitting  the  Indian 


362 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


trade  he  kept  a  stock  of  diy -goods,  and  he  is  num- 
bered among  the  first  and  most  prominent  mer- 
chants of  this  locality. 

Mr.  Hamlin  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives during  the  last  session  which  was  held 
at  Yandalia,  and  favored  the  removal  of  tlienapilal 
to  Peoria,  but  the  "long  nine"  proved  too  much  for 
his  party.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  State 
Senate  when  the  first  session  was  held  in  Spring- 
field. His  constituents  found  him  ever  alive  to 
their  interests  and  tlie  good  of  the  county  and 
State,  ever  read}'  to  oppose  fraud  and  corruption, 
and  to  lift  his  voice  and  cast  his  ballot  in  favor  of 
the  right.  He  was  called  hence  March  29,  1875, 
leaving  behind  liim  in  the  hearts  of  men  a  record 
more  enduring  than  monumental  stone  or  sculp- 
tured bust.  He  left  to  his  widow  a  comfortable 
estate. 

Among  the  old  settlers  still  living,  few  have  been 
here  longer  or  have  witnessed  more  of  the  marked 
growth  of  this  beautiful  city  tlian  Mrs.  John  Ham- 
lin. She  is  now  an  octogenarian,  having  been  born 
in  Athens  County,  Ohio,  January  10,  1808,  and 
iiaving  come  here  the  bride  of  our  subject  in  1829. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Cynthia  A.  Johnson,  and  at 
tlie  time  of  her  marriage  she  was  living  in  Spring- 
field, 111.  Her  wedding  trip  was  by  buggy  from 
that  village  to  Ft.  Clark. 

Mrs.  Hamlin  delights  to  relate  the  ex[ieriences 
of  the  ohlen  times,  and  when  anyone  suggests  that 
she  must  have  undergone  many  hardships,  She 
cheerfully  responds,  ''No,  indeed,  the  happiest 
times  of  my  life  were  when  I  was  living  in  a  cabin, 
and  my  husband  was  engaged  as  a  trader,  largely' 
with  the  Indians."  "Why,"  says  she,  "we  used  to 
gather  great  quantities  of  wild  honey,  wild  fruits 
abounded  on  every  hand,  and  Indians  brought 
venison,  wild  turkej-  and  various  other  articles 
which  they  gladlj'  exchanged  for  trinkets,  of  which 
they  were  very  proud." 

Mrs.  Hamlin  occupies  the  homestead  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Pennsylvania  Avenue  and  Knoxville  Road. 
Slie  is  a  member  and  ardent  supporter  of  tlie  New 
Jerusalem  or  Swedenborgian  Church,  as  is  her  for- 
mer ward,  Mrs.  Van  Buskirk.  with  whom  she  makes 
her  liome.  Mrs.  Hamlin  and  her  husband  look 
four  children,  whom   the}'  reared   to  years  of  ma- 


turity and  all  of  whom  are  married.  As  one  who 
shared  in  the  toils  and  privations  of  pioneer  life, 
and  who  was  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to 
those  about  her.  as  well  as  for  the  character  ^hicli 
is  the  crowning  glory  of  womanhood,  Mrs.  HaTnlin 
deserves  and  receives  the  hearty  respect  of  all  to 
whom  she  is  known.  Her  many  friends  will  be 
pleased  to  notice  her  portrait,  in  company  with 
that  of  her  late  husband,  on  another  page  of  this 
volume. 


p' A  DOCK  P.  STEVENS.  Trivoli  Township 
has  not  within  Us  limits  a  more  skillful, 
enterprising  or  successful  farmer  than  our 
subject,  who  has  on  section  4,  a  model  farm  and 
one  of  the  pleasantest  homes  in  this  locality.  He 
was  born  on  this  farm  April  25,  1851,  being  a  son 
of  Joseph  F.  Stevens,  a  pioneer  of  this  county,  who 
was  born  near  Danbury,  Conn.  (For  ancestry  see 
Onslow  S.  Stevens'  sketch  on  another  page  of  this 
work.) 

Our  subject  w.is  the  third  child  in  a  family  of 
eight  children  and  passed  his  early  days  on  tfie 
old  homestead.  He  was  well-educated,  attend- 
ing the  publrc  schools,  and  for  a  year  was  a 
student  in  the  Farmington  High  School.  He  had 
a  natural  aptitude  for  farming,  and  even  when  a 
boy  worked  early  and  late  and  when  only  fifteen 
years  old  took  charge  of  things  and  successfully 
engaged  in  raising  hogs  and  horses,  and  by  the 
time  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  he  owned  seven 
horses.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  father  un- 
til he  was  twenty-two  years  old,  and  then  married 
and  establislied  a  home  of  his  own.  He  had  a  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acre  farm  on  sections  3  and 
4,  and  he  worked  actively  at  its  improvement  and 
in  raising  grain  and  stock.  He  built  a  house  on  the 
ridge  and  put  a  stone  wall  of  one  hundred  feet 
around  the  yard,  planted  orchards  and  groves  and 
had  it  nicely  improved.  In  November,  1879,  his 
wife  died  and  ids  home  was  then  broken  up  as  he 
did  not  care  to  stay  there  amid  its  sad  associations, 
and  he  sold  his  farm  and  went  "West. 

AVe  next  hear  of  him  in  Pawnee  County,  Neb. 
in  a  store  in  Pawnee  City.     In   1880  he  pushed 


POUrUAl'l'  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


363 


further  westward,  and  penetrated  to  Furnace 
Countv,  and  in  the  town  of  AVilsonville  made  a 
homestead  claim  of  one  hundn  d  and  sixty  acres 
of  land,  and  also  took  up  a  timber  claim  for  a  like 
amount.  lie  located  there  on  an  abandoned  claim 
in  a  sod  liouse.  lie  broke  the  soil  and  hail  some 
trees  set  out  the  first  year  and  liien  sold  his 
timber  claim  and  six  months  later  pre-empted  a 
homestead,  buying  it  for  §200.  He  fenced  it,  then 
rented  the  one  hundred  and  sist}'  acres  and  en- 
gaged as  a  carpenter  with  Reynold  Bros.,  con- 
tractors and  builders  on  the  Burlington,  Missouri 
and  AVcslcrn  Railroad,  extending  from  Culbert- 
son --to  Denver.  'They  sent  hira  out  with  three 
men  and  be  |)ul  in  the  first  four  culverts  that  were 
built  on  the  road  in  the  State  of  Colorado.  He 
was  thus  engaged  until  December,  1880,  and  then 
returned  to  Nebraska  and  secured  the  title  of  bis 
claim  in  January,  1881. 

Mr.  Stevens  came  home  after  that,  remained 
here  one  season  and  built  his  present  barn,  a  suli- 
stanlial  building  30x56  feet  in  dimensions,  and 
well   adapted  to  its  purposes. 

Ill  the  spi'ing  of  1882,  Mr.  Stevens  again  went 
West,  and  in  Golden,  Col.,  accepted  a  position  as  a 
clerk  in  a  grocery  store,  and  was  there  for  nine 
months,  lie  then  went  into  business  as  a  grocer 
with  cx-Connty  Treasurer  Dollison.  They  bought 
out  a  stock  of  goods  and  conducted  business  very 
successfully  under  the  (inn  name  of  Dollison  & 
Stevens  the  ensuing  three  years.  During  that  time 
the  bank  in  which  our  subject  h.ad  placed  ^900  of 
his  money,  iM'canie  insolvent  and  he  lost  it  all.  lie 
then  sold  his  farm  for  11,000  and  continued  in  the 
grocery  and  general  merchandise  business  until 
December,  1885.  He  also  interested  himself  in  min- 
ing and  prosi)ected  to  some  extent  and  staked  a 
claim.  On  .account  of  his  father's  ill  health,  he 
then  sold  his  store  for  $4,000  and  returning  home 
bought  eighty  acres  of  the  old  homestead,  Trivoli 
Township.  Since  then  he  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  its  improvement,  and  has  it  well  tiled 
and  fenced,  and  has  here  a  large  and  conveniently 
arranged  house,  which  he  erected  and  moved  into 
in  1889.  He  has  substantial  out  buildings,  a  wind- 
mill,tank  etc.,  and  good  machinery  and  everything 
convenient  for  carrying    on  farming.     He    has   a 


tine  arrangement  for  raising  and  feeding  boss, 
making  a  siiecialty  of  that  branch  and  sending  two 
car-loads  of  high  grade  Poland-Chinas  to  market 
every  year.  He  has  several  horses  for  general  pur- 
poses, employing  two  teams  on  his  farm,  and  he 
also  has  some  cattle.  His  grounds  are  beautifully 
adorned  by  groves,  and  one  elm  tree  set  out  b3'  his 
father  in  1814,  is  now  about  twelve  feet  in  girth. 
He  has  considerable  fruit  on  the  place  and  has 
set  out  a  fine  orchard. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
lirst  married  in  this  township  in  1873,  to  Bliss 
Lizzie  Orton,  a  daughter  of  Dennis  Orton,  who 
was  an  early  settler  and  still  resides  here,  having 
retired  from  active  life.  C)nr  subject  has  one 
daughter,  Gertrude  E.,  by  his  first  marriage,  who 
lives  with  him.  His  second  marriage  which  took 
place  in  January,  1887, was  to  Miss  Hattic  Rodgers, 
who  was  born  in  Trivoli  Township,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Rodgers,  who  was  born  and  reared 
here  and  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising, 
having  a  one  hundred  ,acie  farm  in  this  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens  have  two  children:  Millie 
and  Ernest. 

Our  subject  has  had  a  wide  and  varied  exper- 
ience in  life  and  has  profltcil  by  it.  He  is  at  pres- 
ent serving  his  second  term  .as  Township  School 
Trustee.  He  has  been  a  membei  of  the  Ancient 
Free  and  Acce()led  IM.asons  at  Farmington,  since 
1882.  He  is  [irominent  in  political  circles  as  one 
of  the  most  intelligent  members  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  this  vicinity,  and  while  in  Golden  was  a 
delegate  to  a  county  convention. 


^ -^-^ <^ 

OSEPH  DOl'BET  is  classed  among  the  prom- 
inent members  of  the  farming  community  to 
whom  this  county  owes  much  for  its  present 
high  position  .as  a  wealthy  and  highl3'  im- 
proved section  of  the  countiy.  He  is  one  of  the 
foremost  farmers  and  greatest  land  owners  of 
Limestone  Townshii?,  where  he  has  a  well-devel- 
oped farm,  that  is  one  of  the  best  in  its  neighbor- 
hood in  all  its  appointments. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Doubet,  who  was 


364 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


iu  bis  day  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  active 
pioneers  in  tliis  county.  He  was  born  in  France 
and  received  a  tine  education  in  the  fair  land  of 
his  nativity.  He  emigrated  to  this  country  in  an 
early  day  of  its  settlement,  accompanied  b}-  his 
family  and  settled  in  Kiekapoo  Township,  about 
one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  where  our  subject 
now  Jives.  A  man  of  his  force  of  character  and 
ability  necessaril}-  was  pushed  to  the  fiont,  and  we 
find  him  taking  quite  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  po- 
litical and  public  life  of  the  place.  He  was  at  one 
time  Mayor  in  Belford,  France,  and  he  was  among 
the  leading  Democrats  of  the  vicinitv,  and  held 
man}-  offices.  He  was  very  much  interested  in  the 
politics  of  his  adopted  countrj-  and  at  one  time 
swam  the  Kiekapoo  Creek  at  the  risk  of  his  life  that 
he  might  cast  his  vote  for  a  favorite  candidate.  His 
death  here  in  1857,  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  community. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  in  France 
near  Belford,  in  1839,  and  was  but  four  years  old 
when  his  parents  brought  him  to  the  wilds  of  Peo- 
ria County,  and  here  he  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  their  pioneer  home.  At  the  time  of  his  coming 
here  this  was  the  home  of  the  Kiekapoo  tribe  and 
Indians  were  more  frequent  than  whites.  He  re- 
ceived no  schooling  except  from  au  old  lad^-  by 
the  name  of  Pennington,  who  taught  a  school  on 
Sundaj'  for  the  benefit  of  the  children  of  the 
settlers,  who  took  a  great  interest  in  the  work. 
Besides  the  instruction  he  thus  received  his 
school  days  could  well  be  included  in  three 
months.  In  1851  he  took  upon  himself  the  du- 
ties and  obligations  of  wedded  life  by  his  marriage 
in  that  year  to  Mary  Ann.  daughter  of  Nicholas 
and  Mary  Ann  (Smith)  Marie.  Tliej'  were  both 
of  French  birth  and  died  when  she  was  verj' 
3-oung,  after  coming  to  this  count}-.  They  had  set- 
tled here  the  j'ear  after  Mr.  Doubet  came,  and 
Mrs.  Doubet  was  reared  near  her  future  husband. 

Mr.  Doubet  bought  his  farm  in  Limestone 
Township,  subject  to  a  debt  of  §15,000,  and  dur- 
ing the  war  both  he  and  his  wife  worked  ver}- 
hard  almost  day  and  night  and  ra.ade  much  money, 
and  in  time  had  the  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land  free  from  incumbrance.  Mr.  Doubet's 
prosperity  continued    and    he  ad  led   to  his   farm 


until  he  now  possesses  six  hundred  acres  of  as  fine 
land  as  any  in  the  State,  all  under  excellent  im- 
provement. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  eleven  children 
living:  Joseph,  a  farmer  of  Limestone,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  has  eight  children ;  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Bo3-er.  who  lives  near  her  father;  Peter,  who  is 
married  and  has  five  children;  Maliiida.  widow 
of  Thomas  Fahey  of  Limestone  Township,  and  the 
mother  of  four  children;  Eliza,  wife  of  Daniel 
Hanlou.  and  the  mother  of  six  children;  Julia,  the 
next  in  order;  Cicel}',  the  wife  of  ISenjaraiu  Dorn- 
bus;  Nicholas,  at  home;  Henrj-,  the  next  in  order; 
Ida.  the  wife  of  William  Mitchell:  Eddie,  at  heme. 
The  greatest  grief  of  the  wedded  life  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Doubet  has  been  in  the  death  of  their  daugh- 
ter Emma,  who  was  next  to  Henry  in  order  of 
birth,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 

-Mr.  Doubet  follows  in  his  father's  footsteps  in 
regard  to  his  political  alHliations  and  is  a  strong 
Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church 
at  Kiekapoo,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  church 
matters.  Having  spent  the  most  of  his  life  in  the 
Lnited  States  and  reared  under  the  institutions  of 
this  Government  he  knows  no  other  lionie  and  his 
patriotism  recognizes  no  other  country.  He  oc- 
cupies a  substantial  place  among  the  citizens  of  his 
township  and  his  sturdy  enterprise,  great  labor 
and  shrewd  financial  tact,  have  been  prominent 
factors  in  its  growth. 


-^^^^ 


ACOK  DAKST.  There  are  times  when  to  be 
unsuccessful  seems  almost  impossible,  so  fa- 
vorable are  the  surroundings,  and  little 
merit  accrues  to  the  winner  in  such  a  feeble 
contest.  But  when  reverses  that  seem  insurmount- 
able to  many  men,  are  met  and  surmounted,  serving 
but  to  stimulate  the  worker  to  greater  efforts,  a 
deep  interest  attaches  to  the  winner  of  the  prize 
and  honor  is  given  him  b}"  all  men.  A  study  of 
the  manners  and  methods  by  which  circumstances 
are  bent  to  the  ultimate  rewarding  of  persistent 
shrewdness  and  industry,  proves  both  interesting 
and  profitable.    It  would  be  impossible  in  the  lim- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


365 


its  of  a  sketch  like  tbis  to  more  than  hint  at  the 
means  by  wliich  the  gentleman  ahove  named  has 
reached  tiie  high  station  lie  fills  among  the  moneyed 
men  of  Peoria.  The  biographical  writer  can  only 
siiy  tliat  ho  has  overcome  difficnlties  that  would 
have  disli('art?ned  many  men  and  although  losing 
as  high  as  5!300,000  at  "  one  fell  swoop."  he  has 
steadfastly  persisted  in  the  attem()t  to  win  fortune 
and  now  rejoices  in  the  possession  of  a  handsome 
one  reaching  much  above  the  half  million. 

Some  two  hundred  3-cavs  ago  the  first  Darst  came 
to  America,  the  family  having  prior  to  that  time 
been  known  only  in  (Jermany.  .lacob  Darst,  Sr., 
was  horn  in  Virginia  and  in  that  State  Elizabetli 
Tarr  was  also  born.  This  coniile  became  man  and 
wife  and  reared  eight  children,  two  of  whom  are 
now  living.  They  are  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
and  an  older  brother.  Eli,  who  lives  in  Ouray,  Col. 
The  father  died  in  Ohio  about  183G.  In  Meigs 
County,  of  that  State,  Jacob  Darst,  Jr.,  was  born 
September  10,  1815.  His  early  life  was  passed  in 
the  manner  usual  to  farmers'  sons,  his  time  being 
alternated  between  attendance  at  the  schools  of  the 
period  and  the  labors  in  which  his  increasing 
strength  would  permit  him  to  participate. 

In  June,  1835,  he  came  to  Peoria  and  entered 
the  general  merchandise  establishment  of  Aquilla 
Ahrensas  a  clerk,  a  year  later  going  to  Galena  where 
he  engaged  in  lead  mining.  After  spending  two 
years  in  that  arduous  occup.ation  he  returned  to 
Peoria  and  began  buying  and  selling  land.  On  a 
quarter  section  that  he  bought  for  $5  per  acre  be 
opened  a  coal  niine  which  proved  profitable.  A 
short  time  afterward  he  went  to  boating  with  Mr. 
Ahrens,  taking  flatboats  down  to  Natchez,  Miss., 
laden  with  the  products  of  this  region  which  he 
exchanged  for  those  raised  along  the  route.  On 
one  occasion  when  he  had  about  ^4,000  worth  of 
produce  to  be  marketed,  a  tornado  struck  him  at 
Natchez  and  his  stock  in  trade  was  entirely  de- 
stroyed, lie  reached  lii>nie  with  113.50  in  his 
pocket  but  ready  for  another  start  in  life,  confident 
that  somewhere  and  somehow  success  awaited  him. 
Returning  to  the  business  of  coal  mining,  Mr. 
Darst  made  about  ij^  1 5.000  in  five  years  and  keeping 
his  capital  chiefiy  invested  in  real  estate  which  he 
bought  and   sold,  he  had  in  a  short   time   gained 


$35,000  in  such  operations.  .Since  then  he  has 
given  his  attention  entirely  to  dealing  in  real  estate 
and  while  sometimes  meeting  reverses  in  the  busi- 
ness, he  has  been  successful  on  the  whole  as  his 
financial  status  proves.  The  appreciation  of  his 
property  is  rapid,  daring  the  last  year  the  .advance 
having  been  fully  §200,000.  His  ple.asant  home, 
on  North  Monroe  and  Fayette  Streets, is  furnished  in 
a  style  consonant  with  the  wealth  and  taste  of  the 
inmates,  woman's  refining  influence  being  visible 
in  its  adornments. 

Mr.  Darst  has  been  twice  niarried.  His  first  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Daughert}',  with  whom  he  was  uniteil 
in  1850,  and  lived  happil}'  until  18G5,  when  she 
breathed  her  last.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten 
children,  three  of  whom  survive.  They  are  Ed- 
win J.,  and  William,  both  of  whom  live  in  Omaha, 
Neb.,  and  Mrs.  C.asej',  wife  of  E.  A.  Case3',  a  law- 
3-er  in  Chicago.  In  1867  Mr.  Darst  married  Mrs. 
Helen  R.  Leonard,  who  now  presides  over  his  home 
and  enjo^-s  with  him  the  comforts  and  luxuries  l\v 
which  they  are  surrounded.  By  the  last  marriage 
he  has  one  child.  Mrs.  Lura  Barnard,  wife  of  J.  C. 
Barnard,  a  law^-er  practicing  in  Omaha,  Neb.,  where 
the}'  reside.  INIr.  Darst  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity'  in  which  he  has  progressed  to  the  thirty- 
second  degree.  Politically  Mr.  Darst  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  during  the  war  was  a  stanch  L'nion  man. 


y 


\f?OSEPII  ARMSTRONG.  It  would  be  hard 
to  find,  at  least  within  the  limits  of  Prince- 
ville  Township,  a  gentleman  more  liighl>' 
respected  than  the  one  above  named,  who 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  agricul- 
tural and  public  labors  of  this  vicinitj-  for  many 
j'ears.  He  possesses  sound  judgment,  ripe  intelli- 
gence and  an  accommodating  spirit,  which  qualities 
have  made  him  useful  to  his  fellow  men  and  have 
secured  for  him  a  comfortable  fortune.  His  grand- 
father, James  Armstrong,  was  a  teamster  in  the 
Revolution  and  at  its  close  settled  in  Washington 
County,  Pa.,  there  operated  a  farm  and  reared  his 
family. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  the  county 


366 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


named,  and  wLlmi  at  a  suitable  age  learned  tiie 
trade  of  a  blacksmith.  In  1837.  lie  began  farming 
fifteen  miles  from  the  Ohio  River  in  his  native 
count3',  where  he  continued  his  agricultural  labors 
until  his  death.  In  polities  he  was  a  Democrat  and 
in  religion  a  Presbyterian.  He  married  Mar_y, 
daughter  of  James  McCoy,  who  was  born  in  Ohio 
County.  W.  Va.  Her  father,  a  native  of  the  North 
of  Ireland,  died  in  that  county.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  came  to  Illinois  during  her  later  years 
and  died  in  Brimfleld  of  typhoid  fever. 

The  record  of  the  parental  family  is  as  follows: 
The  first-born  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  James 
died  in  Missouri;  Margaret  lives  in  Princeville 
Township;  Mrs.  Eliza  Whithington  died  in  McDon- 
ongh  County;  Mary  lives  in  Princeville  Township, 
this  county  ;  tiie  home  of  John  is  in  Nodaw.ay County. 
Mo. ;  Ebenezer,  wlio  now  lives  in  Pawnee,  Rock 
County.  Kan.,  joined  Company  K,  Eighty-sixth 
Illinois  Infantry  in  August,  1862,  and  was  mustered 
out  at  the  close  of  the  war  as  surgeon's  clerk;  "Will- 
iam and  an  infant  unnamed  are  dece.ised. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Claysville,  Washington  County,  Pa.,  April  17,  1820. 
learned  the  rudiments  of  farming  at  his  home  and 
acquired  a  common-school  education  under  the  sub- 
scription method.  Upon  reaching  his  majority  he 
went  to  Tiidelphia,  Ohio  County,  AV.  A'a.,  where 
he  was  eni|)loyed  in  his  uncle's  mill  about  three 
j-ears.  He  became  a  thorough  and  practical  miller, 
and  during  the  nine  subsequent  years  managed  a 
mill  for  a  wealthy  old  lady  on  the  National  road 
on  Big  Wheeling  Creek,  near  IIenr_v  Clay's  monu- 
ment. There  he  remained  until  ISoS  when  he  de- 
termined to  come  West. 

Mr.  Armstrong  journeyed  b}*  boat  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  thence  bj-  rail  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  b3' 
stage  to  Springfield,  111.  Thence  the  railrfjad  con- 
ve^ed  him  to  Naples  and  a  boat  to  Peoria,  in  which 
neighborhood  he  determined  to  remain  although 
it  had  been  his  original  intention  to~go  to  Iowa.  ' 
The  appearance  of  the  country  satisfied  him  re- 
garding the  value  of  land  here  and  he  purchased 
his  present  home  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  10,  Princeville  Township.  He 
then  returned  to  his  work  in  the  mill,  making  a  [ 
permanent  removal  to  Illinois  in  1855.     His  goods   i 


wt  re  shipped  from  Wheeling,  and  he  drove  through, 
his  journey  consuming  one  month  of  the  beautiful 
fall  weather.  Locating  on  the  raw  prairie,  he  broke 
the  soil  and  gradually  placed  bis  farm  under  good 
improvement  and  tillage. 

Mr.  Armstrong  is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in 
that  part  of  the  county  where  he  resides,  and  many 
an  interesting  tale  he  can  tell  of  the  days  when 
wild  game  was  plentiful,  settlers  few  and  the  fron- 
tiersman had  need  of  much  persistence  and  hoiie- 
fulne's  to  encourage  him  in  his  efforts.  His  home 
farm  is  the  best  in  the  vicinity,  being  furnished 
witii  a  fine  orchard  and  all  the  improvements  which 
will  add  to  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  the 
faraih'.  He  now  owns  over  six  hundred  and  forty 
.acres  in  tha  township  and  eighty  acres  in  Sedgwick 
County,  Kan.,  for  which  he  has  paid  prices  ranging 
from  ^6.25  to  §75  per  acre.  His  land  is  adapted 
for  both  grain  and  stock-raising  and  he  formerly 
fed  large  numbers  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  now 
rents  all  his  land  having  five  tenant  houses  upon  it. 

The  lady  who  for  many  years  shared  in  the  jo3's 
and  sorrows  of  ^Ir.  Armstrong'  was  a  native  of  tlie 
same  count}'  as  himself  and  known  in  her  maiden- 
hooil  as  Miss  Martha  McNeal.  Her  father,  Josejih 
McXeal,  was  a  school  teacher  and  she  was  well  in- 
structed iu  the  usual  branches  of  sludj-  and  in 
womanly'  accomplishments.  She  became  the  wife 
of  our  subject  March  10.  1810,  and  was  removed 
by  death  March  3,  1877.  The  famil}-  comprises 
ten  children:  Mai-y  E.,  Joseph,  James,  Margaret  L., 
Isabelle,  Ellen  T.,  William  R.,  Rosa  L..  Martha  E. 
and  Xancy  J.  Mary  married  Allen  McMillen,  of 
Sedgwick  County,  Kan.;  Joseph  died  at  his  home, 
June  7,  1879;  Jarnes  is  farming  iu  Princeville 
Township;  Margaret  lives  in  Fremont  County, 
Iowa,  being  the  wife  of  James  Parish;  Isabellc, 
who  died  in  Fremont  County,  Iowa.  August  II, 
1886,  was  the  first  wife  of  James  Parish;  Ellen 
married  Jackson  Liverton,  of  Princeville  Town- 
ship; William  R.  is  farming  here;  Nancj*  married 
Charles  Blank,  a  farmer  of  this  township.  The 
other  children  are  still  with  their  father. 

Mr.  Armstrong  has  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  twenty^-five  years.  During  that  time  he  was 
also  elcctrd  Supervisor,  serving  eighteen  out  of 
twentj'  con.secutive    \"ears.     He  was  Chairman  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3C7 


the  Board  of  Supervisors  several  years  and  held  a 
position  upon  it  longer  thai\  any  previous  inenni- 
hent.  He  was  i)laced  upon  the  eommittee  to  ob- 
tain plans  for  the  courthouse  and  then  upon  the 
Building  Committee.  For  many  years  he  served 
as  School  Director.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  his 
fellow  citizens  have  recognized  his  ability  and  in- 
tegrity of  character,  and  tliat  he  has  been  honored 
with  their  confidence  in  positions  of  trust.  He  is 
a  stanch  Democrat,  has  served  as  delegate  to  State 
conventions,  and  has  likewise  been  juryman  in 
the  United  States  and  minor  courts.  Nine  j^ears 
since  he  resigned  from  the  position  of  Supervisor, 
feeling  that  his  long  years  of  usefulness  entitle  him 
to  rest. 


NDRKW  J.  BENNETT,  a  retired  farmer, 
living  in  a  very  pleasant  and  comfortable 
it  home  on  Fourth  Street,  Chillicothe,  has 
(^J  pursued   his  calling  to  a  successful  issue, 

has  .accumulated  a  competency,  and  is  numbered 
amongst  our  substantial  well-to-do  citizens. 

He  retired  from  active  life  about  a  3'ear  ago, 
having  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Akron  Township  for  tliirteen  3-ears  prior  to  that 
time.  Ho  came  to  Illinois  in  18.56,  settling  first  in 
this  county,  but  after  his  marriage  went  to  Saratoga 
Township,  iMarsiiall  County,  and  lived  there  for 
six  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  re- 
turned and  has  since  made  his  home  in  Peoria 
County,  devotiuu  his  time  to  farming  and  stock- 
raisi'ig. 

Mr.  Bennett  is  a  native  of  New  York,  the  city 
of  Troy  his  birthplace  and  February  28,  1835,  the 
date  of  his  birth.  His  father,  Elisha  Bennett,  was 
,ilso  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in  Ren.sselaor 
County,  where  he  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer. 
He  was  there  married  to  Miss  Betsey  Chapman,  who 
was  also  born  and  reared  in  Rensselaer  County,  and 
they  established  their  home  in  Stephen  Township, 
where  the^'  lived  until  middle  age,  when  tliPy  came 
as  far  westward  as  Martinsburg,  Ind.,  and  there  the 
wife  and  mother  died  when  she  was  about  fifty 
years  old.  Elisha  Bennett  subsequently  returned 
to  iiis  native  county,  was  there  married  a  second 


time,  and  died  when  he  was  fift3'-five  years  old. 
One  child  was  horn  of  this  marriage.  He  was  a 
sagacious,  practical  farmer,  and  was  a  good,  np- 
riglit  man. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  is  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  three  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, five  of  whom  are  vet  living;  all  are  married 
and  settled  in  life  and  two  reside  in  Illinois,  the  re- 
mainder still  living  in  New  York  State.  Our  sub- 
ject grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  town,  and  was 
educated  in  its  public  schools.  He  came  from  the're 
to  this  State,  and  in  Radnor  Townshi|).  tliis  county, 
found  a  wife  m  the  person  of  Miss  Eliza  Seely. 
She  is  a  woman  of  fine  character  and  possesses 
tliose  pleasantly  womanly  qualities  that  make  her 
well  liked  by  all  who  come  in  contact  with  her. 
She  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  an<l  is  one  of  its  active  workers.  Mrs. 
Bennett  was  born  in  Stark  County,  111.,  January 
25,  1840,  to  Samuel  and  Delia  (Richman)  Seely, 
natives  of  New  York  State.  When  they  were 
j'ouug  they  had  acconii)anicd  their  parents  to  In- 
diana and  had  there  grown  to  maturity  and  were 
there  married  in  Allensville.  They  continued  to 
live  in  that  State  some  years,  but  after  the  birth 
of  their  first  child, 'when  he  was  about  three  years 
of  age,  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  near 
Mossville,  this  county.  Later  they  moved  to  the 
vicinity  of  Wyoming,  in  Stark  County,  and  there 
tliev  carried  on  farming  for  some  years.  In  1842, 
they  came  back  to  Peoria  County,  and  purchased 
a  farm  in  Radnor  Township,  where  the^^  spent  the 
rest  of  their  lives,  Mrs.  Seelj'  dying  ,ranuar3'  25, 
1863,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years;  Mr.  Seely 
dying  February  20,  1869,  at  the  age  of  sixtj^-soven 
years.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  were  strong  in  the  faith. 
j\Irs.  Bennett  was  their  next  youngest  child,  they 
being  the  parents  of  eight  children,  seven  of  whom 
lived  to  maturity,  five  of  them  still  living  and  all 
married.  Mrs.  Bennett  was  quite  3"oung  when  her 
parents  came  to  Peoria  County,  and  here  she  w.is 
reared  and  educated. 

Mr.  Bennett  in  his  career  as  a  farmer,  displayed 
an  active  wide-awake  tem|ieraraent,  forethought, 
and  an  excellent  capacity  for  shrewdly  managing 
his  affairs  to  the  best  advantage,  and  these   trails 


368 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


have  been  the  means  of  his  secui-ino-  a  desirable  in- 
come and  obtaining  his  cozy  liorae.  As  a  loyal 
citizen  should,  he  interests  himself  in  national  af- 
airs  and   is  identified  with  the  Democratic   party. 


yV'ESTON  R.  GALES.  This  gentleman  iias 
/  secured  a  satisfactory  degree  of  worldly 
'^^  success  bj'  reason  of  his  personal  integrity 
and  the  exercise  of  unmistakable  business  abilitj*. 
He  possesses  the  well-bred  manners  so  characteristic 
of  those  born  in  the  Southern  States,  and  having 
excellent  conversational  powers  is  able  to  present 
the  subject  which  he  desires  to  bring  to  one's  no- 
tice, with  a  degree  of  tact  which  makes  his  com- 
panionshi|>  agreeable  and  gives  him  a  success  not 
met  with  by  all  who  are  in  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness. He  has  been  located  in  Peoria  since  1887, 
and  now  has  charge  of  the  National  Accident  As- 
sociation in  the  State,  which  gives  bim  a  wide  field 
of  labor. 

Mr.  Gales  is  descended  from  the  early  settlers  of 
"North  Carolina  and  is  therefore  of  remote  English 
ancestry.  His  parents  were  Seatou  and  Mary 
(Compton)  Gales,  both  natives  of  the  same  State 
and  the  father  was  engaged  in  editorial  work  in 
Raleigh.  That  citv  was  the  birthplace  of  our  sub- 
ject, who,  as  he  grew  to  manhood,  attended  private 
schools  there,  among  them  being  the  Male  Acad- 
emy. He  left  school  when  sixteen  years  old  and 
embarked  in  business  in  New  York  City,  finding 
employment  with  a  noted  firm  of  wholesale  hard- 
ware dealers.  lie  continued  there  until  1821,  when 
he  returned  to  his  native  State  and  was  elected  to 
a  clerkship  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Mr.  Gales  retained  that  position  until  elected  by 
the  legislature  to  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Criminal 
Court  of  Wake  County,  the  duties  of  which  posi- 
tion he  continued  to  discharge  until  by  a  change  in 
the  judicial  system  the  court  was  abolished.  Re- 
embarking  in  a  business  career,  he  was  connected 
with  the  tobacco  interests  for  some  time,  then  on- 
gaged  in  the  insurance  work  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
P^'om  that  city  he  removed  to  Peoria  at  the  date 
before  mentioned,  to    take   charge    of    the    Peoiia 


District  of  the  Prudential  Insurance  Comi)an\',\vith 
which  he  was  engagc()  in  Cincinnati.  From  that 
position  he  was  finally  called  to  take  charge  of  the 
State  work  of  the  Association  with  which  he  is  no.w 
laboring. 

In  1878,  Mr.  Gales  and  Miss  Anna  Cowan  Strong 
were  joined  in  holy  wedlock.  The  bride  is  a  native 
of  the  same  city  in  which  her  husband  opened  his 
eyes  to  the  light,  is  intelligent,  accomplished  and 
well-bred,  capable  of  gracefully  filling  an3'  position 
to  which  she  might  be  called.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gales 
have  one  child — Anna  Cowan,  a  bright  miss  now 
ten  3' ears  old. 

Mr.  (rales  is  an  active  member  of  the  Reformed 
Episcopal  Church  and  Superintendent  of  Bacon 
Mission,  which  was  established  about  two  j-ears 
ago,  having  for  its  object  to  reach  the  unsaved  that 
the  ordinary  means  of  Christian  work  aie  not 
adapted  for.  The  life  of  the  Mission  and  its  suc- 
cess, is  due  to  the  Christian  energy  of  those  who 
are  connected  with  the  Bible  Class  of  the  church. 
Meetings  are  held  bi-weekly,  with  a  Sunday-school 
in  connection  therewith,  and  an  industrial  school  in 
session  except  during  the  summer  months. 


ARCUS  WHITING,  M.D.      Although   not 
H    yet  thirty  j'ears  of  age,   Dr.   Whiting  has 


an  excellent  standing  in  tlie  profession 
which  he  has  chosen,  and  is  regarded  by 
j  his  fellow-citizens  as  an  honor  to  the  citj'  in  which 
he  has  made  his  home.  He  came  to  Peoria  immed- 
iately aftcr-his  graduation  and  during  the  few  3-ears 
which  have  elapsed  since  that  time  he  has  built  up 
a  good  practice  1)3'  his  pleasing  personal  traits  and 
his  skill  in  his  chosen  work.  His  natural  acumen 
added  to  the  tiiorough  instruction  which  he  re- 
ceived, makes  him  judicious  in  the  use  of  Thera- 
peutical agents, and  his  desii'e  to  reacii  tiie  higliest 
position  possible  keeps  him  on  the  alert  to  add  to 
his  knowledge  by  observation  and  study. 

Dr.  Whiting  was  born  in  La  Fa3-ette  Count3', 
Mo.,  August  22.  18G0,  and  being  a  son  of  a  min- 
ister, received  his  education  in  various  schools  as 
his    father    was   called    from    place   to   place.      His 


,ff 


^^'  .^^x. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


371 


father,  the  Rev.  C'hiirles  Whiting,  D.  D.,  is  now  in 
charge  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Canton  wliere  he 
has  been  for  tlie  ptist  twelve  years.  His  instruc- 
tion was  more  serviceable  to  liis  son  than  all  others 
he  received,  as  it  inspired  him  ivith  the  love  of 
learning  as  well  as  stored  his  mind  with  facts  and 
principles.  When  eighteen  years  old  young  Whit- 
ing began  reading  medicine  with  Drs.  Sutton  and 
Fleming  in  Canton,  and  he  afterward  entered 
Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in   1 883. 

The  social  and  benevolent  nature  of  our  subject 
has  led  him  to  identify  himself  with  various  or- 
ganizations in  the  principles  of  which  he  concurs. 
He  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Knight  ot  Pythias, 
also  of  the  Select  Knights  of  the  Associated  Or- 
der of  United  Workmen,  the  Knights  and  Ladies 
of  Honor,  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  the  Red- 
Men.  His  political  adherence  is  given  to  the 
Democratic  party.  For  three  years  he  has  held 
the  position  of  Hcaltli  Officer  for  Peoria. 

The  mental  ability  and  culture  and  the  womanly 
graces  and  accomplishments  of  Miss  Mattie  Gartli- 
waite,  daughter  of  Luther  and  Rosa  Garthwaitc, 
of  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  won  the  regard  of  the  3'oung 
[)!iysician  and  his  feeling  being  reciprocated  they 
were  united  in  marriage  January  24,  1888.  A 
daughter — Ethel  Lee — adds  her  infantile  gr.ace  to 
the  charms  of  home. 


ENRY  II.  FAHNESTOCK,  of  the  firm  of 
Oakford  &  Fahnestock,  who  carrj'  on  a 
wholesale  grocery  business  in  Peoria,  was 
born  in  this  county  June  14,  1838.  He  is 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Maria  (Harmon)  Fahnestock, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  whence  they  came  to  the 
Prairie  State  in  1834.  In  the  Keystone  State 
Jacob  Fahnestock  had  been  in  the  mercantile  bus- 
iness but  after  coming  to  Peoria  Count}-  he  fol- 
lowed farming. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  began  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  cooper  at  the  age  of  sixteen  j'ears, 
and  wiien  twenty  one  years  old   took   charge  of  a 


small  hotel  and  a  cooper  shop  in  Kingston.  He 
carried  on  these  enterprises  tlirce  years,  after 
whicii  he  entered  tiie  em[)loy  of  the  Kingston 
Jlincs  Coal  Company,  keeinng  books  and  doing 
other  general  work  for  them  two  years.  He  next 
embarked  in  a  hay  speculation  iu  McLean  County 
which  "swept  the  platter  clean."  His  next  vent- 
ure was  to  embark  in  the  hotel  business  with  a 
brother-in-law,  J.  W.  Robbins,  but  he  abandoned 
the  hotel  a  year  later  to  become  book-keeper  for 
A.  &  J.  Schardzki. 

After  remaining  iu  their  emploj'  a  3'ear  and  a 
half  he  began  traveling  for  (libson  &  Woodbury, 
some  eighteen  months  later  taking  up  a  similar 
line  of  work  for  S.  H.  Tiiompson  &  Co.,  continu- 
ing so  employed  until  1871.  He  then  entered  the 
establishment  of  Henry  &  Oakford,  as  a  partner, 
the  firm  becoming  Henry,  Oakford  &  F'ahnestock. 
On  New  Year's  Day,  1881,  he  bought  out  the  in- 
terest of  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  and  the 
l)usiness  since  tiiat  time  has  been  continued  under 
the  style  of  Oakford  &  Fahnestock. 

An  important  step  in  the  life  of  our  subject 
transpired  in  1859,  when  lie  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Frances  E.  Hill  of  this  city.  The 
wisdom  of  his  choice  has  been  abundantly  demon- 
strated b}'  the  happiness  of  the  home.  Tiie  union 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  children — Lil- 
lie  L.  and  Howard  R.,  both  of  whom  are  still  at 
home  cheering  their  parents  by  their  presence. 

Mr.  Fahnestock  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  his  name  being 
enrolled  in  Eddj'  Lodge,  No.  357,  Kingston  Mines. 
Mr.  Fahnestock  is  regarded  as  a  man  of  honor, 
good  business  qualities  and  kindliness  in  social  re- 
lations, and  .IS  a  representative  citizen  of  Peoria 
we  present  his  portrait  oh  another  page. 


i^ll^i 


AKFORD  &  FAHNESTOCK.  The  large 
and  extensive  business  of  the  mercantile  es- 
tablishment of  OakfOid  &  Fahnestock,  the 
leading  merchants  of  Peoria,  was  started  January  1, 
1868,  by  Joseph  F.  Henry,  Aaron  S.  Oakford  and 


372 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


George  Wright,  under  the  Ann  name  of  J.  F. 
Ilenr}-  &  Co..  doing  an  extensive  retail  business 
on  North  Washington  Street,  near  Main  .Street. 

January  1,  1870,  Messrs.  Henry  and  Oakford 
bought  out  Mr.  Wright's  interest,  the  firm  name 
being  changed  to  Henry  &  Oakfo/d.  The3'  en- 
larged the  retail  trade  of  the  houfe,  and  with  char- 
.•icteristic  enterprise,  added  a  wholesale  department. 
From  very  sm.ill  beginnings,  the  wholesale  trade 
steadilj-  grew  and  constantly  required  an  increas- 
ing amount  of  capital  to  carr3'  it  on. 

The  1st  of  January,  1872,  Mr.  H.  H.  Fahnestock 
joined  Messrs.  Henry  and  Oakford  in  the  business, 
and  once  again  the  firm  name  was  changed,  be- 
coming Henry.  Oakford  &  Fahnestock.  Thej' 
moved  to  South  AVashington  Street,  near  Liberty-, 
and  from  that  date  confined  themselves  exclu- 
sively to  the  wholesale  trade.  In  1874  Mr.  C.  J. 
Ofif  was  admitted  into  the  firm,  and  retired  in 
1877. 

More  room  was  needed  to  carrj-  on  the  exten- 
sive business  that  the  firm  controlled,  and  in  1875, 
it  moved  into  a  large  store  below  Liberty  Street, 
on  Washington  Street.  In  a  few  years  the  busi- 
ness had  reached  such  enormous  proportions  that 
the  firm  was  again  forced  to  move,  and  in  1877 
Easton's  Commercial  Block  was  built  expressl}' 
for  it. 

In  Januarj-,  1881,  Mr.  Henry's  interest  was  pur- 
chased by  the  present  members  of  the  firm.  The 
trade  of  this  bouse  advanced  wonderfully  under 
the  new  management,  increasing  so  rapidly  that,  in 
addition  to  the  Easton  Block,  thej'  used  a  ware- 
house of  equal  size,  extending  from  Commercial  to 
Water  Street.  Even  this  amount  of  room  did  not 
afford  tiie  facilities  necessarj-  for  the  operations  of 
so  large  a  business,  and  in  1887  Messrs  Oakford 
and  Fahnestock  became  the  owners  of  the  building 
now  occupied  bj'  them.  This  is  a  mammoth,  four- 
story  warehouse,  on  the  corner  of  Liberty  and 
Commercial  Streets,  and  fronting  on  Washington 
Street.  It  is  handsomel}'  fitted  up,  and  well-ap- 
pointed in  every  particular,  with  fine  offices  and 
salesrooms,  extending  to  Washington  Street,  and 
the  establishment  throughout  is  considered  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  State.  Adjoining,  on  Washington 
Street,  are  the  extensive  coflfee  and  spice  mills  op- 


erated b}-  the  firm.  The  house  employes  ten  trav- 
eling salesmen,  and  a  large  force  of  clerks  and 
other  employes,  to  assist  in  conducting  their  im- 
mense business,  which  extends  throughout  Illinois 
and  Iowa,  and  amounts  to  about  $1,500,000  a 
year. 


>jEORGE  LANE.  This  gentleman  is  pleas- 
antly located  in  Trivoli  Township,  owning 
%~^  fifty  acres  on  section  19,  and  another  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  sixtj^  acres  on  sections  19  and 
30.  In  addition  to  his  own  property,  he  rents  two 
hundred  and  five  acres,  operating  therefore  four 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres.  He  has  set  out  one 
hundred  orchard  trees  on  his  home  place,  has 
fenced  and  otherwise  improved  it,  erecting  in  1888 
a  barn  36x48  feet,  and  in  1890  another  36x37  feet. 
The  land  is  fertilized  b}'  a  stream  which  flows 
through  it,  beautified  by  native  groves,  affording 
the  best  of  pasture  ground  for  the  large  herds  of 
cattle  which  he  raises  and  feeds.  His  principal  oc- 
cupation is  cattle  feeding  and  shipping,  his  trans- 
•ictions  in  that  line  being  more  extensive  than  those 
of  an}-  other  man  in  the  township.  He  feeds  about 
twelve  thousand  bushels  of  corn  a  year,being  obliged 
to  buj'  more  than  half  this  amount. 

Mr.  Lane  uses  the  best  farm  machinery,  running 
his  corn  crusher  and  grinder  bj'  steam,  and  hav- 
ing a  steam  thresher,  with  which  he  does  much 
work  during  the  season.  He  has  threshed  since  he 
was  sixteen  years  old,  and  held  an  interest  in  a 
machine  for  quite  a  number  of  j'ears.  Besides  the 
cattle  which  he  feeds,  he  also  buys  and  ships  hogs 
to  some  extent,  feeding  two  or  three  carloads  per 
year,  and  raises  some  draft  horses.  He  is  an  excel- 
lent judge  of  stock,  and  has  made  more  money  b}- 
trade  than  in  any  other  way.  His  home  is  located 
four  miles  from  Farmington  and  tliree  miles  from 
Cramer,  giving  him  convenient  markets. 

Our  subject  is  of  Southern  ancestry,  being  a 
giandson  of  Col.  Lewis  Lane,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  who  located  on  a  farm  in  Tennessee  in 
1814.  He  was  a  private  in  the  War  of  1812.  and 
a  Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  For  some 
years  he  held   the  office  of  High  .Sheriff  in  Tennes- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


373 


see  suifl  a  similar  offlee  in  Hamilton  County.  III.,  to 
wliieli  he  finally  removcil.  He  occupied  liimself  in 
farrninj;-  and  Ininling  being  a  n-tii-knowii  sports- 
nuiii  and  at  one  time  the  owner  of  eleven  hundred 
acres  of  land.  He  was  liberal  and  open-handed, 
spending  his  money  freely,  was  as  popular  as  any 
man  in  the  county  and  moved  in  the  best  of  so- 
eietv.  At  one  time  he  was  engaged  in  raising 
fast  and  fancy  horses,  owning  some  valuaiile  speci- 
mens. He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Kpiscopal  Church  and  lived  to  be  over  ninety 
years  old.  An  heirloom  in  his  famil}-  is  a  cane 
wliicii  he  cut  from  timber  on  Andrew  Jackson's 
place  at  Kew  Orleans. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Joel  P.  Lane,  who 
was  born  near  Nashville,  'I'enn.,  came  to  Hamil- 
ton County,  111.,  when  a  babe  and  was  educated 
llieie.  He  made  several  trips  back  and  forth  be- 
tween that  and  Peoria  Counties,  finally  removing 
to  the  latter  in  the  fall  of  1834.  In  1840  he 
biought  some  running  horses  wliicli  lie  traded  for 
the  land  now  occupied  by  our  subject,  upon  which 
hi'  located  and  resided  until  his  death.  During 
his  early  years  he  was  not  very  energetic,  but 
hitcr  in  life  became  very  successful.  When  the 
Civil  War  closed  he  liad  one  hundred  and  fortj' 
acres  of  land,  to  which  he  added  until  his  estate 
anionnled  to  two  hundred  and  sixtj'  acres.  Ills 
s|)ocialt3'  was  raising  swine.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  a  member  of  the  i\Iethodist  Episcopal 
(  hurch,  active  in  all  its  work,  a  Class-Lc.ader  for 
years  and  Superintendent  of  the  bui;<]ay-school. 
lie  dii<l  in  1874,  when  sixty-nine  years  old. 

The  wife  of  Joel  P.  Lane  and  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Keziah  Proctor,  a  native  of  Hamilton 
Count}',  111.,  in  which  her  parents,  David  and  Jane 
I'loctor,  were  early  settlers.  Her  father  was  born 
in  \irginia  and  was  engaged  in  farming.  Mrs. 
Keziali  Lane  is  now  living  with  our  subject,  being 
quite  advanced  in  years.  She  is  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  stdl  living.  These 
are:  Johnson  II.,  a  fanner  in  Trivoli  Township; 
.lohn  W.,  whose  home  is  in  Al]ingdon;  he  of  whom 
we  write;  and  AlvaC,  a  real-estate  and  loan  agent 
in  Kureka,  Kan.  The  deceased  are:  Lewis  H.,  who 
died  here;   El/.a,  Sarah  and  Mar_y. 

The    subject    of  this    sketch    was    liorn  April    5, 


1855,  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  and  reared  upon 
it.  early  beginning  to  take  a  share  in  the  farm 
work,  and  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  district 
schools.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  twenty 
}'ears  old,  when,  his  father  dying,  he  began  farming 
for  himself,  flnall}'  buying  out  the  other  heirs  of 
the  homestead.  He  engaged  in  general  farming, 
then  went  into  the  sheep  business  quite  extensively, 
having  as  many  as  fifteen  hundred  head,  one  thou- 
sand of  which  he  brought  from  Kansas.  He  sold 
wool  and  mutton  until  the  dogs  became  so  numer- 
ous and  troublesome  that  he  disposed  of  his  flocks  ' 
and  embarked  in  the  cattle  business.  He  feeds 
about  four  carloads,  or  one  hundred  and  sevent}'- 
five  head  per  year,  in  addition  to  those  raised  on 
his  own  |)laee. 

Mr.  Lane  was  fortunate  in  securing  for  his  wife 
an  amial)le,  capable  young  lady,  a  native  of  Tim- 
ber Township,  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss 
Ida  Fahnestock.  Her  father,  William  Fahnestock, 
made  an  early  settlement  in  Timber  Township, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  cooper- 
ing, but  is  now  in  the  hotel  business  at  Cilasford. 
Mrs.  Lane  received  her  education  in  this  vicin- 
ity and  for  some  years  was  successfully  engaged  in 
school  teaching.  ■  She  and  her  husband  have  two 
children — Frank  and  Howard. 

JNIr.  Lane  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  but  will  accept 
no  offices.  Honorable  in  all  his  actions,  intelli- 
gent, courteous  and  of  a  friendly  spirit,  he  is  de- 
servedly popular,  while  his  energj',  tact  and  thrift 
make  the  outlook  for  the  future  bright  indeed. 


'\l/OH>f  E.  MrKINNEY  is  an  extensive  manu- 
facturer of  brick,  carrying  on  his  business 
in  Richwood  Township,  vchere  he  is  also  en- 
gaged in  f.arming.  Our  sul)ject  was  the 
ninth  child  born  to  his  parents  and  the  place  of  his 
birth  was  in  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  about  seven 
miles  from  Pittsburg,  June  2(),  1826,  being  the 
date  of  his  birth. 

The  father  of  the  gentleman  of  whom  we  write, 
David  McKinney,  was  born  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
■while  liis  parents  were  emigrating  from   Ireland  to 


•I 


PORTR AI  r  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  I'nited  Slates.  The  maiden  name  of  tlie  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Abigail  Eusle3-,  and  she  was  a 
native  of  the  Kej-stonc  State.  She  was  manied  in 
Beaver  County,  tiiat  State,  and  at  once  slie  and 
her  husband  removed  to  Ohio,  of  which  the}'  were 
pioneers.  Thej'  lived  there  some  j'ears,  and  tlien 
returned  and  located  near  Pittsburg.  Mr.  McKin- 
ne^'  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  also  engaged  at  one 
lime  in  keeping  hotel,  toll  gate  and  post-office  where 
he  lived.  In  1842  he  came  with  his  famil}'  to 
Peoria  County  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  its  pioneers, 
settling  south  of  Edwards'  Station.  They  lived 
there  one  year,  and  then  removed  to  Richwood 
Township,  and  subsequentl3-  to  Timber  Township, 
and  after  that  the  father  bought  a  farm  in  Logan 
Township.  Later  in  life  he  sold  that  and  bought 
a  house  and  lot  in  Peoria,  and  there  he  and  his 
wife  spent  their  remaining  years  in  the  comforts  of 
a  good  home.  They  had  a  familj-  of  ten  children, 
three  sons  and  seven  daughters. 

The  son  of  whom  we  write  was  a  j'outh  of  six- 
teen years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
their  pioneer  home  in  Peoria  Count}'.  He  contin- 
ued to  live  with  them  until  he  was  eighteen  years 
old,  and  then  left  the  shelter  of  the  parental  roof," 
and  was  emplo3'cd  one  year  in  a  brick  yard  in 
North  Peoria.  He  continued  to  work  for  oti.eis 
for  several  3'ears,  and  gained  a  thorough  knowleilge 
of  the  best  process  of  making  brick.  In  1860  lu' 
established  himself  in  business  .ns  a  manufacturer 
of  brick  in  the  same  3-ard  where  he  has  been  en- 
gaged ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  two  3-ears, 
until  the  present  time.  He  turns  oflf  from  one 
million  to  twelve  hundrcl  thousand  bricks  annu.iUy, 
for  which  he  llnds  a  read}'  sale.  lie  also  devotes 
some  of  his  time  to  the  man.agement  of  his  farm, 
which  comprises  forty-three  and  one-half  acres  of 
well-tilled  soil,  on  which  he  has  erected  a  fine  set 
of  buildings,  and  has  ever3''  convenience  for  carr3ii!g 
on  Ids  farming  operations  advantageousl}'. 

Mr.  McKinue3'  was  married  in  Logan  Township 
to  Miss  pjliza,  daughter  of  the  late  William  Stratton. 
who  was  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  that  township 
and  of  the  count}'.  Mrs.  McKinne3'  is  a  native  of 
New  York  Cit3',  where  she  was-  born  Januar}'  1.3. 
1827.  Her  marriage  with  our  subject  has  bcoii 
blessed    to  them   bv   the   birth  of   five  ihildn  n  — 


Luther  B.,  Julia  A.,  Sarah  J.,  AVilliam  and  Jiaud. 
.Jidia  is  the  wife  of  John  Buttrick;  Sar.ih  is  the 
wife  of  J.  H.  Flanegan;  and  Maud  is  the  wife  of 
Sherman  Hines. 

During  his  residence  in  this  township,  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinney  has  proved  the  worth  of  his  citizenship 
b3'  his  liberal  support  of  all  measures  in  an3'  wa3' 
tending  to  advance  the  commuuitj'.  His  standing 
here  is  of  the  best,  as  his  dealings  are  conducted  on 
a  strictly  honorable  basis,  and  all  who  come  in  con- 
tact with  him  soon  learn  to  trust  him.  His  eapfieity 
for  intelligent  and  well-directed  labor  is  of  a  high 
order,  and  .  b3'  his  wisdom,  thrift,  and  forethought 
he  h.as  won  a  competence.  Mr.  5IcKinne3'  has 
acted  with  the  Republican  party,  though  he  is  in- 
dependent in  his  political  views,  and  reserves  his 
right  to  vote  as  he  pleases.  He  was  a  Trustee  of 
North  Peoria  at  one  time,  and  proved  to  be  a  good 
civic  official. 


-^^- 


'  ACOB  MULLER,  a  prominent  and  wealthy 
businessman  of  Peoria,  who  for  nearh'  thir- 
ty-five 3'ears  has  carried  on  a  large  retail 
grocery  business  at  No.  112  Bridge  Street, 
is  a  line  type  of  the  German  element  that  has  been 
so  instrumental  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  cit3'.  He 
has  met  with  more  than  ordinar3'-  success  in  busi- 
ness, and  has  acquired  a  fine  propertj',  and  has 
erected  a  handsome  residence  at  Nos.  309  and  311 
Jefferson  Avenue,  that  is  an  ornament  to  this  part 
of  tl»e  city. 

Mr.  Muller  was  born  in  Germany,  January  26, 
1835,  but  before  he  had  attained  m.anhood,he  had 
turned  his  face  toward  this  land  of  promise,  the 
go.al  toward  which  so  many  of  his  countrymen 
pressed,  he  coming  to  this  countr3'  in  1851.  He 
first  located  in  Massachusetts,  but  hearing  much 
of  the  "Great  West,"  and  especiall}'  of  the  Prairie 
State,  he  determined  to  avail  himself  of  its  marvel- 
lous advantages,  and  in  1851  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Peoria  County,  and  in  1855  came  to  this 
city  to  establish  himself  in  the  grocer3'  business. 
He  had  come  to  this  country  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
!•  iirl.  Willi  nii..i.>  language  and  customs  he  was  un- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIK  AL  ALBUM. 


377 


familiar,  and  by  liis  own  efforts  lie  had  made  the 
capital  oil  which  to  start  in  his  new  career.  He 
located  on  Bridge  Street,  and  here  has  remained 
for  a  third  of  a  century,  and  is  now  one  of  the  lead- 
ing grocers  in  the  city.  In  1865  he  built  the  fine 
brick  store  in  which  he  is  now  carrying  on  liis  busi- 
ness, and  has  it  well-fitted  up  and  stocked  with 
everything  in  his  line. 

Mr.  Muller  has  been  prominent  in  many  of  the 
enterprises  that  have  greatly  added  to  the  financial 
standing  of  the  city.  He  helped  to  organize  and 
start  the  German-American  Bank  in  1870,  when  it 
was  a  private  eoiieeni,  and  remained  with  it  until 
one  j'ear  after  it  was  made  the  German-American 
National  Bank,  when  he  sold  out  his  share  of  the 
stock.  He  was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
German  Insurance  Coinpan}-  which  was  established 
in  1876,  with  a  capital  of  §100,000,  which  has 
since  been  increased  to  ^300.000,  and  he  is  still  a 
stockholder  in  the  company,  has  been  connected 
with  it  all  the  time,  and  has  been  a  factor  in  its 
health}'  and  continuous  growth  to  its  present  pros- 
perous condition.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
Central  Cit}'  Railwa}',  having  owned  shares  in  it 
from  the  start  unti.I  the  present  time,  when  it  has 
become  one  of  the  finest  equipped  electric  railwaj-s 
in  the  country. 

Mr.  Muller  was  married  to  Miss  Paulina  Koenig, 
a  native  ot  German^',  in  Peoria,  and  she  has  been 
to  him  a  true  and  devoted  helpmate,  and  looks  well 
toJ,lie  comforts  of  her  household  in  the  (ileagant 
home  that  they  have  established.  The  six  children 
born  to  them  are  all  living,  and  are  residents  of 
this  cit}' :  Theodore,  Secretary  of  the  German  In- 
surance C'ompan3\  married  Minnie  Borries;  Julia  is 
the  wife  of  Heniy  Krenter;  Amelia  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Jobst,  of  Gauss,  Jobst,  Barthard  &  Co., 
wholesale  grocers;  Rudolph,  Jacob,  and  Adolph  : 
home.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  iMuller  have  four  grandclul- 
dren. 

Mr.  Muller  has  attained  his  position  of  wealth 
and  prominence  in  this  community  by  his  own  en- 
ergj- and  ability.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  Schiller  Lodge, 
No.  335,  of  which  he  has  been  Treasurer;  and' he  is 
also  a  leading  member  of  the  Turnverein,  and 
has  been  Treasurer  of  the  society  for  the  last  tliirt}- 


3'ears.  He  is  a  man  of  honor  and  solid  worth, 
which  justly  entitle  him  to  the  high  regard  in  which 
he  is  universally  held.  In  the  accumulation  of  his 
wealth  he  has  not  neglected  his  dut^-  towards  oth- 
ers, but  has  ever  been  just  and  generous  in  his  deal- 
ings, and  with  true  public  spirit,  has  encouraged 
all  schemes  for  the  advancement  of  the  [irospeiity 
of  the  city,  and  has  given  liberally  of  his  means  to 
the  needj'  and  suffering,  who  have  ever  found  in 
him  a  true  friend. 


,^fg)jrARON  S.  OAKFOIH).  A  writer  famous 
alike  in  America  and  England  says  of  the 
mason  to  whom  he  served  an  apprenticesiiip 
that  "he  put  his  conscience  into  every  stone  that 
he  laid."  This  unwavering  uprightness  should  be 
the  foundation  of  every  avocation,  for  upon  it  is 
based  the  integrity  of  the  nation  itself.  The  citi- 
zens of  Peoria  County  have  contributed  to  elevate 
the  standing  of  morality  not  only  in  the  county 
but  in  the  State,  and  among  those  "whose  word  is 
as  good  as  his  bond,"  and  whose  individual  efforts 
have  aided  in  the  development  of  the  resources  of 
the  count}-,  a  conspicuous  position  is  accorded 
Mr.  Oakford.  The  portrait  on  the  opposite  page 
represents  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Oak- 
ford  &  Fahncsiock,  the  leading  wholesale  grocery 
house  in  Peoria.  Mr.  Oakford  is  pre-eminent  in 
the  business  life  of  this,  his  native  county,  as  one 
of  the  foremost  of  its  pnigressive,  wide-awake 
men  of  business,  and  his  talent,  energy  and  marked 
executive  ability  have  been  potent  factors  in  ex- 
tending the  commercial  and  financial  interests  of 
this  cit}'. 

Mr.  Oakford  is  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  having 
been  born  October  28,  1815,  in  this  county;  his 
father  and  mother  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
of  this  section  of  Illinois.  When  he  was  seven 
years  old  they  removed  from  a  farm  into  the  city 
of  Peoria,  and  here  he  wps  reared  and  trained  for 
the  importanPpart  he  was  to  lake  in  its  uieicantih! 
enterprises.  He  was  given  the  advantages  of  a 
liberal  education  in  the  public  scho(jls  and  in  the 
city  High  School,  and  tiius  laid  a  solid  foundation 


378 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


for  bis  t'uluic  career.  In  entering  llie  business 
workl  he  slurled  at  the  bottom  of  the  commercial 
i:i(i<Ier,  e.irly  evincing  a  ileeifled  talent  for  bii.<;iness, 
and  a  good  insiglit  into  the  best  methods  of  con- 
ducting it.  He  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  largest 
mercantile  house  in  the  State  outside  of  Chicago. 
This  large  business  h.as  been  built  up  by  a  careful 
attention  to  det.-iils,  seconded  l)y  sound  common- 
sense,  good  judgment  and  wise  discrimination. 


.|<^^^ 


ICHARl)  LONSDALK.  One  of  the  most 
attractive  rural  abodes  in  Kickapoo  Town- 
*^  \\\  shii)  is  situated  on  section  32,  and  was  the 
}'  home  of  the  late  Richard  Lonsdale.  It  is 
now  under  the  able  management  of  his  widow, 
Mrs.  Ann  (Wadsworth)  Lonsdale,  who  is  wisely 
conducting  affairs,  keeping  up  all  improvements 
upon  the  estate  and  securing  from  it  an  a<lequate 
income.  It  consists  of  between  five  hundred  and 
six  hundred  acres,  divided  into  fields  of  conven- 
ient size,  adorned  with  orchards  and  groves,  and 
supplied  with  a  complete  line  of  farm  buildings, all 
well  built  and  suflicientl\'  commodious  for  their 
purposes.  Crowning  tlie  whole  is  the  family  resi- 
dence, whose  tasteful  exterior  shadows  forth  the 
comfort  and  attractiveness  of  its  internal  arrange- 
ments and  the  household  economy. 

Mr.  Lonsdale  was  born  in  Lancashire,  England; 
September  26,  1817,  being  the  fifth  in  a  family  con- 
sisting of  fourteen  uhildreu.  His  parents,  Thomas 
and  Ellen  (Holstead)  Lonsdale,  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1842,  settling  in  Peoria  County,  111.,  where 
tiie.y  departed  this  life.  Mr.  Lonsdale  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Ann  Wadsworth  on  Clirist- 
mas  day,  1838,  their  marriage  rites  being  cele- 
brated in  his  native  shire.  He  was  eniploj'ed  as  an 
engineer  in  a  cotton  factory  and  continued  to  re- 
side in  the  mother  country  until  18i9.  He  then 
emigrated  to  America  and  settling  in  Kickapoo 
Township,  this  county,  engaged  in  farming  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Lonsdale  took  pkice  at  his 
home  June  10,  1888.  A  reliable  citizen  and  hon- 
oiable  man  wns  thereby  removed  from  among  men. 


and  a  kind  and  devoted  husband  and  parent  from 
the  family  to  which  he  was  so  dear.  He  had  held 
the  office  of  Highway  Commissioner,  creditably 
discharging  its  duties.  His  political  adherence  was 
given  to  the  Democr.atic;  party.  The  fine  estate 
which  he  left  affords  a  standing  record  of  his  in- 
dustrious life  and  prudent  management  of  his 
worldly  affairs,  while  the  place  which  he  holds  in 
in  the  memory  of  those  who  knew  him  is  the  best 
monument  which  could  be  reared  to  his  personal 
character. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Lonsdale  were  natives  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  known  as  John  and  Betty 
(Ovendenj  Wadsworth.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  l>onsdale  was  the  tenth  in  or- 
der of  birth.  She  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  April  24, 
1818,  and  under  the  careful  training  of  good  par- 
ents grew  to  womanhood  with  a  mind  tilled  with  use- 
ful knowledge,  a  heart  of  goodness,  and  the  habits 
that  enabled  her  to  worthily  (ill  any  sphere  in  life 
to  which  she  might  be  called.  She  remained  with 
her  paients  until  her  marriage  and  removal  to 
Lancashire,  in  which  i)lace  they  afterward  made  their 
home  until  called  hence. 

Mrs.  Lonsdale  bore  her  husband  twelve  children, 
whose  record  is  as  follows:  Martha  is  ihe  first  born  ; 
William  married  Ellen  Mitchell,  who  died  in  Kicka- 
poo Township:  John  married  Jliss  Eva  Manville 
who  died  in  Kickapoo  Township  October  5,  1  883, 
leaving  two  children — Myrtle  A.  and  Minnie  A. 
The  widower  subsequently  married  Ellen  Wolsten- 
holme  who  has  borne  him  one  child  —James  A. 
Richard  married  Miss  Euphemia  Jones;  Mary  H.,  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Warner;  Sarah  A.  is  the  wife  of 
William  Wolf;  Ernest  was  killed  in  Peoria  by  an 
accident  when  twenty-one  years  old.  The  other 
members  of  the  household  band  died  when  quite 
young. 

The  surviving  cliildren  of  Mrs  Lons<lale  have 
received  excellent  educational  advantages  and  the 
home  instruction  which  would  strengthen  and  de- 
velop their  mental  abilities  and  worthy  traits  of 
character,  and  by  which  they  have  been  fitted  for 
a  useful  and  honored  career  in  life.  They  are 
numbered  among  tiie  best  citizens  of  their  re- 
spective localities  and  add  to  the  worth  of  the 
name  which  they   bear.     Mrs.  Lonsdale  is  a  com- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


379 


municant  of  the  Church  of  England,  endeavoring 
at  all  times  to  practice  the  precepts  of  Christianitj'- 
and  to  deserve  the  "well  done"  when  her  earthly 
race  is  accomplished. 


\i^RAXK  W.  BAILEY 

f^^   severance    of  a  man's   character    have    no 


The  energy  and  per- 
character  have  nc 
wliere  a  better  field  for  manifestation  than 
in  jt>iirualisni.  From  asratdl  beginning  often  grows 
a  ])aper  of  importanoe,  and  it  frequently  happens 
that  the  very  first  issue  establishes  the  reputation 
of  t'.ie  editor  and  indicates  whether  his  enterprise 
will  be  a  winning  or  losing  one.  Tliis  has  been 
well  exemplified  in  tlie  life  of  Frank  W.  Bailey, 
proprietor  of  tiie  spicy  Chillicotlie  Bulletin,  whose 
lirst  issue  ap|ieared  in  1.S83  and  was  a  small  hut 
bright  folio.  The  sheet  was  issued  once  a  uionlli 
in  a  much  clieaper  form  than  at  present,  but  tlie 
mottle  of  Mr.  Bailey  was  indicated  from  tlie  start. 
The  better  class  of  business  men,  realizing  tlie  im- 
portance of  advertising  and  the  need  of  alive  paper 
in  tlie  town,  apjireciated  his  efforts  and  rallied  to 
his  support. 

Mr.  Bailej'  was  able  to  increase  the  cajiacity  of 
his  oflice  ere  long  and  improve  his  paper,  and  each 
j-ear  found  him  a  rung  higiier  on  the  ladder  of 
success.  The  small  hand  press  in  a  little  room  was 
soon  replaced  bv  better  machinery  and  a  Iiiiildina 
of  good  dimensions  placed  at  his  disjiosal.  This  is 
now  fitted  ui)  in  the  most  modern  style,  with  first-, 
class  supplies,  the  presses  operated  by  steam  power 
and  supplied  with  joV)  work  from  all  over  the  State. 
The  Bulletin  is  now  a  six-column  ([iiarto  pajier  of 
weekly  issue,  with  a  subscription  list  of  nearly  two 
thousand;  it  moulds  the  sentiments  of  the  people 
throughout  this  section  and  looks  after  the  interest 
of  Cbillicothe,  as  only  a  live  (laper  can. 

Melviu  H.  Bailey,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  near  Augusta,  Me.,  Decemljer  28,  1827.  He 
came  of  a  good  New  England  family  and  was  care- 
fully reared  to  habits  of  honor  and  thrift.  In  18.52 
he  went  to  California  via  the  isthmus  and  for  nearly 
four  years  was  occui)ie.l  in  mining  at  Volcano, eighty 
miles  east  of  Sacramento.    Returning  to  Maine  via 


the  same  route,  hespeiit  a  short  time  there  and  then 
turned  his  footsteps  westward,  locating  in  Waupaca 
County,  Wis.  That  section  was  new  to  settlement 
and  the  forests  which  covered  it  wei'c  nearly  un- 
broken. For  about  ten  years  Mr.  Bailey  remained 
there,  making  money  lumbering,  hut  misfortune 
overtaking  him  he  lost  all  that  he  had  and  was 
obliged  to  start  anew.  This  being  in  1866,  just 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  he  decided  to  go  to 
Kansas. 

Locating  in  Bourbon  County,  Mr.  B:Lile3'  ob- 
tained a  piece  of  Government  land,  but  his  title 
proving  faulty  and  the  property'  having  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  raili'oad  companj',  he  was  obliged 
to  pay  for  it  the  second  time.  He  passed  through 
all  the  experiences  which  made  the  life  of  a  Kansas 
pioneer  so  trying,  including  drouths  and  grasshop- 
|)er  scourges,  but  he  stood  his  ground,  determinedly 
pursuing  his  course  for  thirteen  years.  He  tlien,  in 
November,  1879,  removed  to  Chillieothe,  III.,  and 
the  next  year  suceeded  Levi  Booth  in  the  furniture 
trade.  He  is  still  engageil  in  this  iHisiness,  carr3ing 
a  small,  but  well-selected  stock  of  furniture,  and 
also  a  complete  supplj'  of  undertakers'  goods.  He 
is  classed  among  the  best  citizens  of  the  town, 
bearing,  with  liis  wife,  an  active  part  in  social  af- 
fairs and  all  which  will  tend  to  the  good  of  the  com- 
munity. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Violet  Ingalls.  She  was  horn  near  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  Mar<'li  16,  1829.  She  was  a  child  of  six  and 
alialf  years  when  her  [larents  removed  to  Chicago, 
and  there  she  was  partially  reared.  She  subsequently 
lived  in  Waukegan,  where  she  comiileted  her  edu- 
cation ami  became  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  place.  She  continued  her  professional  la- 
bors until  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Baile\-,  wdiich  took 
place  October  22,  1857.  She  is  descended  from 
the  old  pilgrim  stock  which  crossed  the  Atlantic  in 
thC'lMayrtower,"  direct  from  Peregrine  White,  and 
her  more  immediate  progenitors  were  highly  edu- 
cated, with  the  firm  characters  inherited  from  their 
ancestry  and  strengthened  by  training  under  high 
moral  influences. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Bailey 
was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  holding  the  rank  of  .an 
Adjutant  on  (ieorge  Washington's  staff.     Slie  still 


380 


PORTRAIT  AND  F.lOORArHICAL  ALBUM. 


preserves  as  a  precious  heirloom  the  silver  shoe 
buckles  her  ancestor  wore  nnd  a  razor  which  was 
used  by  Gen.  Washington  and  hisstaflf.  AsaAVhile 
luiralls,  tlie  father  of  Mrs.  Bailej-,  was  a  ripe  scholar, 
a  graduate  of  Amherst  College,  and  a  well-known 
ciiucator.  He  was  a  teacher  and  Superiuten.ient 
of  Schools  in  Lorain  County,  Ohio.  In  1845  he 
brought  his  family  overland  from  Elyria  to  Chi- 
cago. He  was  the  first  teacher  of  what  was  known 
as  the  Dearborn  school.  He  passed  away  April  2. 
1850,  after  a  well-spent  life,  and  of  him  it  may  well 
be  said  "his  works  do  follow  bin:."  His  remains 
were  interred  in  Lincoln  Park,  Inil  later  removed 
to  a  cemetery  at  W.iukegan.  His  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Fanny  (Gregg)  Miltimore,  was  of  Scolcli-Lish 
ancestry,  and  born  in  New  Hampshire.  She  sur- 
vived her  first  husband,  subsequently  marrying  his 
brother— J.  A.  Ingalls.  She  died  in  Chicago  April 
24.  1884.  J.  A.  Ingalls  is  still  living  in  that  city 
advanced  in  j-cars  and  retired  from  active  pursuits 
The  old  stock  of  Ingalls  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
and  Congregational  Churches. 

This  outline  of  the  parental  and  ancestral  hislor^y 
of  our  subject  will  indicate  a  mental  and  moral  in- 
heritance which  armed  him  for  a  successful  battle 
with  life.  He  was  born  in  lola,  AVis.,  April  1,  1860, 
carefull3'  instructed  and  guided  by  his  parents  and 
early  became  acquainted  with  hard  work  on  the 
farm.  He  obtained  a  good  practical  education  in 
the  public  schools,  and  m.aj^  be  said  to  have  begun 
his  life  as  a  printer  of  cards  in  the  most  primitive 
waj'.  His  taste  for  that  line  of  work  w;js  earfy 
maoifcsted,  but  he  was  not  able  to  realize  his 
dreams  until  after  he  had  learned  agriculture  and 
assisted  his  father  through  the  tr\-ing  times  of  their 
Kansas  life. 

Before  he  could  enter  an  office  to  projjerl^'  learn 
the  printer's  trade,  young  Bailej'  obtained  a  small 
press,  and  with  a  half  supply  of  type  gained  much 
pleasure  and  a  little  profit  in  printing  visiting  cards. 
Although  his  type  was  not  sufficient  to  spell  out 
some  names  in  the  same  kind  of  letters,  he  secured 
orders  just  the  same,  through  reason  of  his  boyish 
enterprise  and  desire  to  improve.  Everything  he 
did  was  to  further  his  knowledge  of  the  printer's  art, 
and  he  was  a  happy  youth  when  he  linallj-  entered 
an  office.    His  peisisicnce  and  readily -acquired  skill 


soon  led  him  to  the  froiit  and  gave  him  a  foremost 
place  in  the  business  of  the  house  in  which  he  was 
employed.  Ilis  mind  is  deeply  set  upon  his  work, 
and  no  young  man  manifests  more  abundant  energj' 
in  prosecuting  his  chosen  avocation.  The  success 
which  he  is  achieving  is  but  the  merited  reward  for 
his  i)ainstakingand  persistent  efforts,  and  is  rejoiced 
in  by  all  who  know  his  life. 

Our  subject  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Chilli- 
cotlie,  with  Miss  Lizzie  McMurray,  who  has  been 
a  true  helpmate  in  building  up  his  publishing  busi- 
ness, being  able  to  do  much  of  the  office  work,  and 
gladly  assisting  him.  This  lady  was  born  in  St. 
L'ouis,  Mo.,  November  12,  1854,  being  a  daugiiter 
of  George  and  Anna  (Menzies)  McMurray.  Her 
father  was  born  in  the  North  of  Ireland  but  reared 
in  Edinburgh,  his  p.irents  being  Scotch  and  of  the 
Presbyterian  faith.  He  was  a  weaver  of  wire  cloth. 
He  died  in  St.  Louis  and  his  widow  removed  to 
Chillicothe,  HI.,  in  1861,  and  is  now  living  here 
with  her  children  at  an  advanced  age.  She  is  a  na- 
tive of  Scotland  and  has  been  a  life-long  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Mrs.  F.  W.  Bailey  was  educated  in  the  Chilli- 
cothe schools  and  the  Normal  School  at  Peoria,  and 
after  completing  her  education  devoted  her  talents 
to  pedagogical  labors.  She  taught  in  country  schools 
three  j'ears  and  in  those  of  Chillicothe  six  years, 
winning  the  reputation  which  her  bright  mind,  ca- 
pable ways  and  good  character  deserve.  She  has 
borne  her  husband  two  children — Harry  M.  and 
Randolph  W.  She  follows  the  careful  teaching 
which  she  received  in  adhering  to  the  Baptist  faith. 

\f  AMES  H.  STEWART,  is  still  living  in  the 
home  of  his  birth  on  section  5,  Timber  Town- 
ship, -where  he  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and 
^/'  stock-breeder,  making  a  specialty  of  raising 
Short-horn  cattle  of  a  fine  gr.ade  and  Poland-China 
hogs.  His  father,  Walter  Stewart  was  one  of  the 
leading  piv^neers  of  the  county,  was  prominent  in 
public  life,  and  was  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  the 
township." 

Our  subject   was   born  September   2,    lS,jO.  on 


^^  r&e^^  ^^-^^ 


^  Ey^-z^y^o--^ 


poirrnAiT  an'd  tuograpiiical  Ai,r>iTi\r. 


383 


this  homestead  which  his  lalher  took  u|i  fioiii  the 
(iovdiiiiient  ill  1837.  entering  one  liundred  and 
sixt^-  acres  of  timber  in  the  openings,  in  the  spring 
of  that  3ear.  He  had  come  hitlier  with  a  team,  and 
was  six  or  seven  vveel<s  on  the  way,  arriving  in  the 
montii  of  Ma3'.  He  accumulated  a  valuable  prop- 
ertj-  in  this  county,  becoming  the  proprietor  of  two 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Timber  Township,  and 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Logan  Township. 
Before  prosperity  came  to  liira,  liowever,  he  ex- 
perienced all  tlie  trials  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life, 
and  had  to  raal<e  many  ssicriHces.  When  he  first 
came  here,  the  country  was  very  thinly  populated, 
and  the  roads,  if  tliere  were  anj',  were  very  bad, 
and  he  liad  to  travel  some  distance  to  get  his  grain 
gr  jund.  going  as  far  as  Hale's  Mill  on  the  Kicka- 
poo.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  education,  and 
was  a  pioneer  school  teacher,  conducting  one  of  the 
first  schools  ever  opened  in  this  township.  He  was 
a  man  of  imporianc-e  in  public  affairs,  was  Collector 
and  Notary  Public,  and  served  on  the  County 
lioard  of  Supervisors.  He  came  of  an  old  and  re- 
spected family,  as  did  his  wife  also,  her  maiden 
n:une  being  Nancy  E.  Turbett. 

Our  subject  grew  to  man's  estate  on  the  parenlnl 
homestead,  where  he  still  resides,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  local  school.  He  worked  his  father's 
farm  with  his  brothers  until  his  marriage,  and  with 
his  Ijrother  George  15.,  now  owns  two  hundred  and 
ten  acres  of  the  homestead,  and  has  besides  forty 
acres  on  section  6.  The  farm  is  a  ver^'  valuable 
one,  is  under  fine  tillage,  yields  large  harvests,  and 
is  well  stocked  with  cattle  and  hogs  of  a  high  grade. 
Its  buildings  are  substantial  and  commodious,  and 
here  he  and  ids  wife  have  a  home  that  for  comfort 
and  coziness  is  not  surpassed  by  any  in  the  com- 
niunit3-. 

September  1,  1S81,  Mr.  Stewart  and  MissRhoba 
Phillips,  were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs.  Stewart 
was  born  in  Limestone  Township,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Luke  M.  and  Maria  (Iloughlaling)  Philli|>s. 
She  is  a  woman  of  great  refinement,  and  marked  in- 
telligence, is  highly  educated,  and  for  some  years 
before  her  marriage  w.as  engaged  in  the  teacher's 
profession.  Her  union  with  our  subject  has  brought 
them  two  children.  Mary  K.,  and  Walter  H. 

This  brief  record  shows  our  subject  to  be  .an  en- 


terprising piaclical  man,  endowed  with  tact  and 
firmness,  and  the  cajiacity  for  carrying  on  his  noble 
calling  to  the  best  advantage.  He  and  his  wife 
are  people  of  social  prominence  in  the  community, 
and  are  among  the  leading  memljers  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  is  Elder. 


R.  BELLE  KENYON,  who  is  successfully 
)))  practicing  her  profession  in  Peoria,  occu- 
pies a  leading  position  among  the  physicians 
of  the  Homoepathic  school  in  this  count\'.  She  is  a 
native  of  Rome,  N.  Y.,  born  March  1,  1847,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Julia  (Dunbar) 
Brackney,  natives  of  Warren  County.  Pa.  The 
Brackney  family  originated  in  Germany  and  came 
to  this  country  many  3'ears  ago.  The  Dunbars 
were  of  Scotch  descent. 

William  Brackney  w.as  a  prosperous  miller  and 
owned  grist,  saw  and  woolen  mills  on  the  Mohawk 
River,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Rome,  from 
which  he  derived  a  good  income;  here  our  subject 
was  born, being  the  youngest  of  eleven  children,  nine 
of  whom  are  deceased  and  one  sister,  Mrs.  Rachel 
West,  living  at  Oshkosh,  Wis.  Mr.  Brackney  died 
Apiil  17,  1857,  thus  closing  at  a  ripe  age  a  lifethat 
had  been  full  of  usefulness  and  honor.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  dying  in  Dr.  Kenyon's  home 
July  31,  1888,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  She  was  a  woman  of  marked  characteristics, 
being  endowed  with  a  strong  mental  and  physical 
development  and  the  Doctor  attributes  much  of 
her  success  to  the  early  training  given  her  by  her 
mother.  The  family  came  West  in  18.58,  and  set- 
tled in  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

In  October,  1865,  O.  S.  Brlggs,  after  being  mus- 
tered out  of  the  United  States  service,  he  being  a 
member  of  the  Tliird  LTnitcd  Slates  Cavalry,  was 
married  to  our  subject.  He  w.as  engaged  in  a  trav- 
eling business,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  ac- 
companied b}'  his  wife,  who  thus  h.ad  a  fine 
opportunity  to  see  much  of  the  world  and  she 
profited  hy  it.  Mr.  Briggs  died  of  consumption, 
the  result  of  a  cold  contracted  on  a  voyage  from 


384 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


San  Francisco  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  they 
spent  several  raonlhs.  He  is  buried  at  Minneapo- 
lis, Minn. 

Our  subjeet  was  married  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember, 18.S2,  to  Dr.  Walter  Sholwell,  vvith  whom 
she  practiced  medicine  two  ^ears.  Charles  Ken- 
j'on,  her  present  husband,  is  a  native  of  Baldwins- 
ville,  N.  Y.  lie  belongs  to  a  well-known  family 
of  that  State,  who  date  their  ancestry  to  Lord 
Kenyon,  of  England.  Tlie  Doctor  is  endowed 
with  a  natural  tasle  for  medical  studies,  and  after 
the  death  of  her  first  husband  entered  earnestly 
upon  the  work  of  becoming  a  doctor.  She  entered 
at  once  the  Ilonnepathic  Medical  College,  of  Mis- 
souri, a  school  that  ranks  high  as  an  institution  of 
learning.  Mrs.  Kenyon  gra<Uiated  with  a  class  of 
about  seventy  men  in  March,  1883.  Her  proficiency 
in  her  studies  was  ninety-seven  and  one-half  per 
cent,  and  her  grade  third  in  her  class.  This  alone 
speaks  well  for  her  culture  and  breadth  of  knowl- 
edge of  medicine.  She  immediately  opened  an 
Office  in  Peoria,  and  entered  with  zeal  u]3on  the 
duties  of  her  profession  in  which  slie  had  already 
had  both  hospital  and  chemical  exiierience.  She  is 
gifted  with  an  evenly  balanced  mind,  a  strong 
charncler,  a  stead}'  nerve,  a  keen  eve.  and  the  firm 
but  gentle  touch  of  the  true  i)hysician;  the  fine  suc- 
cess she  has  met  justifies  her  choice  of  a  profession, 
if  any  vindication  were  needed. 

The  general  public  is  not  familiar  with  woman 
in  the  leading  professions  and  heretofore  it  has  been 
looked  upon  as  an  experiment  merely,  but  the  pub- 
lic are  not  slow  to  recognize  merit  wherever  found, 
and  the  result  is  that  woman,  when  once  qualified 
has  no  longer  public  oi)inion  to  combat  and  finds 
her  patrons  .among  the  most  refined  and  educated. 
It  is  rare  to  find  an  intellect  so  skillful  in  the 
analaysis  of  the  deepest  problems  and  so  completely 
at  home  in  the  conception  and  delineation  of  real 
character.  The  Doctor  is  a  close  observer  and  is 
familiar  with  many  subjects  that  women  in  com- 
mon do  not  consider  within  their  sphere,  and  this 
qualification  alone  renders  her  without  a  peer  among 
her  sex.  The  Doctor  is  somewhat  of  a  writer  in  n 
modest  way  and  has  had  tlie  honor  to  present  pa|)ers 
on  different  subjects  before  both  the  Scientific  As- 
sociation and  the  Sundaj-  Lyceum  societies,  known 


in  both  the  city  and  county.  She  has  somewhat  of 
a  caustic  pen,  however,  when  writing  and  possessing 
ready  wit  is  not  at  all  backward  in  her  defense  of 
women  when  restricted  by  her  dominant  brother. 
She  is  choice  of  her  language  however,  and  seldom 
gives  offence. 

Dr.  Kenyon  is  a  great  lover  of  home  and  has  b}' 
untiring  effort  and  application  to  business,  sur- 
rounded herself  with  an  ideal  home.  Possessing  a 
cheerful  disposition  and  with  a  nature  broad  and 
generous,  she  is  beloved  b}-  all  who  know  her  best 
and  her  greatest  pleasure  is  afforded  by  the  little 
acts  of  love  and  gratitude  shown  by  her  poorer  pa- 
tients who  never  seek  her  aid  in  vain.  She  enjoj's 
a  good  practice  anil  is  often  called  long  distances 
to  attend  some  serious  case.  Her  portrait  is  pre- 
sented on  another  page  of  the  Album,  and  repre- 
sents a  physician  of  whose  ability  the  citizens  of 
Peoria  .-ire  justly  jiroud,  and  whose  refinement  and 
culture  liave  every  where  won  for  her  warm  friends. 


'^'->^^^^^^t^^^^ 


^^  APT.  HENRY  DETWEILLER,  a  prominent 
ill  n  ""''  wealthy  business  man  of  Peoria,  is 
^^^  successfull}'  conducting  a  large  wholesale 
and  retail  ice  business  at  No.  108  South  Adams 
Street.  He  was  born  June  19,  1825,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Loraine,  Germany,  which  at  that  time 
formed  a  part  of  the  domain  of  France.  Ilis  par- 
ents. Christian  and  Catherine  (Schertz)  Detweiller, 
were  natives  respectivel}'  of  France  and  Bavaria. 
His  father  accumulated  a  fortune  in  the  farming, 
milling  and  transfer  business,  which  he  lost  during 
the  war  of  1812  and  1813,  and  died  in  1832  a  poor 
man.  Henry,  of  whom  we  write,  is  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  the  eighteen  children  borne  him  by  his 
two  wives. 

After  the  death  of  the  father,  the  mother  of  our 
subject  came  to  this  country  with  him  and  three 
daughters,  landing  at  New  York  after  a  voyage  of 
sixt}'  days,  and  fortj'-two  days  later  the  travelers 
arrived  in  Peoria.  They  came  from  New  York  to 
Rochester  by  boat,  thence  to  Buffalo  by  canal, 
thence  bj'  lake  to  Cleveland,  and  from  there  by 
canal  to  Cincinnati,  thence  by  boat  on  the  Ohio, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL 'ALBUM. 


385 


Mississippi  atul  Illinois  Rivers  to  Peoria — from  St. 
Louis  on  the  steamer  "Ark,"'  commanded  by  Capl. 
Tiiomas  Want— where  Mrs.  Detweillur's  son  John 
h.ad  located  three  years  previously.  He  kept  an  hotel 
here  in  early  days,  and  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  where 
he  followed  the  same  business,  and  there  his  death 
occurred  in  184-2.  The  mother  of  our  subject  did 
not  long  survive  her  removal  from  her  old  home 
to  this  country,  but  died  here  in  1838. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  only  six  years 
of  age  when  his  father  died,  and  was  scarce  twelve 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  mother  and 
sisters  to  this  country.  He  was  reared  under  our 
institutions  to  a  manly,  vigorous  manhood,  and  in 
the  hour  of  her  greatest  trial  he  proved  his  loyalty 
and  devotion  to  the  home  of  his  adoption,  by  offer- 
ing his  services  in  defense  of  her  honor  and  to  aid 
in  preserving  the  integrity  of  the  Union.  After 
coming  here  Henry  was  variously  employed,  work- 
ing for  his  brother,  clerking,  etc.,  when  not  attend- 
ing school,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  he  went  on 
board  the  steamboat  "  Frontier"  to  train  for  a  pilot 
under  Milton  Hasbrouck,  and  was  on  that  boat  until 
its  collision  with  the  "  Panama,"  September  2, 
1842.  The  following  spring  he  shi|)ped  as  second 
pilot  under  his  old  instructor  on  the  steamer 
■Chicago,"  a  new  boat  which  the  compan}'  had 
just  built.  He  wasengaged  on  that  steamer  in  that 
capacity  until  1844,  when  the  boat  was  withdrawn 
from  the  river,  and  he  then  secured  a  similar  posi- 
tion on  the  '•  Raritau."  and  the  next  j'ear  was  np- 
poinl«I  first  pilot  on  the  new  boat,  "Governor 
Biiggs;"  anil  later  was  made  Captain,  and  after 
June,  1810,  ran  her  from  Galena  to  New  Albany, 
ou  the  upper  Mississippi,  as  a  mail  and  passenger 
boat.  For  several  years  following  Jlr.  Detweiller 
acted  as  captain  or  pilot  on  a  number  of  steam- 
boats, and  in  1856  became  part  owner  of  the  "  Mo- 
vaster,"  and  selling  her  in  1857,  in  1858  became 
.Sole  proprietor  of  the  "  Minnesota." 

Our  sutiject  was  still  engaged  in  the  steamboat 
business  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1862  he  offered  his  services  to  the  Government. 
He  first  commanded  the  "Jenny  Lind,"  and 
in  July,  180."i.  became  master  of  the  "Yankee," 
of  which  he  had  charge  during  the  remainder  of 
his  service.      While  commanding  the  Government 


transports  he  did  important  work  for  the  cause, 
and  at  times  ran  great  hazards  in  his  efforts  to 
elude  the  enemy  and  takes  his  precious  freight  to  a 
safe  port.  In  the  latter  part  of  October,  1863,  he 
sailed  from  St.  Louis  to  New  Orleans  with  a  cargo 
valued  at  $250,000,  and  it  was  only  by  various 
devices  and  strategems  that  our  ingenious  captain 
was  at  last  enabled  to  moor  his  boat  in  the  New 
Orleans  harbor,  with  no  further  damage  than  was 
sustained  by  one  shot  from  the  rebels. 

After  the  war  Capt.  Detweiller  commanded  the 
"  Beaver"  until  1874,  when  he  abandoned  the  water 
to  give  his  attention  more  closely  to  the  ice  busi- 
ness, which  he  had  established  in  1870  in  partner- 
ship with  N.  L.  Woodruff.  In  December,  1876, 
he  severed  liis  connection  with  that  gentleman,  and 
has  since  managed  his  large  and  constantly  increas- 
ing business  himself,  conducting  both  a  wholesale 
and  retail  trade.  His  large  establishments  for  ice 
have  a  capacity  of  more  than  13,500  tons. 

Mr.  Detvveiller  .and  Miss  Magdaline  Bachmann 
were  united  in  marriage  November  5,  1848.  Mrs. 
Detweiller  was  born  in  the  German  province  of 
Loraine  on  the  25th  of  August.  182G.  .She  came 
came  to  this  country  the  year  prior  to  her  marriage 
with  our  subject,  which  occurred  at  the  home  of 
his  sister  in  Woodford  County',  111.  Of  their  mar- 
riage seven  children  were  born,  of  whom  the  fol- 
foUowing  four  are  living:  Thomas  IL,  William  11., 
Amelia  and  Matilda. 

Mrs.  Detweiller  was  removed  from  her  sphere  of 
usefulness  September  10,  1888,  after  a  wedded  life 
of  fort)'  jears,  and  our  subject  then  lost  one  who 
had  ever  been  to  him  all  a  true  wife  can  be,  and 
her  children  a  devoted  mother.  Her  death  was 
felt  far  beyond  the  home  circle,  as  her  sweet, 
wholesome  nature,  thorough  goodness  ami  kindly 
charit}'  had  won  her  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of 
many,  and  she  had  been  an  influence  for  much  good 
in  the  community.  She  w.as  a  |)erson  of  serene  re- 
ligious faith,  and  in  her  the  I'niversalist  Church 
had  one  of  its  most  faithful  helpers.  She  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Home 
^Mission,  and  also  belonged  to  the  Woman's  Relief 
Corps  of  the  Old  Settlers  Association. 

Henry  Detweiller  stands  among  our  most  re- 
vered  citizens,   and   is   widelv    known   for  his  un- 


SS6 


PORlRAir  AN!)   inoCRAlMIK'AL  ALBUM. 


swerving  integrity  of  character,  ami  for  liis  honor- 
able coiniceliou  with  the  business  interests  of  the 
city.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Oil<l  Fellows,  and 
also  of  the  Grand  Arm}'  of  the  Kepublic.  He  cast 
his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Taj-lor  as  President,  and 
since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  part}-  has 
alwa3's  been  true  to  its  colors.  He  reveres  the  name 
of  Lincoln,  whom  he  knew,  with  honor  and  rev- 
erence. 


OBERT  HILL.  Among  the. active  ^'oung 
business  men  who  have  in  recent  3'ears  step- 
ped to  the  front  to  assist  in  carrj'ing  on 
'  and  extending  the  varied  interests  of  this 
count}',  the  subject  of  this  biogr.iphical  review  is 
deserving  of  especial  mention.  He  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  a  grocery  in  Bartonville,  having  here  a  well- 
litted  up  and  well  stocked  store,  and  is  carrying  on 
an  extensive  and  lucrative  trade. 

Mr.  Hill  was  born  in  Wesley  City,  just  across 
•  lie  river  from  Peoria,  twenty-four  years  ago.  His 
parents,  John  and  Susannah  Hill,  came  from  Eng- 
land and  established  a  home  in  that  place  and  were 
residents  there  some  years.  They  moved  across 
the  river  to  this  county  when  our  subject  was 
young.  They  became  valued  citizens  of  Peoria, 
and  in  course  of  years,  by  industry  and  the  exer- 
cise of  excellent  judgment  in  carrying  on  his  work, 
Mr.  Hill  acquired  a  competency.  His  widow  still 
occupies  the  old  place,  where  she  owns  a  fine  prop- 
erty in  addition  to  other  interests,  all  of  which  are 
ably  managed  by  her  son,  our  subject. 

Robert  Hill  is  the  eighth  child  in  a  family  of 
fifteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  are  now  living. 
He  was  carefully  trained  by  his  worthy  parents 
to  a  manly,  useful  manhood,  and  was  given  the 
advantages  of  a  liberal  education  in  the  city  schools 
of  Peoria.  He  went  into  business  for  himself  when 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  establishing  himself 
as  a  merchant.  In  1887  he  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  in  company  with  his  brotlier  William, 
and  they  subsequently  opened  a  brick  yard,  which 
w.Ts  known  as  the  Robert  Hill  &  Bro.'s  yard,  .and 
was  located  on  the  outskirts  of  B;irtonville.  Thev 
carried  on  the  manufacture  of    lnifk  tooether  iniiil 


the  summer  of  1890,  when  William  sold  out  his 
interest  to  the  HolTman  brothers,  who  are  practical 
brick  makers.  In  the  season  of  1889  the  company 
made  a  million  bricks,  employing  about  twelve 
liands  and  two  teams  to  deliver  in  the  city,  where 
they  find  a  good  market  for  all  that  they  can  pro- 
duce. 

In  October,  1889,  Mr.  Hill  opened  a  new  store, 
which  is  fully  equipped  with  groceries  and  no- 
tions, and  he  already  does  a  thriving  business  as 
one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the  place,  and  his 
custom  is  among  our  best  citizens. 

The  maideu  name  of  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
who  presides  so  gracefully  over  the  pleasant  home, 
sees  so  closely  after  the  comforts  of  the  house- 
hold, and  makes  their  dwelling  attractive  to  their 
numerous  friends,  was  Alice  Randall,  and  she  is  a 
daughter  of  Harry  Randall.  Two  children  com- 
plete the  home  circle — Harry  and  Johnnie. 

iMr.  Tlill  is  well  endowed  mentally  and  physically, 
is  of  a  forceful,  resolute  character,  possessing  a 
quick,  keen  intellect,  and  in  an  abundant  degree 
those  vigorous,  earnest  traits  that  mark  a  man 
bound  to  succeed  in  what  ever  he  undertakes.  He 
conducts  his  business  with  sound  discretion,  and 
yet  wirth  enterprise,  and  in  all  his  dealings  guards 
well  his  honor. 


— *^  *  Yt,  *  S' ')!  ^t  *  f,v  * "" ■ — " 

ON.  JAMES  MONTGOMERY  RICE.  The 
Rice  family  is  of  Welsh  ancestry  and  settled 
in  Virginia  in  1690,andfrom  that  State  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject  removed  to 
Kentucky  about  1804.  He  was  a  surveyor  and 
planter.  His  son,  George  Poague  Rice,  born  in 
Kentucky,  settled  in  Monmouth,  111.,  in  1835,  re- 
siding there  for  many  years.  He  is  now  a  resident 
of  Omaha,  Neb.,  his  age  bt-ing  seventy-eight  years. 
He  married  Caroline  Montgomery,  a  native  of 
Danville,Pa.,  which  place  was  largely  owned  by  her 
great-grandfather,  Gen.  William  Montgomery,  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  named 
in  honor  of  her  great  uucle.  Gen.  Daniel  Montgom- 
ery. Her  falher,James  JMontgomery,was  also  born  in 
tliat  town.     Mrs,  Rice  died  in  Nebraska,  January 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIU M. 


387 


15,  1886.  in  tl.  iirst  year  of  her  age  and  wes 

Iniricd  in  MonmouUi.lU.  Of  the  children  whom  she 
liad  borne,  the  subject  of  tliis  notice  is  the  eldest. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Monmouth,  March  8,  1842.  Ilis  early  school  daj-s 
were  passed  in  the  district  schools  and  his  physical 
powers  were  developed  bj'  labor  on  a  farm.  After 
acquiring  a  preliminar3' education  he  entered  JNIon- 
mouth  College,  prosecuting  his  studies  therein  un- 
til the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  en- 
listed in  Company  E,  Tenth  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
served  in  the  Union  Army  a  little  over  three 
years,  belonging  to  the  First  Brigade,  Second  Di- 
vision, Fourteenth  Armj^  Corps,  Army  of  the 
Cumberland.  He  was  present  at  the  Siege  of  At- 
lanta, and  had  previously  taken  part  in  the  noted 
battle  of  Missionary  Ri'lge.  During  Sherman's 
advance  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  his  cars  were 
saluted  with  the  noise  of  the  enem3''s  guns  for 
one  huniJred  and  twontj'-three  consecutive  da\'s. 
He  took  part  in  manj'  of  the  less  important  en- 
gagements during  his  term  of  enlistment,  as  well 
as  some  of  the  most  bloody,  and  earned  and  re- 
tained the  confidence  of  his  superior  officers. 

On  September  14,  1864,Mr.  Rice  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service,  soon  after  which  he  entered  the 
Law  Department  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Midi., from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1866.  He  immediately  opened  an 
office  in  Oqu.iwka,  111.,  becoming  Master  in  Chan- 
cery. Ju  January,  1867.  he  removed  to  Peoria, 
where  after  jn-acticing  alone  for  a  twelvemonth, 
he  became  a  partner  of  the  lion.  David  McCul- 
locli.  The  connection  continued  until  Mr.  Rice 
was  elected  to  the  legislature.whicli  met  in  January 
1871.  This  was  the  first  session  after  the  adop- 
tion of  the  new  constitution  and  upon  it  devolved 
the  task  of  the  revision  of  the  State  statutes,  the 
work  consuming  fifteen  months  time  altogether. 

Mr.  Rice  has  served  as  City  Attorney  and  for 
the  past  nine  j'ears  has  been  Treasurer  of  the  Peo- 
ria. Law  Library  Association,  and  has  been  Sec- 
retary of  the  Peoria  Improvement  Association, from 
its  organization.  For  some  3'ears  he  was  in  legal 
partnership  with  Leslie  Robison  and  Col.  William 
S.  Brackctt,  but  for  five  3'ears  past  he  has  been  in 
partnership  with  his  cousin,  Cyrus  Walker  Rice. 


For  nearly  thirty-four  3'ears  Mr.  Rice  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  polit- 
ical adherence  has  ever  been  given  to  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  belongs  to  Post  No.  67,  G.  A.  R., 
has  been  chairm.an  of  the  Committee  on  Legisla- 
tion of  the  Nat,ioual  Guard  Association  of  Illinois, 
for  the  i)ast  seven  3^ears,!ind  is  one  of  the  executive 
committee  of  the  National  Guard  Association  of 
the  United  States.  He  holds  the  rank  of  Colonel, 
in  the  Illinois  National  Guard  and  is  General  In- 
spector of  rifle  practice,  on  the  Governor's  Staflf. 

He  married  September  14,  1871, Miss  Eliza  Bal- 
lanee,  fourth  daughter  of  Col.  Charles  Ballance,who 
settled  in  Peoria  in  1831.  She  is  a  native  of  this 
city  and  a  graduate  of  Monticello  Seminary.  Her 
social  qualities  fit  her  for  the  sphere  in  which  she 
moves  and  add  to'her  usefulness.  The  famil3'  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  comprises  five  children  named 
respectively:  Lillie  Ballance,  Caroline  ^lontgom- 
er3' :  Mar3-  Virginia,  Montgomer3'  and  Willis  Bal- 
lance. 


S  LIJATI  R.  RYER  is  prominent  among  the 
f^  young  farmers  and  stock-raisers  who  are 
contributing  so  largely  to  the  material  ad- 
vancement of  this  count3'.  His  farm  operations  are 
being  conducted  after  the  most  approved  methods, 
and  the  fine  appearance  of  his  farm  on  section  18, 
Trivoli  Township,  is  evidence  of  his  practical  skill 
and  abilitx'  in  his  calling. 

Our  subject  is  a  descendant  of  an  ancestr3-  that 
was  among  the  earl3-  settlers  of  New  York,  and 
some  of  the  best  blood  of  the  old  Knickerbocker 
families  runs  in  his  veins.  He  was  born  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  October  16,  1848.  Ilis  father,  Samuel 
R3'er,  was  also  a  native  of  that  metropolis,  and  at 
one  time  he  owned  a  farm  that  was  then  in  the  sub- 
urbs, but  is  now  williin  the  municipal  corporation, 
though  it  was  not  annexed  until  after  his  death. 
It  comprised  one  hundred  acres  on  Lucas  Avenue. 
His  famil3'  was  of  Holland-Dutch  descent,  his  fore- 
fathers crossing  the  water  to  this  country  in  early 
Colonial  times.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject 
took  part  in  the  Revolution  that  set  the  Colonies 
free  from  the  mother  country. 


388 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  father  of  our  subject  inherited  some  tliirlv 
acres  of  his  father's  estate,  and  sold  it  witli  the  re- 
mainder of  his  land  at  a  later  )ieriod,  for  a  snug 
sum,  and  retired  from  active  life.  He  was  at  one 
time  a  prominent  real-estate  dealer  in  New  York, 
and  sold  houses  and  lots.  He  died  in  his  native 
city  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  lie 
was  a  constant  attendant  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  was  highly  res|)ected  as  a  man  and  a 
citizen.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary 
J.  Bussing,  and  she  was  born  in  New  York  Citj'. 
Her  father,  John  Bussing,  was  also  a  native  of 
that  locality,  having  a  farm  in  tiie  suburbs  of  the 
metropolis,  wiiich  is  now  included  within  the  cor- 
|)orate  limits  of  the  city.  The  mother's  share  in 
the  Bussing  property  was  a  part  of  AVoodlawn, 
where  the  new  reservoir  is  being  constructed.  .She 
was  also  of  an  old  Holland  family,  who  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  New  York.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  died  before  his  father  did. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  eight  children,  as 
follows:  vSusan,  Mrs.  Duryea;  Ellen,  Mrs.  Wilkin- 
son;  Louisa,  Abby  (Mrs.  Wille),  John,  Elijah. 
Daniel,  Frederick,  all  residents  of  New  Y'ork,  with 
the  exception  of  our  subject. 

He  of  whom  tliese  lines  are  a  record,  received  ex- 
cellent advantages  for  obtaining  an  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  city.  He  lived  the 
most  of  the  time  with  his  grandfather  Bussing,  un- 
til he  was  twenty  years  old.  He  then  established 
himself  in  the  dairy  business  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
early  home,  and  was  prosperously  engaged  in  it 
until  1873.  He  then  traveled  through  various 
States  in  s6arch  of  a  suitalile  location  for  farming, 
and  in  1876  he  came  to  this  State  for  the  third  time 
by  rail,  having  been  pleased  by  the  fine  opportuni- 
ties offered  to  a  live,  enterprising  young  farmer  on 
this  rich  soil.  He  remained  in  Quincy  awhile,  and 
was  in  different  places  until  he  came  here  with  his 
brother  John,  and  bought  a  farm  in  partnership 
with  him,  comprising  one  hundred  acres  of  land, 
with  improvements.  Our  subject  removed  here 
that  j-ummer,  and  he  and  his  brother  were  busily 
'■mplo\ed  in  the  further  improvement  of  their  place, 
which  they  cultivated  together  four  years.  Our 
subject  then  bought  his  brother's  interest  in  the 
propert3',  and  has  since  added  toiiis  realty,  until  he 


has  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  till- 
able land,  well  drained  with  tile,  neatly  fenced,  and 
supplied  with  a  good  barn,  a  comfortable  dwelling 
and  other  necessary  buildings,  and  ample  machin- 
ery, and  orchards  and  groves  adorn  the  place.  Mr. 
Ryer  raises,  buys  and  feeds  hogs  of  the  Poland- 
China  breed,  which  command  a  ready  market,  he 
sending  a  car-load  a  j'ear.  He  has  twelve  fine  horses 
of  an  excellent  grade,  using  two  teams  on  the  farm, 
and  ho  has  some  full-blooded  Short-horn  cattle. 

Mr.  Ryer  and  Miss  Lucretia  Stanton  were  mar- 
ried in  Orion  Township,  Fulton  Count}-,  November 
29,  1883.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Stanton,  a 
pioneer  farmer  of  Fulton  Count}^.  Our  subject  and 
Ills  wife  have  four  children,  named  as  follows: 
Maude  M.,  Wilbur  R..  Frank  E.,  and  Cora  M. 

Mr.  Hyer  has  valuable  property  in  New-  York 
City  in  addition  to  his  possessions  here.  He  is 
free-hearted  and  open-handed  in  the  use  of  his 
means,  and  his  obliging,  courteous  manners  make 
him  popular,  and  his  honorable  course  has  won  him 
the  friendship  of  our  best  citizens.  He  was  reared 
in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and  has  remained  true  to 
the  religion  of  his  fathers,  being  a  member  of  the 
church  of  that  denomination  in  Farmington.  Po- 
litically, he  is  a  Rei>ul)lican. 


PRKD  B.  VAN  PETTEN.  Among  those  who 
I  are  cultivating  a  portion  of  the  soil  of  Tri- 
^  voli  Township  to  good  advantage,  and  who 

combine  with  the  raising  of  grain  the  feeding  and 
raising  of  stock,  is  the  gentleman  above  named, 
whose  fine  home  is  located  on  section  12.  The 
home  estate  consists  of  seventy  acres  upon  whicli 
stands  the  finest  dwelling  in  the  township,  and 
other  improvements  which  make  it  a  beautiful 
home.  In  addition  to  this  fine  property.  Mr.  ^'an 
Petten  owns  one  hundred  and  fort}-  acres  on  sec- 
tion 1 1 ,  also  well-improved  and  valuable.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  self-made  man,  having  worked  his  way-  at 
school,  and  by  dint  of  his  own  untiring  energy  in 
the  use  of  the  ability  with  which  he  was  endowed, 
secured  a  comfortable  financial  standing,  and  a  po- 
sition cif  [irominenco  ;unong  his  fellow-citizens.   He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


389 


is  now  Suijervisor  of  the  Townsliip,  and    already 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  County    15oard. 

Mr.  \'an  Petten  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  the 
ohl  Vans  of  Holland,  in  which  country  his  grand- 
father, Christian  Van  Petten,  was  born  in  180L 
There  he  was  reared  and  educated,  raarryin<i-  a  lady 
who  was  born  in  liie  same  kingdom,  the  same  year 
as  himself.  They  emigrated  to  America,  settling  at 
Sterling,  N.  Y.,  where  Mr.  Van  Petten  resumed  his 
former  occupation  of  farming.  He  has  been  very 
successful  in  life,  now  owns  sevei-al  finely  imjjroved 
farms,  worth  about  8200,000,  and  is  also  interested 
in  railroads.  He  was  at  one  time  President  of  a  road 
which  passed  through  .Sterling.  He  is  still  well  and 
hearty,  transacts  all  his  own  business,  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  the  work  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  since  early 
life.  He  votes  the  Republican  ticket.  Sliould  they 
live  until  September  next  (1890),  he  and  his  good 
wife  will  celebrate  the  sixty-eight  anniversarj'  of 
their  marriage.  They  have  had  twelve  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  yet  living,  and  all  well  situated. 

The  father  of  our  subject  is  John  Van  Petten, 
who  was  born  in  Sterling,  N.  Y.,  reared  on  the  farm 
and  had  the  advantages  of  good  schools,  being  for 
a  time  a  student  in  the  college  at  Auburn.  When 
al)out  twenty-one  3'ears  old,  he  came  to  Peoria 
Cviunty,  111.,  engaged  in  teaching  in  Tr'voli  Town- 
ship, and  continued  his  professional  labors  some 
fifteen  years.  His  reputation  as  an  instructor  is  an 
excellent  one,  and  man}'  of  the  jounger  generation 
look  upon  him  with  high  honor  for  the  lessons 
they  received  while  under  his  care.  He  finally 
lioughtland  on  section  14,  Logan  Township,  turned 
his  attention  to  farming,  and  improved  his  one  hun- 
dred acres  until  1868.  He  then  sold,  and  going  to 
IJvingston  County,  bought  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  which  he  operated  three  j'ears,  after  which  he 
tlisposed  of  it,  located  in  lioseville,  Warren  County, 
and  began  dealing  in  grain.  In  a  short  time  he 
went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  became  Government  store- 
keeper there,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  that 
otllce  until  1878.  then  removed  to  Sterling,  Rice 
County,  Ivan.,  where  he  still  makes  his  home.  He 
bought  a  farm  near  that  place,  but  rents  it,  occupy- 
ing himself  in  the  real  estate,  insurance,  and  loan 
business,  and  with  the  duties  of  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


He  is  a  Deacon  of  the  T'l'nited  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  mother  of  our  suliject  was  known  in  her 
girlhood  as  Hannah  T.  Bourne.  She  was  born  in 
New  Bedford,  Mass.,  where  her  father,  Meltiah  T. 
Bourne,  bad  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light,  and  near 
which  place  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  wa.s 
captain  of  the  old  Red  Regiment  of  Massachusetts, 
his  sword  being  now  in  the  possession  of  our  sub- 
ject. In  the  early  days  he  settled  on  section  11, 
Trivoli  Township,  where  he  built  a  log  cabin,  pur- 
sued a  successful  career  as  a  farmer  until  1868, 
when  he  retired  to  Elmwood,  spending  the  remnant 
of  his  days  there,  and  dying  in  1884.  His  daugh- 
ter, Alice,  now  the  wife  of  United  States  Marshal, 
F.  Hitchcock,  of  Chicago,  was  the  first  white  child 
born  in  this  township.  He  was  an  active,  influen- 
tial member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mrs.  Hannah  (Bourne)  Van  Petten,  was  married 
to  the  man  of  her  choice  in  this  tovvnship,and  died 
in  Logan  Township  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years,  leaving  four  children  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  The  others  are 
Augustus  G.,  a  resident  of  Ogden,  Utah,  and  em- 
ployed with  a  surveying  party  by  the  Unipn  Paci- 
fic Railroad;  Lillian  M.,  now  Mrs.  W.  G.  Bowers, 
of  Elmwood;  Isabelle  A.,  wife  of  S.  P.  Steck,  a 
farmer  of  this  township. 

Great-grandfather  Bourne  was  an  Englishman  of 
Tory  persuasion,  who,  with  other  members  of  the 
family  held  large  land  grants  around  Massachu- 
setts Bay  under  Charles  II.  His  brother  was  worth 
millions  of  dollars,  won  in  the  whale  fisheries,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  six  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  November  4, 
1857,  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides,  and 
lived  in  this  and  Logan  Townsliii)s  until  eleven 
years  old.  He  learned  the  rudiments  of  farming, 
and  attended  the  district  schools,  which  were  quite 
good,  going  to  Livingston  County  with  his  father 
in  1868,  and  remaining  tliere  until  fourteen  years 
old.  He  then  embarked  in  life  for  himself,  coming 
to  Elmwood  and  securing  farm  work  by  the  month 
during  the  summer,  and  in  the  winter  working  for 
his  board  and  attending  the  High  School.  This 
course  he  pursued  four  years,  and  was  within  a 
year  of  being  graduated,  when,  in  the  winter  of 
1875,  he  received  the  appointment  of  clerk  in  the 


390 


PORTRAIT  AN'^  i^fnORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Peoria  post-ollice,  under  John  8.  Stevens,  Poscukis- 
ter.  lie  remained  tlierc  nearly'  four  years,  then  uc- 
eepled  the  appointment  of  Postal  Clerk  on  the 
Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad,  receiving  from 
the  Government  the  salary  of  §80  per  month.  His 
run  was  between  Logansport,  Ind.,  and  Warsaw, 
III.  Upon  leaving  that  road,  he  held  a  similar  [wsi- 
tion  on  another,  during  the  seven  years  in  whiclihe 
was  in  the  postal  service  running  on  nearly  every 
road  from  Peoria.  For  nearly  tno  years  he  was  on 
the  Peoria,  Decatur  &  Evausville  R:iihoad. 

Resigning  his  position  on  account  of  ill-health, 
Mr.  Van  Petten  returned  to  Trivoli  Township,  in 
which  he  had  purchased  land  in  1881,  and  taking 
possession  of  the  same,  took  up  the  life  of  a  farmer, 
raising  crops  and  stock.  He  i)laced  his  land  un- 
der good  improvement,  but  in  1885  bought  his  pre- 
sent home  farm,  upon  which  he  removed  in  1888,' 
renting  the  other  place.  He  remodeled  the  build- 
ings .at  his  new  home,  adapting  them  to  his  taste 
and  needs.  He  feetis  two  car-loads  of  cattle,  and 
lluee  car-loads  of  hogs  per  year:  he  has  on  hand 
about  twenty-four  head  of  road  horses,  and  keeps 
one  haiul  at  work  in  the  cultivation  of  the  laud  de- 
voted to  crops.  lie  is  interested  in  public  improve- 
ments, and  in  the  opening  up  of  the  country  by 
new  means  of  communication.  He  gave  1200  to- 
wanl  tlie  construction  of  the  railroad  near  his  home, 
and  is  equally  liberal  regarding  other  improve- 
rnents. 

At  the  home  of  the  l)ride's  parents  in  Brimfield 
Township,  January  3,  1883,  Mr.  Van  Petten  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Florence  A.  Austin,  a 
native  of  that  township,  daughter  of  James  E.  and 
Sarah  Austin.  Her  father  is  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  his  section,  owns  four  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land,  and  has  retired  from  farm 
life  with  a  competence.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  V^an  Petten 
are  the  parents  of  tliree  children:  Stac}'  A.,  the 
lirst-born,  is  tlie  only  one  now  living;  Lutie  B: 
<lied  when  four  months  old;  and  Klwood  B.  when 
nine  months  old. 

Mr.  Van  Petten  was  first  elected  Su|iei\  isoi  in 
1889,  and  re-elected  in  1890  for  the  two  years' 
term.  He  is  an  ardent  Republican,  active  and  efli- 
cient  in  political  work.  He  was  delegate  to  the 
county  conventions  six  .years,  to  the  Congressional . 


covvention  three  j'cars,  and  for  the  past. four  years 
h.as  been  the  County  Central  Committeeman  from 
this  township.  He  w!is  Secretarj'  of  the  counl3'  con- 
vention in  1890,  and  of  the  Congresnional  conven- 
tion in  1888.  He  is  Steward  and  Trustee  in  the 
Methodist  Episcoi)al  Church  at  Trivoli,  his  Chris- 
tianit}'  being  more  than  a  mere  profession.  Ke  is 
more  than  ordinarily  intelligent,  and  comlnncs  with 
his  upright  character  the  pleasing  manners  which 
give  him  popularity  and  add  to  his  usefulness  in 
the  community. 


^— 


■^i-*- 


EWIS  A.  McFADDEN,  M.  D.,  although  a 
II  (?S)  resident  of  Peoria  Imt  a  few  j'cars,  already- 
l^\  occupies  a  high  position  as  a  phj'sician  and 
surgeon,  en joj'ing  a  good  private  practice,  in  ad- 
dition to  which  he  holds  the  position  of  County 
Physician.  He  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  INIarch 
30,  1848,  receiving  a  common-school  education  in 
the  place  of  his  nativity'.  He  completed  an  excel- 
lent course  of  study  at  Mt.  Union,  Ohio,  having 
previously  studied  at  JIarletta.  He  then  became 
Principal  of  the  schools  in  New  Haven,  W.  Va., 
retaining  the  position  several  years. 

Entering  the  Miami  Medical  College  at  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  Dr.  McFadden  took  the  progressive 
course,  reajainiug  tw'o  years.after  which  he  attended 
lectures,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Kentucky 
School  of  Medicine  at  Uouisville,  Ky.,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1881. 

After  completing  his  medical  studies  Dr.  Mc- 
Faddt;n  located  for  practice  in  the  West,  remaining 
there  until  1887,  when  he  came  to  Peoria.  Here 
he  has  made  for  himself  a  reputation  as  a  skillful 
physician  and  surgeon,  and  representative  citizen. 
In  1889  he  was  unanimously  elected  County  Phy- 
sician, the  office  giving  him  a  large  practice  with  a 
Salary  of  §1,500  per  annum;  he  receives  extra  pay 
of  from  §300  to  $500  in  case  of  additional  services 
required  by  the  county,  and  yet  has  time  to  attend 
to  his  private  practice,  which  includes  attendance 
C'H  man3'  of  the  first  families  of  the  city. 

In  188G  Dr.  McFad<len  took  a  private  course  at 
Baltimore,  JId.,to  perfect  himself  in  the  treatment 


a?1\^. 


*'^V«>Sl''      r-- 


y/lrH^ 


^.S^: 


aJA^ixHr^i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


393 


of  the  throat  and  clicst;  he  has  also  studied  the  eye 
and  ear  as  a  specialty.  His  itrofession  is  the  object 
of  his  deepest  devotion  and  most  earnest  zeal,  and 
his  interest  is  repaid  by  the  success  that  follows 
him.  He  belongs  to  the  Peoria  Sledical  Society, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health  but 
did  not  wish  its  duties  this  j-ear.  He  is  Medical 
Examiner  for  the  Foresters,  Red  Men,  Chosen 
Friends,  and  Woodmen.  The  ciiarming  wife  of  Dr. 
McFadden  was  known  in  her  girlhood  as  Miss 
Rachael  V.  Richey.  Slie  was  a  resident  of  Meigs 
County,  Oiiio.  Around  the  fireside  of  llie  Doctor's 
[iloasant  home  the  forms  of  three  children  cluster, 
gladdening  tiie  parents'  hearts  by  their  presence. 
Thej'  are  named  Una  May,  Goldie  Beatrice,  and 
AValton  Claris.  The  Doctor  owns  and  resides  in  a 
neat  dwelling  at  No.  1704  North  Adams  Street.  He 
and  Mrs.  McFadden  are  members  and  regular  at- 
tendants of  the  First  Metiiodist  Episcopal  Church. 


'i^m- 


jtV  OVELL  HARRISON.  The  name  of  Harri- 
I  (®  *""'  ever  popular  with  the  Anjerican  peo- 
;''— ^^  pie,  finds  a  worthy  representative  in  the 
gentleman  above  named,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
where  he  was  born  October  8,  1834.  He  is  the 
son  of  Increase  and  Lucy  (Martin)  Harrison,  his 
father  being  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  and  a  [ihy- 
sician  in  New  Haven,  where  he  took  high  rank  in 
his  profession.  Notwithstanding  this,  his  own 
eaily  advantages  wei-e  somewhat  limited,  as  Dr. 
Harrison  and  his  wife  both  died  when  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  but  four  years  old.  Durmg 
his  early  years  he  followed  farm  life  for  a  time, 
then  served  an  apprenticeship  with  an  elder  brother 
as  an  architect  and  budder.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  he  came  to  Peoria,  where  he  followed 
house  building,  subsequently  turning  his  attention 
to  farming,  although  continuing  to  reside  in  the 
city  limits.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  fine 
horses — roadsters  and  trotters — and  mannges  a 
farm  wliicli  is  noticeable  in  a  country  where  line 
estatfts  are  the  rule. 

Mr.  Harrison  has,  as  an  amateur,  given  consid- 
erable attention  to  horticulture,  in  which  he  has 
been  quite  successful,  and  in  past  years  has  been  a 
frequent  contributor  to  horticultural  journals.  The 
love  of  horticulture  seems  to  be  a  family  trait,  as 
the  following  incident  will  illustrate:    After  the 


death  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  '-Lord  Protector"  of 
England,  in  1658,  and  the  accession  of  Charles  II. 
to  the  throne,  the  roj-alists  began  to  wreak  ven- 
geance on  his  followers.  His  great  lieutenant, 
(ien.  Thomas  Harrison,  one  of  the  regicide  judges 
who  had  condemned  Charles  I.,  was  arrested  and 
beheaded;  his  son,  ('apt.  William  Harrison,  a  sen- 
faring  man,  for  safety  left  England  in  a  small 
vessel  of  his  own  for  the  colonies,  but  in  the  dan- 
ger and  peril  of  the  hour,  he  diil  not  forget  to 
bring  along  in  a  flower  pot  a  scion  from  the  an- 
cestral pear  tree,  at  the  "Old  Manor."  Landing 
on  the  Delaware  River  near  I'hiladelphia,  he  set- 
tled at  (jloucester,  N.  J.,  wiiere  he  i)lanted  tlie 
little  tree.  In  1876,  at  the  Centennial,  a  half 
bushel  of  fruit  from  the  "Harrison  Pear  Tree"  was 
exhibited,  the  tree  then  being  two  hundred  and 
st'venteen  years  old.  The  -'Harrison  Pear  Tree" 
still  lives,  and  since  the  death  of  the  '"Stuyvesant 
Pear  Tree,"  in  New  York,  is  believed  to  be  the 
oldest  in  the  country. 

Mr.  Harrison  celebrated  Indeiiendence  Day, 
1866,  by  wedding  1\lrs.  Lucinda  Dodds,  iiee  Rich- 
ardson. iNIrs.  Harrison,  whose  portrait  ajjpears  in 
connection  with  this  sketch,  is  deserving  of  special 
mention  on  account  of  her  eminent  success  as  a 
bee-keeper  and  a  writer  on  the  management  of  the 
honey-making  insects.  For  some  years  she  has 
edited  the  bee  department  of  the  Prairie  Farmer, 
being  likewise  a  member  of  the  staff  of  a  British 
agricultural  journal.  The  A,  B,  C,  of  Bee  Cul- 
ture has  this  to  say  of  her:  "Among  women  no 
bee-keeper  is  more  widely  known  than  Mrs.  Lucinda 
Harrison.  Born  in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 21,  1831,  she  came  in  1836  to  Peoria 
County,  111.,  her  parents,  Alpheus  Richardson  and 
wife,  being  pioneer  .settlers.  Public  schools  were 
at  that  time  undeveloped  and  educational  advan- 
tages few,  but  her  parents  gave  her  the  best  to  be 
had  in  private  schools.  Her  brother,  Sanford,  was 
a  member  of  the  first  class  vvhich  was  graduated 
from  Knox  College,  and  she  then  spent  a  year  at 
an  academy  taught  by  him  at  Granville,  111.  She 
taught  school  from  time  to  time  until  185.5,  when 
she  married  Robert  Dodds,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Woodford  County,  who  died  two  years  later,  leav- 
ing her  a  widow  at  twenty-five." 

Mrs.  Harrison  thus  describes  her  entrance  into 
the  ranks  of  an  apiarist:  "  In  1871,  while  perusing 
the  reports  of  tlie  Department  of  Agriculture,  j 
came  across  a  flowery  essay  on  liee  culture  from 
the  graceful  pen  of  Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Tupper.  I 
caught  the  bee  fever  so  badly  that  I  could  hardly 
survive  until  the  spring,  when  I  purchased  two 
colonies  of  Italians  from  the  late  Adam  Grimm,  of 
Jeffeisou,  Wis.     The   bees  were  in  eight-frame  L 


391 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGKAPlllCAL  ALBUM. 


liivi's.  :iik1  wel'still  continue  to  use  hives  exactly 
similar  to  these  then  purohased.  I  bought  the 
bees  without  mv'  husband's  knowledge,  knowing 
full  well  that  he  would  forbid  me  if  he  knew,  it, 
and  many  were  the  curtain  lectures  I  received  for 
purchasing  such  troublesome  slock.  One  reason 
for  his  hostilitj'  was  that  I  kept  contiiiuallj'  pulling 
the  liives  to  pieces  to  see  what  the  bees  were  at 
and  kept  them  on  the  warpath.  Our  home  is  on 
three  citj'.lots,  and  at  the  time  I  commenced  bee- 
keeping our  trees  and  vines  were  just  eoming|into 
bearing,  and  Mr.  Harrison  enjoyed  very^,much 
being  out  amongShis  pels,  and  occasionally  had  an 
escort  of  scolding  bees.  Meeting  with  opposition 
made  me  [all  the  more  [determined  to  succeed.  I 
never  wavered  in  my  fixed  determination  to  know 
all  there  was  to  be  known  ^about  honey  bees,  and  I 
was  loo  inquisitive,  prying  into  tneir  domestic 
relations,  which  made  them  so  very  irritable." 

Itis  credited  to  Mrs.  Harrison  that  she  has  written 
more  than  any  woman  in  the  world  on  the  subject 
of  bees,  as  opening  up  a  new  industry  for  women. 
Iter  writings  have  been  extensively  published  in 
Great  Britain  and  on  the  Continent,  as  well  as  in 
Australia  and  the  .'^oulli  ISea  Islands.  Her  articles 
have  been  translated  into  French.  German.  Italian, 
and  probably  other  tongues.  Mrs.  Harrison  is  a 
strong,  vigorous  and  advanced  thinker,  and  is  a  be- 
liever in  the  rights  and  privileges  of  women.  Her 
contribntions^in  literature  emiirace  not'only  articles 
on  bee  culture,  but  likewise  on  horticulture.  Her 
first  writings  appeared  in  the  Gi'rmantoirn  Tele- 
graph of  Pliiladeliihia,  and  Coleman's  Rural  World. 
of  St.  Louis. 

The  perseverance  of  Mrs.  Harrison  was  rewarded, 
her  husband's  opposition  ceased,  and  he  himself 
became  interested  in  the  bees,  helping  to  care  for 
them,  declaring  that  he  believed  it  would  add  ten 
\ears  to  his  life.  For  a  number  of  years  her  apiary 
has  contained  about  one  bundled  colonies.  '  She  is 
prevented  from  doing  as  much  as  slie  otherwise 
would  by  ill-healtii  and  family  cares,  for  although 
childless,  she  lins  been  a  mother  to  several  orphan 
children.  She  is  best  known  as  a  writer,  her  many 
contributions  to  the  press  being  marked  with  vigor 
and  originality,  with  a  blunt  candor  that  assures 
one  of  her  sincerity.  She  credits  bee-keeping  with 
making  lier  life  more  enjoyable  by  opening  up  a 
a  new  world,  and  making  her  more  observing  of 
plants  and  flowers,  with  which,  we  may  add,  her 
Lome  is  quite  surrounded. 

Mr.  Harrison  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  as  he  ex- 
presses it,  -'dyed  in  the  wool,"  his  fealty  to  party 
not  permitting  his  suffrage  in  behalf  of  a  relative. 
He  and  his  wife  now  have  with  them  an  adoi)ted 
daughter,  Kate,  and   a  niece,    Luc}'   Simonton,  the 


last  grandchild   born  to   Lucy  and  Alpheus  Rich- 
ardson. 

The  Harrisons  now  scattered  abioad  throughout 
the  United  States,  trace  their  genealogy  back  to  a 
common  parent,  two  of  whose  sons,  Thomas  and 
Richard,  came  to  'America  during  the  earlj-  Colo- 
nial settlement  byj_Pilgrims.  They  first  sought  a 
home  on  tiie  coast  of  Connecticut,  but  one  of  them 
growing  dissatisfied,  moved  on  to  New  Jersej-. 
Harrisons  numbering  perhaps  two  thousand  souls 
are  of  this  stock.  Five  hundred  of  the  name  and 
family  sat  together  at  a  re- union  held  at  Orange, 
N.  J.,  in  1875.  At  a  similar  re  union  held  at 
Branford,  Conn.,  the  year  previous,  three  or  four 
hundred  were  present.  President  Harrison  is  of 
IhisJ  family,  as  was,  of  course,  the  General  and 
President  of  1840. 

To  the  sketch  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lovell  Harrison 
we  add  a  brief  account  of  the  life  of  Alpheus  Rich- 
ardson, the  father  of  Mrs.  Harrison  and  one  of 
Peoria's  pioneer  settlers.  He  was  born  in  Somers, 
Conn.,  Jul3'  30,  1803.  In  1815  he  accompanied 
his  i)areuts  to  Ohio,  and  there  helped  to  subdue 
the  rugged  soil,  cut  down  the  heavy  timber,  plant 
fruit  trees,  and  secure  a  home  for  himself  and 
parents.  On  the  5tli  of  September,  1824,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Lucy  Cone,  a  native  of 
South  Wilbraham.  Mass..  where  she  was  born  De- 
cember 6,  1807.  Her  father.  .Jared  Cone,  crossed  the 
Alleghany  ^lountains  with  his  effects  in  wagons  and 
settled  in  Muskingum  County.  Ohio,  in  18115.  They 
were  anxious  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Rich- 
ardsons,  whom  they  had  known  in  the  East.  In  the 
spring  of  183G,  having  heard  much  of  the  prairies 
of  Illinois,  Mr.  Richardson  emigrated  to  Peoria, 
making  the  journey  hither  by  steamer  down  the 
Ohio  and  up  the  IMississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers. 

At  that  time  the  family  of  Mr.  Richardson  con- 
sisted of  himself,  his  wife  and  four  chililren. 
After  they  located  in  Peoria  three  more  children 
weie  born  to  them,  the  y<jungcst  dying  in  infancy, 
and  Alpheus,  Jr.,  in  _early[childhood.  The  eldest 
son,  Sauford,  was  graduated  from  Knox  College, 
Galesburg,  and  afterward  studied  theologj'  in  New 
York.  He  was  sent  by  the  American  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  as  a  missionary  to  Turkey,  where 
he  served  abl}'  and  efficiently  for  twenty-four 
years.  Ill-health  com])elled  him  to  return  home 
in  1880,  and  in  188G  he  was  called  hence.  The 
other  son,  E.  D.  Richardson,  served  with  credit 
during  the  Civil  War,  rising  to  the  rank  of  Captain. 
At  the  close  of  the  w.ir  he  settled  at  Yicksburg, 
where  he  died  in  1877.  Of  the  three  daughters 
Mrs.  Harrison,  the  noted  :ai)icultural  writer,  is 
the  sole  survivor.  The  eldest  daughter,  Mrs. 
Juliette  Shepard,   died   at   her  home  in  Granville, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


395 


111.,  in  1«81.  She  was  a  woman  of  great  energy, 
failliful,  and  effleientas  a  C'Inistian  and  lemperanoe 
worker,  as  well  as  of  great  intUistri'  in  tlic  daily 
walks  of  life. 

After  Mr.  Richardson  settled  in  Peoria  he  taught 
schools  for  several  seasons,  at  various  points  in  the 
eouiitv  during  the  winter  months,  farming  in  the 
summer.  lie  held  various  municipal  offices,  and 
finally  opened  and  for  several  years  conducted  a 
farmer's  holel,  acquiring  a  competenco  in  the  busi- 
ness, lie  was  noted  for  his  great  kin(Uiness  of 
lieart  and  for  his  unswerving  honesty  and  integrity. 
Mr.  Richardson  was  one  of  that  class  of  men  who 
wive  character  and  stability  to  a  community,  and 
teach  liy  their  example  the  lesson  of  good  citizen- 
ship, lie  died  in  .\pril.  1  Sdo,  beloved  and  respected 
by  all  who   knew  him. 


ALKB  W IHTTEMORE  is  a  noldc  type  of  the 
'^.  intelligent,  straightforward,  enterprising  na- 
tives of  New  England  who  have  borne  so 
important  a  part  in  the  upbuilding  of  this  county, 
and  for  the  space  of  half  a  century  he  has  repre- 
sented its  industrial  interests  as  a  gunsmith  and  a 
whitesmith  and  is  still  actively  engaged  in  the  latter 
branch  in  the  city*  of  Peoria,  where  he  has  alwaj's 
resided  ever  since  he  came  to  this  State  fifty 
years  ago.  For  the  last  thirty  years,  he  has  been 
stationed  where  he  is  at  present,  and  the  Whitle- 
more  repair-shop  is  a  well-known  landmark  in  the 
neighborhood. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Connecticut,  August  24. 
1817,  to  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Corliin)  Whittemore, 
natives  respectively  of  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut. The  Wliitteniores  are  of  Scotch  origin, 
our  subject's  great-grandfather,  having  come  from 
fiom  Scotland,  he  being  one  of  the  historical  three 
brothers  that  |)lay  so  conspicuous  a  part  in  the  early 
genealogical  accounts  of  so  many  New  England 
families,  these  brothers  locating  in  New  Hampshire, 
Massachusetts   and   Connecticut.      Daniel    Whitte- 


more was  a  man  of  much  mechanical  ingenuity  and 
was  a  wheelwright,  millwright,'carpent(;r  and  joiner. 
He  was  a  life-loug  resident  of  Connecticut,  dying 
September  3,  1870,  at  the  venerable  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years,  five  months  and  ten  days.  He  came  of 
a  long-lived  race  and  we  here  note  the  remarkable 
fact  that  his  grandfather  lived  to  be  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  when  ninety  years 
old,  renewed  his  youth  in  so  far  as  that  nature  then 
furuishedihim[with|^a;new  set  of  teeth. 

Caleb  Whittemore,  of  whom  we  write  was  reared 
to  mechanical  pursuitsQandLlvery  early  in  life  be- 
came self-supporting,  asjat  the  age  of  nine  ami  one- 
half  years  he  wasfplaced  in  a  cotton  factor}',  and 
was  employed  in  cotton  factories  until  he  was 
nearly  eighteen  years  old.  He  tlien'/vent  to  South- 
bridge,  Mass.,  to  learn  the  trade  of  gunsmithing, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  left  New  England 
for  the  West,  shrewdly  thinking  that  men  of  his 
calling  would  be  in  demand  in  a  newly  settled 
country.  He  arrived  in  Peoria  May  17,  1840,  and 
at  once  started  in  businessj.as  a  gunsmith,  and  has 
hardly  abandoned  it  yet,  although  after  he  had  been 
here  eight  or  nine  years  he  took  up  whitesmithing 
in  connection  with  it  and  gradually  dropped  gun- 
smithing.  In  the  (iftv  years  that  he  has  been  here 
he  has  had  four  different  |)laces  for  his  work,  but 
for  the  last  thirty  j-cars  has  occu|iied  the  same  shop. 

The  encouragement,  counsel  and  active  assistance 
of  a  good  wife  have  not  been  lacking  to  make  our 
subject's  life  a  success,  as  he  was  marrie<l  April  7, 
1841,  to  Miss  Slaria  Russell,  and  for  nearly  half  a 
century  they  have  traveled  life's  road  together  and 
have  shared  its  griefs  and  joys.  Mrs.  Whittemore 
comes  of  an  old  New  England  family,  her  parents. 
Smith  Barrett  and  Roxanna  (Alton)  Russell  having 
been  born  in  Vermont  and  Connecticut  respectively. 
Her  father  was  a  carpenter  by  occupation,  and  in 
18.'M),  removed  with  his  family  to  Peoria,  and  be- 
came a  pioneer  of  this  section  of  the  country.  Our 
subject  and  wife  have  three  children  living,  namely  : 
Violetta,  wife  of  James  McSkimin;  Mary  Fiances, 
wife  of  Philip  B.  Keeler.  and  William,  who  is  with 
his  father  in  business. 

Mr.  Whittemore  is  a  m.an  of  superior  intellect, 
possessing  a  clear  active  br.ain,  and  though  mostly 
self-educated  is  a  well  informed    man.     He  has    a 


396 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


pai'ticular  talent^for  tnalberaatics,  and  the  first  win- 
ter after  bis  marriage  lie  took  up  the  sludgy  of 
arithmetic  and  went  througli  Smith's  old  aritlimetic 
without  any  assistance,  mastering  its  most  intricate 
problems,  and^bas  to-day  a  better  knowledge  of 
mathematics  than  many  a  college  graduate.  Men 
liviutr  in  Peoria  who  had  college  educations  often 
came  to  Mr.  Wbitlemore  to  ask  his  assistance  in 
solving  dillicult  sums.  His  personal  character  and 
standing  in  the  community  is  of  the  highest,  bis 
long  residence  in  this  county  bringing  him  an  ex- 
tensive acquaintance  and  many  tried  and  true 
friends  who  appreciate  his  manliness  and  genuine 
worth.  As  a  good  citizen  should  be,  lie  is  interested 
in  the  public  weal  of  his  country  and  is  a  sturdy 
advocate  of  the  policy  of  the  Republican  party. 


ARNIIART  MKALS,  well  known  as  being 
connected  with  the  Peoria  Steel  Plow  Com- 
I  .,  pan 3-.  has  been  associated  with  E.  B. 
Pierce,  its  founder,  since  1863.  The  plow 
works  were  established  twenty  years  prior  to  this 
by  Tuhey  &  Anderson,  which  firm  was  succeeded 
l.y  William  Tobey  &  Co.,  who  admitted  Mr.  Meals 
to  a  partnership  in  the  business  in  1861.  He  be- 
came connected  with  the  old  firm  in  18.54,  and  in 
1866  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  the  St.  Louis 
&  Peoiia  Plow  Comiianj^  remaining  thus  until 
1 873.  It  was  then  made  the  Peoria  Steel  Plow 
Company,  and  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Illi- 
nois. 

Mr.  Me.ils,  from  1879  until  April  17,  1884,  ofii- 
c-iated  as  Superintendent  of  these  works,  and  at 
th.at  date  they  were  destroj^ed  by  fire.  He  then, 
in  company  with  Mr.  Pierce,  purchased  the  interest 
of  the  other  partners,  and  they  put  up  the  present 
manufactory ,which  is  located  at  the  corner  of  Water 
and  Walnut  Streets.  In  addition  to  the  ample 
warerooms  at  Peoria  the)*  have  the  same  in  St. 
Louis,  The  firm  of  William  Tobe}'  &  Co.  built  the 
first  warehouse  in  Kansas  City,  on  the  bottoms, 
where  the  business  is  still  carried  on. 

The  Peoria  Steel  Plow  Works  is  the  oldest  man- 
ufacturing establishment  in  the  city.     Mr,  Meals 


has  been  connected  with  the  enterprise  for  the  long 
period  of  thirty-six  years,  and  his  jjartner,  Mr. 
Pierce,  has  been  with  it  for  twenty-seven  years. 
The}^  have  thus  had  ample  opportunity  to  gain  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  business,  its  require- 
ments an<l  the  best  manner  of  conducting  it.  In 
addition  to  plows  they  manufacture  harrows,  rakes 
and  all  kinds  of  agricultural  implements,  giving 
employment  at  times  to  one  hundred  and  twenty 
men.  The  straightforward  manner  in  which  the 
enterprise  has  been  conducted  has  thoroughly  es- 
tablished it  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the 
business  men  and  farmers  throughout  Illinois  and 
.adjoining  States. 

The  subject  of  this  biography,  a  native  of  Adams 
County,  Pa.,  was  bfjrn  near  Bendersville,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  B.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Jones)  Meals,  the  former  of  whom  is  still 
living,  is  a  resident  of  Penn.sylvania,  and  has  at- 
tained to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 
The  mother  departed  this  life  about  1864.  The 
parental  household  included  six  children. 

Mr.  Meals,  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  State,  and  when  leaving 
school  served  a  thorough  apprenticeship  at  black- 
smithing.  In  1854  he  came  to  Illinois  and  found 
his  first  employment  with  the  firm  conducting  the 
business  in  which  he  is  now  a  leading  partner  and 
President  of  the  company.  This  record  is  one  of 
which  he  has  reason  to  be  proud,  lie  learned  wis- 
dom from  the  maxim  that  "A  rolling  stone  gathers 
no  moss,"  making  a  practical  a|)plication  of  it  with 
most  admirable  results.  Commencing  life  without 
means,  and  dependent  upon  his  own  resources,  he 
has  bj'  a  course  of  thrift  and  industry,  i)rudence 
and  good  management,  become  not  only  well-to-do 
financially',  but  has  established  himself  in  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow-men. 

Mr.  Meals  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Fillmore,  and  remains  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  has  been  a  useful  man  in  his 
community  and  prominent  in  local  affairs,  serving 
as  City  Treasurer,  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  and  as  Poor  Commissioner.  Socially 
he  is  identified  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, officiating  as  Master  in  the  lodge  of  the  latter 


A  2 


PORTRALT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


399 


for  a  period  of  nine  j-ears.  He  assisted  in  organ- 
izing tlie  People's  Loan  and  Homestead  Associa- 
tion, of  which  he  has  been  President  a  number  of 
years.  He  identified  himself  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Cliurcli  in  early  manhood,  and  besides  giv- 
ing to  it  a  liberal  support  has  offlciated  as  Trustee 
and  occLiiJied  other  positions  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bility. The  fact  that  he  is  highly  spoken  of  by 
those  who  know  him  best  is  suffleient  indication  of 
his  character. 

Miss  Mary  C.  Woodruff,  a  resident  of  Peoria, 
became  the  wife  of  our  subject,  July  18,  1865. 
Tiiis  lady  was  boru  June  18,  1842,  in  Peoria,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  George  Woodruff  and  wife,  na- 
tives of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively,.  Of 
this  union  there  have  been  born  three  children, 
two  of  whom — Harry  and  Charles — are  twins; 
tliey  are  now  promising  young  business  men  of 
Peoria,  having  inherited  largely  the  enterprise  and 
energy  of  their  honored  father.  Frankie  died  in 
infancy. 

^^- 


'IP^  OBKUT  WKSLEY  BAKER,  M.  D.  Al- 
jL^  though  this  gentleman  has  still  some  dis- 
Iks  \\\  tance  to  travel  before  reaching  the  shady 
^^;side  of  life,  and  is  comparatively  young  in 
his  profession  also,  he  has  a  large  practice  in  Peo- 
ria, a.  reputation  second  to  none  among  his  medical 
associates,  and  is  looked  upon  with  respect  for  his 
excellent  personal  character,  pleasing  social  (juaii- 
ities  and  cultured  mind.  He  is  descended  from 
respectable  Kentucky  families,  and  is  himself  a 
native  of  the  State  among  whose  profession.il  men 
he  enjoys  so  high  a  rank. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Baker,  Squire  and  Klizabotli 
(Clark)  Baker,  came  to  the  Prairie  State,  in  1832, 
from  their  native  Blue  Grass  region.  Their  fam- 
ily consisted  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth.  Eleven 
members  of  the  family  circle  are  now  living,  three 
sons  being  in  Kansas,  three  in  Southern  Illinois,  one 
in  Washington,  Tazewell  County,  and  two  daugh- 
ters in  Woodford  County.  The  father  was  a 
farmer,  skillful,  industrious  and  highly  respected. 

Dr.   Baker  was   born   in   W.ishington,   Tazewell 


County,  February  3,  18-19,  received  his  fundamen- 
tal instruction  in  the  common  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county  and  completed  his  literary  course  in 
Eureka  College,  where  he  was  a  student  two  years. 
His  tastes  having  led  him  to  choose  the  medical 
profession  for  his  life-work,  he  entered  Rush  Medi- 
cal College,  of  Chicago,  taking  a  thorough  course, 
graduating  in  the  class  of  1879,  and  receiving  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  The  same  spring  he  selected 
Peoria  as  the  field  of  bis  future  operations,  coming 
to  his  new  home  with  the  determination  to  keep 
pace  with  the  advancement  of  his  chosen  science, 
to  exert  all  his  powers  in  the  work  before  him  and 
mantain  a  high  ideal  as  a  practitioner. 

Although  no  politician,  Dr-  Baker  is  alw.ays 
found  ready  to  deposit  his  vote,  which  is  a  Demo- 
cratic one.  His  social  and  benevolent  qualities, 
called  out  as  they  constantly  are  by  the  demands 
of  his  profession,  are  not  exhausted  thereby,  but 
lind  further  ex|)ression  through  his  membership 
with  the  Knights  of  I'ytlii.as,  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen  and  Modern  Woodmen. 

In  Miss  Maria  E.  Anderson,  daughter  of  Samuel 
II.  and  Nancy  C.  Anderson,  of  Genoa,  Neb.,  Dr. 
Baker  found  the  qualities  of  mind,  refinement  and 
fine  character  which  led  him  to  desire  her  compan- 
ionship in  his  home.  They  were  united  in  mar- 
riage on  New  Year's  day,  1885,  and  lived  happily 
together  until  the  wife  was  called  hence  August 
19,  1889.  She  had  been  a  student  at  Eureka,  and 
hf.s  been  sincerely  mourned  by  her  former  in- 
structors and  fellow  students,  whose  sympathy  is 
extended  to  her  bereaved  faniilj'.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  children  only,  Arthur  E..  who  is  now 
living  in  Nebraska  with  his  grandparents,  and 
Marie,  who  died  when  twenty-one  days  old. 

A  portrait  of  Dr.  Baker  is  presented  in  connec- 
tion with  this  brief  record  of  the  most  important 
events  in  his  career. 


^OHN  SCOTT  is  the  owner  and  occupant  of 

a  fine  property  on  section  14,  Timber  Town- 

ship.     He    was    horn    on    the  same  section 

(^^7/    August  15,  1847,  reared  on  a  farm,  and  was 

the  recipient  of  the  educational  privileges  of  the 


400 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


common  schools.  His  home  surroundings  were 
favorable  to  the  development  of  the  better  qualities 
of  his  nature  anil  the  instilling  into  his  mind  of 
sturdy  principles.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  his  marriage,  April  21,  1870,  when  he 
rented  a  farm  and  set  up  his  own  household.  In 
1873  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  eighty 
acres,  to  which  he  has  added  until  his  landed  estate 
now  comprises  four  hundred  and  thirty  acres.  This 
has  mostly  been  secured  by  his  own  efforts,  being 
therefore  a  standing  monument  to  his  industry'  and 
good  judgment.  He  raises  all  kinds  of  stociv,  as 
well  as  excellent  crops. 

The  cheerful,  capable  woman  whom  Jlr.  Scott 
won  as  his  wife  was  Lueinda  Maple,  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Mary  (Jones)  Maple,  who  were  among 
tiie  earliest  settlers  of  this  counl\'.  She  was  born 
in  Ilollis  Township,  and  reared  to  malurit}^  in  this 
section,  acquiring  a  good  education  and  much 
knowledge  of  domestic  affairs.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  The  familj'  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Scott  consists  of  the  following  children: 
Lewis,  Emma,  Melvina,  Lj-da,  Alva,  Grover  and 
Thurman.  Mr.  Scott  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
views,  as  would  be  surmised  from  the  names  of  his 
youngest  children. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  the  seven  sons  and 
one  daughter  born  to  Shadrach  and  Lucy  Ann 
(Doon)  Scott.  The  father  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery County,  Ky.,  December  11,  1822,  and  came  to 
Peoria  County,  111.,  with  his  parents  in  1828.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  rude  log  cabin  of 
those  early  times,  into  whi(;h  light  entered  through 
greased  paper  windows,  and  where  benches  and 
desks  were  of  the  most  primitive  sort.  He  and  the 
other  male  members  of  the  family  wore  buckskin 
and  homespun  garments  during  the  early  years  of 
their  residence  in  this  State.  His  parents  had  lo- 
cated on  a  soldier's  claim  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  7,  Timber  Township,  two 
years  after  they  came  hither,  and  in  its  develop- 
ment he  assisted  as  he  grew  toward  manhood. 
After  his  marriage  he  located  in  the  same  townsliip 
where  he  still  lives. 

The  grandparents  of  our  subject  were  William  L. 
.ind  Africa  (Lee)  Scott,  the  latter  a  native  of  Rich- 
rdond,  Va.,  an  !   daughter  of   John   Lee,  a  planter 


and  slaveholder.  After  having  lived  in  Kentuckj' 
some  years  they  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  whei'e  Mr.  .Scott  farmed  one  season. 
His  removal  to  tiiis  county  was  made  with  a  one- 
horse  wagon,  and  tlie  first  two  y"ears  were  spent 
where  Mapleton  now  stands.  He  then  entered  the 
land  secured  through  a  soldier's  claim  he  Iiad  pur- 
chased in  Baltimore,  residing  tliere  until  Indians 
became  troublesome,  wlien  he  changed  his  residence 
to  section  15,  near  Glasford.  There  he  remained 
until  his  death  in  1837.  His  father  liad  come  to 
America  from  Scotland.  Of  his  eight  children 
William,  John.  Sliadrach  L.,  Rile}-  and  Jane  grew 
to  maturity,  all  rearing  families  except  John.  The 
others  died  in  infancy  or  childhood.  Grandmother 
.Scott  survived  her  husb.and  some  ten  ^-ears. 

The  liousehold  band  of  which  our  subject  is  a 
member  included  also,  Martha,  Mar}-,  Seth.  Lean- 
der,  Walter,  Lewis,  George  and  Leonard.  All 
were  well  educated,  and  several  have  engaged  in 
the  profession  of  teaching.  Walter  and  Lewis  are 
thus  employed  in  Kansas,  and  .Seth  in  his  native 
State.     JIary,  the  second  daughter,  is  deceased. 


"if}  OHN  S.  STEVENS,  attorney-at-law.  and  at 
present  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Ste- 
vens &  Horton,  has  for  the  past  twenty-five 
years  been  a  prominent  member  of  the  bar 
in  Peoria.  He  has  a  fine  literary  and  classical 
education,  is  entitled  to  write  several  initials  after 
his  name,  and  prior  to  his  admission  to  the  bar  did 
some  excellent  work  as  a  teacher.  His  character  is 
a  thoroughly  honorable  one,  and  for  years  he  has 
been  identified  with  church  work,  and  manifested 
an  interest  in  all  that  is  for  the  good  of  the  people. 
He  has  fairly  earned  the  high  reputation  which  has 
been  bestowed  upon  him,  and  the  sincere  friendship 
of  his  manj-  well-wishers. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Joshua  and 
Abigail  (Walker)  Stevens,  who  lived  in  Bath, 
N.  H..  where  he  was  born,  September  16,  1838. 
During  his  boyhood  the)-  removed  to  Hardwick, 
Vt.,  which  was  his  home  until  he  reached  man's 
estate.     After  pursuing  his  elementary  studies  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


401 


cuterert  Darlraouth  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  willi  tlie  degree  of  A.  B.  in  the  class  of 
'62.  The  degree  of  JM.  A.  was  afterward  conferred 
upon  him  bj-  his  Alma  Mater.  He  came  to  Peoria 
in  1802,  began  teaching  in  the  Peoria  High  School 
and  reading  law  with  Alexander  McCoy.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1865,  and  at  once 
formed  a  i)artnership  with  his  former  preceptor, 
which  continued  until  Mr.  McCo}-  went  to  Chicago, 
in  1871. 

Mr.  Stevens  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
Judge  JlcCuUoch,  the  two  practicing  together  until 
our  subject  was  appointed  Postm.aster  by  President 
Grant.  At  the  same  time  he  had  formed  a  legal 
connection  with  John  S.  Lee,  which  continued 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Lee  iu  February,  1  889.  For 
four  years  previous  to  tliat  date  Mr.  Horton  had 
also  been  a  member  of  the  firm,  and  he  and  our 
subject  have  since  continued  the  business.  Mr. 
Stevens  is  now  one  of  the  four  oldest  attorneys  in 
tl:e  city,  and  probably  stanils  foremost  in  the  suc- 
cess which  has  attended  his  labors.  His  whole 
lime  is  given  to  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
tor  the  past  fifteen  years  his  business  has  largely 
been  corporation  work. 

Mr.  Stevens  was  city  Postmaster  four  \ears,  lill- 
iii<I  the  otlicc  with  satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 
When  he  began  practicing  law  he  made  up  his  mind 
to  keep  free  from  political  aspirations,  to  which 
legal  labors  so  frequently  point.  He  works  with 
the  Republican  part}-,  and  has  frequently  been  a 
delegate  to  county  and  State  conventions,  but  so 
far  he  has  carried  out  his  purpose  of  working  only 
for  the  good  of  tiic  parly  and  the  election  of  others. 
He  is  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Reformed 
Episcopal  Churcli  in  this  city,  and  has  been  Ves- 
tryman since  its  organization  in  1876.  He  is  also 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farmers'  Saving,  Loan 
&  Homestead  Association,  of  which  he  has  been 
President  since  its  institution. 

The  legal  acumen  of  Mr.  Stevens  has  been  called 
into  requisition  by  various  corporations  of  which 
he  is  or  has  been  attornej'.  Among  them  are  the 
People's  Loan  &  Homcste.ad  Association,  the  First 
National  and  Commercial  National  Banks,  and  the 
Central  Railro.ad  Companj'.  He  is  also  general 
counsel  for  the   Distilling  &  Cattle- Feeding  Asso- 


ciation, for  Kingman  &  Co.,  the  largest  agricultural 
implement  house  in  the  West,  and  for  George  M. 
Moore  &  Co.,  these  two  also  being  corporations. 
Ho  likewise  acts  as  general  counsel  for  the  Peoria. 
Decatur  &  Evansville  Railroad,  and  the  Peoria 
&  Pekin  Union  Railroad  Company.  His  partner 
is  general  counsel  for  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  West- 
ern Railroad,  and  the  firm  are  local  attorneys  for 
the  Lake  Erie  &  Western,  and  the  Chicago,  Santa 
Fe  &  California.  In  fact  they  do  nearly  all  of 
the  railroad  business  here,  and  have  done  so  for  a 
number  of  j'ears. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Stevens  is  a  native  of  this 
city,  and  daughter  of  Amos  P.  and  Sarah  M.  Bart- 
lett,  the  father  being  one  of  the  oldest  living  citi- 
zens and  a  brother  of  President  Bartlett,  of  Dart- 
mouth College.  Her  mother  is  also  living.  Miss 
Sarah  Bartlett  was  the  recipient  of  good  educa- 
tional advantages  and  careful  home  training,  by 
which  her  mind  and  heart  became  the  seat  of  in- 
telligence, fine  principles  and  loving  deeds.  She 
became  the  wife  of  INIr.  Stevens  in  1868,  and  their 
happiness  has  been  un marred  save  by  the  loss  of 
their  two  children,  both  of  whom  died  youno;. 


OBERT  M.  FINLEY,  who  occupies  an  im- 
portant place  in  the  farming  community 
of  Logan  Township,  where  he  has  a 
well-improved  farm,  is  a  breeder  of  fine 
horses,  Percheron,  F''rench  and  Cleveland  Bay,  of 
Short-horn  cattle  and  Poland-China  hogs.  He  is  an 
early  settler  of  this  section  of  the  county,  and  has 
aided  in  its  development. 

Mr.  Finley  was  born  November  25,  1817,  in 
Adams  County,  Ohio.  He  came  of  good  Revolu- 
tionary stock  and  his  parents  were  Robert  and 
Piioebe  (Glasgow)  Finlej',  natives  respectively  of 
Augusta  and  Rockbridge  Counties,  Va.  The  Fin- 
leys  were  of  Irish  extraction.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  He 
was  a  Virginia  planter  and  slaveholder.  Disposing 
of  his  plantation  there,  he  removed  to  Ohio,  set 
free  his  negroes  in  an  early  day  of  its  settlement 
and  became  the  proprietor  of  landed  property,  and 


402 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


there  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  Glasgow, 
the  descendant  of  an  Irish  family  who  went  from 
Virginia  to  Ohio,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  that  State. 
lie  was  a  member  of  the  Associated  Reform  Church, 
and  was  a  Whig  in  politics.    He  was  twice  married. 

The  father  of  our  subject  served  in  the  War  of 
1812.  He  came  from  Ohio  to  this  county  in  the 
fall  of  1846,  and  settled  on  section  9,  Logan  Town- 
ship, and  became  one  of  its  leading  pioneers.  He 
accumulated  a  vaUialile  property  and  h.ad  several 
hundred  acres  of  land.  He  died  in  Monmouth 
during  the  war  and  his  widow  closed  her  life  in 
Fulton  County,  this  State.  He  was  a  Whig  in  pol- 
itics and  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  leading 
raeuibei's  of  the  Associate  Reform  Church,  of  which 
he  was  an  Elder,  but  he  finally  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  that  church  and  joined  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church.  He  was  a  son  of  Robert  and 
Martha  (Steele)  Fink^y,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  were  the  pai'ents  of  the  following 
children:  Samuel,  William,  Robert,  Jane,  Martha, 
Sarah,  Margaret,  Marj',  and  Rosa.  Three  of  their 
sons  and  four  of  their  daughters  married  and  reared 
families. 

Robert  Finlev,  our  subject's  father,  was  twice 
married.  His  children  by  his  first  wife,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  were  as  follows :  Robert  M.: 
Frastus,  who  died  in  Iowa;  Rosanna,  Mrs.  Smiley, 
who  died  in  Iowa;  Martha  A.,  ISIrs.  Patton ;  John 
A.,  who  served  .as  Lieutenant  in  the  late  war  and 
is  now  deceased;  Leander,  a  resi'lent  of  Kansas; 
Nancy  ^L,  now  Mrs.  Warwick;  Phoebe,  now  Mrs. 
Pinkerton.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  in 
1832.  Mr.  Finle3'  married  for  his  second  wife 
!Mrs.  Mary  Warwick,  nee  Barr,  widow  of  Alexander 
Warwick.  Three  children  were  born  of  that  mar- 
riage: Samuel,  a  resident  of  Iowa;  Sarah  E.,  wife 
of  A.  jMiller;  and  William,  who  was  killed  by 
guerrillas  during  the  war. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
was  given  the  advantages  of  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. His  father  had  a  large  farm  and  required 
his  assistance  in  its  management,  but  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  he  began  life  for  himself,  and  in  the 
sjiring  of  1847  came  to  Logan  Township),  and  set- 
tlrd  where  he  now  lesides  ou  one  hundred  acres  of 


land.  He  formerly  owned  land  in  Iowa.  His  farm 
here  is  in  a  good  condition,  is  provided  with  an  ex- 
cellent cLass  of  buildings  and  is  well  adapted  to 
stock-raising,  to  which  he  devotes  much  attention, 
as  before  mentioned. 

Mr.  Finlev  has  been  twice  married.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Hogue.  and 
she  was  born  in  Butler  Count}',  Ohio,  a  daughter 
of  John  Hogue.  Of  the  nine  children,  born  of 
that  marriage,  one  died  in  infancy  and  two,  Mary 
A.,  and  Robert,  died  in  childhood.  The  following 
six  are  still  living:  John  H.,  a  resident  of  Iowa; 
Demarres,  wife  of  Albert  Pinkerton;  Hor,ace  H.; 
Jane,  wife  of  Joseph  Karnaghan ;  Elmer,  a  resident 
of  Iowa;  and  William.  Mrs.  Finle}' was  a  very 
estimable  woman  of  a  truly  religious  nature,  and 
in  her  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  found  one 
of  its  most  earnest  members. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject,  which  took 
place  November  8.  1868,  was  to  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Lo- 
gan, a  native  of  Decatur  County,  Ind.,  and  a  daugh,- 
ter  of  Thomas  and  Nancy  (Patton)  McCracken, 
who  were  natives  resiiectively  of  Kentucky  and 
Adams  County.  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Finley  have 
had  three  children:  Thomas  A.,  Edith  and  Clar- 
ence, all  of  whom  are  deceased,  dying  in  childhood. 

Our  subject  is  a  conscientious,  straightforward 
man.  who  satisfactorily  performs  the  duties  that 
fall  on  him  .as  the  head  of  a  household,  as  a  neigh- 
bor and  as  a  law-abiding  citizen.  He  is  an  upright 
member  of  the  I'nited  Presbyterian  Church  to  which 
his  good  wife  also  belongs  and  both  are  faithful 
workers  in  the  fold.  In  politics  his  views  coincide 
with  those   jjromulgated  by  the  Republican    [tarty. 


\\  ATTHEW  HENEBERRY  was  born  in 
County  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  September  8, 
l-S  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Anas- 
tasia  (Carroll)  Ileneberry.  The  father  was 
a  farmer.  In  1840  he  emigrated  to  America,  dy- 
ing in  Peoria,  111.,  in  1856,  and  his  wife  two  years 
later.  The  parental  familj'  consisted  of  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  the  survivors  being  Matthew. 
Mrs.  John  Gorman,  and    Mrs.  Thomas  Daniels,  all 


-««■<: 


^2^t^^        ^^^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


405 


of  Pcoiia.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  .young 
llciielieriy  drove  a  dray  for  Mr.  Carver.  In  1851 
lif  wtMit  into  tlic  \viusl<y  business  as  a  porter  and 
a  year  later  secured  a  partnership  witli  Mr.  Brande- 
nioin.  After  tlie  partnersbii)  was  consummated,  the 
senior  partner  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  three  years 
later  Mr.  Ileneberry  took  the  entire  business,  wiiieh 
lie  has  since  conlinuecL 

Mr.  Ileneberry  is  interested  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  has  been  for  twenty  years;  he  is 
now  \'ice  President  of  the  institution.  lie  also 
holds  the  offices  of  Treasurer  in  the  Gas  Company 
find  in  the  Jenning  Electric  Light  Company  and 
is  a  Director  of  tlie  l'ul)lic  Library-.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  liishop  Spalding's  ehui'ch.  He  is  much  in- 
terested in  the  improvement  of  the  city  in  which 
he  h.as  spent  the  greater  p,arl  of  his  life,  and  in 
which  he  t:ikes  pride  as  one  in  which  business  is 
nourishing  and  public  improvements  rapi(L 

The  nuptial  riles  were  celebrated  between  Mr. 
IIiMieberry  and  Miss  Mary  Daniels  May  10,  18G7. 
The  bride  was  born  in  the  Emerald  Isle  and  is  a 
ilauohter  of  Richard  Daniels.  To  ]\lr.  and  Mrs. 
Ilenclierry  twelve  children  bav^e  l»cen  born,  nine 
being  now  alive.  Anastasia  is  the  wife  of  Michael 
Iv.  Began,  of  the  First  National  Bank;  .Tosie  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  .L  Cashin,  a  stock  dealer;  Mollie 
married  Robert  DeWalt.  a  wholesale  and  retail 
dry-goods  merchant  in  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind. ;  Lucy  and 
Liila  are  at  lionie;  Nellie  and  Theodosia  are  at- 
tending the  Sacred  Heart  Convent,  at  St.  Louis, 
Mo.;  Nicholas  is  with  his  father;  Richard  is  in  the 
First  National  Bank. 

<l|f^ELIX  HART,  of  Chilicothe  Township,  is 
ll^fe;  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock 
1,  ^  raisers  of  Peoria  Count}'.  His  portrait 
presented  on  the  oi)posite  page  represents  an  agri- 
cidturist  of  more  than  ordinary  skill  and  ability;  a 
man  of  quick,  keen  perceptions,  and  possessing  a 
clear  insight  into  the  l)est  methods  of  conducting 
agriculture,  he  knows  well  how  to  apply  them  so 
as  to  produce  the  liesl  results,  and  in  his  harvest 
fields  larger  crops  of  grain  are  grown   to   the  acre 


than  is  usual   even   in   this   higlily    productive  re- 
gion. 

Mr.  Hart  was  born  in  Somersetshire,  England, 
near  Bristol,  July  15,  1826,  coming  of  good  old 
English  ancestry.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Hart)  Hart,  were  both  natives  of  Somersetsiiire, 
and  of  the  same  name  though  their  families  were 
in  no  way  connected.  They  were  life-long  resi- 
dents of  their  native  shire,  the  mother  dying  at 
the  age  of  sixty  years,  while  the  father's  life  was 
prolonged  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-two  years, 
when  he  too  was  gathered  to  his  fathers.  He  was 
a  well-known  character  in  the  place  of  his  nativity, 
where  he  was  the  keeper  of  a  public  inn,  and  was 
prominent  in  local  politics.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  people  of  more  than  average  intelligence  and 
capability,  and  were  very  highl}'  thougiit  of  by  all 
in  tlicir  communit\'.  They  were  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  were  active  in  ever}'  good 
work. 

Our  subject  was  the  fifth  child  in  a  family  of 
ten  children,  of  wliom  only  two  came  to  America. 
He  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  place  of 
his  birth,  and  early  in  life  was  apprenticed  to  a  car 
penter;  after  his  term  of  apprenticeship  exi)ired, 
he  did  journeyman  work  for  two  years.  February 
15,  18  10, Mr.  Hart  took  a  new  departure  in  life,as  on 
that  date  he  left  his  old  friends  and  the  parental 
lujme  with  its  many  pleasant  associations,  to  seek 
on  a  foreign  soil  the  prosperity  that  was  denied 
him  amid  old  environments.  He  took  passage  at 
Liverpool  on  the  vessel  "IMary  Florence,"  bound 
for  America.  On  the  first  night  out  the  shi|)  was 
nearly  wrecked  by  a  collision  with  another  in  tiio 
Irisii  Channel,  and  was  obliged  to  put  back  to 
to  Liverpool  for  repairs.  It  again  set  sail  from 
that  ]H)rt  March  .Trd,  and  arrived  at  New  York 
without  further  mishap  April  4,  184'.). 

Mr.  Hart  immediately  sought  work  and  found  it 
in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  some  four 
years.  We  next  hear  of  him  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
where  he  lived  for  some  years.  In  December, 
1854.  with  the  wife  that  he  had  married  there,  he 
came  to  Peoria  Cejunt}-,  and  after  living  in  Peoria 
some  years,  moved  to  Elmwood,  where  he  opened 
a  carpenter's  shop.  He  was  there  when  the  war 
broke  out,  and  wii  h  patriotic  ardor  offered  his  ser- 


406 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


vices  to  his  adopted  country,  but  was  refused  on 
account  of  his  small  stature.  For  some  time  he 
carried  on  his  calling  in  Elmwood,  but  finally  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Knox  County,  and  gave  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits.  Leaving  that 
county  in  1882  he  repaired  to  Chillicothe  Town- 
shi]3.  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  has  a 
farm  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  this 
county,  besides  other  valuable  property  in  Chilli- 
cothe. The  land  lies  on  sections  8  and  17,  and  is 
under  admirable  tillage,  its  broad  harvest  fields 
jielding  bountiful  harvests,  which  are  the  source 
of  a  handsome  income;  it  is  also  provided  with  a 
neat  and  comfortable  set  of  conveuientlj'  arranged 
farm  buildings.  Mr.  Hart  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  raising  stock,  and  has  his  place  stocked  with 
cattle  and  horees  of  high  grade.  He  has  been 
greath"  prospered  since  he  became  a  resident  of 
Illinois,  and  bj-  his  individual  efforts  has  placed 
himself  among  tlie  wealth}'  men  of  Chillicothe. 

AVhen  in  ^Newark,  N.  J..  Mr.  Hart  had  the  good 
fortune  to  meet  Miss  Elizabeth  Leynberger,  a  na- 
tive of  that  city,  born  February  4,  1831,  and  he 
was  further  favored  b}-  securing  her  as  his  wife. 
Her  parents  li.id  been  reared  and  wedded  in  Alsace, 
then  a  part  of  France,  and  after  marriage  had 
come  to  this  countrj',  spending  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  in  Newark.  Twelve  children  have  come 
to  bless  the  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his  es- 
timable wife,  of  whom  two  are  dead.  Lulu  and  an 
infant;  the  names  of  the  living  are  John  H..  Mary 
H.,  Mattie,  A.  Lincoln,  George  M.,  Eva  E..  Anna 
F.,  Emma  J.,  Joseph  W.  and  Flora  E. 

Mr.  Hart  has  proved  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
citizenship,  as  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  material, 
social  or  religious  welfare  of  Chillicothe  Township 
he  has  placed  himself  with  those  who  are  doing  the 
most  to  forward  its  every  interest.  He  and  his 
wife  are  among  the  leading  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  their  daily  lives 
give  evidence  of  the  sincerity  of  their  religion,  as 
they  are  ever  kind  and  helpful  to  all  about  tbem. 
and  freely  give  of  their  sj-mpathy  and  means  if 
anyone  is  in  trouble  or  in  need  of  charitable  assist- 
ance. Mr.  Hart  is  verj-  prominent  in  the  councils 
of  his  church,  and  has  held  most  of  the  offices,  be-  j 
ing    at    present   Class-Leader   and    Steward.     He   1 


takes  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  is  a  sound  Re- 
publican, though  he  does  not  seek  for  public  hon- 
ors, and  his  whole  course  since  coming  to  the 
United  States  has  proved  him  one  of  the  most  loyal 
citizens  of  our  great  Republic. 


y)ILLIAM  CALHOUN  is  an  old  time  and 
honored  resident  of  Peoria  County,  and 
^  ^  was  one  of  the  earl}-  settlers  of  Limestone 
Township,  where  he  has  a  pleasant  home,  beauti- 
fuUj'  located  on  the  Farmington  Road,  seven  miles 
from  Peoria.  Here  he  has  reclaimed  a  farm  from 
the  wild  prairies,  that  is  in  all  respects  one  of  the 
most  desirable  estates  in  the  vicinity,  is  kept  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  is  supplied  with 
all  modern  improvements. 

Mr.  Calhoun  was  born  in  Ireland  seventy  years 
ago.  a  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Anderson)  Calhoun. 
The  early  years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  his  na- 
tive soil.  Ambitious  to  see  something  more  of  the 
world,  and  to  make  something  more  of  himself  than 
he  could  on  the  old  Isle,  April  12,  1841,  he  left  his 
parents  and  his  seven  brothers  and  sisters  and 
started  out  on  the  long  journey  to  the  New  AVorld. 
He  sailed  for  Quebec  and  from  there  made  his  way 
to  the  United  States,  and  for  six  j-ears  was  en- 
gaged in  the  marble  works  in  Lenox.  Mass.  His 
wages  were  $1  a  day,  and  when  it  was  stormy  he 
could  not  work,  and  there  were  but  nine  months  in 
the  year  when  the  establishment  where  he  was  em- 
ployed was  in  operation.  Notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  out  of  his  small  earnings  he  had  to  pa}- 
his  board  during  the  six  years  that  he  was  there, 
he  frugality  saved  up  his  mono}-  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time,  had  a  snug  little  nest  egg  of  between 
8600  and  1:700.  With  this  little  capital  he  deter- 
mined to  try  life  in  the  West,  and  in  1847  started 
for  Peoria,  going  to  Alban}-  bj-  rail,  and  thence 
by  can.al  to  Buff.alo,  and  from  there  b}-  steamboat 
on  the  lakes  to  Chicago.  In  that  city  he  had  an 
opportunity  to  ride  with  a  farmer  who  had  been 
there  with  a  load  of  wheat  from  Peru.  Arriving 
at  tliat  place  he  embarked  on  a  steamer  for  Peoria, 
and  landed  here  in  the  month  of  September.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOCiRAFlIICAL  ALBUM. 


407 


found  Peoria  scurtely  more  llian  a  village,  with  a 
population  of  three  tliousanil  [leople,  and  no  indi- 
cation of  tlic  marvelous  growth  that  has  since 
taken  place,  making  it  a  large  and  wealthy  city. 
The  first  work  that  our  subject  <Ud  in  Illinois  was 
to  quarry  rock  for  the  fii*t  bridge  that  ever  span- 
ned the  Illinois  River,  which  was  afterward  the 
first  free  bridge  over  that  stream.  He  also  helped 
lo  lay  the  stone  in  the  piers  of  the  bridge.  lie 
lived  in  Peoria  for  twenty  years,  a!id  made  money 
and  acquired  a  competency,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
lime  moved  to  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives.  It 
comprises  eighty  acres  of  land  of  exceeding  fertil- 
ity, which,  when  he  purchiised  it,  was  in  a  wild 
state,  but  is  now  as  fine  a  place  as  one  could  wish 
to  see. 

Mr.  Calhoun  was  united  in  marriage  with  -Miss 
Margaret  Borland,  April  12,  1849.  She  was  a 
(laughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Jamiesun)  Borland, 
and  was  their  eldest  child.  They  were  from  Beith- 
shire,  Scotland,  coming  to  America  in  18l;3,  and 
til  Peoria  in  1S48.  They  spent  the  remainder  of 
UuMr  lives  here  and  died  leaving  a  large  famil}'. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calhoun  had  three  children,  all  of 
whom  died  in  infancy. 

The  pleasant  wedded  life  of  our  subject  was 
1  nought  to  a  close  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  No- 
veinl)cr  14,  1877.  The  removal  of  this  tried  and 
true  companion  left  a  vacancy  in  the  life  of  our 
subject  that  can  never  be  filled.  Mrs.  Calkoun 
was  a  woman  of  great  patience  and  fortitude,  of  the 
seienest  trust  in  God,  of  a  discerning  spirit  and  a 
kindly  bearing,  one  who  knew  well  how  to  guide 
the  affairS'of  her  own  bouse  so  as  to  insure  the 
comfort  of  the  household.  The  familj'  on  both 
sides  were  of  Preshj'terian  stock,  but  Mrs.  Cal- 
lionn  joined  the  Methodist  Church  when  she  .ar- 
rived at  years  of  discretion  and  lived  a  true  Chris- 
tian life,  dying  in  full  faith.  When  living  in 
Scotland  her  minister  gave  her  a  card  of  recora- 
iiietidalion  and  certificate  of  gooil  standing  in  the 
church. 

Mr.  Calhoun  possesses  in  a  full  degree  those 
qualities  of  heart  and  intellect  that  mark  him  as  a 
genial,  kindly  man,  of  sound  connnon  sense  and 
prudent  judgment.  Though  of  foreign  birth  these 
United  States  of  Amei-ica  have  no  more  loyal  and 


devoted  citizen  than''he.  He'said  to  the  writer,  '-I 
love  my  adopted  country.'!.  I  became  a  citizen  by 
adoption  and  look  the  oath  of,allegiance  at  Lenox. 
Mass.,  while  living  there,  and  I  can  truthfully  siy 
that  I  have  ever  been  true  to. my  adopted  country 
in  the  darkest  days  of  the  Rebellion,  and  1  can  s.ay 
wilh  a  true  heart,  long  may  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
float  over^the  best^Governmeut  and  country  on  the 
globe."  In  politics^Mr.  Calhoun  is  quite  indepen- 
dent, never  allowing  anyone  to  influence  hisj^vote, 
aiming  alw.aj-s  to  supfiort  whomsoever^he  deems 
best  fitted  for  office,  irrespective  of  part3'. 


-5-+#=^^4-'-J- 


/>^EORGE  W.  STEWART  is  an  important 
III  <^w7  '^''1^™'^'^''  *^f  t''^  agricullural  class  as  repre- 
^>i.5^J  sented  in  Trivoli  Township,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged successfully  in  raising  Norman  horses  of  a 
high  grade  and  full-blooded  Poland-China  hogs. 
He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  and  his  ancestors 
were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania. His  father,  James  Stewart,  was  boi-n  in 
that  p^art  of  the^couutry,  his  birthplace  being  in 
Juniata  County. 

William  Stewart,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Cumberland  Count}-,  Pa.,  and  sub- 
sequently removed  across  the  mountains  to  Juni.ata 
County  in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement  and  lo- 
cated on  Tuscarora  Creek,  in  the  woods,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  One  morning  he  went  forth 
from  his  pioneer  home  in  search  of  his  horses,  and 
while  wandering  some  distance  frOm  the  house  was 
tomahawked  and  scalped  by  two  Indians  who  lay 
in  ambush.  He  had  served  in  the  Revolution 
while  a  resident  of  Cumberland  County.  After  he 
was  killed  his  familj'  returned  to  their  old  home, 
and  remained  in  Cumberland  County  a  few  years 
until  the  Indians  had  been  subjugated,  when  they 
went  back  to  Juniata  County. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  among  the 
aborigines  of  the  forest,  and  learned  many  of  their 
ways  and  became  a  famous  hunter  with  hounds. 
True  to  the  Revolutionary  blood  of  his  sire,  when 
a  war  sprang  u,)  with  Great  Britain  in  1812,  Ik;  of- 
fered his  services  to  his  country.     In  his  early  man- 


408 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


hood  he  located  near  Mifflin,  in  his  native  county, 
and  for  many  years  was  actively  engaged  in  clear- 
ing farms,  wliich  lie  sold  at  a  good  profit.  He  also 
used  to  team  across  the  mountains  to  Baltimore. 
He  died  suddenly  of  colic  in  1850,  his  useful  life 
thus  terminating  at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  the  owner  of  valuable 
property,  including  two  farms.  He  was  a  strictly 
religious  man, belonging  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  was  originally  a  Democrat  in  politics  until 
Jaclison's  time,  and  then  joined  the  Whigs. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Rebecca  Bell,  was  born  in  Juniata  County,  her 
father  having  settled  in  Pennsylvania  on  his  arrival 
from  Ireland.  He  was  a  follower  of  the  Protestant 
religion.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  her 
native  State  in  1878,  having  spent  her  last  years 
with  her  children,  of  whom  she  had  eight,  as  fol- 
lows: Riehai'd  S.,  a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia 
Medical  College,  who  died  in  Allegheny  City,  Pa.; 
"WiUiam,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead;  Mary, 
now  Mrs.  Foltz,  living  near  Mifflin,  Juniata  County  : 
George  W.;  Jolin,  who  died  in  Pennsylvania;  Re- 
becca, Mrs.  Clark,  who  lives  in  LaSalle  Countj'; 
Calvin,  who  is  crippled  from  the  effects  of  wounds 
received  during  the  war,  and  lives  with  his  brother 
AVilliiini;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Harris,  a  resident  of  Ju- 
niata County.  Calvin  enlisted  in  1861  in  a  Penn- 
sylvania cavalry  regiment  and  served  with  great 
creilit  throughout  the  war. 

George  W.  .Stewart  was  born  near  Mifflin,  Pa., 
November  24,  1824,  and  was  reared  on  tiie  old 
homestead  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Tuscarora 
in  view  of  Sliade  Mountain.  He  obtained  his  edu- 
cation in  a  log  schoolhouse,  with  primitive  slab 
benches  and  other  rude  furnishings.  On  the  fertile 
soil  of  his  father's  farm  he  acquired  a  thorough 
insight  into  farming,  and  he  used  to  have  to  tend 
to  the  burning  of  lime  that  was  used  as  a  fertilizer. 
He  remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental  household 
until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  then 
married  and  established  a  home  of  his  own,  carr}-- 
ing  on  agriculture  as  a  renter  for  some  years  after 
that.  In  1852  he  removed  to  Indiana,  going  by 
canal  to  Pittsburg,  by  boat  to  Cincinnati,  and  from 
tliere  on  the  canal  to  Logansjiort  in  tlie  Hoosier 
Stale.     For  awhile  he  dwelt  in  Carroll  County,  but 


it  was  a  very  unhealthful  season  and  everybody 
was  sick  there,  and  as  he  did  not  like  the  prospects 
he  returned  to  his  native  county,  journeying  thithe 
by  team  and  wagon,  being  three  weeks  and  thre 
days  on  the  way. 

Mr.  Stewart  bought  a  small  farm  in  Juniat 
County  after  he  went  back  there,  engaged  in  it 
improvement  a  few  years,  and  then  sold  it  an  ad 
Vance,  and  rented  a  farm  until  he  came  here  ani 
carried  on  trucking.  In  1861  he  determined  t 
avail  himself  of  the  cheaper  land  in  this  State  am 
the  many  superior  advantages  afforded  by  this  so 
lubrious  climate  and  fertile  soil,  and  in  the  fall  o 
the  year  he  came  here  and  purchased  eight}'  acre 
of  land  in  this  rownship,  and  the  following  sprin, 
shipped  his  goods  to  Peoria,  and  soon  had  hi 
household  housed  in  a  comfortable  home,  thoug 
it  was  in  a  log  house,  which  constituted  nearly  ai 
the  improvement  that  had  been  made  on  the  plac( 
He  broke  the  land  and  placed  the  soil  under  cult: 
vation,  and  was  much  prospered.  In  1865  li 
bought  thirteen  and  one-half  acres  on  section  2f 
which  was  improved  land,  and  he  paid  §54  an  acr 
for  it.  His  next  purchase  was  of  an  eightj'-aci 
tract  on  section  33,  for  which  he  paid  $12  an  acn 
He  cleared  it  and  improved  it,  and  in  1889  sold  i 
He  then  bought  eighty  acres  on  section  28,  whic 
was  an  improved  farm.  His  home-farm  comprist 
eighty  acres  on  section  34,  he  having  in  all  on 
hundred  and  seven t3--three  and  one-half  acres.  H 
farm  is  under  the  best  of  cultivation,  is  tilec 
fenced  and  hedged  in  a  neat  manner,  and  the  dwel 
ing  is  a  large  and  conveniently  arranged  housi 
and  the  barn,  30x40  feet,  is  ample  for  its  uses,  an 
a  fine  orchard  and  beautiful  groves  adorn  the  plac 
Mr.  Stewart  rents  all  of  his  land,  and  from  th; 
source  derives  a  comfortable  income.  He  devot( 
much  attention  to  raising  high  graded  Norma 
horses,  which  are  well  bred,  lacking  one-eighth  an 
one-sixteenth  of  being  full-blooded,  and  he  has 
fine  herd  of  fourteen  horses,  including  some  fir 
brood  mares. 

The  first  marriage  of  our  subject,  which  toe 
place  January  1,  1848,  was  with  Miss  Phwbe  A 
daughter  of  Isaac  Varnes.  Her  father,  a  native  ( 
Dauphin  County,  was  a  farmer  in  Juniata  Count; 
Pa.,  where  she  was  born.     She  was  a  sincere  Chris 


/ly. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


411 


ian  and  a  memlier  of  the  Baptist  Church.  She  de- 
parted this  life  much  lamented  February  13,  1872. 
Her  marriaii;e  with  our  subject  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  we  have  here  a  brief 
record:  Winfield  S.  is  married  and  resides  in  Wayne 
County,  Iowa;  .lohn  A.  died  October  11,  IS.'iG, 
aged  four  years;  Anna  J.  married  Sylvester  Men- 
denhall,  and  died  in  1S86  in  Ijoup  County,  Neb. ; 
George  died  liere  in  1889  after  attaining  manhood; 
IMary  C.  married  John  N.  Eslinger,  a  farmer  of 
Trivoli  Townshij);  John  1'.  died  here  in  188G,  at 
tlie  age  of  twenty-six  years.  Ezra  Doty,  a  fuiely 
educated  young  man,  is  Principal  of  the  Utica 
schools  in  York  County;  Sarah  lOlizabeth  married 
Lewis  I.ane.  a  farmer  of  this  townshi|);  William 
died  February  16,  1869,  at  the  age  of  eiglit  months. 
Ezra  Stewart  was  a  student  at  Bushnell  College 
eigliteen  months,  and  then  jiursued  a  three  years' 
course  in  the  West  Normal  School,  Shenandoah, 
Iowa,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1885.  He 
was  married  at  Farragut,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Ada  A. 
Hall  of  that  place. 

The  maiden  name  of  Mr.  Stewart's  present  amia- 
ble wife  was  Susan  E.  Kimsey,and  they  were  wedded 
in  this  township  in  1876.  She  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  in  Logan  Township,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  William  Kimse}-,  a  farmer  and  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  a  man  of  honor  and  principle.  In 
ante  bellum  days  he  was  a  rank  abolitionist,  and  is 
now  as  strong  a  Republican,  and  has  served  his  party 
well  as  delegate  to  county  conventions.  He  has 
been  on  Ihc  (irand  and  I'etit  juries. 


^UFUS  A.  DuMARS,  M.  1).  A  high  rank 
among  the  professional  men  of  Peoria  be- 
longs to  the  gentleman  above  named,  who  is 
well  skilled  in  llierapentical  science,  i)os- 
sesses  the  abiding  interest  in  his  profession,  and 
the  scholarly  habits  which  lead  him  to  continual 
advancement  as  investigation  opens  up  a  wider  field 
from  year  to  year.  His  personal  character  is  an 
honorable  and  uprigiit  one,  while   his  manners   are 


those  of  the  courteous  and  well-bred  gcntlcmnn.  It 
is  needless  to  say  that  he  has  miuiy  friends  and  a 
reputation  second  to  none  in  this  vicinity. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  George  W.  and 
Flliza  (Ranch)  I )u Mars, who  wore  of  French  and  (ier- 
man  descent  respectively.  The  father  was  born 
in  Harrislnirg',  Pa.,  where  he  grew  to  maturity  and 
engaged  in  teaching.  He  afterward  turned  his  at- 
tention to  mercantile  pursuits,  and  still  later  to 
farming.  In  1851-55  he  removed  to  Peoria  County, 
111.,  settling  on  a  farm.  He  is  now,  at  the  age  ot 
eighty-six  years,  making  his  home  with  his  oldest 
son. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch, 
and  whose  portrait  is  shown  (Isewhere,  opened  his 
eyes  to  the  light  December  6,  1849,  in  Daujiiiin 
County,  Pa.  His  early  years  were  spent  upon  a  farm, 
his  time  being  occupied  with  attendance  at  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  various  home  duties.  On  at- 
taining his  eighteenth  year  he  entered  the  Wesleyan 
University,  at  Bloomington,  111.,  where  he  ])rose- 
cuted  his  studies  four  years.  His  taste  leading  him 
to  the  profession  of  medicine,  he  entered  the  ofllce 
of  J.  C.  Fr3'e,  of  Peoria,  under  whose  instruction 
be  obtained  a  considerable  knowledge  of  medical 
science.  The  first  course  of  lectures  was  taken  by 
Mr.  DuMars  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  second  in  the  Louisville  Medical  College, 
of  Kentucky.  From  the  latter  institution  he  re- 
ceived a  diploma  in  1876.  after  which  he  took  a 
third  course  of  lectures  in  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1877. 
Returning  to  Peoria,  Dr.  DuMars  engaged  in  prac- 
tice with  his  former  prece|)tor,  the  connection  con- 
tinuing until  the  death  of  Dr.  Frye.  Our  subject 
then  continued  the  practice  alone,  retaining  the 
former  patronage  of  the  ollice,  and  enlarging  his 
field  as  his  own  reputation  became  more  thor- 
oughly established  and  the  [lopulation  of  the  city 
increased. 

Dr.  DuMars  holds  membership  in  the  Peoria 
City  Medical  Society  and  in  the  National  Associ- 
ation of  Railroad  Surgecjns.  He  is  interested  in 
the  social  and  benevolent  orders,  has  identified  him- 
self with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  in  the  latter  being  enrolled  in  Peoria 
Lodge,  No.  15,  F.  &.  A.  M.  He  belongs  to  the  Pres- 


412 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


b3"terian  Church,  in  which  his  standing  is  most  ex- 
cellent. 

The  accomplished  wife  of  Dr.  DuMars  is  a  na- 
tive of  this  citj',  where  she  made  raan^-  friends  as 
Miss  Nellie  Frye.  She  is  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Dr.  .Joseph  C.  and  Eliza  (Sterling)  Frye,  under 
whose  care  she  developed  an  estimable  character. 
Her  marriage  to  our  subject  took  place  June  17, 
1879,  and  has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of  three  chil- 
dren, named  respectively:  Eliza  Sterling,  Elliot 
Cullender  and  Frabion  Rhees. 


Vf/  AMES  KERSHAW  has  been  for  many  years 
variously  identified  with  the  leading  inter- 
ests of  this  part  of  Illinois,  and  to-day 
/  stands  among  the  men  of  wealth  and  influ- 
ence in  this  county.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners in  Elmwood  Township,  where  he  is  ably 
managing  his  extensive  farming  and  stock-grow- 
ing business  so  as  to  make  monej'  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage. 

:Mr.  Kershaw  was  born  at  Dulesgate,  Lancashire, 
England.  He  grew  to  be  a  sturdy-,  self-reliant, 
intelligent  lad,  and  at  the  earl}-  age  of  twelve 
years  left  home  to  carry  out  his  ambitious  desiie 
to  follow  the  sea,  and  he  first  shipped  as  a  cabin 
boy  and  visited  many  of  the  countries  of  the 
world.  He  sailed  in  the  famous  "Great  Eastern" 
on  the  first  trip  ehe  ever  made  and  had  quite  an 
experience  as  a  sailor.  In  1850  our  subject  emi- 
grated to  this  country,  and  on  June  4th,  of  that 
3'ear,  first  set  foot  in  Peoria.  He  immediately 
sought  work  and  for  two  months  was  engaged  as  a 
farm  laborer.  At  the  expiration  of  that  lime  the 
enterprising  young  man  leased  a  coal  mine  at 
Kickapoo  Station,  and  was  activel}'  engaged  in  its 
operation  the  ensuing  two  j-ears.  After  that  ha 
rented  a  farm  on  the  plank  road,  near  Peoria,  and 
while  still  carr3-ing  on  his  coal  mining  enterprise, 
renting  a  mine  of  Mr.  Sids  and  employing  a  force 
of  thirtj-  to  forty  men,  be  gave  much  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits. 

Before    his  marriage    Mr.   Kershaw    went  from 


Peoria  to  Coal  Vallej',  Sheffield,  Galena,  and  also 
visited  the  copper  regions'[on  Lake  Superior.  In 
the  latter  place  he  found  the  price  of  board  to  be 
$12  per  week  and  wages  $5  per'day.  He  'decided 
tiiat  the  expense  of  living  there  would  more  than 
counterbalance  what  he  would  earn  in  the  mines 
and  would  not  stay  there,  returning  to  Peoi'ia. 
From  Kewanee  he  went  to  Macomb  and  it  was  his 
good  fortune  to  arrive  there  tbe  same  night  of  the 
famous  debate  between  Stephen  A.  Douglas  and 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he  liad  the  pleasure  of  list- 
ening to  those  great  orators.  He  subsequently  re- 
turned to  Prairie  City,  investigated  the  mines 
there  and  with  his  keen  eye  seeing  they  were  val- 
uable, bought  some  mining  land  on  credit  and  em- 
ployed forty  m.en  to  work.  He  did  so  well  in  this 
venture,  fluanciall3%  that  he  was  enabled  to  pay 
for  the  whole  seventy  acres  in  one  year  and  cleared 
§100  a  week  b3'  his  operations.  He  remained  in 
that  locality  four  j-ears  and  then  rented  his  mine 
for  ^nl'J  a  year  and  moved  into  Prairie  City, 
where  he  bought  a  lot  and  building  in  the  promi- 
nent business  part  of  the  place,  and  managed  an 
hotel,  livery,  restaurant,  saloon,  bilhard  room,  etc., 
for  fifteen  3-ears. 

Our  subject  had  an  honorable  war  record. 
When  the  Rebellion  first  broke  out  he  was  active 
in  buying  horses  and  selling  to  the  Government. 
In  1864  tie  enlisted  in  defense  of  his  adopted 
countr3',  enrolling  his  name  with  the  members  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fift3'-first  Illinois  Regiment. 
He  was  emplo3'ed  as  a  teamster  at  headquarters  and 
ranked  as  Corporal.  Tbe  teamsters  were  ver3' 
valuable  aids  in  carrying  on  the  war,  and  often 
passing  tlirough  a  rough  countr3%  through  swamps 
and  in  crossing  rivers  and  mountains  were  called 
upon  to  endure  man3'  hardships.  Mr.  Kershaw 
was  in  the  following  battles:  Springside,  Ga.,  Re- 
saca,  Dyersville,  Atlanta  and  Macon,  and  from  the 
latter  place  went  to  Columbus,  whence  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Girard,  Ala.,  and  from  there  to  Vicks- 
burg,  and  did  faithful  service  in  the  Union  cause 
during  the  long  and  tr3'ing  siege  before  that  city 
was  captured.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  ser- 
vice at  Columbus,  6a.,  in  1866,  and  was  discharged 
at  Springfield. 

After  his  experience  in  aim3'   life  Mr.  Kershaw 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


413 


retiM-ned  to  tbe  old  home  in  Prairie  City.  The 
privations  and  suffering  which  lie  had  endured  in 
liis  labors  in  the  South  brought  on  an  acute  attack 
of  bone  rheumatism,  and  he  returned  to  his  na- 
tive England  for  treatment  in  1867.  He  remained 
in  till'  land  of  his  birth  four  months  until  he  was 
recovered  sufHciently  to  walk  without  crutches, 
and  tlien  came  back  to  the  home  which  he  had  es- 
tablished in  this  country.  He  subsequently  re- 
moved his  family  to  Fulton  County,  where  he 
owned  two  hundred  and  twenty-one  acres  of  land 
in  Young  Hickory  Township.  He  remained  there 
foi  a  year  and  then  went  back  to  his  hotel  and 
acted  in  tiie  capacity  of  "mine  host"  till  1874, 
when  he  traded  his  Prairie  City  property  for  three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  excellent  farming  laud 
ioining  his  present  farm  residence.  He  has  pros- 
pered more  tlian  ordinarilj'  falls  to  the  lot  of  the 
average  farmer  and  has  acquired  wealth  and  a  val- 
uable i)roperty.  lie  now  owns  six  hundred  and 
sevcnly-flve  acres  of  land.  It  has  all  been  finely 
improved  and  from  its  rich  harvest  fields  he  gains 
large  crops.  It  is  ampl3'  supplied  with  commo- 
dious and  well-made  buildings,  including  five  resi- 
dences besides  the  one  he  occupies. 

The  maiden  name  of  his  wife,  to  whose  diligent 
and  active  co-operation  as  a  thrifty  and  capable 
housewife  he  is  greatly  indebtetl,  was  Mary  Ann 
.lones.  They  began  tiicir  wedded  life  in  Brimfield 
in  18.')7,  on  a  farm  and  remained  there  until  fall 
and  then  returned  to  Kickapoo  Township  and  he 
subseimently  operated  a  mine  there  six  months, 
lie  afterward  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
.b)nes'  I'rairie,  two  and  one-half  miles  southeast  of 
Kdwards'  Station  and  in  a  short  time  sold  it  at  a 
good  profit.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kershaw  then  made 
their  home  in  Midwaj',  Fulton  County,  wiiere  he 
was  engaged  in  mining  on  Mr.  Cbauncey  Awl's 
place  for  nine  months.  He  sold  out  bis  interest  in 
that  miiH',  making  money  by  the  sale,  and  then 
oiioned  another  mine  in  which  he  was  engaged  for 
six  months.  We  next  hear  of  iiini  in  Troy,  where 
he  was  eniploj'ed  as  the  overseer  of  a  mine,  re- 
ceiving a  salary  of  i!;2  per  day.  Eight  months 
later  he  removed  with  his  /amily  to  Maquon,  and 
was  Sui)erintendent  of  a  mine  there  for  some  time, 
thence  to  Watoyan  and  took  up  his  residence  there, 


but  the  men  were  on  a  strike  aud  he  could  not  en- 
gage in  mining  then  and  since  that  time  has  occu- 
pied himself  as  before  mentioned. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kershaw  have  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  viz.:  David  R.,  who  is  married  and  lives 
in  Elm  wood  Township;  Alfred  E.,  who  is  married 
and  lives  on  his  father's  farm;  and  Margaret  Ann. 
wife  of  Edward  Spangler,  of  Roselield  Township. 

In  whatever  pursuit  he  has  been  engaged,  Mr. 
Kershaw  has  brought  a  resolute  will,  energy  untir- 
ing, a  self-resourceful  mind  aud  no  less  ambition 
to  bear  on  bis  work,  and  by  the  exercise  of  these 
traits,  seconded  b}'  rare  judgment  and  marked  talent 
for  business  and  clear  foresight,  has  .acquired  a 
handsome  property  and  while  doing  so  has  aided 
in  placing  his  township  and  county  in  the  high 
position  which  they  occupy  to-day.  Mr.  Kershaw 
has  opinions  of  his  own  on  all  subjects  with  which 
he  is  conversant,  and  especially  has  decided  views 
with  regard  to  politics,  tiie  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party  meeting  with  bis  hearty  approba- 
tion. He  has  been  connected  with  the  civic  affairs 
of  tbe  township  for  many  years  as  Road  Master, 
and  in  that  capacity  has  performed  good  service 
in  the  interest  of  the  traveling  public. 


L.  MILLER.  Probably  no  business  enter- 
prise ever  inaugurated  in  Peoria  h.as  had  a 
more  auspicious  beginning  than  that  of 
Kirkwood,  Miller  &  Co.,  wholesale  and  re- 
tail dealers  in  vehicles  of  various  descri|itions  and 
in  a  few  kind  of  implements.  The  firm  was  or- 
ganized March  15,  18110,  and  opened  its  doors  for 
business  about  the  1st  of  Ai)ril.  In  the  sixty  daj-s 
which  have  elapsed  they  have  already  disposed  of 
twenty-nine  car  loads  of  l)uggies.  They  occupy  a 
building  50x100  feet  in  dimension,  with  three 
stories  and  a  b.asemeiit,  tlie  two  upper  floors  being 
used  as  a  repository.  They  handle  buggies,  car- 
riages, carts  and  everything  in  tbe  vehicle  line,  to- 
gether with  harness,  windmills,  bay  rakes  and 
tedders  combined,  and  tank  pumps.  Their  goods 
are  manufactured  on  contract  in  Minneapolis,  Rock- 
ford,  Columbus  and  Cincinnati.     Tbe  firm  consists 


414 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  Hugh  Kirkwood,  of  Minneapolis,  and  our  sub- 
ject, each  being  the  general  manager  of  a  branch 
house  in   his  respective  place  of  abode. 

jNIr.  Miller  was  born  in  Ma^sville,  Ky.,  Ajiril 
10,  1851.  and  when  about  two  j'ears  old  accom- 
panied his  parents,  Robert  and  Abarilla  (Barnes) 
IMiller,  to  Indiana.  About  two  years  later  they  re- 
moved to  Iowa,  where  the  lad  grew  to  raaturitj- 
and  received  his  education.  He  has  been  well 
schooled  in  llie  most  practical  branches  of  knowl- 
edge, and  possesses  much  intelligence  and  mental 
culture.  He  left  the  parental  roof  in  1870  to  go  on 
the  road  for  a  St.  liOuis  house  which  handled  the 
line  of  goods  in  which  he  is  yet  dealing. 

For  twenty  years  Mr.  Miller  acted  as  a  travel- 
ing salesman,  and  lie  is  still  General  Agent  for  the 
United  States  for  the  Winchester  &  Partridge  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  of  Whitewater, Wis., a  position 
whicli  he  has  held  many  _years.  He  has  resided  in 
Peorias  since  1886,  on  February  23,  of  which  year 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Effle  Smith,  of  Oqiiawka- 
This  lady  is  a  charming  companion  and  since  the 
dawn  of  her  womanhood  has  been  a  general  favor- 
ite in  the  soeiet}-  in  which  the3'  moved.  She  has 
borne  her  husband  one  daughter,  Effie  F.  ^Ir. 
and  Mrs.  Miller  are  members  of  the  Plymouth  Con- 
gregational Church,  of  this  city. 


# 


ylLLARD  H.  BENNETT  is  a  compara- 
tivel}-  recent  but  valuable  addition  to  the 
farming  community  of  this  county,  and 
since  settling  in  Hallock  Township  has  given  his 
time  very  profitably  to  agricultural  pursuits,  rais- 
ing grain  and  also  doing  a  good  business  in  grow- 
ing stock.  He  has  his  farm,  which  comprises  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  30,  and 
twenty  acres  in  another  part  of  the  township, 
under  substantial  improvement,  with  ample  build- 
ings and  model  machinery,  and  its  well-tilled  acres 
are  capable  of  3'ielding  large  returns  for  his  labors, 
besides  supporting  a  goodly  amount  of  cattle  and 
other  stock. 


Mr.  Bennett  was  born  in  Stephen  Township, 
Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  August  4,  1820.  (For 
a  full  history  of  his  parents  see  sketch  of  A.  J.^Ben- 
nett).  He  lived  until  twelve  3'ears  old  in  his  na- 
tive county,  and  he  then  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Lewis  County,  in  the  same  State,  and  there  his 
mother  died  when  he  was  twenty  years  old,  and 
his  father  afterward  returned  to  Rensselaer  County. 
Our  subject  did  not  go  back  with  his  father,  but 
went  to  Clarkson,  in  jMonroe  County,  and  there 
worked  as  a  day  laiiorer.  He  subsequently  went 
to  South  Carolina,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Georgia  Lumber  Company,  serving  as  boss 
teamster  until  the  job  on  which  they  were  at 
work  was  completed.  Two  years  later  he  returned 
to  New  York  State,  and  located  in  his  native 
county,  where  he  lived  until  he  came  to  this  State, 
liis  settlement  here  dating  back  twelve  years.  Since 
coming  here  he  has  worked  hard  and  has  made 
his  labors  count,  as  will  be  seen  hy  the  fine  condi- 
tion of  his  neat  and  well-managed  farm. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice  married.  His  wed 
ding  with  Miss  Eliza  Hyers  look  place  in  his  na- 
tive town  and  county,  w-hich  was  also  her  liirthplace, 
and  after  their  marriage  they  lived  in  the  house 
in  which  she  was  born.  There  she  died  two  years 
later,  thus  closing  a  brief  but  happy  wedded  life.  She 
was  young  to  die  as  she  was  not  twenty-two  years 
of  age. 

Our  subject  was  married  a  second  time  in  his 
native  count}',  taking  as  his  vvife  Miss  Anna  Wil- 
kinson. She  was  born  in  Ghent,  Columbia  County. 
N.  Y.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  people  who  were 
life-long  residents  of  that  State.  She  is  the  mother 
of  four  children,  of  whom  one,  an  infant,  is  de- 
ceased. The  others — Willard  E.,  Robert  A.  and 
Lillian  F. — are  all  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  aie  well  thought  of  liy  the 
people  with  whom  they  have  come  to  make  their 
home,  as  in  all  their  relations  with  each  other,  with 
their  family,  their  neighbors,  and  other  fellow- 
citizens,  they  displaj'  those  qualities  of  head  and 
heart  that  mark  the  true  honesty  and  goodness  of 
character  that  commands  trust  and  esteem  wherever 
found.  In  their  religious  views  they  are  inclined 
to  the  Presbyterian  faith.  In  his  political  belief 
Mr.  Bennett  is  a  Democrat. 


roUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


4n 


AMKS  T.  McNKILL.  Ou  the  opposite  page 
appears  a  portrait  of  this  gentleman,  who  is 
at  present  a  member  of  the  Revenue  force 
in  Peoria.  He  was  one  of  tlie  bravest  and 
most  daring  oflicers  who  commanded  the  Illinois 
roginients  during  the  Civil  War,  and  his  distin- 
guished military  record  honored  the  citizenship  of 
lliis,  his  native  State.  He  was  born  in  Fulton 
County,  III.,  .January  29,  1839,  his  parents  being 
David  and  JIary  (Cole)  McNeill,  natives  of  New 
York.  His  father  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Ful- 
liiii  County,  of  18'28,  being  one  of  the  very  early 
settlers  in  that  p.art  of  Illinois. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  the  pioneer  home  of 
his  parents,  and  at  the  youthful  age  of  fourteen 
years,  started  out  in  the  world  and  made  his  way 
to  Kansas  in  1855.  He  was  there  during  the  To- 
peka  and  Lecompton  troubles,  and  in  1856,  went 
to  Iowa.  Tn  the  spring  of  1861,  he  was  among  the 
lirst  to  volunteer  in  the  defense  of  his  country's 
honor,  enlisting  as  private  for  a  term  of  three 
nioullis  in  Col.  D.  S.  Moore's  regiment,  promoted 
to  lie  a  cap'ain,  and  first  faced  the  enemy  in  the 
battle  of  Athens,  Mo.  When  his  term  of  enlistment 
oxpin'd  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  from  his  old  home 
♦n  Fulton  County,  enlisted  August  22,  1862,  in 
Company  II,  Eighth-fifth  Illinois  Infantry',  as  pri- 
vate, under  command  of  Robert  S.  Moore.  He  and 
Ids  comrades  went  to  Kentucky  and  arrived  in  sea- 
son to  do  good  service  in  the  battle  of  Perryville. 
From  there  they  went  to  meet  the  enemy  at  Nash- 
ville, 'I'cnn.,  and  subsc(iuently  engaged  in  the  bat- 
tK'  of  Stone.  River. 

The  fidelity  of  our  subject,  his  strict  attention  to 
ills  duties,  and  the  able  manner  in  which  he  dis- 
charged them,  soon  won  the  attention  of  his  sui)eri- 
ors,  and  be  was  promoted  to  be  First  Licutonaut, 
December  13.  1862.  May  29,  1863,  his  gallant  con- 
duct won  him  deserved  promotion  to  (he  olliee  of 
captain  of  his  company.  After  that  the  brave 
young  o;iiccr  w.as  detailed  military  conductor  bj- 
order  of  Oen.  Rosecrans,  and  served  in  that  capa- 
city until,  by  bis  special  request,  he  was  released  by 
Oen.  Gordon  Granger.  He  rejoined  his  company 
and  did  noble  service  at  the  battle  of  Chickaniauga. 

About  that  time  Gen.  Thomas  .asked  Gen.  Daniel 
McCook,  if  ho  had  a  man  whom  lie  could   trust  to 


go  across  the  Tennessee  River  to  examine  the  con- 
dition of  the  roads  and  grounds,  to  throw  pontoon 
bridges  across,  to  penetrate  the  enemy's  lines  in 
order  to  examine  the  grounds,  and  m.akc  a  report  as 
to  the  condition  and  numbers  of  the  rebel  forces. 
Gen.  McCook  promptly  recommended  our  subject 
as  possessing  the  requisite  nerve,  coolness  and  skill 
to  carry  out  his  orders,  and  .according!}-  he  was  sent 
on  the  mission.  He  thoroughly  examined  the 
grounds  and  the  bluffs  with  reference  to  the  facili- 
ties for  moving  artillery,  visited  the  bridges  on 
Chickaniauga  Creek  to  see  how  they  were  guarded, 
next  ascertained  the  number  of  corps,  and  the 
names  of  the  commanders  of  the  fighting  forces  of 
the  enemy,  .and  then  carefully  retraced  his  steps 
and  went  over  the  whole  ground  to  get  more  accu- 
rate information,  and  had  it  all  on  paper,  maps  of 
the  country,  etc.  After  that  he  was  captured  by 
the  rebels,  and  taken  to  Gen.  Hardee,  afterward 
to  Gen.  Bragg,  and  sent  to  Atlanta,  whence  he  was 
dispatched  to  Libby  Prison.  From  that  prison  he 
was  taken  to  Castle  Thunder,  and  while  there  was 
engaged  in  making  the  tunnel  by  which  he  expected 
to  make  his  escape,  but  the  scheme  was  detected, 
and  he  was  locked  up  in  a  basement,  sent  again 
to  Libby  Prison,  but  having  previously  traded  uni- 
forms with  a  rebel,  walked  out  while  the  oflicers 
were  having  a  ball.  He  followed  two  men  and 
crept  past  two  pickets,  and  finall}'  arrived  at  Tappin 
Baj'.  He  was  lost  thirteen  days  and  nights  in  Tap- 
pin  Bay  swamps,  staying  all  night  at  tide  house 
with  one  major,  one  captain,  three  privates  of  ar- 
tilleiy,  en  route  for  home  on  a  five  d.ays'  furlough, 
their  commands  being  stationed  at  Charleston. 
During  his  long  wanderings  the  fugitive  subsisted 
'on  persimmons;  finally  after  many  adventures  and 
hardships  he  arrived  at  the  Potomac  River,  crossed 
it,  and  the  next  day  found  himself  safely  within 
the  Cnion  lines  at  Yorktown. 

Gen.  Butler  ordered  Mr.  McNeill  to  report  at 
Washington  to  Gen.  Stantau,  who  ordered  him  to 
join  his  regiment,  giving  him  the  privilege  of  de- 
laying thirty  d.ays  on  the  way.  He  rejoined  his 
command  at  McCaffee  Church,  Ga.,  and  from  there 
went  to  Buzzard's  Roost  on  a  reconnoitering  expe- 
dition which  lasted  two  days.  He  then  went  with 
tin;  briirade  to  Lee  and   Gordon's   Mills,   and   from 


418 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


there  accompanied  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the 
sea,  bearing  a  brave  part  in  the  many  skirmishes 
:infl  engagements  with  the  enemy  during  that  mem- 
oral)le  campaign.  He  was  in  command  of  the  line 
that  captnred  Rome,  and  was  the  only  officer,  ex- 
cept Col.  C.  .1.  Dillvvorth,  that  swam  tlie  Chatta- 
lioochie  River.  He  did  noble  and  efficient  service 
at  Atlanta,  and  after  that  was  disabled  bj'  disease 
of  the  leg,  and  sent  to  the  hospital  on  Lookout 
Mountain,  Tenn.  From  there  he  reported  to  Col. 
Stanley,  and  was  put  in  charge  of  the  Old  Church 
prison  in  Ciiattanooga.  He  was  finally  mustered 
out  by  sjiecial  field  order  No.  1  7,  of  Commander 
(xen.  Thomns,  and  resigned  his  commission.  He 
came  home  only  to  assist  in  getting  together  another 
company  of  men,  and  recruited  Company  I,  which 
was  consolidated  in  the  Third  Illinois  Cavalrj-;  on 
the  tSth  of  March,  1865,  he  again  enlisted  at  Jolict, 
and  entered  the  ranks  as  a  private. 

He  reported  at  Eastiwrt,  Miss.,  and  was  placed 
in  command  on  special  service  as  a  Brevet  Captain, 
being  honorably  discharged  at  Benton  Barracks, 
Mo.,  May  2,  1805.  The  Captain  inherited  his  fine 
military  tactics  from  iiis  father,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812,  and  the  family  was  well  repre- 
sented in  the  Civil  War.  His  brother,  -loseph,  was 
a  member  of  Comi)any  H,  'I'hird  Illinois  Cavahy, 
and  gave  up  his  life  for  his  country  while  in  the 
service.  His  brother  Daniel  was  a  soldier  in  Com- 
pany I,  P'irst  California  Cavahy,  and  his  brother 
William  was  First  Lieutenant  in  Company  H,  First 
Wasliingtou  Territory  Cavalry.  His  brother  John 
was  first  a  member  of  Companj-  H,  Tenth  Missouri 
Infantry,  and  then  served  one  }'ear  in  the  Third 
Illinois  Cavalry.  Capt.  McNeill  crossed  the  Plains 
to  Santa  Fe  and  Albuquerque  in  1857  with  the  reg- 
ular army  under  Capt.  ^'anbuckland  and  Lieut. 
Whistler,  and  was  assistant  wagon  master. 

Cajit.  IMcNeill  came  hack  to  Illinois  after  the  close 
of  his  military  career,  and  then  spent  two  years 
in  Missouri.  Returning  to  this  State,  he  was  in 
Fulton  County  until  appointed  by  the  Government 
to  the  position  of,  store-keeper  in  the  Revenue  ser- 
vice in  Peoria.  His  splendid  war  services  are  held 
in  remembrance  by  his  connection  with  McCullis 
Post,  No.  353,  G.  A.  R.      He  is  prominent  among 


the  Knights  of  Labor,  and  has  served  one  term  as 
Master  Workman  of  Lodge  No.  156. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1856,  to  M.argaret  A. 
Ruble,  a  native  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  a  relative 
of  the  famous  captain,  Parson  Browulow.  Thirteen 
children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage,  of  whom 
nine  are  still  living. 


<|  IklLLIAM  S.  WHITTAKFR,  who  is  prosper- 
\m/  ""^'•^'  engaged  in  the  general  farming  and 
W^  dairy  business  in  Chillicothe,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Shepard,  under  the  firm  name  of  Shepard 
&  Whittaker,  is  classed  among  the  active,  intelli- 
gent and  wide-awake  native  young  men  of  Illinois, 
who  in  recent  years  have  stepped  to  the  front  to 
aid  in  supporting  and  extending  its  varied  inter- 
ests. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Wesley  City,  Grove- 
land  Township,  Tazewell  County,  September  19, 
1858.  His  father,  James  Whittaker,  was  a  pioneer 
of  that  region,  and  the  discovery  of  a  valuable  coal 
mine  on  the  Pusche  farm,  which  proved  to  be  not 
only  the  best  in  that  county,  but  also  in  the  State, 
made  him  comparatively  wealthy.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Lancashire,  p:ngland,  a  descendant  of  pure 
I':nglish  ancestry,  and  when  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  he  emigrated  from  there  to  this  country.  Land  - 
ing  in  New  York  City,  he  made  his  way  to  Mc- 
Ke^sport.  Pa.,  and  a  few  years  later  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  for  a  time  was  located  at  Kingsfon.  He 
subsequently  settled  in  Wesley  City,  and  not  long 
afterward  the  most  important  event  of  his  life  oc- 
curred in  the  discovery  of  the  coal  mine  before 
mentioned.  He  had  had  much  experience  in  mines, 
and  his  intelligent  observation  told  him  that  coal 
must  underlie  the  soil  of  Tazewell  County,  and 
though  others  tried  to  discourage  him,  he  went  to 
work  under  ditllculties  to  prove  the  truth  of  his 
prognostications,  and  by  dint  of  persistent  and  hard 
labor  he  succeeded  in  his  search.  It  was  a  proud 
day  for  liim  when  the  first  coal  was  lifted  in  1852. 
which  was  almost  the  first,  if  not  the  first  mined  in 
the  county,  and  the  same  mine  is  still  in  operation. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


419 


Mr.  Wliittaker  lived  to  see  tlic  mines  in  this  part  of 
llic  State  well  developed,  and  mining  one  of  the 
princi|)al  industries.  Although  he  died  at  tiie  early 
age  of  thirty-seven  years,  his  death  occurring  Au- 
gust 15,  1864,  while  yet  in  his  prinie.  he  had 
achieved  marked  success  in  his  bus}'  and  honoral)le 
life  career,  and  his  conununity  lost  one  of  its  most 
valuable  citizens,  lie  had  risen  from  poverty  to 
atlluence  through  iiis  own  exertions,  and  was  a  line 
si)ecimen  of  a  self-made  man.  He  had  married  af- 
ter coming  to  this  country,  in  Pekin,  111.,  taking  .as 
his  wife,  Mrs.  Ann  Whittaker  iipc  Smith.  She  was 
born  in  Lancastershire,  England.  .January  30,  1823, 
a  daugiiterof  Richanl  and  i",lizabeth  (Ltiwe)  Smith, 
natives  of  the  same  shire  as  herself,  and  life-long 
residents  of  that  p.art  of  Kngland.  Her  father  w.as 
a  miner  by  occupation.  He  died  at  the  .age  of 
forty-eight,  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven. 
He  was  a  very  strong  man.  and  was  celebrated  for 
his  feats  of  strength,  but  his  very  strength  proved 
ids  destruction,  as  lie  died  from  the  effects  of  burst- 
ing a  bloo<l  vessel  while  lifting  a  heavv  weight. 
Mis.  Whittaker  was  first  married  in  the  old  coun- 
try to  .John  WhittaKer.  who  came  to  America  in 
ISls.  and  died  in  1,S19,  before  his  wife  had  ar- 
rive<l.  Mrs.  Whittaker  was  thus  left  a  widovv  with 
two  small  children,  both  of  whom  are  now  dead. 
She  cniue  to  this  country  in  .lunc,  1849,  soon  after 
her  husband's  death,and  settled  in  Tazewell  County, 
and  was  there  married  to  .Tames  Whitt.aker,  who 
was  ;i  cousin  of  lier  first  husband.  IJy  that  mar- 
riage she  became  the  mother  of  three  children,  two 
of  whom  are  dearl,  namely:  Sarah  A.,  who  died 
\\licn  young;  .and  an  infant. 

Our  subject  is  the  only  remaining  child  of  his 
mother,  and  is  her  stay  and  comfort  in  her  old  age, 
and  has  supported  her  ever  since  he  was  old  enough. 
When  he  grew  to  manhood  he  adopted  the  calling 
of  a  farmer,  and  the  good  fortune  that  has  followed 
his  well-directed  etTorts,  has  amply  justified  his 
choice.  He  has  a  well-ap)iointed  farm  on  section 
8,  Chillicothc  Township,  that  is  under  fine  cultiva- 
tion, and  is  supjilied  with  substantial  and  well-or- 
dered buildings  for  every  needed  puri)osc.  This 
farm  is  especially  well  .adapted  to  the  dairy  busi- 
ness, and  he  and  .Mi-.  Siic|)ard  cstalilished  a  dairy 
here  in  .lanu.-iry.  l.s.S.s.     They  have  since  been  oper- 


ating it  very  profitably,  and  are  constantly  extend- 
ing its  facilities  and  capacity  to  meet  the  demands 
of  their  extensive  and  growing  (>atronage  in  C'hilli- 
cotlie.  I'lie}'  have  a  herd  of  fifty  cows,  and  aver- 
age that  numbei  the  year  round,  and  are  careful  to 
have  onl}-  the  stock  best  suited  to  their  purposes, 
and  supply  their  customers  with  the  purest  of  milk 
and  the  richest  of  cream.  Mr.  Whittaker  has  lived 
on  this  farm  nine  3'ears,  and  has  made  it  what  it  is 
b.y  hard  labor. 

( )ur  subject  was  married  in  Peoria,  Mu}'  2G,  1  S81 
to  Miss  Ada  F.  Shepard,  a  native  of  this  township 
She  was  born  September  lo,  1864,  and  is  the 
youngest  daughter  and  child  of  F.  E.  Shepard,  of 
whom  see  biograiihy  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume. Mrs.  Whittaker  was  carefully  reared  in  the 
home  of  her  parents  in  this  township,  and  under- 
stands well  how  to  make  home  pleasant  and  attract- 
ive, not  only  to  its  inmates,  but  to  all  who  cross 
its  threshold,  whether  friend  or  stranger.  She  is 
tile  mother  of  four  cliildren,  one  of  whom,  Anna  C, 
is  dead.  The  living  are  Clara  A.,  Alice  A.,  and 
James  E. 

That  Mr.  Whittaker  has  thus  far  been  successful 
in  life,  is  attributable  to  his  industrious  habits  and 
good  business  principles.  He  stands  well  in  this 
community  as  a  business  man  and  as  a  citizen,  and 
is  irreproachable  in  his  domestic  and  social  rela- 
tions. In  his  political  beliefs  he  is  a  decided  Re- 
publican, .and  never  hesitates  to  support  his  party 
on  all  occasions. 


^nsw: 


AMES  TURNER  is  an  old  and  respected  far- 
mer of  Jubilee  Township,  who  by  dint  of 
persistent  toil  and  exct>llent  management  of 
his  affairs,  has  i)laced  himself  in  good  cir- 
cumstances, and  is  proprietor  of  one  of  the  choice 
farms  for  which  this  section  of  the  country  is 
noted. 

Our  subject  is  of  English  birth  and  antecedents. 
His  father,  John  Turner,  who  was  a  laborer,  was 
born  in  Devonshire,  England,  and  died  in  May, 
1812,  before  our  subject  w.as  born.  Our  subject's 
mother,  whose  maiden  was  Ann   Dovey,  w,as  also  a 


420 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


native  of  Devousliire.  She  reared  two  cliildren. 
John  and  James,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  Eng- 
land in  1888. 

The  latter  of  whom  w^e  write,  wab  born  amid  the 
pleasant  scenes  of  Devonshire,  in  October,  1812, 
and  passed  the  earlj'  )'ears  of  his  life  on  English 
soil.  His  mother  kept  him  with  her  until  he  was 
eight  years  old,  and  then  the  fatherless  little  lad 
was  apprenticed  to  a  farmer,  and  was  early  instruc- 
ted in  all  the  labors  of  farming  operations.  His 
educational  advantages  were  limited  to  attendance 
at  Sunday -school  and  church,  and  he  is  purely  a 
self-made  man.  He  remained  with  the  man  to 
whom  he  had  been  apprenticed  until  he  was  twenlj"- 
one,  and  then  hired  out  to  another  person.  He 
did  not  like  that  man,  however,  and  did  job  work 
rather  than  work  for  him,  and  did  not  engage  in 
serving  out  again  for  some  time,  but  was  emplo3'ed 
in  making  and  working  on  roads.  He  subsequently 
was  employed  bj-  Esquire  Turk  at  his  house  and 
limekiln,  and  was  willi  him  eleven  years.  He  was 
married  there  and  wished  to  take  his  bride  to  Au- 
stralia, but  did  not  do  so.  He  then  returned  to 
work  for  the  man  to  whom  he  had  formerly  been 
apprenticed,  and  was  employed  bj'  him  the  ensuing 
two  years.  He  had  not,  however,  given  up  the  idea 
of  trj'ing  life  in  a  foreign  country,  and  in  1853,  he 
came  to  America,  sailing  from  Bedford,  and  after 
a  lengthy  voyage  of  twelve  weeks,  landed  in  (Que- 
bec. From  there  he  made  his  waj'  to  this  countj-, 
and  settled  at  Robins'  Nest,  where  lie  hired  to 
Henry  Chase  for  three  j'ears.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  be  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr. 
Chase  in  operating  the  farm.  After  that  lie  sent 
for  two  of  his  brothers  to  come  to  tliis  country, 
and  he  took  chai'ge  of  Col.  Capron's  slock  farm 
through  the  war.  He  next  bought  land  on  liis  own 
account,  and  became' an  independent  farmer,  jnir- 
chasing  forty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land  at  llO  an 
acre.  At  that  time  he  was  living  at  Jubilee  Col- 
lege, renting  land  there.  He  then  took  possession 
of  his  own  place,  and  after  improving  that,  bought 
fort}'  acres  more  for  ¥750,  and  has  also  placed  that 
under  substantial  improvement.  He  has  a  new  barn 
that  is  commodious  and  well  arranged,  and  has  a 
comfortable  and  well  appointed  dwelling  house. 
The    land    is    well    watered   with    springs,    and  is 


adapted  both  to  grain  and  stock-raising,  and  he  has 
devoted  it  to  both  purposes.  He  formerly  raised 
fine  horses,  both  draft  and  roadsters,  and  engaged 
in  the  dair}-  business,  making  excellent  butter  which 
found  a  ready  market  in  Peoria.  He  has  a  fine 
orchard  and  a  good  garden,  and  all  things  about 
the  place  are  in  au  excellent  condition.  In  1889 
Mr.  Turner  sold  his  stock,  and  has  since  rented  his 
farm. 

Mr.  Turner  has  been  twice  married.  The  first 
time  in  England  in  1850.  His  wife  accompanied 
him  across  the  water  to  his  new  home  ia  this  coun- 
trj",  and  in  1878  she  died  of  cancer  of  the  breast. 
She  left  one  child,  Eliza,  to  comfort  our  subject  in 
his  affliction.  This  daughter  has  been  given  ex 
cellent  educational  advantages,  is  a  graduate  of  Ju- 
bilee College,  and  was  engaged  in  teaching  until 
her  marriage  to  Dr.  Young,  of  Kickapoo. 

Mr.  Turner  was  married  a  second  time  in  Peoria, 
July  27,  1880,  taking  as  his  wife  Mrs.  Christine 
Roebeli,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Roby,  a  native  of 
Berne,  Oldenburg,  Germany.  Her  father  was  a 
cooper  b}'  trade,  and  fiuMlly  became  a  sailor  and  the 
captain  of  a  ship  of  which  he  was  the  owner.  He 
died  in  his  native  town.  His  father,  likewise 
named  Frederick,  was  a  baker  by  occupation,  and 
liis  death  occurred  in  Berne.  Mrs.  Turner's  moth- 
er's maiden  name  was  Lutzia  Margaret  Andres,  and 
she  too  was  a  native  of  Berne,  and  a  daughter  of 
Cornelius  Andres,  who  was  born  in  Denmark.  Hf 
went  to  Berne  when  quite  young,  and  in  his  boy- 
hood weut  to  sea,  and  subsequent!}'  became  a  cap- 
tain. He  died  in  Fagersact.  Mrs.  Turner's  par- 
ents had  twelve  children,  of  whom  the  following  is 
recorded:  Berne  D.  died  when  small;  Gretta  died 
in  Peoria;  Berne  Dcitrick  was  a  sailor,  and  died  or 
the  sea;  Cornelius  was  a  captain  on  a  steamship 
and  died  in  Germany;  Christine,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; Henry  was  captain,  was  shipwrecked,  and 
died  at  sea;  Frederick  was  a  sailor,  and  died  in 
New  York  City;  Lutzia  M.  lives  in  German}-;  Re- 
becca, now  Mrs.  Shoddy,  lives  in  Illinois;  Mary 
died  in  Harper  Count}-,  Kan.;  J.  Deitrick  resides 
in  Indiana;  and  Caroline  in  Germany. 

Mrs.  Turner  was  born  in  Berne,  Oldenburg,  Ger- 
many, October  28,  1821,  and  was  reared  there,  re- 
ceiving excellent  educational  advantages.     She  re- 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGlfArillCAL  ALBUM. 


421 


niained  at  hoinc  iiiilil  slic  weutto  live  witli  niiothor 
family,  and  siibsequcnti}'  came  to  Anicrica  when 
she  was  twenty-one.  Siic  left  Biviiu'iiliavi-n  in 
1845,  and  after  several  weeks  (^n  the  oeean,  landed 
at  New  Orleans,  where  she  was  niarritid  in  181G,to 
August  Roebell,  a  native  of  Germany,  lie  was  a 
carpenter  in  New  Orleans,  and  they  lived  there 
eleven  years,  and  then  eanie  North  and  located  at 
Hilton,  opposite  Peoria.  Mr.  Roebell  carried  on 
carpentering  there  until  iiis  death.  Ilis  widow  then 
moved  to  Peoria,  and  acted  as  nurse,  and  was  oth- 
erwise engaged  until  her  marriage  to  our  subject. 
She  iiad  one  son,  Henry — by  her  first  marriage. 
He  vvas  apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  cooper 
in  151oomington,  and  in  1863,  when  but  eigiiteen 
years  old,  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-sixth  Hlinois  In- 
fantry-, and  served  under  Sherman  tiirough  (ieorgia, 
and  accompanied  him  to  the  sea,  and  was  with  him 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  Ho  was  killed  in  18G7, 
in  Peoria,  by  a  runaway  team. 

During  Mi'.  Turner's  long  residence  in  this  town- 
ship, he  has  gained  and  retained  tlie  honor  and  es- 
teem of  his  fellow-citizens  by  his  straightforward 
and  upright  course  in  all  the  affairs  of  life,  and  in 
the  various  de|)artments  that  be  has  been  called 
upon  to  fill  as  husband,  fatiier,  neighbor,  and  citi- 
zen. His  record  shows  him  to  possess  those  char- 
acteristics by  which  a  man  is  enabled  to  achieve 
success  in  whatever  calling  he  is  engaged.  He  has 
faithfully  served  ids  adopted  township  as  School 
Director,  etc.,  and  in  him  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Kickapoo  finds  one  of  its  solid  members.  He  has 
been  a  stalwart  Republican  in  politics  ever  since  he 
came  here. 


"^® 

"^^a 


\»^  ANH«:L  HITCHCOCK.  Among  tlie  men  to 
whom  Peoria  County  owes  much  in  the  way 
of  agricultural  and  commercial  development, 
is  Daniel  Hitchcock,  now  Justice  of  the?  Peace  of 
Akron  Township.  He  owns  and  occuiiies  a  pleas- 
ant home  in  Princeville,  which  town  lias  been  his 
place  of  abode  since  1877.  The  exterior  of  his 
dwelling  indicates  the  comfort  and  convenience  of 
its    arrangement,    while    the  adornments    of    the 


grounds  which  surround  it  are  especial!}' indicative 
of  the  tastes  of  the  thorough  housekeeper  and  re- 
fined woman  who  presides  therein.  S(piire  Hitcli- 
cock  is  well  known  throughout  the  county,  and 
[larticularly  in  this  section,  the  public  oflices  which 
he  has  held  giving  him  ;ui  extended  acf(uaintance, 
ami  his  business  enterprises  lUso  bringing  him 
prominently  before  the  people. 

Jedediah  Ilifclicock,  the  grandfather  of  our  sul)- 
ject,  was  a  native  of  the  Bay  State,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Greene  County,  N.^'.  He  afterward  came; 
farther  west  and  selecting  a  location  in  Peoria 
County,  III.,  he  hero  continuetl  the  agricultural  la- 
bors to  which  his  life  was  devoted.  He  was  a  man  of 
.iction  and  energy,  who.se  characteristics  have  de- 
scended to  the  grandson.  The  immediate  progenitor 
of  our  subject  was  Ira  Ililclicock,  liorn  in  (ireene 
County,  N.Y.,  who  followed  his  father's  occupation, 
b\it  was  also  interested  in  milling.  He  operated  a 
sawmill  in  his  native  county  for  some  years,  then 
removing  to  the  vicinity  of  Detroit,  i\Iich.,  devoted 
himself  entirel}'  to  rur.nl  pursuits  for  a  time.  Se- 
curing' a  tract  of  timber  land,  he  cleared  it  contin- 
uing similar  labor  on  other  land  whicli  he  entered 
from  the  (Jovernment,  but  finally  becoming  in- 
volved, sold  his  property  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
183().  He  located  in  Radnor  Township,  this  county, 
but  after  a  few  years  removed  to  Akron  Township, 
buying  Government  land  at  the  head  of  Kickapoo 
Creek.  His  farm  was  placed  under  excellent  im- 
provement and  u[)on  it  he  continued  to  I'eside  until 
called  hence.  He  passed  away  cheered  by  the  faith  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  he  had  long  been  a 
member. 

The  wife  of  Ira  Hitchcock  bore  the  nuiiden  name 
of  Olive  Goodsell,and  was,  like  her  husband,  a  na- 
tive of  Greene  County,  N.  V.,  and  was  of  Scotch 
ancestry'.  She  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty  years,  dy- 
ing at  the  home  of  our  subject  in  1887.  She  was 
the  mother  of  five  children,  namely:  Ira  B.,  de- 
ceased; Daniel;  IMilo,  deceased;  Mrs.  Lura  Yates, 
deceased;  and  Henry,  who  I'ves  in  Kansas. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Hunter,  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  August  24, 
1825.  He  was  a  mere  boy  when  the  family  jour- 
neyed by  canal  and  lake  to  Detroit,  within  seven 
miles  of  which  city    he  ■was  rcartd  (n  a  faim  until 


422 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


|)ast  tbe  age  of  eleven  years.  His  educational  advan- 
tages during  that  lime  was  those  uf  tbe  common 
scliools,  but  his  naturally  practical  mind  applied  tlie 
information  he  received  as  occasion  demanded. 
The  removal  to  the  Prairie  Statu  was  accomplished 
liy  a  wagon  train,  corduro}'  roads  being  followed 
and  swamps  crossed.  The  Illinois  River  was 
crossed  at  Ottawa  and  Lacon. 

Young  Hitchcock  remained  under  the  [larontal 
roof  until  of  age,  helping  his  father  to  improve  the 
farm,  bearing  his  share  in  all  the  pioneer  labors  as 
his  strength  increased,  and  enjoying  some  of  the 
sports  of  frontier  life  where  deer  and  wolf  were 
among  the  wild  game  and  where  a  few  straggling 
Indians  j'et  lingered.  The  breaking  plow  with 
which  he  turned  the  virgin  soil  of  the  prairie  had 
a  wooden  mold-board,  and  his  yuuthful  recollec- 
tions incluile  nianj-  a  trip  to  Chicago  when  team- 
sters had  to  help  pull  each  other  out  of  the  mud, 
and  a  twelve  days'  absence  from  home  was  neces- 
sitated. 

When  he  became  of  age  Mr.  Hitchcock  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  28,  Akron 
Township,  paying  S^o  per  acre  for  the  raw  land.  He 
built  a  frame  house,  improved  and  successfully 
cultivated  bis  estate,  adding  to  his  store  of  worldly 
goods  from  year  to  3-ear.  In  1877,  he  moved  into 
Princeville  and  built  a  steam  mill  having  a  capac- 
ity of  one  hundred  barrels  per  day,  which  was  first 
operated  bj-  the  firm  of  himself  and  Joseph  Yoor- 
hees.  The  business  flourished,  and  after  four 
j-ears  of  partnership  the  entire  control  was  assumed 
by  our  subject  who  carried  on  the  business  alone 
two  j'ears.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  tbe  mill 
and  elevator  was  burned  to  the  ground,  entailing  a 
loss  of  §20,000,  somewhat  crippling  Mr.  Hitch- 
cock financially,  but  by  no  means  discouraging 
him.  Since  this  catastrophe  be  has  retired  from 
business,  devoting  himself  to  the  enjoj'ment  of  tbe 
goods  which  he  possesses. 

Mr.  Hitchcock  owns  twelve  acres  of  land  in 
Princeville,  upon  which  is  located  bis  dwelling  and 
a  fish  pond  over  an  acre  in  extent.  He  is  raisino- 
carp  and  catfish  and  lakes  quite  an  interest  in  this 
occupation,  viewing  it  in  the  line  of  a  recreation 
from  the  business  of  former  years.  The  lady  to 
whom  he  owes  the  comfort  and  order  of  his  home 


life,  was  born  at  Akron  Centre,  Ohio,  and  uamc  to 

this  county  with  her  parents  at  an  early  day.  She 
was  known  in  her  girlhood  as  Miss  Abigail  M. 
Bronson,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hiel  and 
Marj'  Bronson,  long  and  favorably  known  in  this 
section.  Her  uuion  with  our  subject  was  celebrated 
at  her  home  in  Akron  Township,  in  1865. 

Nearly  all  the  township  offices  have  been  held 
by  'Squire  Hitchcock,  and  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  he 
has  served  off  and  on  for  twenty  ^ears.  He  was 
made  Constable  when  but  twentj^-one  years  old, 
holiling  that  office  until  he  became  Justice.  Vov 
four  years  he  was  Deputj'  Sheriff  under  Sheriff 
Cornwell,  ids  duties  taking  him  all  over  the 
county.  His  political  alliliation  is  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  belongs  to  the  lodge  of  the  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons  in  Princeville,  and  the  Royal 
Arch  Masons  at  Lacon,  and  has  a  demit  from  the 
Odd  Fellows  fraternit}-.  He  has  served  his  politi- 
cal part}'  as  a  delegate  to  county  conventions  ami 
as  a  member  of  the  Central  Committee. 


^i 


jk/i  AJ.  CHARLES  QUALMAN.     To  no  other 
///     11    class  of  men  is  Illinois  more   indebted  foi 
ijl       'a   its  marvelous  growth  and  the  high  stand - 
^  ing  it  has  attafued  among  its  sister   States 

since  the  war,  than  to  the  brave  citizen-soldiers  of 
our  great  Republic,  who  fought  so  noblj'  for  its 
preservation,  and  at  the  close  of  the  strife  quietly 
departed  from  the  scenes  of  their  victory  and  took 
Uf)  again  their  old  callings,  or  entered  new  fields, 
and  in  every  walk  of  life  vigorously-  aided  in  push- 
ing forward  the  commercial,  manufacturing,  agri- 
cultural and  general  financial  interests  of  the  State, 
and  are  to-daj-  in  many  cases  among  its  most  en- 
terprising and  important  citizens.  As  a  fine  repre- 
sentative of  these  it  gives  ns  pleasure  to  place  on 
the  pages  of  this  volume  a  life  record  of  Maj. 
Charles  Qualman,  who  did  noble  service  in  the 
cause  of  his  adopted  eountr}'  during  the  late  civil 
strife,  and  won  a  distinguished  military  record,  of 
which  the  communit}-  where  he  made  bis  home  so 
manj'  j'ears  and  with  whose  every  interest  be  is  so 
closel}'  identified  is  justly  proud.     He  is  onv  of  the 


POUTKAI'l'   AND   P.K  )( ;  K  A  I'll  IC'Al,  ALl 


M. 


423 


leading  bool  iiml  shoe  dealers  of  Peoria,  is  promi- 
nent in  the  business  and  social  circles  of  the  city 
and  couiit\-.aiid  is  a  conspicuous  figure  in  its  i)ubiic 
life. 

Our  suliject  was  born  in  Hamburg,  <  ierniany, 
.lulv  20,  1<S;;7,  a  son  of  Cliarles  aiul  Dora  (Wag- 
ner) tiualnuin.  His  father  was  a  Captain  in  tlie 
(U-rman  arn)y.  in  wliicii  he  served  all  his  life. 
'I'liere  were  three  cliildreu  iu  tjio  family:  Louis,  a 
Lieutenant  in  the  Regular  I'nited  Slates  Army; 
Dora,  widow  of  Frederick  Nagle,  of  Hamluirg, 
(ierinanj',  and  our  subject. 

Charles  (»uaiman  was  brouglil  up  to  mercantile 
pursuits  in  liis  native  Germany,  and  at  an  early 
age  had  to  learn  the  duties  of  a  clerk.  In  his  sev- 
enteenth year  ho  went  to  Paris,  France,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  tiie  dry-goods  business  two  and  one- 
half  years  as  a  clerk  iu  Dipo  dry-goods  store. 
From  there  he  went  to  London,  where  he  w.'is  in 
the  same  business  a  litile  over  two  years.  Desirous 
to  sec  more  of  the  country  and  ambit  inns  to  m.Mkc 
a  name  .'Ui<l  a  [ilace  for  himself  in  the  world,  and 
rightly  considei  ing  that  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica was  tlie  country  where  best  his  ambition  would 
be  uratilied.  he  sailed  to  this  country  ISIarch  2, 
18(11.  After  his  arrival  here  he  traveled  for  awhile 
and  with  great  interest  watcheil  the  jirogress  of  tlie 
war.  which  had  s|)rung  up  soon  after  he  came  here, 
'i'he  soldierly  instincts  that  he  had  inherited  from 
his  father  soon  imi)elled  him  to  take  a  pari  in  the 
strife  and  July  G.  LStil,  he  enrolieil  his  name  as  a 
member  of  Company  K,  Third  Indiana  Cavalry, 
and  frt)ui  that  time  look  an  active  and  ((uite  a 
prominent  part  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regi- 
ment fought.  The  i)rincipal  engagements  in  which 
lie  participated  were  the  following:  Shiloh,  Perrys- 
ville  (Ky.).  Stone  River.  Chickamaug.a,  Missionaiv 
Ridge,  was  with  IJurnside  at  Knoxvilli'  (  Tenn.), 
returned  to  Chattanooga,  and  with  Sherman  went 
on  the  famous  march  to  Athmla  and  the  sea. 

Maj.  (^nalman  was  mustered  out  of  service  Se|)- 
tember  11),  l.SOl.  His  \  alor  and  abiiily  h:id  wcui 
him  (iromotion  from  the  ranks  through  the  various 
grades  from  private  to  major.  He  was  commis- 
sioned Secoiul  Lieutenant  February  25,  18fi2;  First 
lieutenant  on  the  (Uli  of  the  following  April,  and 
was  made  Captain   the   following  September,  and 


gained  the  rank  of  Major,  September  2,  1864.  He 
comni.anded  his  regiment  for  some  months,  and  his 
line  soldierly  qualities  and  capacity  as  a  leader 
gained  him  commendation  on  every  side.  Tlie  fol- 
lowing deserved  tribute  from  a  letter  of  (jen.S.  D. 
Atkins,  recommending  him  for  promotion  shows  in 
what  estimation  he  was  held.  "I  have  seen  him 
under  fire  and  know  him  to  be  brave,  competent, 
intelligent  and  dashing.  He  is  highly  worthy  of  a 
eoionel's  commission  and  has  earned  it  by  three 
years'  hard  service  in  the  field."  At  Jonesboro, 
Gen.  Kilpatrick  told  Sherman  '-That  is  a  man  who 
will  ilo  as  directed,  and  successfully."  Sherman  then 
ordered  him  to  go  to  the  rebel  line  and  destroy  the 
railroads.  Maj.  (^ualman  look  a  picked  company 
of  one  hundred  men  and  ;u'com|)lished  his  orders. 
He  drove  back  the  picket,  lines  and  destroyed  the 
track,  so  that  upon  the  apiu'oach  of  the  train  in  the 
morning  it  had  to  be  abandoned.  This  was  pro- 
nounced one  of  tho  most  daring,  as  it  was  one  of 
the  nu.)st  successful  feats  of  that  memorable  c.-iui- 
paign;  was  so  spoken  of  at  the  time  by  the  [iress, 
and  is  so  considered  now.  For  his  bravery  at 
Shelbyville,  Tenn.,  the  Major's  command  gave  him 
a  sword,  belt  and  sash.  At  the  reunion  of  the  Third 
Indiana  he  was  honored  by  his  conuades  by  the 
presentation  of  a  medal. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  the  service,  M.aj. 
(Jualmau  was  married,  January  IG,  1865,  to  F^liza- 
beth  Greene,  of  Indianopolis,  Ind.  He  brought 
his  bride  directly  to  Peoria,  having  selected  this 
city  as  a  desirable  place  in  which  to  establish  a 
home  on  account  of  the  tine  facilities  olTered  to 
men  of  business  enterprise.  He  opened  a  boot  and 
shoe  store,  which  he  has  continued  to  manage  with 
financial  success  ever  since,  his  annual  sales 
amounting  to  S  10,000.  He  has  a  neat,  well-ap- 
pointed store,  well  furnished,  and  carries  a  large 
stock  of  the  best  assortment  of  boots  and  shoes. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  (»u!dmau  have  been  born  two 
sons:  Charles  ('.,  in  business  with  his  father,  and 
Phillip.  Assistant  Cashier  iu  the  Northern  I'acific 
Uailroad  in  Tacoma,  Wash. 

Maj.  t^ualman  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of 
the  G.  A.  R  ,  belonging  to  Pryner  Post  No.  (17.  of 
which  he  is  Post  Commander,  also  Trustee  of  the 
Post.     He  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Conven- 


424 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tion  at  San  Francisco,  and  is  now  Aid-de  Camp  to 
the  State  Commander.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  which  he  joined  in  186.5.  He  lias 
borne  an  honorable  part  in  the  public  life  of  the 
city,  serving  two  j'ears  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
and  four  }^ears  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 
He  is  a  true  blue  Reiiublican,  and  his  popularity  is 
shown  when  we  mention  that  he  is  the  onl^'  one 
of  his  part}'  elected  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of 
I  iirhteen  members. 


— S- 


-^^ 


<Xi  MLLIAM  CATTON,  deceased,  was  of  Eng- 
%/\///  lis'' ''■''"'  ■■^'i*'  breeding,  but  became  a  citi- 
V^\)^  zcn  of  this  country  when  in  the  vigor  and 
prime  of  a  stalwart,  maulj'  manhood,  casting  in 
his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  this  count}-,  and  in  the 
j'ears  cif  hard  work  that  followed,  built  ui)  a  home 
here  and  made  a  name  and  a  place  for  himself  in 
BrimSeld  Township,  and  when  death  called  iiim 
hence  left  behind  him  an  unblemished  record. 

Mr.  Catton  w.as  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
in  October,  1829.  He  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Mary-  (Clarke)  Catton,  who  were  also  natives  of 
England,  and  iie  was  reared  to  man's  estate  on  a 
farm  in  the  lantl  of  his  birth,  and  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  all  his  life.  His  educational  ad- 
vant.ages  were  limited,  but  he  had  a  bright  obsevv- 
lug  mind  and  made  up  for  early  deficiencies  in  book 
learning  later  in  life.  In  18.53,  he  toolc  a  most  im- 
portant stci)  in  his  marriage  with  Ann  Pacey,  wlio 
had  much  to  do  with  his  after  success.  She  was  also 
born  in  Lincolnshire,  January  l(j,  1829.  being  the 
date  of  his  birth.  Her  parents,  Thomas  and  Sarali 
(Kettleborough)  Pace^',  were  likewise  natives  of 
England.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Catton  and  her  brother, John  and  sister 
Elizabeth  are  the  only  known  survivors. 

In  the  spring  of  1854,  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
emigrated  to  this  country,  taking  passage  at  Liver- 
pool, April  5,  in  a  sail  vessel,  and  landing  in  New 
York  City,  after  a  vo^-age  of  three  weeks  and  four 
daj's.  They  made  their  way  to  Sturgis,  Mich.,  and 
a  month  later  c.ime  from  there  to  this  county, 
where  he  found   work  on  a  farm  and  was  thus  en- 


gaged a  short  time.  He  subsequentlj'-  rented  a 
farm  for  a  number  of  years,  and  finally  be- 
came a  land  holder  in  his  owr.  right,  purchas- 
ing a  f,arm  in  Briraheld  Township,  which  is  still 
in  possession  of  his  widow.  In  the  small  shantj' 
that  was  on  the  place  at  the  time  he  bought  it,  he 
and  his  family  lived  for  a  short  time,  and  he  after- 
ward built  a  more  commodious  house.  Year  after 
year  he  w.as  constantly  engaged  in  the  improvement 
of  his  farm  and  mside  it  what  it  is  to-day,  one  of 
the  best  cultivated  and  most  desirable  places  in  the 
neighborhood.  At  the  time  of  his  death  it  comprised 
three  hundred  and  twent\'  acres  of  land,  this  prop- 
ert}'  being  the  product  of  a  life  work  of  industry. 

In  the  fullness  of  time  and  in  the  ripeness  of 
j-ears,  our  subject  was  called  from  the  scenes  of  his 
usefulness  and  '-Cheerful  he  gave  his  being  up  and 
went  to  share  the  hol^'  rest  that  waits  a  life  well 
spent."  The  brief  lines  of  this  biogr.aph^-  scarce 
indicate  the  worthiness  of  our  subject  whose  repu- 
tation for  unswerving  rectitude  in  all  his  dealings, 
and  for  neighborly  kindness,  sj^mpathj'  and  help- 
fulness in  his  relations  with  those  about  him,  was 
high  and  gave  him  the  regard  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. He  was  a  representative  pioneer  of  the 
township,  a  self-made  man,  and  did  bis  share  in 
promoting  the  growth  of  this  region.  He  had 
served  with  ability  as  a  School  Director  for  a  num- 
ber of  3'ears,  and  was  a  firm  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican part}'. 

Mr.  Catton,  who  was  a  kind  and  loving  father 
and  husband,  was  hapi)}-  in  his  domestic  relations, 
finding  in  his  wife  a  true  companion,  and  in  his  off- 
spring, filial,  devoted  children.  His  widow,  who  is 
now  past  three-score  years,  is  still  living  on  the 
old  homestead  which  has  been  reduced  lo  eighty 
acres,  surrounded,  b^-  her  children  and  friends,  and 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  life  spent  in  usefulness  .and 
well  doing.  She  is  classed  among  the  pioneer 
women  of  this  township,  who  have  li.ad  a  gre.at  share 
in  its  upbuilding  in  the  assistance  they  have  afforded 
their  fatheis,  husbands  and  brothers,  in  the  hard 
and  constant  toil  necessitated  in  the  work  of  de- 
veloping a  new  country.  Five  of  the  ten  children 
born  of  her  wedded  life  with  our  subject  are  still 
living:  Matilda,  wife  of  Simpson  Hall  of  Kans.as; 
Ira,  in  Brimfield  Township,;  Charles,  in  Millbrook 


""-■* 

n 


'^y  < 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALI'.UM. 


427 


Towiisliii);  Albert,  in  Biimfield  Township;  Flora, 
wife  of  Uly  (iiantof  Millluook  Townsbi[).  Tliose 
deceased  are  Mary  E.,  Sarali  J.,  Elsie  15.,  John  and 
James. 


,   c<r>o 


aCx>   ' 

ATTMEW  LIM).  Among  the  residents  of 
Peoria,  who  after  years  of  meritorious  con- 
duct, have  entered  into  rest,  the  late 
Matthew  Liud  is  deserving  of  mention  in 
a  volume  which  presents  in  biographical  form  the 
history  of  this  section  of  the  countrj'  as  told  in  the 
lives  of  its  citizens.  He  was  born  in  Jlilltown, 
Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  June  II,  1829,  being 
descended  from  sturd}'  Licotch  ancestry.  A  public 
school  education  was  supplemented  by  a  course  of 
studv  in  a  business  college  in  Baltimore,  Md.. 
whence  he  emerged  well  equipped  in  mind  for  the 
duties  which  laj'  before  him. 

The  avocation  of  an  architect  and  Iniilder,  which. 
Mr.  Lind  chose  fur  his  life-work,  was  learned 
under  I.  (i.  Reynolds,  a  well  known  millwright,  of 
Peoria.  After  tlionaighly  mastering  the  business 
lie  began  operations  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Liiid,  Haggerty  &  Hunter,  continuing  in  active 
cnii)loynu'ul  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April 
27,  1888.  During  that  time  he  assisted  in  erecting 
some  of  the  best  mills  in  the  country.  His  work 
was,  like  his  integrity,  ever  to  be  relied  upon. 
Himself  a  thorough  workman,  he  insisted  upon 
those  whom  he  employed  being  equally  painstak- 
ing and  skillful  in  tlieir  respective  de|)artments, 
while  no  poor  material  found  place  in  the  buildings 
he  erected.  True  to  his  heredity,  he  was  a  stanch 
Presbyterian,  devout  and  earnest.  He  was  a  high 
ilegree  Mason  and  a  Knight  of  Honor. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Lind  was  celebrated  No- 
vember 25,  I8."i(),  his  companion  on  the  interesting 
occasion  being  Miss  Mary  Stitt,  a  native  of  Wells- 
burg,  \V.\'a.  Her  faniil^'  came  to  this  State  in 
18iJ2,  settling  in  Hloomington.  After  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lind  came  immediately  to 
Peoria,  taking  possession  of  the  home  which  is  still 
occupied  by  the  widow.  It  bears  about  it  the  in- 
dications <if  the  piesence  of  rotined  womanhood. 
and  those  who  crosa  il$  threshold  are  sure  of  a  cor- 


dial welcome  from  the  estimable  woman  who  pre- 
sides therein. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lind  are  three  in 
number — Willard  W.,  the  Srst-born,  who  has 
adopted  his  father's  trade,  is  married,  but  still  liv- 
ing in  Peoria;  Frank  R.,  the  second  son,  has  also 
established  his  home  here;  Lewis  W.,  a  promising 
j-oung  man,  diedMaj-  27,  1884,  at  the  early  age  of 
twent^'-two  years,  and  is  buried  in  .Springdale 
Cemetery. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  we  present  a  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  Mr.  Lind,  who  is  highly  es- 
teemed as  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of 
Peoria. 

...<J5.,.. 
••^-£-*.^"---    ■ ^ 


VEV.  ANTHONY  HAKES,  who  is  closely. 
I'i/^  connected  with  the  farming  and  stock-rais- 
\\  ing  interests  of  Hallock  Township,  of  which 
he  was  an  earh'  settler,  as  one  of  its  most 
intelligent  .ind  successful  agriculturists,  is  also  en- 
gaged in  ministerial  work  here,  he  being  one  of  the 
leading  ministers  of  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  de- 
nomination, and  has  filled  the  Advent  pulpit  in  this 
place  for  twenty  yeare.  He  used  to  iireaoh  here 
in  early  times,  often  conducting  funerals,  not  only 
here  but  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  and  may 
well  be  regardcti  as  a  pioneer  preacher.  He  holds  a 
warm  place -in  the  hearts  of  the  people  far  and  wide, 
regardless  of  creed. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  township  of  Berlin. 
Rensselaer  Counlj'.  N.  Y.,  June  2n,  1817.  His 
f.ithcr.  Rensselaer  Hakes,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
county,  from  which  he  derived  his  name.  He  was 
born  in  the  township  of  Berlin  in  1788.  of  an  old 
and  respected  family*.  He  grew  up  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer  and  w.is  married,  in  his  native  county,  to 
Lucy  Eymer,  also  of  that  county.  After  marriage 
they  lived  on  the  old  homestead  that  had  been  his 
birthplace  until  her  death,  when  she  was  in  middle 
life.  She  left  a  family  of  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  yet  living,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  one 
daughter  is  dead.  Mr.  Hakes  w-as  marrie<i  a  sec- 
ond time.  Lucinda  Hendrick,  a  native  of  New 
York  State.  InM^Aminsf  his  wife.     They  came  AVest 


428 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


as  far  as  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  small  fai-m  at 
Lawn  Ridge,  in  Uiis  county,  and  there  botli  died,  be 
in  1862,  and  slie  a  few  3'ears  prior  to  tliat,  when 
she  was  past  sixty  years  old.  lie  rounded  out  a  busy 
life  at  seventy-four  yeans,  and  left  an  honorable 
record  as  a  virtuous  npriglit  man  and  a  true  Cliris- 
tian.  They  were  botli  devoted  members  of  the 
Regular  Baptist  Churcli. 

Anthony  Hakes  was  the  second  son  and  fourth 
child  of  iiis  parents,  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
Stale  and  county,  coming  thence  to  Illinois  in 
1845  when  he  was  twenty-eight  }'ears  old,  with 
his  brotlier  Alanson  (of  whom  whom  see  biog- 
raphy on  anollier  page  of  this  work).  The  two 
brotiiers  purchased  fortj^  acres  of  wild  land  witli  a 
loii'  luit  on  it,  and  tliis  was  one  of  tiie  first  homes 
tliat  was-  built  out  on  the  prairie.  Thej'  made  some 
improvement  and.  by  subsequent  iiiu-chase,  became 
owners  of  large  tr.acts  of  land.  Our  sul)ject  per- 
sonally has  owned  about  three  hundred  and  lifty 
acres  of  land,  one  hundred  and  sixty  of  wliich  he 
lias  given  to  his  children.  He  has  a  choice  farm 
on  section  30,  Ilallock  Township,  which  has  been 
his  home  for  thirty-five  j'ears,  and  tlie  substantial 
improvements  that  make  it  one  of  tlie  best  in  its 
vicinity  are  the  work  of  his  own  liand.  The  farm 
comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  under  good 
tillage  and  well  suiiplied  with  .all  the  necessary  farm 
buildings. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hakes  has  been  connected  with 
the  ministry  here  the  most  of  the  time  since  he 
came  to  the  county,  lie  began  his  work  by  pre- 
siding at  funerals  and  was  called  far  and  near  when 
ever  a  death  occurred  among  the  settlers,  and  at 
one  time  was  known  all  over  the  county.  He  has 
jireached  for  all  orders,  never  having  made  religion 
a  subject  of  controversy.  After  he  had  been  here 
a  good  many  years  lie  was  regularly  ordained  by 
an  association  of  Seventh  D.ay  Baptists  at  Walworth, 
Wis.,  and  for  the  past  twenty  years,  as  before  men- 
tioned, has  preached  acceptably  before  the  Advent- 
ists  of  this  locality,  and  has  often  been  called  upon 
to  nil  the  pul|iits  of  different  churches  in  the  town- 
ship. 

Our  subject   had    been    married   in  his  Eastern 
home  in   his   native  conutj',  before  he  took  up  his    i 
abode   in   the  Prairie  State.     T'lie  raaiilen  name  of 


his  wife  was  Susannah  Saunders.  She  was  born  in 
the  Empire  State,  September  29,  1821,  a  daughter 
of  Charles  and  Mary  (Lamphere)  Saunders.  Her 
parents  died  in  this  county,  where  they  spent  their 
last  years,  coming  here  from  New  York,  and  set- 
tling on  a  farm  with  their  son  William.  Thej-  were 
natives,  respectively,  of  Rhode  Island  and  New 
York,  and  were  married  in  the  latter  State.  Mrs. 
Hakes  was  one  of  four  children  of  the  second  mar- 
riage of  her  father.  She  was  carefully  reared  and 
became  an  adejit  in  all  horseliold  affairs,  and  has 
greatly  assisted  our  sulijoct  in  the  prosecution  of 
his  labors,  both  as  farmer  and  as  a  minister.  She  is 
the  mother  of  two  children — Mary  S.  and  Egbert 
E.  The  latter,  who  married  ^laiy  Rankin,  lives  on 
his  father's  farm;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  -lulius  Pot- 
ter, a  farmer  of  Akron  Township,  and  they  have 
two  children — A.  U.,  a  merchant  at  Edelstein,  and 
Edna,  at  home. 

As  a  man  of  wisdom  and  probity  of  character, 
our  subject  is  naturally  selected  by  his  fellow-citi- 
zens to  fill  otiices  of  responsibility  and  trust,  anil 
three  times  he  has  been  called  u|)on  to  represent  the 
townshiii  on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and 
he  has  been  Assessor  and  has  been  otherwise  con- 
nected with  the  management  of  public  affairs.  Po- 
litically, he  is  a  firm  advocate  of  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  jiarty.  A  man  of  deeply  earnest, 
religious  nature,  it  is  pleasing  to  him  that  his  wife 
and  children  are  of  the  same  faith  as  himself  and 
are  active  supporters  of  the  church. 


HH  -TTTTT7 


^1  (^jALENTINE  L.  SCHLINK.  The  life  of  this 
W,  /  prominent  dealer  in  real  estate  at  Peoria 
'J^  affords  a  fine  example  to  young  men,  of 
what  can  be  accomplished  by  the  combination  of 
energj'  and  thrift  with  tact  in  business  affairs.  Mr. 
Schlink  was  born  in  Bensheim,  (iermany,  August 
25,  1830,  and  brought  to  the  I'nileil  States  by  his 
parents  in  July,  1832.  In  183G  the  family  removed 
to  this  county,  the  father  buying  a  farm  on  the 
Ivickapoo  Creek  near  the  village  of  Kickapoo. 
There  Valentine  Schlink,  Sr..  lived  until  1872.  when 
he  purchased  a  fine  prairie  farm  in  McLean  County 


PORTRAIT  AND'  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


429 


ami  "itli  Olio  of  his  sons  Ihoil  uiioii  it  until  liis 
ileath,  May  12,  18'J0,  :il  tlie  age  of  ciglity-foiir 
years.  He  was  tbe  twelfth  settler  in  Rosefield 
Townsliii).  this  eounty. 

On  the  KicUapoo  farm,  he  of  whom  we  write 
jivi'd  until  1844,  when  he  eame  to  I'eoria  to  work 
out  an  education.  He  hired  out  to  William  H. 
Fessenden  for  four  years  for  his  board,  clothes  and 
school  tuition,  findinu-  Mr.  Fessenden  quite  lib- 
eral toward  him.  Olit:iiiiing  a  good  education,  but 
having  no  money,  young  Schlink  put  his  shoulder 
to  the  wlieel.  determined  to  succee<l  in  securing  a 
home  and  a  good  reputation.  He  found  employ- 
ment in  the  store  of  Curtenius  it  (Iriswold,  with 
whom  lie  remained  a  year,  next  entering  the  em- 
ploy of  William  E.  Mason,  a  dry -goods  dealer  on 
liridge  .Street.  He  left  that  establishment  after 
working  therein  a  year  and  a  half,  ceasing  his  labors 
there  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  /acliar\'  Taylor. 
The  savings  garnered  during  his  emiiloyment  in  the 
two  stores  named,  furnished  the  ca|)ital  on  which 
Mr.  Schlink  began  his  real-estate  transactions  in  a. 
small  way. 

In  1852  our  suliject  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness, running  the  I'eoria  Lake  House,  on  Water 
Street,  which  was  at  that  time  a  first-class  hotel. 
As  "mine  liost"  he  made  mone}-  until  18.58,  when 
he  sold  out  to  devote  his  entire  attention  to  real 
estate.  He  made  his  beginnings  [irincipally  in  the 
Second  Ward,  being  a  prime  factor  iu  building  up 
that  part  of  the  city.  His  own  residence  propertj', 
seven  blocks  from  the  court  house,  was  owned  by 
him  when  it  was  a  cornlield.  In  point  of  residence 
he  is  the  oldest  real-estate  agent  iu  the  city,  having 
been  the  first  to  engage  iu  what  is  now  included 
under  that  head.  He  now  owns  land  in  all  the 
prominent  older  additions  to  the  city  and  is  build- 
ing and  selling  twenty-three  residences, worth  from 
^1,500  to  ■i;3,U00  each. 

Mr.  Schlink  carries  on  quite  an  extensive  busi- 
ness in  house  renting,  Iiotli  for  himself  and  others, 
and  he  is  likewise  engaged  in  loaning  for  outside 
parties,  his  transactions  in  that  line  being  quite 
heavy.  He  has  no  political  aspirations,  giving  his 
undivided  attention  to  business,  Init  has,  neverthe- 
less, been  Assessor  two  terms.  The  same  abilitj- 
which  has  led  to  his  success  in  real-estate  transactions 


was  exhibited  in  the  valuation  of  |)roi)erty  for  the 
municipality.  He  is  respected  for  the  [lersisteiit 
industry,  good  citizenship  and  uprightness  which 
have  characterized  his  life. 

September  18,  1854,  Mr.  Schlink  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mi.ss  Sophia  SchatT,  of  this  city,  with 
whom  he  lived  happily  until  March  18,  187.'),  when 
she  was  called  from  time  to  eternity.  She  was  a 
worthy  woman,  to  whom  her  children  owe  much 
for  her  good  counsel  and  careful  training.  She  was  a, 
native  of  Qermaiiy.  She  bore  six  children,  of  whom 
live  now  survive.  They  arc:  JIary,  widow  of 
William  A.  Zindel;  Tilly,  wife  of  Henry  Katli,  of 
Peoria;  Kmma.  wifct)f  Henry  Lanimers;aud  Frank 
and  William,  the  second  and  fifth  in  the  group, 
who  also  reside  in  this  cit}'.  After  having  lived  a 
widower  until  November  18,  1882,  Mr.  Schlink 
w,as  again  married,  his  bride  being  Miss  Margaret 
H.  Brutcher.  To  them  has  been  born  one  son — 
Charles. 


J^/LANSON  HAKES.  A  history  of  the  de- 
^^£M     velopment  of  Ilailock  Township,   and  so 

11  li\  of  Peoria  County,  would  be  incomplete 
•^J  without  notice  of  this  gentleman,  and  what 

he  has  accomplished  in  connection  with  their  im- 
mense agricultural  interests,  as  he  has  taken  a  lead- 
ing [lart  in  imi>roving  this  section  of  the  country, 
and  is  to-day  one  of  its  most  wealthy  and  influen- 
tial citizens,  prominent  among  its  farmers  and 
stock-raisers,  and  it  gives  us  pleasure  to  place  on 
tbe  pages  of  this  BiooRAruiCAL  Album  the  life- 
record  of  so  worthy  a  pioneer. 

Mr.  Hakes  brought  his  wife  here  a  bride  forty- 
five  years  ago,  arriving  in  this  township  May  1, 
1845,  and  here  they  began  their  wedded  lite,  which 
has  been  passed  in  peace  and  happiness,  and  they 
are  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  early  labors, 
surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  the  substantial  home 
that  they  have  built  up  here  by  their  united  work. 
Mr.  Hakes  purchased  his  homestead  in  its  primitive 
condition,  not  a  sod  of  the  prairie  having  been 
turned,  and  has  improved  it  into  a  valuable  farm, 
providing  it  with  necessary  buildings  and  every 
convenience  for  cultivating  the  soil,  wdiich  is  nearly 


130 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


all  under  g;oocl  tillage.  He  now  owns  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  this  county,  and  nearly  the 
same  amount  in  La  .Salle  County. 

Mr.  Hakes  was  Ijorn  in  Hanover, Cortland  County, 
N.  Y., April  21,  1819,  a  son  of  Rensselear  Hakes, wlio 
was  also  a  native  of  that  State,  and  was  brought  up 
a  farmer,  his  fatlier  having  been  a  pioneer  tiller  of 
the  soil  in  Cortland  County,  and  from  his  home 
in  the  primeval  wilds  of  that  section  of  the  coun- 
try he  went  out  to  take  part  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  died  while  serving  his  country. 

Rensselaer  Hakes  married  LanaAyiner,  who  vvas 
born  of  German  parentage  in  the  same  county  as 
himself,  and  after  the  birth  of  the  most  of  their 
children,  they  removed  to  Rensselaer  County, 
where  Mr.  Hakes  hired  a  farm  for  some  years.  In 
the  home  that  they  established  there,  the  mother 
died  when  past  middle  life.  She  was  a  virtuous, 
pious  woman,  and  it  is  thought  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Five  of  the  six  cbijdren  boiu 
to  her  are  yet  living,  though  well-advanced  in 
years,  the}'  inheriting  vigorous  constitutions  from 
their  thrifty,  industrious  ancestry,  both  sides  of  the 
house  descending  from  a  long-lived  race.  The 
father  of  our  subject  married  a  second  time,  taking 
Lucinda  Hendrick  as  his  wife,  and  a  few  years  later 
came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Akron  Townshiji, 
where  they  both  died  at  a  ripe  old  age,  he  being 
seventy-five  years  old  when  he  was  called  from  the 
sphere  of  his  usefulness,  and  she  being  a  little  past 
three-score  and  ten.  They  had  a  family  of  six 
children. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  the  elder  children  of 
the  first  marriage  of  his  father,  growing  up  under 
the  care  of  his  parents  to  be  a  stalwart  youth,  and 
early  became  of  assistance  in  carrying  on  the  farm. 
He  thus  obtained  practical  experience  in  agricul- 
ture, and  when  he  began  life  for  himself,  did  not 
have  to  conduct  his  farming  operations  hy  tiieory. 
He  was  a  mere  boy  when  his  parents  settled  in 
Rensselaer  County,  and  there  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Lucy  Hendrick,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson 
Count}',  N.  Y.,  December  15,  1824.  Her  parents, 
.Jonathan  and  Urauy  (Morey)  Hendrick,  were  na- 
tives and  farmers  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Hakes'  mother 
died  when  she  was  quite  a  small  child,  and  her 
father  married  again,  and  later  in  life  came  to  Illi- 


nois, and  died  in  this  State  when  an  old  man.  Mrs. 
Hakes  was  reared  in  her  native  county,  and  when  a 
30ung  woman  accompanied  her  parents  to  Rensse- 
lear County,  and  remained  there  until  marriage, 
when  she  accompanied  our  subject  on  their  ever 
memorable  wedding  tiip  to  their  new  home  on  the 
boundless  prairies  of  the  "Great  West,"  as  this  part 
of  the  country  was  then  called,  making  the  trip  by 
lake  and  river  and  across  a  new  country,  where 
there  were  but  few  settlements,  being  six  weeks  on 
the  way.  How  they  established  their  dwelling  here, 
and  how  prosi)erity  has  followed  them,  we  have  al- 
ready shown. 

In  1856  Mr.  Hakes  was  appointed  Postmaster  of 
what  was  then  known  as  the  South  Hampton  post- 
office,  and  held  that  position  until  about  1870,  hav- 
ing had  the  office  in  one  room  of  his  house,  which 
is  located  on  the  old  State  road,  known  as  the  Peo- 
ria and  Galena  Post  route.  Our  subject  has  also 
servetl  the  public  in  various  other  civic  capacities, 
noticeably  as  Supervisor,  representing  Ilallock 
Township  on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  some  years,  and  has 
proven  a  good  official  in  every  respect,  as  he  has 
always  been  wise,  honest,  and  prudent  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  thus  devolving  upon  him.  He 
is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  us- 
ing his  influence  and  means  freely  in  its  interests. 


F.  THOMAS,  M.  D.  This  gentleman  should 
by  no  means  be  omitted  from  the  list  of 
Chillicothe's  citizens,  being  one  of  her  most 
successful  physicians  and  surgeons  as  well  as  one  of 
the  leaders  of  society.  He  began  his  practice  here 
in  the  spring  of  1878,  immediatel}'  after  his  gradu- 
.ation  from  tlie  Chicago  Medical  College.  His 
practice  has  increased  from  year  to  3ear,  as  his 
thorough  understanding  of  the  science  of  therapeu- 
tics and  his  practical  application  of  his  theoretical 
knowledge  has  become  better  known.  He  was  born 
near  this  place  April  16,  1855,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Chillicothe  High  School  with  the  class  of 
'74.  This  was  the  first  regular  graduating  class 
fvfter  the  establishment  of  the  High  School  and  com- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  AI.IU  AI. 


431 


prised  four  boys  ami  live  girls,  lie  tiieii  studied 
medicine  with  bis  fatlier  prior  to  entering  the  col- 
lege, where  he  received  his  diploma  March  5,  1878. 

Dr.  Thomas  was  married  iu  Philadelphia,  I'a.,  to 
Miss  Ida  15.  Stcckel,wlio  was  born  in  Princeton,  111., 
August  23,  1858.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Solomon 
S.  and  Emeline  (Ileinley)  Steckel,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  removed  to  Illinois  some  years 
after  tiieir  marriage.  They  subsequently  returned 
to  their  native  State,  making  their  home  in  Phila- 
dcli)liia  for  some  time  and  finally  removing  to  An- 
nandale,  \'a.,  where  they  are  now  spending  their 
declining  years  in  quiet.  Mr.  Steckel  was  formerly 
engaged  in  merchandising. 

Mrs.  Thomas  was  graduated  from  the  High 
School  at  Princeton  in  the  class  of  '76,  and  was 
engaged  in  teacliing  until  her  marriage.  Siie  is  the 
mother  of  two  cluldren — Ilarr^'  V.  and  Trella  E. 
Her  intelligence,  social  tact  and  pleasing  qualities 
of  character  give  her  a  prominent  place  in  society 
and  she  stands  side  by  side  with  her  liusband  in  the 
regard  of  the  community.  Dr.  Thomas  belongs  to 
Sampson  Lodge,  No.  188,  K.  of  P.  and  to  Calumet 
Lodge,  No.  19G,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  having  filled  all  the 
Ciiairs  in  the  latter.  He  is  not  a  seeker  after  po- 
litical honors,  but  ever  ready  to  vote  tlio  Republi- 
can ti(^ket. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Frank  Thomas,  a  farmer  born  in  ^'irginia.  Karly 
in  the  century  he  went  to  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
and  there  married  Miss  Kuplia  Richards,  a  native 
of  the  Buckeye  State,  but  of  \'irginian  parentage. 
After  the  birth  of  their  first  child,  Joseph  F.,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thomas  Journeyed  westward  in  the  fall  of 
1826,  with  teams,  settling  in  what  is  now  Cbillicothe 
Townslii|),  Peoria  County,  III.  Securing  Gov- 
ernment land,  Grandfatlier  Thomas  took  u|)  the 
work  of  a  frontiersman  when  settlers  were  very 
few  iu  the  county.  Indians  were  very  numerous 
liere  and  many  a  time  he  entertained  the  chief 
Scheneckwino  in  his  home.  He  participated  in  the 
Black  Hawk  War  and  lived  to  watch  the  progress 
of  the  Rebellion  and  see  his  son  return  from  the 
struggle  which  established  the  Union  on  a  firmer 
basis  than  before.  He  was  a  very  small  man  but 
noted  for  his  activity,  with  a  local  reputation  as  a 
great  wrestler,  being  for  some  years  the   champion 


of  the  county.  He  lay  down  to  his  final  rest  when 
about  three- score  and  ten  years  of  ag(t, having  lived 
to  witness  the  thorough  development  of  the  county. 

The  first  wife  of  Frank  Thomas  died  in  the  prime 
of  life  after  active  labors  as  a  helpmate  to  a  pio- 
neer. Mr.  Thomas  married  for  his  second  wife 
Miss  Malinda  Kimball,  who  still  survives,  residing 
witii  her  son,  II.  A.  Thomas,  in  Martin  County, 
Ohio.  She  is  now  quite  old  and  sightless.  Mr. 
Thomas  was  a  Baptist  and  an  active  local  politician 
in  the  ranks  of  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties. 

Dr.  Jose|)h  F.  Thomas,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  July  15, 
1826,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Chillieothe,  July  2, 
1888.  He  was  but  three  months  old  when  his  par- 
ents crossed  the  Illinois  River  and  settled  in  this 
region,  Peoria  and  Galena  being  then  tiie  only 
towns  in  Illinois  north  of  St.  Louis.  He  grew  up 
here,  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  William  Chamber- 
lain of  Princeton,  and  was  graduated  at  the  Missouri 
Medical  College.  For  two  years  he  practiced  with 
his  former  preceptor,  then  returning  to  I'eoria 
County  he  devoted  his  time  and  mental  energies  to 
his  profession  here.  His  practice  extended  over  a 
large  territory  and  ho  made  many  friends  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  the  well- 
known  early  settlers  and  for  some  years  bore  an 
active  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Old  Settlers' 
Association. 

In  the  fall  of  1862,  Dr.  Joseph  V.  Thomas  raised 
a  com[)any  known  asC,  of  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  went  with  his  regiment  to  the  front 
as  their  Captain,  taking  part  in  the  l)attles  of 
Chickamanga,  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary 
Ridge  and  many  other  important  and  minor  en- 
gagements. He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major 
INIarch  21,  1864,  serving  iu  that  cai)aeity  until  his 
discharge,  June  6,  1865.  The  only  wound  which 
he  received  was  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  his 
own  revolver  while  riding  to  a  charge,  the  bullet 
entering  under  the  knee  joint  of  the  right  leg.  It 
was  never  extracted  but  was  carried  to  his  grave. 
He  was  able  to  report  for  duty  during  his  entire 
array  life,  except  some  days  when  ho  suffered  fnun 
a  well-known  army  malaily. 

Dr.  J.  F.Thomas  was  an  active  local  politician  in 
the  Repulilican  i)arty,  was  several  time   Sui)ervisor 


432 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  the  township  and  was  nominated  for  count}'' 
offices,  butliis  party  being  in  the  minority,  was  de- 
feated. He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  flpis- 
eopal  Church.  He  was  married  in  Princeton  to 
Miss  Emeliue  AValker,  a  native  of  Champaign 
Count}-,  Ohio.  She  is  still  living,  an  inmate  of  the 
home  of  her  son,  our  subject,  and  at  the  age  of 
sixtj'-two  3'ears  active  in  body  and  mind.  .She  is 
a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Ora  A.  and  Mary  A. 
(.Staples)  Walker,  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion  who 
were  early  settlers  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio. 
Her  father  was  one  of  the  early  ministers  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Rock  River  Con- 
ference. He  was  formerly  active  in  the  work  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  was  twice  elected  County 
Treasurer.  He  is  now  eighty-two  years  old,  with 
mind  undimmed  and  exceedingly  active  in  body, 
while  his  wife,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  is 
quite  feeble;  they  still  make  their  home  in  Prince- 
ton. 

Dr.  O.  F.  Thomas,  of  whom  we  write,  is  the  sec- 
ond of  seven  children  born  to  his  parents,  of  which 
family  two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  }'et  living. 
They  are  Inez,  wife  of  Edward  Nelson,  a  livery- 
man in  Chillicolhe;  our  subject;  Watie,  wife  of 
W.  A'.  Van  Pettou.  a  dealer  in  farm  implements 
and  real  estate  in  Stratton,  Neb.,  and  Lewis  H.,  Jr., 
wlio  is  unmarried  and  clerking  in  the  clothing  de- 
partment of  the  dry-goods  and  clothing  store  of 
r.  T.  Matthews  &  Co.,  of  Chillicothe. 


jp^  OLOMON  STOWELL.     The  late  Solomon 

^^^    Stowell    was    favorably   known    in   Cliilli- 

(ll/_U)  eothe,  and    far    beyond   the  limits  of  the 

thriving   cit}-  in   which   for  a  number    of 

years  he  was  interested  in  the  lumber  and  planing- 

niill   business.     A  few  years  before  his  death   his 

mill  was  destroyed  b}'  fire  and  he  from  that  time 

lived  in  quiet  retirement.  While  on  a  visit  at  Henr3\ 

Marsliall    County,  April    25,  1887,  he  died    from 

paralysis,  the  stroke  coming  while  he  was  riding 

ill  a  "bus.     Mr.  Stowell    was  a  man   of  more    than 

ordinary    intelligence,    had   received   an   excellent 

cducaticm,  and   was  successfully  engaged  in  teach- 


ing for  a  number  of  years.  His  Christian  charac- 
ter was  well  understood  by  all  who  knew  him,  as 
he  quietly  and  conscientiously  carried  the  principles 
of  liis  faith  into  his  daily  life.  His  dealli  left  a 
corresponding  void  in  the  community,  and  his  name 
calls  up  pleasing  memories  here  and  elsewhere 
among  his  many  friends. 

The  natal  day  of  Mr.  Stowell  was  July  27,  1819, 
and  his  birthplace  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
his  parents  were  well  kuovvn  for  their  woith  of 
character.  His  father,  Aarad  Stowell,  was  proba- 
bly born  in  the  Empire  State,  and  was  engaged  in 
farming  during  his  active  life.  For  forty  years  he 
was  a  Deacon  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which 
his  wife,  Martha  (Warner)  Stowell,  Was  a  lifelong 
member.  The  parental  family  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity.  Eleven  of  them  married  and 
reared  families,  and  seven  are  yet  living,  quite  ad- 
vanced in  years. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  himself  obtained  a  tract  of  land  while  still  a 
j'oung  man  but,  preferring  to  teach,  did  not  make 
much  headway  in  farm  labor.  lie  liad  finished  his 
education  in  the  Oxford  and  Man ington  Academies 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  his  native  State  carried  on 
his  professional  work  until  ISIS.  He  then  came  to 
Illinois,  making  Marshall  County  his  home  until 
1863,  when  he  removed  Chillicothe.  After  his 
marriage  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  be- 
came the  owner  and  operator  of  a  good  property 
in  Marshall  County. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Stowell  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Austina  M.  Pratt.  She  was  born  in  Broome 
County,  N.  Y.,  February  27,  1822,  being  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Clarissa  (Merwin)  Pratt,  natives  of 
Broome  and  Windsor  Counties, respectively,and  de- 
scendant.* of  old  New  England  families.  Their  three 
children  were  nearly  grown, when  in  1848  the  family 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Marshall  County.  111.,  where 
the  parents  spent  the  remainder  of  their  active  lives. 
Both  were  working  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  Mr.  Pratt  was  a  noted  Ab- 
olitionist and  early  Repulilican.  He  died  in  Peoria 
County,  but  near  his  former  home,  in  1862,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-one  years.  His  widow  went  to  Kan- 
sas and  spent  her  last  days  with  her  daughter,  i\Irs. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


433 


James  Will,  at  Peabort}-,  breathino  her  last  when 
eighty-two  years  old.  Their  children  are:  Delilah 
E.,  wife  of  James  AViU,  a  Kansas  farmer;  Mrs. 
Stowell,  of  tills  notice,  and  Lorin  Grant,  a  well- 
known  attorney  of  Chicago,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred seven  years  since. 

Mrs.  Stowell  was  carefull}'  reared  and  well  edu- 
cated, is  capable  of  much  good,  and  active  in  the 
sphere  of  life  to  which  she  has  been  called.  She 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Ei)iscopal  Church  for 
many  j-ears,  and  tiio  husband  of  whoso  companion- 
ship she  lias  been  bereaved  was  also  identified  with 
that  religious  body.  He  held  the  office  of  First 
Warden  some  years. 


'^^  D.  EDWARDS.  A  prominent  business 
man  at  Monica,  manager  of  L.  L.  Camp- 
bell's  store,  and  engaged  in  buying  and 
selling  stock  as  a  personal  enterprise,  Mr. 
Edwards  also  finds  time  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
Supervisor  of  Princevillu  Township.  He  is  a  thor- 
ough business  man.  manifesting  unbounded  energy 
in  whatever  he  undertakes,  and  a  rare  degree  of 
sound  judgment.  He  is  one  of  the  youngest  mem- 
bers of  the  Counlv  lioard,  in  which  he  is  serving 
his  second  term. 

Mr.  Edwards  is  |)roud  of  his  descent  from  a  na- 
tionalHy  which  has  furnished  manj-  brilliant  intel- 
lects to  the  fields  of  law.  literature  and  drama.  His 
grand f.Tther  Edwards  was  born  near  Dulilin,  and 
his  father.  Thomas  L.  Edwards,  opened  his  ejes  to 
the  light  near  Belfast,  in  1810.  When  but  four- 
teen years  old  the  latter  came  alone  to  America, 
making  his  home  for  some  time  in  Massaciiusetts. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  block  orinting  at  Fall 
River,  also  worked  at  Taunton,  and  later  became  a 
journeyman  in  New  Yoik.  In  1827,  when  the 
cholera  raged  there,  he  did  noble  work  as  a  nurse. 
In  18t.j  he  came  West  by  the  canal  and  lakes,  set- 
tling in  Peoria  County,  buying  a  partially  improved 
farm  !n  Akron  Township.  He  turned  his  attention 
to  agriculture,  tlioroughly  improved  his  estate,  and 
operated  it  until  the  sjiring  of  18(j0,  when  he 
breathed  his  last.      In  former  years  he  had  been  an 


Episcopalian,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  iden- 
tified vvith  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  political 
adherence  was  given  to  the  Kei)ublican  party. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Sarah  J.  (Dal- 
rymple)  Edwards,  who  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland  in  1816,  and  accoui[)anied  her  [larents  to 
America  in  early  childhood.  Her  father,  Samuel 
Dalryraple,  a  miller,  had  lost  liis  mill  and  began  his 
labors  anew  in  the  Maine  forests  near  Passama- 
quoddy  Bay.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Massa- 
chusetts, and  in  1840  to  Radnor  Township,  Peoria 
Count}'.  III.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  His 
son,  James  Dalrymple,  had  come  hither  as  early  as 
1827.  Mr.  Dahympic  finally  removed  to  La  .Salle 
County,  where  his  last  daj's  were  spent. 

At  the  death  of  her  husband,  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  left  with  a  family  of  small  children, 
wiiom  she  reared,  removing  to  Princeville,  where 
she  is  still  living.  She  is  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  She  has  five  living  chil- 
dren, and  has  lost  two.  James  died  in  the  P^ast, 
and  Samuel  in  Princeville,  in  1848.  Jemima  I)., 
Marguerite,  and  Ellen  are  living  in  Princeville; 
Sophia  is  the  wife  of  L.  L.  Campbell,  of  Peoria; 
the  youngest  child  is  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

The  gentleman  with  whose  name  we  introduce 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Akron  Township,  this 
county.  August  22,  1854,  and  spent  the  first  six 
years  of  his  life  on  the  farm.  His  mother  then  re- 
moved to  Princeville,  where  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  later  the  Princeville  Academ}',  in 
which  he  comi)leted  his  studies.  Being  the  only 
son  living,  he  transacted  business  for  his  mother 
from  the  time  he  was  old  enough,  and  carried  on 
the  home  farm  at  intervals  from  his  seventeenth 
year  until  it  was  sold.  In  187'J  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  F.  P..  Blauchard,  dealer  in  general  mer- 
chandise in  Princeville,  for  whom  he  worked  three 
years.  He  then  became  Postmaster,  holding  the 
position  from  1882  until  1885,  and  during  his  in- 
cumbency of  the  office,  also  carrying  on  a  confec- 
tionery and  fancy  goods  store. 

Upon  leaving  the  post-office,  Mr.  Edwards  re- 
entered the  employ  of  F.  B.  Blanchard  as  book- 
keeper, retaining  the  position  until  September, 
1889,  and  also  buying  stock  Un-  him.  He  next  be- 
came manager  of  the  dry-goods  store  of  his  brother- 


434 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in-law,  L.  L.  Campbell,  who  had  put  in  a  stock  of 
goods  at  Monica,  but  retained  his  residence  in  Peo- 
ria. Removing  to  the  new  town,  Mr.  Edwards  as- 
sumed control  of  tlie  Inisiness,  and  began  l)uying 
and  shipping  stock  to  Chicago,  his  sales  averaging 
forty  car-loads  per  year.  Honest,  upright,  and 
straightforward,  he  is  liked  by  everyone  whose  ac- 
quaintance he  makes,  even  his  political  opponents 
speaking  well  of  him.  He  is  a  thorough-going  Re- 
publican, has  aided  his  parly  as  delegate  to  county 
conventions,  and  at  all  times  exerts  his  personal  in- 
fluence in  its  behalf. 

Mr.  Edwards  remained  an  inmate  of  his  mother's 
household  until  thirty  years  old,  when  he  took  a 
companion  in  life  and  set  up  his  own  home.  His 
marriage  was  .celelarated  at  the  bride's  home  in 
Piinceville,  November  19,  1884,  his  companion  on 
liie  interesting  occasion  being  Mi.ss  Julia  Etta 
Blanchard.  She  is  a  daughter  of  F.  B.  Blanchard 
and  his  good  wife,  whose  liistory  occupies  another 
page  in  this  Ai.r.u.M.  She  was  born  in  Princeville, 
January  2,  1863,  received  her  preliminary  educa- 
tion there,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Normal 
School  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  in  the  Class  of  '83.  She 
became  a  teacher,  winning  laurels  in  the  profession 
for  which  her  tact  and  intelligence  well  fitted  her. 
She  possesses  a  noble  Christian  character,  and  is 
numbered  among  the  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  To  herself  and  husband,  three  children 
have  come,  named  respectively:  Forrest  G.,  Thomas 
and  Lois  Fayc. 


Vf/OHN  M.  ALLEN,  General  Agent  of  the 
Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  and  the 
Rock  Island  &  Peoria  Railroad,  at  Peoria, 
was  born  in  Putnam  County,  this  State,  on 
a  farm,  October  14,  1858,  a  son  of  "William  "H.  and 
Ella  (Waugh)  Allen.  AVhen  he  was  quite  young 
ills  parents  removed  to  Peoria,  later  they  removed 
to  Belleville,  III.,  where  at  the  age  of  twelve  jears 
he  first  became  connected  with  railroading  in  the 
capacity  of  office  boy.  in  the  emplo}^  of  tlie  Illinois 
A  St.  Louis  Railroad.  Tlirce\  ears  later  he  returned 
to  this  city,  obtaining  a  position  in  tlie  freight  otlict 


of  the  railroad  first  mentioned,  and  from  time  tt 
time  was  promoted  to  various  positions  in  a  cleri- 
cal capacity  until  he  was  appointed  General  Agent 
in  1884,  a  position  for  which  he  is  eminently  fitted 
This  is  a  responsible  place,  he  having  quite  a  large 
force  of  men  under  him. 

Mr.  Allen  has  secured  by  his  marri.age  willi 
Miss  Jennie  A.  Loosle3',  a  wife  who  understands 
the  art  of  making  a  comfortable  and  cozy  home 
Mrs.  Allen  is  a  native  of  this  city  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henr}'  Loosley,  who  was  a  resident  of  Beards- 
town,  prior  to  his  coming  to  this  city. 

Our  subject  is  identified  with  the  Knights  of 
Phvlhias.     He  and  his   wife  are   attendants  of  the 


Congregational  Church. 


>-^B05^l- 


■£k 


^^  ---^^^r^' 


—•■~i>^': 


'>t^  ANIEL  E.  DOUGHERTY,  dealer  in  wines 
and  liquors,  having  a  well  appointed  estab- 
lishment on  the  collier  of  Second  and  Pine 
Streets,  is  a  live  and  wide-awake  business  man.  He 
is  from  LaSalle  County,  the  citj'  of  Peru  being  his 
birthplace,  and  November  1 1,  1857,  the  date  of  liis 
birtli.  He  is  the  son  of  John  Dougherty,  who  was 
born  in  County  Longford.  Ireland,  of  Irish  parent- 
age, and  there  grew  to  maturity.  When  a  young 
man  he  left  his  native  isle  to  seek  his  fortunes  in 
this  land  of  promise,  coming  to  the  United  States 
in  1848,  and  landing  in  New  York  Cit^'.  He  was 
located  at  Boston  Four  Corners  for  a  while,  and 
while  there  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Kelly,  a 
native  of  Clare,  Ireland,  who  had  come  to  America 
ill  1849,  and  lived  in  New  York  City  until  her 
marriage.  After  the  birth  of  their  first  child,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dougherty  came  to  Peoria,  and  later  he 
became  connected  with  the  Rock  Island  Railroad 
Compan}',  and  for  thirty  years  was  one  of  its  most 
faithful  emjiloyes,  and  during  that  time  a  part  of 
the  track  vras  first  laid.  He  is  yet  living  at  a  ven- 
erable age,  making  his  home  in  Chillicotlie,  and 
has  retired  from  active  labor.  Though  having 
p.asscd  the  milestone  that  marks  a  life  of  three-score 
j-ears  and  ten,  he  is  yet  quite  active.  His  wife  is 
also  living  and  is  about  three-score  years  of  age. 


vS'VS' 


^. 


^Mc/c 


C 


rOKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


437 


The}'  are  both  consistent  members  of  the  Catholic 
Ciiurcb,  and  Mr.  Dougherty  is  a  Deraoerat  of  the 
deepest  dye. 

Tlie  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  the  third 
liiild  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
six  of  wiioin  are  ^et  living,  as  follows:  Daniel  E. ; 
Cliarles,  aclerk  for  J.  S.  Russell,  a  lumberman;  Sa- 
rah, wife  of  J.  R.  Ingersoll,  now  residing  in  Chil- 
licothe  and  a  saloonist  by  occupation;  Mary  A. 
resides  in  San  Diego,  Cal.;  James  M.  who  is  con- 
nected with  Daniel  in  tiie  wine  and  liquor  trade, 
and  John  at  home. 

Our  subject  came  to  Chillicothe  in  1863  and  has 
since  made  his  home  here,  receiving  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  subsequently  entered 
tlie  employ  of  the  railroad  company  of  the  Rock 
Island  road,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  mechanic 
while  connected  with  that  company.  He  became 
.1  bridge  carpenter  and  traveled  over  different  parts 
of  the  country  in  that  capacity,  and  at  one  time 
was  overseer  of  a  bridge  gang  on  the  Rock  Island, 
but  at  the  time  of  the  great  strike  severed  his  con- 
nection vvith  the  road  and,  coming  to  Chillicothe  in 
1.S85,  established  himself  in  his  present  business. 
Ik'  keeps  a  respectable  and  well  fitted  up  saloon, 
and  has  it  stocked  with  the  best  grades  of  liquor 
anil  wine,  and  has  gradually  built  up  quite  an  ex- 
tensive and  prosperous  business.  Mr.  Doughert}- 
is  a  man  of  generous  impulses  and  of  steady  habits 
and  is  poi)ular  with  his  fellow-citizens,  who  look 
upon  him  with  respect.  His  public  spirit  is  shown 
liy  his  liberal  support  of  all  plans  that  will  in  any 
way  advance  the  interests  of  Chillicothe. 


m- 


-:^ 


LVA    DUNLAP.     It  is   probable   that  no 
name  is  better  known  to  the  older   settlers 
in  Peoria  County  and    the  region  round 
1^'  about,  than  that   with  which  this  sketch  is 

introduced.  It  was  liorne  by  a  man  who  spent  many 
years  here,  was  identified  with  the  pioneer  work  of 
development  as  an  agriculturist,  a  leader  in  schemes 
for  advancing  the  interests  of  the  people,  and  whose 
life  was  such  as  to  merit  the  imitation  of  others. 
His   rosidence   in  tliis   county  bcijan  in  1837.  when 


the  flourishing  city  of  Peoria  was  scarcely  more 
than  a  trading  post  and  was  known  as  Ft.  Clark, 
while  the  now  beautiful  farm  lands  surrounding  it 
were  but  a  wild  expanse,  dotted  here  and  there  by 
the  rude  cabin  of  a  frontiersman  who  had  braved 
the  dangers  and  toils  of  existence  here  in  hopes 
of  bettering  his  circumstances. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  the  older  members  of  a 
family  consisting  of  ten  children,  his  birth  having 
taken  place  in  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  near 
Canajoharie,  October  26,  1805.  When  he  was  but 
a  boy  his  parents  removed  to  Oswego  County, 
where  he  spent  his  early  life  until  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois as  a  permanent  place  of  abode.  He  intended 
to  become  a  physician  but,  changing  his  mind, 
spent  a  few  years  as  a  merchant  in  Richland,  then, 
In  1835-36  built  two  or  three  schooners,  having  the 
assistance  of  some  cousins  in  this  enterprise.  In 
1834,  and  again  in  1836,  he  visited  the  West  and, 
attracted  by  the  country^  determined  to  engage  in 
agriculture    in   the   new  lands  of  the  Prairie  State. 

In  October,  1837,  therefore,  Mr.  Dunlap  took  up 
his  abode  in  Radnor  Township,  this  county,  being 
accompanied  hither  by  his  wife  and  five  children, 
and  also  by  his  parents,  a  brother  and  a  sister.  The 
first  purchase  of  real  estate  made  by  Mr.  Dunhip 
was  where  the  village  of  Dunlap  now  stands,  that 
place  having  been  laid  out  by  him  and  named  in 
his  honor.  In  this  township  he  continued  to  reside 
until  called  hence,  at  which  time  he  possessed  some 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  here.  About 
1870  he  gave  up  active  life,  spending  the  remnant 
of  his  days  in  the  i)eaceful  pursuits  belitlino-  his 
years,  mental  ability  and  tastes. 

Mr.  Dunlap  took  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of 
the  town  and  county,  holding  nearly  every  otlico 
in  the  gift  of  his  townsmen,  among  others  that  of 
Supervisor  twenty  years.  He  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  work-house  in  I'coria  and  a  Director 
therein  until  the  date  of  his  death.  In  his  relicrions 
views  he  was  liberal,  generously  dealing  by  all  the 
religious  societies  of  Dunlap.  No  man  could  lie 
more  deeply  interested  in  educational  matters  than 
he  nor  exhibit  in  his  home  greater  love  for  «ood 
reading.  The  library  he  collected  was  second  to 
none  in  the  county.  Esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him 
his  advice  and  couns';l  were  often  sought,  all  who 


438 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


„    I 


came  y>eino:  sure  of  a  hearty  reception  and  due  con- 
sideration of  their  affairs.  Mr.  Dunlap  was  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  Rock  IsLind  <fc  Peoria  Rail-  \ 
road.  This  public-spirited  citizen,  upright  man 
and  loving,  considerate  husband  and  father  en- 
tered into  rest  June  2.  1889,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-three  years,  seven  months  and  seven 
days.  His  memory  will  survive  long  after  his 
mortal  remains  shall  have  moldered  into  dust, 
exertinir  an  influence  untold  and  immeasurable  in 
time. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Smith  Dunlap,  who 
was  born  in  New  York,  and  married  Eleanor  Lane. 
Thev  made  their  home  in  this  countj-  from  1837 
unlil  death,  tiie  husband  p.issing  awaj'  M.arch  13, 
18oG,  and  the  wife  March  25,  1858.  The  father 
was  public  spirited,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  v.ari- 
ous  affairs  of  the  township,anrt  .all  that  would  be  a 
benefit  to  the  comni unity  in  which  he  lived.  He 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  many  years,  holding  that 
office  at  the  lime  of  his  decease,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  nearly  seventy-three  years  old.  In 
relio'ious  beliefs  lie  w.as  liberal.  All  who  knew  him 
respected  and  esteemed  him  for  bis  upright,  useful 
life  and  genial  nature. 

In  Oswego  County.  N.  Y..  February  17.  1829.  the 
solemn  marriage  rites  were  celebrated  that  made 
Miss  Mary  Knight.  Mrs.  Alva  Dunlap.  The  bride 
was  born  in  AVindham  County-,  Vt.,  September  10, 
1806,  and  during  the  years  of  her  wedded  life 
manifested  the  devotion  of  a  true  wife  and  noble- 
hearted  mother.  Her  kindly  nature  has  found  ex- 
pression in  deeds  of  ueighborl}'  service,  such  as  are 
especially  valued  in  times  of  sorrow  or  in  a  sparsely 
settled  region,  an<l  many  are  the  friends  she  has 
trained  by  her  character  of  real  worth. 

To  Mrs.  Dunlap  and  her  husliand  eleven  children 
were  born,  of  whom  we  note  the  following:  Bur- 
leigh died  January  24,  1890.  in  this  township;  By- 
ron W.  is  a  farmer  here;  Marshall  N.  also  carries 
on  that  peaceful  calling;  Frances  M.  is  nest  in  order 
of  birth;  Gilbert  L.  departed  this  life  when  eight 
years  old;  William  K.  is  the  next  on  the  family 
roll;  Hortensc  I.  is  the  widow  of  Harrison  E. 
Wiley;  Andrew  J.  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo., 
when  but  nineteen  j-ears  old.  having  been  a  mem- 
ber of  Companj^  E,  Seventy -Seventh    Illinois  In- 


fantry: Mary  E.  died  in  infancy;  Gilbert  L.,  (2d) 
Postmaster  and  merchant,  of  Dunlap;  Marj' E.  (2d) 
breathed  her  last  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years. 
The  famil}'  residence  is  a  fine  brick  house  in  the 
midst  of  appropriate  surroundings.  It  was  erected 
b3'  Mr.  Dunlap  in  1869,  the  bricks  that  compose  it 
having  been  burned  by  himself. 

A    lithographic   portrait   of  Mr.  Dunlap  is  pre- 
sented in  connection  with  his  personal  sketch. 


-m^ 


^/ILLIAM  F.  STREITMATTER.  One  of 
X 'iJ/i  *^®  most  thrifty,  progressive  and  liberal- 
'^V'  minded  citizens  of  Akron  Township,  is  the 
gentleman  with  whose  n.ame  this  sketch  is  intro- 
duced. His  ple.asant  dwelling  is  located  on  section 
10,  where  he  owns  four  hundred  acres  of  land  sup- 
plied with  a  complete  line  of  buildings  and  the 
various  improvements  which  might  be  expected 
of  a  man  of  progressive  ideas.  Farming  having 
been  the  life-work  of  Mr.  Streitmatter,  he  is  thor- 
oughly informed  regarding  the  peculiar  qualities 
of  soils,  the  best  methods  of  fertilizing,  and  the 
rotation  of  crops  which  will  produce  the  best  re- 
sults. Having  prospered  in  life,  he  is  able  to  sur- 
round his  family  with  many  comforts  and  bestow 
upon  his  children  excellent  advantages. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  ami 
son  of  respect.able  German  parents  with  whom  he 
came  to  America  in  1848.  He  was  then  about  six 
years  old.  his  natal  d.ay  having  been  March  14, 
1842.  The  family  settled  in  the  Empire  State,  liv- 
ing there  until  the  fall  of  1851,  when  they  turned 
their  footsteps  westward,  making  a  new  home  in 
Akron  Township,  this  county.  Three  weeks  after 
their  arrival  here  the  mother  departed  this  life. 
The  father,  Michael  .Streitmatter.  survived  until 
1808.  The  family  consisted  of  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  our  subject  being  the  youngest  member. 

The  womanly  virtues  of  Miss  Maria  Munck.  a 
native  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  but  from  early 
childhood  a  resident  on  American  soil,  won  the 
regard  of  our  subject,  who  was  successful  in  his 
wooing  and  secured  her  companionship  as  his  wife. 
Prior   to  that  event   he  had  lived  with  his  father, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


139 


liut  tlie  circumstaiH'es  were  then  reversed,  the  fa- 
ther becoming  an  inniale  of  his  son's  household, 
eoulinuing  with  him  until  his  death.  To  our  sub- 
ject and  his  g^oil  wife  seven  children  were  born, 
the  lii'ight  group  bearing  the  names  of  Rosa  A., 
Louisa,  William  A..  Emil,  iMatilda,  Clara  and 
David.  The  devoted  mother  and  faithful  com- 
|ianion  was  called  from  time  to  eternity  September 
21,  1888,  leaving  many  mourning  hearts  in  the  cir- 
cle which  slie  had  frequented. 

Mr.  Streilmatter  and  his  fauiil}'  are  attendants 
of  llie  Ornish  C'hurcli.  He  is  a  firm  supporter  of 
the  principles  of  Democracy,  believing  that  when 
th^rougldy  carrieii  out  the\'  best  promote  the  pub- 
lic welfare.  He  takes  an  earnest  interest  in  all 
which  seeius  in  his  judgment  adapted  to  build  up 
the  material  pros|)erily,  inoral  or  educational  ad- 
vancement of  the  community,  and  the  respect  in 
wliicii  he  is  held  is  in  accord  with  his  ability'  and 
worth  of  character. 


IJ 


fILLIAM  M.  SANGER  came  to  this  county 
more  tlian  forty  years  ago  before  he  had 
attained  his  majority,  being  then  poor  in 
purse,  but  rich  in  energy  and  ability  to  labor,  and 
tliat  whiclt  he  has  since  accomplished  through  toil, 
guided  bv  sound  discretion  and  wise  forethought, 
h;\s  placed  him  among  the  leading  farmers  and 
>ti>ck-raisers  of  Ilnllock  Township,  where  he  owns 
;\  fine  property,  having  quite  a  large  amount  of 
liuid.  and  where  he  has  one  of  the  most  pleasant 
and  coziest  of  homes  on  section  7. 

Mr.  Sanger  was  born  in  Honeoj-e  Falls,  Monroe 
County,  N.  Y.,  November  22,  1828.  Ilis  father, 
.laiues  Sanger,  was  a  native  of  St.  Johnsbui^-,  Cale- 
donia County.  Vt..  born  in  1790,  he  being  de- 
rived from  an  old  New  E^ngland  family.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  P^liezer  Sanger, 
said  farm  comprising  a  large  tract  of  land  near  St. 
.b)hnsbury.  lie  was  married  in  his  native  town,  to 
Miss  Maria  Wheeler,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  the 
same  place,  of  which  her  parents  were  also  natives, 
and  of  a  family  that  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Vermont.     Her  ancestors  originated  in  Kngland. 


and  iu  an  early  day  before  the  Revolution  had 
come  to  New  England.  James  Sanger  and  his 
young  wife  removed  to  Monroe  Countv  soon  after 
their  marriage,  and  he  was  lliere  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  there  the  mother  of  our  subject  died  when 
he  was  a  small  child,  he  being  the  3'oungest  of  a 
family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  James 
Sanger  married  a  second  time,  taking  as  his  wife 
Eliza  Newell,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  New 
York  State.  She  bore  her  husband  four  sons,  and 
after  his  death,  she  came  to  Illinois,  and  died  in  this 
county  when  quite  old.  The  father  of  our  subject 
died  in  his  home  iu  New  York,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  seveut3'-tive  years.  He  and  his  good  wife  were 
worthy  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Our  subject  was  reared  by  his  father  and  step- 
mother, and  made  his  home  with  them  until,  at  the 
youthful  age  of  fifteen  years,  he  set  out  in  the 
world  to  fight  life's  battles  for  himself,  and  he  has 
ever  since  been  independent.  A  few  months  be- 
fore he  became  of  .age.  he  made  his  w.ay  to  this 
Slate,  arriving  here  vvith  but  little  capital.  He  thus 
began  his  life  here  at  a  disadvantage,  but  notwith- 
standing that  fact  has  accumulated  a  valuable  prop- 
erty. His  farm  comprises  two  hundred  acres,  has 
a  fine  set  of  commodious  farm  buildings,  and  is  un- 
der first-elass  tillage.  He  purchased  it  in  18fi3,  and. 
he  lias  besides  two  hundred  acres  of  timber  land  in 
this  township.  After  coming  to  this  State  in  1849, 
Mr.  Sanger  worked  for  his  brother  for  awhile,  and 
in  1850.  began  to  make  improvements  on  a  farm 
in  this  township  belonging  to  his  brother  E.  G.  In 
1857  he  purchased  his  first  land  in  Akron  Town- 
ship, v?hich  comprised  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
and  he  improved  it  and  made  his  home  there  until 
he  came  to  Hallock  Township  in  1863  or  1864,  and 
located  on  his  present  farm. 

Mr.  Sanger  was  m.arried  in  this  township  to  Miss 
Sciniramis  Kemble.  She  was  born  in  1835,  at 
raducah.  Graves  County,  Ky.,  a  daughter  of  Col- 
lins and  Elizabeth  (Harlow)  Kemble,  who  were  also 
natives  of  that  State.  Some  years  after  their  mar- 
riage they  had  come  to  Illinois  iu  an  early  citiy  of 
its  settlement,  and  were  among  the  pioneers  of  this 
county.  They  located  on  a  farm  here,  and  after 
some  years  found  themselves  in  the  possession  of  a 
comfortable   home.     They   finally   sold   that  place 


440 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  went  to  Texas,  and  there  died  at  an  advanced 
age.  Mrs.  Sanger  was  young  when  her  parents 
came  to  this  county,  and  she  was  retred  here  to 
womanhood. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanger  have  liad  five  children,  two 
of  whom  are  dead:  Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
six  years,  and  William  at  the  ago  of  two  years. 
The  other  children  are:  James,  with  the  Santa  Fe 
Railroad  C'onipan3',  residing  in  Chillicothe,  who 
married  Addie  Stillman;  Carlyle,  a  farmer  in  Wyo- 
ming Township,  who  married  Carrie  Sims;  and 
Ella  is  at  home. 

But  few  men  are  held  in  higher  estimation  in 
lliis  cominiinily,  than  our  subject,  not  only  for  his 
good  citlzensliip.  liut  also  because  of  the  position 
that  he  has  attained  among  the  substantial  men  of 
the  county  through  his  individual  efforts.  His  ca- 
reer is  an  illustrious  example,  worth}'  of  emula- 
tion, of  what  a  man  may  accomplish  who  has  the 
stamina  to  push  his  fortunes  s[;ite  of  every  discour- 
aging circumstance.  His  wise  counsels  are  valued 
in  local  Democratic  politics,  and  he  has  also  made 
liiniself  useful  in  the  management  of  various  town- 
ship offices.  He  is  of  a  sincerely  religious  charac- 
ter, and  he  and  his  good  wife  are  devoted  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  which 
the}-  have  been  closely  conn>cted  for  over  tiiirty 
years,  and  Mr.  Sanger  has  been  an  incumbent  of 
most  of  the  church  offices. 


-^ 


G 


,^^EORGE  W.  BARRETT,  deceased,  was  form 
erly  a  well-known  and  highly  respected  resi- 
lient of  Millbrook  Township.  He  was  for 
many  years  closely  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  this  county,  performing  his  due  share  of 
the  hard  work  necessary  to  its  development,  and 
while  so  doing  acquired  a  valuable  property,  in- 
cluding the  homestead  on  which  his  widow  resides 
on  section  22. 

Mr.  Barrett  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  County, 
(Jhio.  a  son  of  one  of  its  early  pioneer  families, and 
he  was  born  July  28,  1835.  His  parents  were  Willis 
and  Elizabeth  (Huff)  Barrett,  the  former  a  native 
of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.      Amid 


the  pioneer  scenes  of  Ohio  he  grew  to  manhood, 
and  received  a  limited  education  in  its  early  schools, 
which  he  afterward  extended  by  reading  as  he  was 
always  fond  of  books.  In  1855,'in  the  opening 
years  of  a  strong  and  manly  manhood,  he  came  to 
this  county  and  here  he  met  the  woman  who  after- 
ward became  his  wife.  For  some  nine  years  after 
his  marriage  he  farmed  as  a  renter  in  Brimfleld 
Townshii),  and  in  1857  he  invested  his  carefully 
saved  earnings  in  a  farm  of  his  own,  the  same  on 
which  his  widow  now  resides.  In  the  course  of  a 
number  of  years  he  placed  it  under  tine  cultivation 
and  improved  il  into  one  of  the  most  desirable 
farms  in  the  vicinity,  its  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  yielding  under  his  judicious  management  an 
ample  income. 

In  his  death  the  county  and  township  lost  a  citi- 
zen who  had  ever  been  zealous  in  promoting  their 
welfare.  In  his  domestic  relations  he  was  a  kind 
and  loving  husband  and  wise  and  tender  father.and. 
to  those  outside  of  his  household  he  was  an  oblig- 
ing neighbor,  and  the  entire  community  united  with 
his  family  in  sorrow  for  their  bereavement.  He 
favored  everything  that  could  in  any  way  push  for- 
ward the  best  interests  of  his  adopted  township. 
Politically  he  was  always  stanch  in  his  support  of 
Re|>ublican  principles.  He  served  the  township  as 
School  Director  and  proved  to  be  a  valuable  official 
■while  acting  in  that  capacity.  He  came  of  sterling 
stock  and  his  f.ather  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812. 

INIr.  Barrett  was  very  fortunate  in  selecting  as 
his  life  companion,  Miss  Lovina  J.  Ramsey,  to 
whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  November  17, 
1857.  Her  parents  were  Robert  and  Cornelia  (Shaw) 
Ramsey, natives  respectively  of  Brooke  County, Va., 
.and  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.  Her  paternal  ances- 
tors were  of  Scotch-Irish  and  her  maternal  progeni- 
tors were  of  Scotch-English  blood.  Her  grand- 
father, Samuel  Ramsey, was  a  Revolutionary  soldier 
and  was  a  prisoner  at  Ft.  Washington,  and  was  one 
of  the  seven  who  were  released  liy  the  British.  He 
emigrated  to  Virginia  and  that  was  the  origin  of 
that  family  in  that  State.  When  Mrs.  Barrett  was 
fifteen  years  old  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Illi- 
nois, they  first  locating  in  Brimfield  Township, 
where  they  resided  a  n\imber  of  years  and  finally 


PORTRAIT  AND  HIOGRAPHICAL  Al.lUM. 


441 


moved  to  Elmwood  Village,  where  the  father  died 
February  23,  1890,  lacking  but  one  mouth  of  being 
oighty-six  \e:us  old.  He  came  of  a  long-lived  race 
and  his  mother  attained  the  venerable  age  of  ninetj'- 
two  years  before  her  death.  Mrs.  Barrett's  mother 
departed  this  life  May  2.'.,  1884.  Her  father  had 
been  twice  married  and  had  a  family  of  six  children 
of  nlioui  the  following  three  are  living:  Mar}-  E., 
wife  of  Frank  E.  McCurdy  of  Belle  Plaine,  Iowa; 
Laura  V..  and  Mrs.  Barrett.  Mr.  Ramsey  was  one 
of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county  and  was  well 
ami  favorably  known  throughout  this  region.  In 
earlj-  life  he  was  a  Whig  but  Itecame  a  Republican 
after  the  formation  of  the  party.  Mrs.  Barrett  was 
reared  in  this  county  though  she  was  a  native  of 
.Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  June 
3,  1836.  .She  received  an  excellent  education, 
laying  its  foundation  in  the  common  schools,  and 
for  one  term  attended  a  seminary  in  ^'irginia.  Her 
union  with  our  subject  was  blessed  to  them  by  the 
birth  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  the  following 
eight  are  living:  Ella,  wife  of  Frank  E.  llickok, 
of  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  Ephraim  L. ;  xVddie  L.,  wife  of 
.1.  K.  Powers  of  Oilman,  Iowa;  Harry  R.,  a  resident 
of  Millbrook  Township;  Robert  R.;  Hubert  E.; 
Minnie  and  Maud. 

Mrs.  Barrett  was  a  very  efflcicnt  helper  to  her 
husband  and  her  wise  counsel  and  active  co-opera- 
tion were  of  great  vfdue  to  him  in  the  accumulation 
of  his  property.  She  still  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead and  is  held  in  true  respect  ajid  hij^h  esteem 
by  all  who  recognize  the  genuine  worth  of  her 
character. 


OSEPII  MULLER.  Perhaps  no  better  rep- 
resentative of  the  sturdy-going  German  far- 
mer whose  efforts  have  been  crowned  with 
J  satisfactory  results,  can  be  found  in  Medina 
Township,  than  the  gentleman  above  named,  who 
resides  upon  a  fine  tract  of  land  on  section  5.  He 
and  his  father  there  own  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  acres  upon  which  a  good  farm-house  and  other 
buildings  have  been  erected.     The  place  was  prac- 


tically wild  and  unbroken  when  secured  by  the 
MuUers  in  April,  1847,  but  most  of  the  land  is  now 
under  excellent  improvement. 

Our  subject  was  born  October  24,  183'J,  in  Als- 
ace, German}',  the  province  at  that  time  being  un- 
der French  control.  He  is  of  pure  German  ances- 
trj'  in  both  lines  of  descent,  and  the  province  in 
which  he  was  l)orn  had  been  the  home  of  both  fam- 
ilies for  several  generations.  The  paternal  grand- 
parents of  our  subject  were  George  A.  and  Anna 
M.  (Wakerley)  MuUer,  the  latter  of  whom  <lied 
when  fortj'-two  years  of  age,  while  the  former  lived 
to  be  seventy-live.  They  were  life-long  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  that  having  been  the  re- 
ligions home  of  the  old  stock  during  former  years. 

The  father  of  our  subject  isJohau  Anton  MuUer, 
born  April  30,  1807.  He  learned  ihe  trade  of  a 
carpenter  under  his  father,  iiursuing  it  as  long  as 
he  remained  in  his  native  land.  In  his  twentieth 
year  he  married  Mary  M.  Wakerley,  who  was  born 
and  reared  on  a  farm  which  h.ad  been  in  possession 
of  the  family  for  man\'  j'cars.  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Mul- 
ler  remained  in  their  native  province  until  Novem- 
ber 25,  184G.  In  the  meantime  six  children  had 
been  born  to  them,  and  one  had  died  at  the  age  of 
four  j-ears.  Having  decided  that  the  I'liited  States 
gave  a  better  promise  of  future  advancement  for 
themselves  and  children  than  their  own  land,  they 
set  sail  on  the  -Queen  Victoria,"  and  after  spend- 
ing fifty-eight  days  on  the  l)road  Atlantic,  laniled 
at  New  Orleans,  La.  They  came  up  the  Mississippi 
River,  reaching  Peoria  after  seventeen  da^'s'  travel, 
and  spending  a  month  in  the  young  city. 

The  father  then  purchased  the  farm  which  he  has 
since  occupied,  and  where  our  subject  grew  to  ma- 
turity, taking  a  greater  share  in  the  work  of  the  es- 
tate from  j'car  to  year  until  he  finally  might  be  said 
to  entirely  control  it.  The  good  wife  and  mother 
died  April  28.  1886,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
The  father,  though  equally  advanced  in  age,  is  yet 
living  and  still  smart  and  active.  Following  the 
example  and  teaching  of  their  i)rogenitors,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Muller  have  been  life-long  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  actively  assisting  in  its  work, 
among  other  labors  in  which  the}'  have  been  en- 
gaged being  the  organization  of  St.  Joseph's  Church 
of  Medina  Township.    The  living  members  of  their 


442 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


/IL^  is 


family  are:  Theresa,  wife  of  Albert  Ernst,  of  whom 
a  biographical  sketch  occupies  an  appropriate  place 
in  this  Album;  Anna  M.,  widow  of  Jacob  Winter, 
whose  home  is  in  Peoria;  Wcudling,  who  married 
Bridget  Mahon,  and  occupies  a  farm  near  Corning, 
Adams  County,  Iowa;  Wary  M.,  wife  of  Nicholas 
Wilhelm,  a  farmer  of  Medina  Townsliip;  and  our 
subject. 

Joseph  Muller  married  Miss  Regina  Feinholz,  a 
native  of  Byern.Gei  manj',  her  natal  day  having  been 
October  13,  1844.  Her  parents,  Franz  C.  and  Cathe- 
rine r.  (Uhl)  Feinliolz,  were  natives  of  the  sauie 
province  vvherein  they  died  wlien  about  three-score 
years  of  age.  They  were  farmers,  and  communi- 
cants of  tlie  Catholic  Church.  Their  daughter, 
Mrs.  Midler,  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  land 
of  her  nalivitv,  being  about  twenty-two  j-ears  old 
when,  with  an  older  brother,  she  came  to  the  United 
States.  After  living  in  New  York  City  some  five 
montlis,  she  came  to  Peoria,  111.,  where  she  was  sub- 
sequentlj'  married.  She  is  the  mother  of  nine  liv- 
ing children,  viz:  Mary  M.,  Joseph.  Mary,  George 
A..  Regina,  Frank,  Jacob,  Clara,  and  Nicholas.  All 
are  at  home  but  Joseph,  who  is  now  in  Washing- 
ton. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Muller  have  lost  three  children 
— Catherine,  Joiin,  and  an  infant. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Muller  and  their  children  belong 
to  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church.  Their  friends  are 
not  confined  to  those  of  their  own  faith  and  nation- 
ality', but  include  others  to  whom  their  good  quali- 
ties are  known.  Mr.  Muller  exercises  the. right  of 
suffrage  in  behalf  of  the  principles  and  candidates 
of  Democracy. 


DWARD  W.  BURDICK.  One  of  the  ni.any 
attractive  rural  abodes  of  Akron  Township, 
/*' — ^  is  that  owned  and  occujiied  by  this  gentle- 
man. It  is  situated  on  section  24.  the  land  accom- 
panying it  comprising  one  hundred  and  nineteen 
acres  of  fertile  soil  under  excellent  cultivation,  and 
supiilied  with  a  complete  line  of  substantial  farm 
buildings.  Having  been  for  3- ears  under  the  con- 
trol of  one  who  has  made  farming  his  life  work,  it 
bears  in  every  [lart  the  appearance  of  a  well-regu- 


lated establishment.  In  addition  to  this  comfort- 
able estate  Mr.  Burdick  owns  a  one-third  interest  in 
the  West  Hallock  Cheese  factory  which  has  a  ca- 
pacity of  about  ten  thousand  pounds  daily. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Jabez  and  Abi- 
gail (Millard)  Burdick,  natives  of  Berlin,  Rensse- 
laer Count}',  N.  Y.,  where  they  made  their  first 
home  after  their  marriage.  They  subsequent!}'  re- 
moved to  Allegany  County,  where  the  father  de- 
parted this  life.  The  widowed  mother  afterward 
came  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  making  her  home  with 
our  subject  until  she  too  was  called  hence.  Their 
famil}'  consisted  of  five  children,  of  whom  Edward 
is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  The  parents  were 
held  in  good  repute  by  those  who  knew  them,  it 
having  been  their  constant  endeavor  to  properly 
rear  their  children,  and  discharge  all  the  obliga- 
tions they  owed  to  their  fellow-men. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 16,  1826,  in  Little  Genesee,  Allegany  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  there  reared  to  manhood.  After  he 
became  of  age  he  made  his  way  to  the  Prairie  State, 
choosing  as  his  location  Farmington, Fulton  County, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  continuing  to  reside 
there  until  early  in  the  '60s.  lie  then  sold  his  prop- 
erty and  removing  to -this  count\'.  bought  tliat  upon 
which  he  has  since  resided,  and  which  now  forms 
so  pleasant  a  home.  Possessed  of  unusual  intelli- 
gence and  excellent  judgment,  Mr.  Burdick  lias  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  those  about  him,  who  have 
manifested  their  respect  by  electing  him  to  the 
various  school  oflices.  and  to  that  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  has  brought  to  his  public  stations  the 
same  energy  which  has  made  his  private  life  success- 
ful in  a  worldly  sense,  and  has  therefore  advanced 
the  interest  of  the  community. 

At  Farmington.  April  12,  1852,  Mr.  Burdick  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Saundeis,  a 
native  of  Berlin,  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y..  who 
proved  her  etticiency  as  companion  and  helpmate 
for  a  period  of  almost  thirty  years.  She  entered  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  January  20,  1882, 
cheered  in  her  dying  hours  by  Christian  faith.  Her 
membership  w.as  in  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  Church. 
Siie  and  her  husband  had  adopted  five  children, 
named  respectively:  Dorcas  E.,  Joseph,  Lillie  J., 
Charles  A.,  and  Cora  A.     The  oldest  is  now   the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


443 


widow  of  William  Bavington.  Lillie  died  while 
yet  in  her  infancy.  Those  who  survive  were  given 
siuh  advantages  as  would  have  been  theirs  had  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Burdiok  been  their  parents  in  truth,  and 
ever}'  effort  has  been  made  to  fit  them  for  useful 
and  honorable  careers. 

Mr.  Bnrdick  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  al- 
liance, November  29,  1888.  being  wedded  in  Peo- 
ria, to  Mrs.  Ophelia  Partridge,  daughter  of  Reuben 
and  Delight  (Palmer)  Brown,  and  widow  of  the 
late  Albert  Partridge,  who  died  in  the  county  seat 
November  4,  1882.  She  had  four  children — James 
II..  Harvey  E.,  Mary,  and  Charles  A.,  the  second 
and  youngest  being  all  who  survive.  The  parents 
of  the  present  Mrs.  Burdick  were  natives  of  Rhode 
Inland,  whence  they  removed  to  EUisburg,  Jeffer- 
son County,  N.  Y.,  and  thence  to  Oswego,  where 
the  wife  and  mother  died.  Mr.  Brown  afterward 
came  to  Illinois,  residing  at  Mt.  Holly,  as  host  of 
the  Mt.  Holly  House,  for  about  four  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Waukesha,  Wis.,  in  which  place 
liis  death  occurred.  Mrs.  Burdick  is  the  third  of 
the  Tour  children  born  of  this  union,  her  birthplace 
being  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  and  her  natal  day  March 
18.  18-28. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burdick  are  members  in  good 
standing  of  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  Church.  She 
is  a  most  estimable  woman,  an  excellent  neighl)or, 
interested  in  all  that  is  best  in  the  movements  go- 
ing on  around  her,  but  finding  in  her  own  home  her 
chief  i03's.  It  is  needless  to  say  that,  like  her  hus- 
band, she  has  many  warm  friends,  and  that  their 
pleasant  home  is  a  favorite  gathering  pl.ace  for  the 
better  class  of  people  in  the  neighborhood. 


r/ OHN  BOYLAN.  This  gentleman  deserves 
mention  among  tiie  practical  and  well-to-do 
farmers  of  Ilallock  Township,  in  which  he 
has  been  living  since  1863.  He  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  three  liun<lreil  and  eighty-nine  acres  on 
section  'M,  whereon  good  buildings  have  been 
erected  and  the  other  im|>roveraents  made  which 
stamp  it  as  the  home  of  one  who  understands  ag- 
riculture and  means  to  surround  himself  and  family 


with  comfort.  The  greater  part  of  the  estate  is 
improved  land.  Mr.  Boylan  is  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  a  communicant  of  the  Catho- 
lic Church.  He  is  social,  honorable,  industrious, 
and  has  man}'  friends  throughout  the  section. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Patrick  Boylan,  was 
born  in  Ireland  not  far  from  the  city  of  Dublin, 
w.as  of  good  Irish  blood  and  the  son  of  a  gentleman 
of  considerable  me.ins.  He  received  careful  train- 
ing and  better  educational  advantages  than  fall  to 
the  lot  of  all  boj's.  When  eighteen  years  of  age 
he  was  sent  to  America,  beginning  business  as  a 
merchant  in  New  York  City.  There  he  remained 
until  early  in  the  '30s,  in  the  meantime  having 
married  Miss  Mary  Branagan,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
who  had  emigrated  to  New  York  with  her  brothers 
when  a  young  woman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boylan  with 
two  children  emigrated  West,  via  the  water  route 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  when  that  citj'  was  but  a  small 
town.  There  Mr.  Boylan  lived  for  a  few  years, 
being  engaged  in  the  work  of  macadamizing  streets. 
About  1840  he  sold  out  his  interests  there,  coming 
to  this  county  and  taking  possession  of  one  hundred 
.and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Medina  Township, 
began  the  pioneer  work  of  development. 

A  log  house  was  built,  improvements  made  from 
time  to  time,  and  subsequent  purchases  made  until 
the  Boylan  farm  amounted  to  almost  two  sections. 
Mr.  Boylan  still  occupies  the  homestead,  and  al- 
though eighty-five  years  of  age,  is  quite  active 
physically  and  mentally'.  He  is  a  well-respected 
citizen, a  member  of  the  Democratic  jiarty,  and  the 
Catholic  Church.  His  ivife  departed  this  life  on 
the  homestead  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  She  was  a  devout  Catholic  also.  The  par- 
ental family  consisted  of  four  children,  one  of 
whom  is  deceased.  Of  the  survivors,  Charles  and 
Thomas  own  and  operate  farms  in  Me<lina  Town- 
ship; they,  like  their  brother  John,  are  married 
and  liave  families. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  .St.  Louis, 
October  13, 1837,  and  being  brought  to  this  county 
in  chihihood,  grew  to  man's  estate  on  the  farm, 
ac(iuiring  such  an  education  as  the  district  schools 
could  furnish  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
vocation  to  which  he  turned  his  attention.  He  was 
still    unmarried   when   he    took   possession   of    his 


444 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


|)rescnt  farm.  He  was  first  married  in  this  town- 
ship to  Miss  Christina  Holilian,  wlio  was  born  in 
New  Yovli  Cit}-  in  184.3  and  coming  West  wiien  a 
cliild,  grew  to  womanliood  on  the  parental  estate 
in  this  township.  She  died  at  her  home  in  I87u. 
her  career  cut  short  in  the  prime  of  life.  She  left  five 
children:  William  F.,  M.  Ella,  Rosa,  Lena  and  Clara. 
The  son,  a  student  in  tiie  Cincinnati  Medical  Insti- 
tute, expects  to  be  graduated  in  .lune,  1891,  and 
enti'i-  at  once  upon  the  i)ractice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession. In  the  intervals  of  study  he  occupi(!S  his 
place  at  the  parental  fireside  where  his  sisters  j'et 
remain. 

A  second  malrimoni.al  alliance  was  contracted 
by  our  subject  in  this  township,  his  bri'le  being 
Miss  Eva  A.  Weber.  Iler  parents,  Andrew  and 
Gerlruile  (Wiltz)  Weber  are  well-known  residents 
of  ChiUicothe  vvheie  they  have  spent  many  j'ears. 
They  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr. 
Weber  is  a  furniture  dealer  and  cabinet-maker. 
Both  are  natives  of  Mecklenburg,  Germany,  and 
came  to  America  in  childhood  with  their  respective 
parents  who  located  in  this  county.  Their  daughter, 
Mrs.  lioylan,  was  born  in  Peoria,  January  4,  18.52, 
reared  and  educated  in  ChiUicothe  and  like  her 
parents  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Church.  She  has 
borne  her  husband  four  children:  Emmet,  John, 
Lewis  and  Aichibald. 

-"'' -"^-^ ''— 


AMUEL  E.  ADAMS,  M.  D.  The  Spring 
Hill  Park  Eleetropatliic  Sanitarium,  under 
the  ownership  and  management  of  Dr. 
Adams,  has  become  one  of  the  famous  in- 
stitutions of  Central  Illinois  and  is  rapidly  proving 
the  absurdity  of  leaving  the  State  for  the  various 
other  health  resorls  when  this  precious  boon  may 
bo  obtained  comparatively  near  home.  The  Sani- 
taiium  marks  one  of  the  important  features  of 
I'enria,  being  located  at  tiie  intersection  of  Glen- 
dale  Avenue  and  Spring  Street  and  amid  whose 
grounds  are  located  both  mineral  and  pure  water 
springs.  The  Sanitarium  was  planned  and  organ- 
ized by  Dr.  Adams  in  1880,  when  he  bought  the 
Park  and  Zoological  Garden  and   began    bnildinti- 


extensively,  equipping  his  establishment  with  all 
the  appliances  for  bathing  and  the  use  otherwise  of 
these  valuable  waters.  The  original  main  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1888,  but  with  his  usual 
enterprise  and  persistence  Dr.  Adams  rebuilt  upon 
the  old  site  and  has  an  establishment  which  for 
popularity  and  the  skillful  treatment  of  nervous 
and  chronic  diseases  is  not  excelled  b}^  anything  in 
this  part  of  the  United  States.  He  emiiloys  ex- 
perienced i)hysicians  and  furnishes  a  limited  num- 
ber of  his  [latients  with  board  and  rt)oms. 

The  treatment  at  the  Sanitarium  includes  hot 
and  cold  mineral  baths,  besides  Russian,  Turkish 
and  Electrical.  Acting  upon  the  maxim  of  Julin 
Wesley,  that  -'electricity  is  a  thousand  remedies  in 
one,"  Dr.  Adams  makes  of  this  a  sjiecialty  and 
also  calls  to  his  aid  medicine,  hygiene  and  various 
surgical  appliances.  The  most  difficult  cases  have 
received  snccessful  treatment.  The  large  building 
is  heated  b}'  steam,  employing  for  this  purpose  a 
ten-horse  power  boiler.  The  tasteful  grounds  are 
embellished  by  artificial  lakes,  some  of  which  con- 
tain goldfish,  German  carp  and  other  choice  varie- 
ties of  the  finny  tribe.  A  pond  of  cold  spring 
water  furnishes  a  suitable  receptacle  for  choice 
trout.  All  classes  and  both  sexes  are  treated  at 
the  Sanitarium,  which  furnisiies  free  consultation 
and  by  addressing  the  Doctor  all  particulars  and 
terms  will  be  readily  obtained. 

A  native  of  Livingston  County,  N.  Y.,  Dr. 
Adams  was  born  August  15,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of 
Nathan  W.  and  Achsali  (Eggleston)  Adams,  with 
whom  he  grew  to  mature  years  in  his  native  county 
and  in  Western  New  York.  After  leaving  the 
common  school  he  was  admitted  to  the  Wesle3'an 
Academy  at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  from  which  he  was  duly- 
graduated.  He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
in  his  native  county,  subsequently  attended  lectures 
at  Geneva  and  next  entered  the  Medical  College  in 
Cleveland  from  which  he  emerged  a  full  fledged 
M.  D. 

The  Doctor  commenced  the  practice  of  his  i)ro- 
fessiou  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  instituted  an 
extensive  water-cure  Sanitarium  which  he  con- 
ducted with  marked  success  and  in  connection  with 
which  he  gained  a  valuable  experience.  In  1881 
he  came  to  Pe(iria  to  estal)lish  Spring  Hill  Sanita- 


f. 


.sag  '^ ,  i> 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


417 


iiuiii,wliicb  each  year  is  becoming  more  widely  and 
favorably  known  and  receives  the  patronage  of  the 
best  class  of  i)ei)|)le. 

Dr.  Adams  contracted  matrimonial  ties  Septem- 
ber 20.  1855,  being  wedded  to  Miss  Ada  Ayers,  a 
native  of  Chesterville,  Oiiio.  'J'liis  union  has  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  four  ciiihheu,  one  of  whom 
died  at  the  age  of  eight  years.  The  three  survi- 
vors are,  Frank  S.,  a  practicing  physician  of  Marion, 
Oliio;  ]•;.  Pearl,  the  wife  of  M.  Spaulding,  of  New 
York  City  ;  an<l  Ada,  who  is  thirteen  3'ears  old  and 
remains  with  her  parent;  tlie  mother  died  at  the 
birth  of  the  latter.  Mrs.  Ada  L.  Adams^  was  a 
well-educated  lady  and  a  graduate  in  medicine  from 
the  Cleveland  College.  .She  was  warmly  interested 
in  her  husband's  work  and  practiced  with  him  in 
the  Sanitarium  at  Siiringfield,  Ohio,  until  her  death. 

Besides  tlie  Sanitarium  and  its  appurtenances  Dr. 
Adams  owns  valuable  real  estate  in  Florida,  where 
he  spends  his  winters,  lie  meddles  very  little  with 
politics,  simply  giving  his  sn|)port  by  vote  to  the 
Republican  paity.  In  his  religious  views  he  is 
liliei'al  and  non-sectarian. 


((^ALENTINE  DEWEIN.  This  gentleman 
owns  large  property'  interests  in  Peoria  and  is 
recognized  as  one  of  her  well-to-do  citizens; 
he  is  also  well-known  in  financial  circles  as  a  man 
who  has  been  industrious  and  successful,  conduct- 
ing his  business  affairs  with  strict  integrity' and  a 
degree  of  nerve  which  has  won  success  where  many 
would  have  failed.  As  a  citizen  he  is  interested  in 
every  means  of  advancement  and  all  movements 
wliich  will  increase  the  true  prosperity,  not  only  of 
the  city,  but  of  the  country  at  large. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  was  April  1,  1817, 
and  his  birth  took  place  in  Alsace-Loraine,  then  a 
l)art  of  France,  but  now  included  in  the  (ierman 
Confederation.  This  is  the  Rhine  province  of 
which  his  parents,  >'alenline  and  Margaret  (Gold) 
Dewiin,were  also  natives.  Their  ancestors  were 
French  Huguenots,  their  faith  leading  them  to  lo- 
cate near  the  line  where  they  were  less  liable  to  per- 
secution, or  could    more  easily  escape  when  it  was 


threatened.  The  first  of  the  family'  to  come  to 
America  was  Frederick  Dewein.  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  who  accompanied  LaF^iyette across  the 
sea  in  1811,  and  located  in  Pennsylvania.  He  made 
his  home  in  Sliip[)onsbnrg,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  pearlash  at  Chambersbnrg.  His 
death  occurred  in  1822  or  1823.  Before  coming 
to  America  he  had  been  a  Commissar}'  in  the  east- 
ern division  of  the  French  army. 

Valentine  Dewein,  Sr.,  served  seven  years 
in  the  French  army  under  Napoleon  I.  He  came 
to  America  in  1830,  locating  in  Baltimore,  Md., 
whence  he  removed  to  McConnellsburg,  Bedford 
County,  Pa.,  where  he  resided  until  1834.  He  was 
a  tailor  by  trade,  but  after  his  removal  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  which  took  place  at  the  date  last  men- 
tiimed,  he  engaged  in  the  ma.uifacturc  of  bagging. 
He  breathed  his  last  S(q)tember  9,  184  1,  leaving  a 
family  of  four  children,  of  whom  the  eldest  is  the 
onl}'  survivor. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  was  educated  in 
his  native  land  whence  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  America,  beginning  his  labors  in  life  by  working 
on  a  farm  in  the  Keystone  State.  He  was  then 
aiiprenticed  to  a  shoemaker  and  followed  his  trade 
about  thirty  years.  He  then  began  dealing  in 
leather,  shoe  findings,  saddlery  hardware,  etc.,  in 
whicli  he  continued  until  1883.  Since  that  time 
he  has  devoted  his  attention  solely-  to  his  pro|ierty 
interests,  having  acquired  both  business  and  resi- 
dence property  of  value.  He  became  a  resident  of 
Peoria  in  1847,  reaching  here  March  17,  and  soon 
becoming  known  for  the  qualities  which  have  led 
to  his  success. 

Air.  Dewein  has  taken  very  little  |)art  in  politics 
and  looks  more  to  the  personal  cliaracter  of  men 
than  to  the  views  ivhich  tln^y  express.  DnriTig  the 
war  he  gave  the  Union  soldiers  the  use  of  a  room 
in  which  to  drill.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Cit}'  Council.  F'or  nine  years  he  was  a  Directcn-  of 
the  Toledo,  Peoria  it  Western  Railroad,  and  he  was 
also  Secretary  and  Trcasni'er  of  the  Peoria  cfe  Rock 
Island  R.ailroad,  in  the  construction  of  which  he 
took  an  active  part.  His  marriage  was  celebrated 
August  22,  1845,  the  estimable  lady  whom  he 
chose  as  his  companion  being  Miss  Margaret  Sliafer, 
who  was  born   near   Strasbnrg.  Germany.    To  Mr. 


U8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  Mrs.  Dewein  seven  cliiMreti  have  been  born, 
the  only  survivors  being  Lewis  K.,  who  is  now  in 
Denver,  Col.,  and  Noble,  wlio  lives  with  his  father. 
The  parents  belong  to  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Dewein  is   shown  on  another 
page  of  this  volume. 


-»-r*- 


-S^^- 


-♦Ti-w— 


AVID  G.  P^VANS.  Among  the  enterprising 
young  farmers  and  stock-raisers,  natives 
of  Peoria  County,  not  one  has  performed 
with  more  zeal  and  good  practical  lesults 
his  shrae  in  pushing  forward  the  work  left  them  by 
their  pioneer  sires,  which  has  made  this  one  of  the 
best  developed  and  most  valuable  farming  regions 
in  this  State.  His  interests  are  centered  in  Prince- 
ville  Township,  where  he  owns  a  finely  improved 
farm,  comprising  parts  of  sections  9,  10,  and  15. 
He  has  placed  two  sets  of  neat  buildings  on  his 
farm  and  rents  much  of  it. 

Walker  M.  Evans,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  a  son  of  Evan  Evans,  like- 
wise a  native  of  that  State,  where  he  was  engaged 
as  a  miller  until  he  came  here  in  the  early  days  of 
tlic  settlement  of  the  county  and  located  in  Radnor 
Township,  of  which  he  thus  became  a  pioneer.  He 
bought  a  mill  on  the  Kickapoo,  and  carried  on 
milling  in  connection  with  farming,  and  was  much 
prospered  in  his  work,  placing  himself  among  the 
well-to-do  citizens  of  that  township,  and  there  his 
life  was  brought  to  a  close  at  a  ripe  old  age. 

The  father  of  our  subject  came  here  when  a 
young  man  in  pioneer  days  and  assisted  his  father 
in  the  management  of  his  farm  and  in  operating 
the  mill,  he  having  an  interest  in  the  latter,  and 
being  a  practical  miller.  He  linally  located  on  the 
Kickapoo,  and  was  very  successful  in  his  efforts  in 
improving  his  faim  land,  and  he  owned  besides  one 
liundred  and  sixty  acres  of  excellent  farming  Land 
in  I'rinceville  Township.  He  was  ever  a  loyal  and 
patriotic  citizen,  and  when  the  war  broke  out 
quickly  responded  to  the  draft  but  was  rejected  on 
account  of  his  age.  He  was  a  true  Republican  in 
[jolitics   and  was   ever    zealous   in  his  support  of 


))arty  principles.  Religiously  lie  was  a  Baptist  and 
a  consistent  follower  of  that  faitli.  At  his  de.atii 
in  April,  1879,  the  count}-  lost  a  trulj-  good  and 
valued  citizen.  His  widow,  who  is  much  esteemed 
in  tlie  community  where  siie  lives,  still  makes  her 
home  on  the  old  homestead  in  Radnor.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Dickinson,  and  slie  was  born  in 
Indiana,  a  daughter  of  .John  Dickinson,  a  farmer  of 
that  State.  He  early  came  to  Illinois  with  his  fam- 
ily, performing  the  journey  with  oxen,  and  was  a 
pioneer  farmer  of  Medina  Township.  Mrs.  Evans 
has  four  childien,  namely:  Adolphus,  and  Evan 
living  in  Radnor  Township;  David  G.,  oursubject, 
and  Aaron,  a  resident  of  Radnor  Townsliip. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  on  the  banks  of 
the  Kickapoo,  Radnor  Township,  February  26, 
1857.  His  early  days  were  passed  on  the  farm, 
and  he  learned  in  boyhood  the  rudiments  of  agri- 
culture. He  gleaned  a  substantial  education  in  the 
district  schools,  which  he  attended  until  he  was 
twenty-one.  He  remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
home  until  ho  attained  his  majority,  and  then  came 
to  Princeville  Township,  where  he  located  on  one 
of  his  father's  farms,  and  in  this  township  lie 
completed  Jiis  schooling.  He  settled  on  this  place 
in  Februar3%  1880,  buying  seventv-two  acres  of  it 
for  ^3,700,  and  immediately  entered  upon  its  im- 
provement, and  has  since  been  carrying  on  the 
work.  He  has  added  to  his  original  purchase  until 
he  owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  minus  six 
and  one-half  acres  talven  bj^  the  railwa}'.  This  is 
all  tillable,  is  well  fenced  and  is  supplied  witii  two 
sets  of  excellent  buildings,  as  he  rents  a  part  of  it, 
and  as  a  whole  it  is  one  of  the  Quest  farms  in  tlie 
vicinit}-.  His  dwelling  is  a  substantial,  well-ap- 
pointed house,  24x36  feet  in  dimensions,  and  the 
farm  is  supplied  with  the  latest  modern  machinery. 
He  has  it  well  stocked,  raises  cattle,  horses  and 
hogs  of  an  excellent  grade.  His  horses  are  of  tlie 
Norman  and  Belgian  breeds,  and  he  at  one  time 
owned  the  celebrated  imported  Belgian  "'Match- 
man." 

Mr.  Evans  was  married,  in  Princeville  Village, 
February  25, 1879,  to  Miss  Cynthia  J.  Graves.  She 
was  born  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Rebecca  (Stretch)  Graves.  Mr.  Graves 
w.as  engaged  in  the  teaming  business  while  in  Ohio, 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


449 


but  after  coming  to  this  comity  lie  bougiit  a  fai-tu 
in  I'riiieeville,  and  now  lives  retired  on  section  3, 
tliis  townsliip.  Mi',  and  Jlrs.  Evans  have  five  cliil- 
dien — Myitis.  Tniia,  Veriiis,  Morviii,  and  Leila. 

A  man  of  decided  cliaraclei-  and  of  excellent 
mental  and  executive  capacity,  oiu'  subject  is  a 
conspicuous  fiijuie  in  every  movenieiit  looking  to 
the  advancement  of  his  township,  lie  interests 
himself  greatly  in  (wlncationa)  matters,  and  is  Pres- 
ident of  the  Board  of  School  Directors,  serving  his 
third  term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Horse  Thief 
Detective  Association  at  Princcville.  He  is  promi- 
nently identilied  witii  the  Patrons  of  Husbandly, 
having  joined  tiiera  at  Salem  when  eigliteen  years 
of  age,  fifteen  years  ago.  He  is  Master  of  the 
Monica  Orange,  of  which  he  was  a  charter  mem- 
ber, and  was  elected  to  his  piesent  position  the  first 
nigiit  of  its  organization,  and  lias  held  it  for  two 
terms,  hi  his  religious  belief  he  has  a  tendency  to 
Metliodism.  Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 
He  has  served  on  the  petit  jury. 

,  III  LI  P  T.  MATTHKWS.  The  leading  (estab- 
lishment in  Chillicotlie  for  the  sale  of  dry- 
goods,  boots  and  shoes,  and  clothing  ,is  that 
of  the  above-named  gentleman,  which  occu- 
pies a  fine  two-Story  double  brick  store  and  oase- 
iiunt,  14x120  feet.  It  is  well  filled  with  a  choice 
stock  of  the  fabrics  in  his  line,  and  a  substantial 
business  is  being  done  wiiich  has  been  developed 
from  a  small  beginning.  Tiie  establishment  is  one 
of  the  finest  and  l)cst  equipiied  of  the  kind  in  the 
county,  doing  credit  to  the  men  who  instituted  it 
and  the  tact  which  has  carried  it  to  so  high  a  stand- 
ing. Too  much  cannot  be  said  of  the  arrangement 
of  the  store,  which  is  con<lncted  on  the  department 
plan,  the  furnishing  goods  being  under  the  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Matthew's  son  John,  and  the  dry- 
goods  under  that  of  Mr.  Sidney  Wood. 

Mr.  Matthews  has  long  been  known  as  an  active 
participant  in  worthy  enterprises  of  the  municipal- 
ity, where  he  first  began  his  residence  in  1842.  He 
was  born  in  Essex  County,  Va.,  March  6,  1824, 
and  as  earl}'  as  1835  had  visited  Ft.  Dearboi'n.     He 


had  gone  thence  by  stage  to  St.  Louis,  the  land 
over  which  he  passed  being  mostly  wild  and  un- 
broken, inhabited  chiefly  by  Indians,  with  an  oc- 
casional cabin,  clearing  and  field  to  mark  the  abode 
of  a  hardy  frontiersman. 

For  some  time  prior  to  his  removal  to  Cliilli- 
cothe,  Mr.  Matthews  had  been  living  in  Uichniond, 
Va.,  developing  tiie  business  qualities  which  have 
been  markedly  shown  here.  For  two  years  after 
coming  to  this  point  he  occupied  himself  in  various 
ways,  being  still  a  young  man,  but  in  1844  he  es- 
tablished the  business  which  has  grown  to  such 
dimensions  as  to  fill  a  large  place  in  the  financial 
element  of  the  city.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
a  large  private  banking  institution  started  in  Chilli- 
cothe  as  early  as  1868,  and  he  has  since  held  a 
fourth  interest  in  the  same.  No  enterprise  in  which 
he  is  engaged  languishes  for  lack  of  vim,  but  is 
[xished  forward  to  tlie  utmost  limit. 

Mr.  Matthews  won  as  his  wife  Miss  Minerva 
Moffctt,  tlieir  marriage  rites  being  celebrated  near 
Chillicotlie.  Mrs.  Matthews  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Dawson)  Moft'ett,  who  came  from 
Ohio  to  this  county  when  she  was  very  young. 
They  were  the  holders  of  large  tracts  of  real  estate, 
embracing  as  much  as  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  good 
land  which  the  father  saw  put  under  cultivation. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moffett  resided  upon  their  estate  until 
their  ileath,  passing  away  in  the  same  week. 

Their  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Matthews,  was  care- 
fully reared,  and  combines  with  an  intelligent  mind 
the  qualities  of  a  true  wife  and  mother.  Of  the 
children  born  to  her  and  her  husband,  two,  Maggie 
and  an  infant  unnamed,  have  ])een  taken  from 
them.  The  survivors  are:  Lucy,  wife  of  Sidney 
Wood,  of  Chillicothe;  Minnie,  wife  of  William 
Mead,  the  leading  druggist  of  this  place;  John  P., 
who  married  Miss  Jennie  Riple^',  of  Muskegon, 
Mich.,  and  also  lives  in  Chillicotlie,  and  William, 
who  has  charge  of  the  clothing  department  of  his 
father's  store.  Mrs.  Mattiiews  is  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Matthews  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party. 

Our  subject  is  probably  of  Scotch  ancestry,  but 
for  several  generations  past  the  famil}'  has  been 
numbered  among  the  best  in  Virginia.  There  his 
father,  Jolin   R.  Matthews,  was   Ijorn  and    reared, 


450 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


developing  into  a  prominent  attornej-.  He  died  in 
the  prime  of  of  life,  when  our  subject  was  but  a 
small  child.  The  wife  and  mother,  formerly  Miss. 
Frances  A.  Temple,  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  of  Scotch  descent.  She  survived  Blr.  Matthews 
and  came  West  after  her  marriage  with  James  H. 
Temple,  who,  although  bearing  the  same  surname 
as  her  own,  was  not  a  relation.  She  died  at  the 
home  of  lier  daughter,  Lucy  W..in  Lexington,  Mo., 
at  an  advanced  age,  after  having  spent  many  years 
in  Illinois  and  Missouri.  She  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church. 


iT7 /J'EXNETH  GRANT  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  countj'  for  thirty-five  years.  When  he 
came  here  it  was  still  in  the  hands  of  the 
^'pioneers  and  he  joined  them  in  their  work 
and  has  since  performed  his  share  of  the  vast  la- 
bor that  was  needed  to  make  this  countv  what  it 
is  to  day,  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  best  developed 
regions  in  all  the  State.  Our  subject  has  been 
greatly  prospered  in  the  pursuit  of  his  calling  as  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  owns  a  choice  farm  on 
section  34,  of  Millbrook  Township,  wliere  he  has  a 
pleasant  and  happy  home. 

Our  subject  Was  born  in  the  Highlands  of  Scot- 
laud  June  7,  1818.  When  he  was  about  twelve 
years  old,  his  parents,  Donald  and  Anne  Grant, 
emigrated  to  this  countr3',  taking  passage  at  Glas- 
gow for  Liverpool,  on  a  sail  vessel  and  from  there 
to  New  York,  where  they  landed  in  safet3-  after  a 
long  ocean  voyage  of  seven  weeks  and  four  da3's. 
The  father  was  a  stonemason  and  for  a  short  time 
carried  on  his  calling  in  Philadelphia, then  in  Pitts- 
burg, and  finally  crossed  the  Pennsylvania  State 
line  into  Ohio,  and  became  a  pioneer  of  Columbiana 
County. 

Kenneth  Grant  grew  to  manhood  in  Ohio  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  its  early  subscription 
schools,  which  were  conducted  in  a  primitive  log 
house  with  puncheon  floor  and  a  chimnej'  of  rude 
construction.  When  a  j'oung  man  he  became  em- 
ployed in  a  grist  and  saw  mill. receiving  $8  a  month 
a'ld  liis  board  for  his  services.     In   the  spring  of 


1855,  thinking  he  could  make  more  raonej-  on  the 
rich  virgin  soil  of  the  Prairie  State,  lie  came  here 
with  his  familj',  traveling  b3-  the  river  route,  and 
the  first  season  rented  land  in  Brimfield  Township. 
Tliat  gave  him  an  op[>ortunity  to  look  around  him 
anil  select  a  suitable  location,  and  he  subsequently 
purchased  land  in  that  township  and  in  the  course 
of  3'ears  improved  it  into  a  good  farm,  on  which  he 
resided  until  1870,  when  he  m«ved  to  his  present 
home  in  Millbrook  Township.  Here  he  has  two 
hundred  and  fortv  acres  of  fine  farming  land  that 
is  cultivated  to  a  high  degree  and  is  supplied  witli 
a  neat  set  of  farm  buildings  and  machinery  of  a 
good  class  to  carry  on  liis  agricultural  operations. 

In  the  summer  of  1876,  Mr.  Cirant  visited  the 
Centennial  Expositi<m  in  Philadelphia,  and  after- 
wards took  a  trip  across  the  water  to  his  native 
Scotland  and  revisited  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood, 
enjoying  his  journe3'  ver3'  much  and  then  returning 
contented  to  the  home  he  had   built  up  in    Illinois. 

Oar  subject  was  married  Februar3-  14,  1841,  to 
Isabelle  Mcintosh- who  was  born  in  Columbiana 
Count3\  Ohio,  December  9,  1818.  The3'  have  shared 
the  joys  and  divided  the  sorrows  of  life  for  nearly 
half  a  centur3-,  for  if  the3-  should  live  they  will  cel- 
ebrate their  golden  wedding  in  little  less  than  a 
year.  Theirs  has  been  a  happ3-  and  peaceful  union 
and  has  been  productive  to  them  of  a  large  famih' 
of  whom  the  following  are  still  living:  Wins- 
low,  in  Brimfield  Township;  Anne,  wife  of  Willard 
Brooks  of  Oak  Hill;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Dr.  O.  B. 
Will  of  Peoria;  Belle,  wife  of  Dr.  Robert  A.  Kerr 
of  Dunlap;  William,  in  Stark  County,  and  Ul3'sses 
K.  in  Millbrook  Township.  The  names  of  the  de- 
ceased are,  William,  Geneva,  Milton    and  Mary  J. 

Mrs.  Grant  was  born  December  9,  1818,  being 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Jeanette  (McCoy; 
Mcintosh,  earl3'  pioneers  of  Ohio.  Her  father  was 
a  native  of  Scotland  and  her  mother  of  Penns3'l- 
vania.  The  former  was  an  earl3-  settler  of  Colum- 
biana Count3'.  The3'  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  of  whom  the  following  three  are  living: 
Mrs.  Grant;  Elizabeth,now  the  widow  of  Mr.  ilartin 
of  Elmwood  Township, and  Mar3'  the  widow  of  Mr. 
Waters,  living  in  Brimfield  Township. 

This  brilliant  record  of  a  busy  life  shows  that 
our  subject  is  possessed  of  more  than  ordinar3-  abil- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


451 


it}'  for  conducting  business  to  a  successful  issue, 
that  be  has  an  acute,  (liscerning  mind  and  is 
prompt  and  methodical  in  liis  h!ibits,or  else  he  could 
not  manage  his  large  interests  so  easily.  He  taives 
a  deep  interest  in  all  moveraeats  that  look  to  the 
advancement  of  township  and  county,  and  his 
liberality  often  is  the  cause  of  their  success.  He  is 
a  conscientious  and  upright  Christian,  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  valued  members  of  the  Presb>'terian 
Churcli  at  French  Grove,  and  contribute  generously 
to  the  support  of  religion.  In  his  political  views 
Mr.  Grant  is  a  firm  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party. 


\fr?TRKU  K,  ROELFS.  Among  tlie  line  estates 
■y.  observed  by  one  who  travels  through  Peo- 
ria Count}',  that  operated  Ijy  our  subject  is 
especiall}'  noted  for  its  abundance  of  fruit,  large, 
neat  hedges,  and  beautiful  groves.  There  are  sev- 
eral of  the  latter,  one  of  the  finest  and  largest  be- 
ing fitted  up  with  benches,  tables  and  speaker's 
stand  for  the  us<>  of  picnic  parties  and  foiming  a 
liloasant  resort,  much  patronized  by  those  who  in- 
hal)it  this  section.  The  estate  comprivses  one  hun- 
dred and-  eighty-four  acres  on  sections  26  and  27, 
Limestone  Township,  and  was  brought  to  its  pres- 
ent line  condition  by  the  father  of  our  suliject,  who 
reclaimed  it  from  its  wild  state.  It  is  located 
within  a  mile  of  Bartonville,  on  the  Lancaster  Road, 
,and  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  pieces  of  property 
in  the  vicinity  on  account  of  its  excellent  improve- 
ment, tlio  good  buildings  which  stand  upon  it  and 
the  fruit  to  wliich  so  large  a  portion  of  it  is  devoted. 
The  original  owner  of  this  fine  estate  was  Ed- 
ward Roelfs,  who  took  possession  of  it  in  1860, 
immediately  after  his  marriage,  and  who  died  here 
in  1872.  During  the  smallpox  scare  of  that  season 
he  was  vaccinated  on  his  arm,  which  failed  to  sup- 
purate, the  vaccine  taking  effect  only  by  swelling 
and  finally  going  to  bis  heart,  causing  his  death. 
He  took  a  great  interest  in  political  affairs  and  the 
general  welfare  of  the  community,  participating  in 
the  movements  made  to  improve  the  condition  of 
the  country  and  citizens,  and  voting  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.     He  and  his  estimable  wife  had  quite 


a  large  family,  of  whom  the  only  survivors  are  our 
subject  and  his  sister  Margarette. 

The  wife  of  F.dward  Roelfs  and  mother  of  our 
subject  was  formerlj*  Miss  Ciiristina  .Sclionemann, 
a  member  of  one  of  tiie  oldest  families  in  tliis  sec- 
tion. Her  parents,  George  and  Reinee  (Johnson) 
Sclionemann,  came  to  this  county  early  in  the  '50s, 
residing  in  the  county  seat  until  tiieir  decease. 
There  the  daugiiter  was  reared,  and  married  in 
early  womanhood  to  Mr.  Roelfs.  Sometime  after 
his  decease  she  became  the  wife  of  John  Eiser,  of 
Peoria,  and  he  removed  to  the  Roelfs'  estate,  which 
is  still  tlie  home  oi  the  famil}'.  Mr.  Eiser  makes  a 
business  of  buying  and  selling  cattle,  while  the  farm, 
as  before  stated,  is  under  the  control  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  is  successfully  conducting  the  affairs  con- 
nected with  general  agriculture. 

Fred  Roelfs  received  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  neighborho(Kl  and  has  ailded 
the  more  |)raetical  education  which  is  only  to  be 
obtained  by  contact  with  mankind  and  use  of  the 
talents  which  one  possesses.  He  is  ayoungman  of 
fine  ph3'sical  appearance,  which  does  not  belie  his 
natural  ability  and  sterling  traits  of  character.  He 
is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  rising  agriculturists  of 
this  section  of  the  fertile  Prairie  State  and  makes 
many  friends  among  both  3'oung  and  old. 


GEORGE  STURM.  Few,  if  any,  of  the  dwell- 
ers in  Medina  Township  have  a  higher 
standing  or  are  better  acquainted  with  the 
growth  of  this  section  of  the  countrj'  than  George 
Sturm.  He  was  born  on  his  father's  homestead  on 
section  9,  October  2, 1830,  reared  to  manhood  in  this 
township,  and  became  a  farmer  as  soon  as  he  could 
bold  the  plow  handles.  He  has  owned  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  lives  thirty-five  years,  having  on 
section  16,  a  fine  property  consisting  of  more  than 
two  Imndred  acres,  all  well  improved  and  sup|)lied 
with  substantial,  commodious  buildings. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Nicholas  Sturm,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio,  coming  of  good  stock,  the  male 
members  of  the  family  having  been  generally  en- 
gaged in  agriculture.     Nie^hoLas  Sturm  was  rejired 


452 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  his  native  State,  eaily  in  life  taking  up  farm 
worlv.  He  married  a  German  lad}'  who  had  become 
a  resident  of  tlie  United  States  when  young.  After 
their  marriage  they  came  to  Illinois  at  a  period  not 
later  than  1826,  malving  settlement  in  the  wilds  of 
Medina  Townshi)),  this  county.  On  land  secured 
fiom  the  Government  they  lived  until  the  wife  was 
called  hence  in  1837.  She  was  then  in  the  prime 
of  life,  regarded  highly  as  a  woman  of  intelligence 
and  the  virtues  that  are  especiall}-  revered  in  front- 
ier settlements. 

Nicholas  Sturm  was  a  second  time  married,  subse- 
quently going  to  Iowa,  where  he  lost  the  fortune  he 
had  gained  in  the  Prairie  State.  Hither  he  re- 
turned, finally  dying  at  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Dickinson,  in  Medina  Township,  when  sev- 
enty-three years  old.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party  and  earnest  in 
supporting  what  he  thought  wise  and  progressive. 
Our  subject  was  the  second  child  born  to  his  par- 
ents in  this  count}',  and  is  the  onl}'  member  of  the 
family  now  living. 

Mr.  Sturm  has  been  twice  married,  his  flrst  wife 
having  been  Jliss  Louisa  Joseph,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  who  came  West  when  a  j'oung  woman.  She 
died  at  the  birth  of  her  first  child,  being  then  less 
than  twenty  years  of  age.  Her  son,  Jacob,  is  now 
married  and  operating  a  farm  in  this  township. 
The  present  wife  of  our  subject  w.as  Mrs.  Emma 
Grable  nee  Harrison.  .She  was  born  in  Ma3sville, 
this  Stale,  September  1,  1836,  was  reared  and  edu 
cated  in  Randolph  Count}-,  and  there  married 
David  Grable.  That  gentleman  died  when  com- 
paratively young,  leaving  no  offspring.  The  union 
of  Mrs.  Sturm  and  her  present  husband  has  been 
blessed  by  the  biftli  uf  five  children,  two  of  whom, 
Ileniy  and  George,  died  in  childhood.  The  sur- 
vivois  are:  John  Clinton,  a  farmer  in  this  township; 
Robert  B.,  a  student  with  Dr.  Keith  in  Chillicothe ; 
Joseph  C,  who  carries  on  the  home  farm.  The  sons 
follow  the  example  of  their  father  iu  voting  the 
Democratic  ticket.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sturm  are  num- 
beied  among  the  leading  citizens  of  the  county, 
having  the  respect  of  their  fellow-men  wherever 
they  are  known. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Sturm  was  Julius  Harrison,  % 
native  of  France,  who  came  to   the  United   States 


when  a  young  man,  living  in  New  York  City  until 
years  of  maturity.  He  became  a  teacher  early  in 
life,  subsequently  going  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
married  Orpha  Ferris.  Still  later  he  removed  to 
Illinois,  following  his  profession  until  his  death,  his 
wife  also  breathing  her  last,  in  this  State,  iu  mid- 
dle life. 

~-^ 


^  AMUEL  P.  PERKINS.  Among  those  who 
"^^^  have  been  for  some  years  cultivating  the 
J)  soil  in  Hallock  Township  to  good  purpose 
and,  secure  in  the  respect  of  their  fellow- 
men,  are  peacefully  pursuing  their  avocation,  is  the 
gentleman  above  named.  He  has  become  veiy 
well  known  in  this  section,  not  only  as  the  pros- 
perous ow.ner  of  a  fine  estate,  but  from  his  promi- 
nent connection  with  local  politics,  his  advocacy 
of  temperance  and  strict  morality,  and  his  personal 
character.  On  more  than  one  occasion  he  has  re- 
fused to  riLu  for  the  Legislature,  because  he  was 
not  willing  to  favor  saloons. 

The  Perkins  family  in  this  country  dales  back  to 
the  early  settlement  of  Salem,  Mass.,  by  the  Pd- 
grim  fathers.  In  those  days  five  brothers  came 
from  England,  one  of  whom  afterward  went  with 
a  colony  to  New  Hampshire,  settling  at  Dover. 
From  him  has  descended  a  large  family,  now  scat- 
tered in  many  of  the  States  of  the  Union.  Our 
subject  belongs  to  this  line.  Many  of  the  descend- 
ants of  these  Puritan  ancestors  have  taken  u])  arms 
during  the  wars  of  their  respective  periods  and 
have  been  well  known  in  educational  and  religious 
affairs,  and  to  some  extent  it  the  law,  in  the  New 
England  States.  Wherever  they  are  to  be  found 
their  record  is  of  those  interested  in  the  promotion 
of  educational  affairs,  honest  and  thrifty. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Joshua  Perkins,  a  seafaring  man,  the  most  of  whose 
active  life  was  passed  on  merchant  vessels.  His 
birth  and  his  death  occurred  at  Dover.  N.  H.,  the 
lalttr  event  transpiring  when  he  was  in  the  prime 
of  life.  He  had  married  Joan  Rusk,  a  native  of 
Wolfboro,  N.  H.,  and  a  member  of  an  old  New 
England  family.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Perkins 
slic  married  a  sccvin<l    lime,  removed  to  iMaine.  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


453 


died  tliere  wlien  quite  full  of  years.  She  was  iden- 
tilied  with  tlie  I'liiversalist  Church,  having  been 
one  of  the  first  of  that  bod\'  in  this  country.  To 
her  first  husband  she  bore  one  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters, and  to  her  second  husband  five  children. 

Morris  Perkins,  the  only  son  of  .Tosluia  Perkins, 
was  quite  j-oung  when  he  lost  his  father.  Some 
years  later  he  went  to  Wolfboro,  N.  H.,  where  he 
learned  tiie  trade  of  a  carpenter,  wliieh  he  after- 
ward followed  in  Dover  with  considerable  success. 
While  on  a  visit  to  his  mother  in  Maine,  he  sud 
dcnlv  died,  his  life  being  cut  short  in  his  forty- 
third  year.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen,  active  in 
tiie  local  political  work  of  the  Whig  party,  and  in 
tiie  promulgation  of  the  Universalist  belief,  his 
home  being  the  headquarters  for  the  Universalist 
ministers  of  New  England  and  a  church  having 
been  founded  by  him  in  Dover.  He  was  also  a 
correspondent  of  the  Boston  Triiinpct^  the  onlj' 
paper  published  in  this  countr}'  at  that  time  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Universalist  Church. 

The  wife  of  this  gentleman  was  Abigail  Paul,  a 
native  of  Dover  and  daughter  of  Samuel  Paul,  a 
native  of  the  same  State  and  of  Scotch  ancestr}'. 
About  the  time  of  the  siege  of  Londonderry,  Ire- 
land, the  Paul  family,  which  had  taken  refuge  in 
the  North  of  Ireland  during  the  Scottish  troubles, 
emigrated  to  America.  Samuel  Paul  was  a  seafarer 
who  visited  most  of  the  prominent  ports  of  Europe 
and  America  and  while  in  the  West  Indies  is  be- 
lieved to  have  contracted  yellow  fever  from  which 
he  died  soon  after  reaching  his  home  and  when 
about  fortj^-five  years  old.  His  daughter,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Morris  Perkins,  die:l  about  eight 
months  prior  to  her  husband's  decease,  leaving  four 
children  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  only  son. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Universalist  Church. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch 
is  the  only  survivor  of  the  parental  household.  He 
was  born  May  15,  1821,  in  Dover,  N.  H.,  and  was 
but  little  more  than  ten  3'ears  old  when  left  an  or- 
•jlian.  Since  that  time  he  h.as  battled  for  himself, 
beginning  as  a  hard-working  boy,  and  after  a  time 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  four  and  a  half  years 
at  the  trade  of  a  machinist.  After  becoming  skilled 
in  liis  calling  he  did  journeywork  in  Dover  until 
twent}'-four  years  old  when  he  became  foreman  for 


the  Washington  Manufacturing  Compan}-,  at  that 
time  established  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  After  having 
worke<l  for  the  company  seven  years  he  came  West 
with  the  view  of  taking  charge  of  a  new  manufac- 
tory on  the  IMississippi  River,  south  of   Louisville, 

Owing  to  some  delays  and  misunderst.tndiiig  Mr. 
Perkins  returned  to  the  East,  and  was  engaged  in 
putting  machinery  in  a  cotton  factory  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  and  worked  there  until  attacked  by  tlie  cholera. 
He  then  al)andoned  his  enterprise,  and  returned  to 
New  England  remaining  for  a  time  there,  then 
went  to  Oloucester,  N.  J.  Here  he  remained  two 
3-ears,  then  determined  to  remove  to  Illinois,  in 
which  State  he  had  some  time  before  purchased  a 
tract  of  wild  land,  lie  therefore  in  1852  came  to 
Peoria  County,  ra,ade  it  his  permanent  home  and 
began  a  successful  career  as  a  farmer.  He  now 
owns  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  as  fine 
land  as  Hallock  Township  contains,  while  upon  it 
have  been  erected  excellent  farm  buildings,  com- 
prising every  needful  and  convenient  structure. 
Everything  about  the  place  betokens  that  Mr. 
Perkins  is  a  true  New  Englander  in  his  careful 
oversight  of  land,  buildings,  machiner}-,  and  the 
products  of  his  industry,  and  that  his  domestic 
affairs  are  under  the  control  of  an  equally  eliicient 
housewife. 

The  lady  to  whose  prudence  and  taste  the  com- 
forts of  the  home  are  due,  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Miss  Lydia  Pierce,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Bels^' 
(Fall)  Pierce.  She  was  born  in  AVakefield,  N.  IL, 
March  31,  1820,  and  became  the  wife  of  our  subject 
in  June  23,  1845.  She  comes  of  the  old  New  Eng- 
land stock  and  is  the  3'onngest  child  of  her  p.arents. 
Her  father  having  mistaken  the  oil  of  tansj'  for 
some  innocent  compound,  died  very  suddenly  after 
swallowing  the  drug.  Jlrs.  Perkir;S  was  carefully 
reared  bj'  her  mother  and  a  stepfather  with  whom 
she  remained  until  her  marriage,  which  took  place 
in  Dover.  She  is  a  highl}'  intelligent  woman  of 
noble  Christian  character,  to  whom  husband  and 
children  not  only  owe  physical  comfort,  but  much 
of  good  counsel  and  enjoyable  companionship. 
Her  mother  came  West  with  her  and  dietl  here 
when  full  of  years. 

Mr.  and    Mrs.  Perkins   have   five  children,   two 


454 


I'l  )i;  FRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


deceased  and  three  living.  The  deceased  are  Ed- 
win, who  died  when  ten  months  old,  and  George, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  jears.  Morris,  the  old- 
est of  the  surviving  children,  married  Mattie  Owens 
and  now  owns  and  occupies  a  good  farm  in  this 
township;  Charles  AV.  still  remains  at  home,  help- 
ing his  father  on  the  homestead;  Sumner  married 
Fannj'  Sims  and  they  o:'cupy  another  farm  in  tiiis 
township.  j\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Perkins  and  their  children 
belong  to  the  Congregational  Church  at  Lawn 
Ridge,  with  which  Mr.  Perkins  has  been  officially 
connected  for  years. 


-H-^-l^^^sl-l-J- 


ylLLIAM  CrXTER.  As  a  business  man 
and  a  citizen,  Mr.  Cutter  occupies  an  en- 
viable position  among  the  leading  residents 
of  Peoria,  and  's  well  known  as  the  junior  memlier 
of  Ihe  wholesale  and  retail  grocery  firm  of  Wrig- 
ley  &  Cutter.  The  business  is  located  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Fulton  and  Jefferson  Streets,  occupying 
Nos.  201-203-20.5,  on  the  latter.  Mr.  Cutter  is 
the  active  manager  of  the  business,  Mr.  Wrigley 
having  been  nearly  a  silent  partner  since   1884. 

Mr.  Cutter  was  born  in  Brinifield  Township,  this 
countj',  .lune  11,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Sarah  (Metcalf)  Cutter,  who  came  to  this  county 
at  an  carl}-  da^'.  The  father  secured  a  tract  of 
laud  and  engaged  in  farming.  William  remained 
under  the  home  roof  until  a  youth  of  eighteen 
)ears,  then  went  to  Delphos,  Ohio,  where  he  lived 
with  an  uncle  five  years.  In  the  meantime  he 
completed  his  education,  and  upon  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War  enlisted,  in  18G1,  in  Company  C, 
Thirty-second  Ohio  Infantry,  for  three  years,  his 
regiment  being  assigned  to  the  Arnu'  of  the  Po- 
tomac. He  participated  in  many  of  the  important 
b.attles  which  followed,  being  in  the  first  and  sec- 
ond engagement  at  Bull  Run,  and  subsequently 
was  transferred  to  Sherman's  arm3%  and  went 
through  the  Atlanta  campaign  and  on  the  famous 
march  to  the  sea.  At  Atlanta  he  was  slightly 
wounded  bj'  the  bursting  of  a  shell,  which  struck 
him  in  the  forehead.  Aside  from  this  he  escaped 
injury,    and  was   mustered  out  at  the  expiration  of 


his  term   of  enlistment  shortly  before   the  close  of 
the  war. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Cutter  returned  to 
his  home  in  this  county,  and  occupied  himself  the 
following  winter  as  a  teacher.  Wishing,  however, 
to  gain  further  knowledge  he,  in  1865,  atten<lcd  a 
course  in  the  commercial  college  at  Peoria,  from 
which  he  was  duly  graduated.  Thereafter  for  six 
months  he  was  occupied  as  clerk  for  George  B. 
McClellan,  and  afterward  by  his  successors,  Auer 
ct  White,  in  the  clothing  business.  Upon  the  dis- 
solution of  this  firm  he  engaged  in  the  grocer}- 
business  with  Philip  Auer,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Auer  &  Cutter,  on  South  Washington  Street,  which 
was  then  the  business  center  of  the  city.  Five 
years  later  Mr.  AVrigley  purchased  the  interest  of 
Mr.  Auer,  and  the  firm  assumed  its  present  style. 
The  wholesale  department  was  added  in  1880,  and 
the  firm  enjo3^s  the  largest  retail  trade  in  the  city, 
carrj-ing  probably  twice  the  amount  of  stock  of 
any  other  grocery  in  the  city,  and  employing  nine 
men  besides  the  manager.  Mr.  Cutter  gives  his 
entire  attention  to  his  business,  which  accounts  for 
its  phenomenal  success. 

For  probably  a  cjuarter  of  a  century  ;\Ir.  Cutter 
has  been  connected  with  Calvary  Presl)yterian 
Cliurch.  in  which  he  is  a  Deacon  and  one  of  its 
chief  pillars.  lie  also  otliciates  as  Trustee,  which 
office  he  has  held  since  its  organization,  in  which 
he  was  largely  instrumental.  He  belongs  to  tlie 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  several  benefi- 
ciary associations. 

A  quiet  wedding  occurred  October  20,  18G9,  at 
the  bride's  home  in  Trivoli.  the  contracting  parties 
being  William  Cutter  and  Miss  Jennie C,  daughter 
of  William  Wrigley.  Mrs.  Cutter  was  born  July 
12,  1848,  in  Trivoli  Township,  and  from  her  3'outh 
was  given  the  advantages  suited  to  her  position  in 
life.  She  remained  with  her  parents  until  her 
marriage,  and  by  her  union  with  our  subject  has 
become  the  mother  of  five  children — Anna.  Charles, 
ISLay,  William  W.  and  Weston.  The  latter  was 
named  after  the  Rev.  .J.  Weston,  pastor  of  the 
church  spoken  of  above. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Isaac  Cutter,  a 
native  of  New  York  State,  who  went  to  Ohio  when 
a  young  man  and  was  there  married   to  Miss  Sarah 


^'^f,*^ 


A    -ijat 


r  -.1 


^. 


t      X 


9 


..^"'i^<£€^  <=^ .  v_//^^;^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


459 


Metealf.  In  the  latter  part  of  tlie  '30s  he  came  to 
this  county,  was  in  business  for  a  time,  ami  then 
settled  on  a  farm  near  liriinRekl.  In  due  time  he 
was  aiipointed  Postmaster  of  tiie  place,  which  olHce 
he  held  until  tlie  time  of  liis  deatli,  about  1817; 
the  mother  died  while  her  sou  William  was  lan- 
guishing in  Libby  Prison.  He  was  captured  by 
tiie  enemy  at  Winchester,  Va.,  and  remained  a 
prisoner  of  war  for  five  and  one-half  months.  This 
was  tlie  hardest  i)art  of  his  army  experience,  lie 
attended  upon  Ciia|)lain  McCabe,  who  was  ill,  and 
tlicn  was  taken  down  with  the  small  pox  an<l 
paroled,  which  saved  his  life.  The  family  residence 
is  pleasantly  located  at  No.  923  Munson  Street,  in 
the  midst  of  ample  grounds,  forming  a  charming 
home,  which  has  been  built  up  solely  by  the  in- 
dustry and  taste  of  its  present  proprietor.  Mr. 
Cutter  has  been  a  member  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  since  its  organization,  and 
is  highly  respected  both  in  business  and  social 
circles. 


*^^^= 


Ee^^ 


isiM,  0SF;S  L.  NEAL.     There  is  no  man  in  Peo- 
ria County  who  has  had  greater  success,  or 
accumulated  a  larger  fortune  by   his  own 
*'  efforts  through  economy,  close  application 

and  steady  habits,  than  Moses  L.  Neal.  He  has 
never  been  a  speculator,  but  has  acquired  his  pos- 
sessions chiefly  from  products  of  the  soil,  although 
he  is  at  present  extensively  interested  in  city  prop- 
erty. He  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  giving  no 
indications  of  great  wealth  in  his  outward  appear- 
ance or  manners.  His  pleasant  home  is  located  on 
some  of  the  best  land  in  the  county,  his  landed  es- 
tate in  Medina  Township  amounting  to  more  than 
one  thousand  acres,  subdivided  into  farms  of  prac- 
tical size.  He  also  owns  more  than  a  thousand 
acres  in  Missouri,  together  with  lands  in  other  sec- 
tions, and  some  of  the  finest  blocks  of  Peoria  City 
property.  He  likewise  holds  $35,000  worth  of  prop- 
ertj'  at  Austin,  one  of  the  recently  annexed  sub- 
urbs of  Chicago.  When  it  is  known  that  these 
large  worldly  possessions  have  been  gained  cliiefly 
by  Mr.  Neal's  personal  efforts,  it  will  be  understood 


that  he  has  been  a  busy  man,  and  has   made  good 

use  of  his  capital. 

Mr.  Neal  was  born  in  Dover,  N.  II.,  May  7,  1820, 
but  came  to  the  Prairie  Stale  with  his  parents  in 
the  spring  of  1838.  He  had  the  advantages  of  a 
common-school  education,  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  hard  work,  and  the  famil3'  pride  due  to  a  long 
line  of  honorable  ancestry.  When  the  family 
reached  Illinois,  the}'  located  in  Medina  Township, 
Peoria  County,  in  a  sparsely'  settled  section,  where, 
however,  they  had  a  few  good  neighbors.  In  the 
midst  of  the  beautiful  prairie  region,  rich  and  pro- 
ductive, taut  uncultivated,  the  father  secured  a  tract 
of  land,  where  his  son  assisted  in  the  pioneer  labors 
under  home  influences,  which  fleveloped  the  sturdy 
and  generous  qualities  whicli  he  possessed,  and  led 
him  to  thoroughly'  appreciate  all  that  is  noble  and 
enterprising. 

Our  subject  has  never  married,  but  retains  his 
good  nature  and  love  for  his  fellow  men,  as  few  do 
who  are  denied  the  comi)anionship  of  wife  and  chil- 
dren. Much  of  the  tenderness  of  his  nature  is 
lavished  upon  his  aged  mother,  who  lives  with  him, 
being  cared  for  in  the  most  reverential  way.  Never 
having  lost  sight  of  the  duties  he  owes  his  kindred 
he  has  adopted  two  nephews,  Roscoe  and  M.  W. 
Neal,  who  have  been  under  his  guardianship  since 
childhood.  Mr.  Neal  gives  generously  to  every 
enterprise  that  is  worthy,  being  especially  inter- 
ested in  all  that  will  favorably  alTect  his  county. 
Without  a  drop  of  dishonest  or  lazy  blood  in  his 
body,  he  detests  shiftlessness  in  others.  He  has 
made  it  a  rule  through  life  never  to  eat  or  drink 
anything  that  would  result  in  personal  injury,  and 
therefore  preserves  his  vigor  of  mind  and  body  be- 
yond an  age  when  many  men  break  down. 

The  history  of  the  Neal  family  dates  back  in  this 
country  to  a  period  prior  to  the  Revolution.  They 
are  of  Scotch  lineage,  and  of  the  Presbyterian  faith, 
former  generations  having  been  peculiarly  strict  in 
the  observance  of  their  creed,  although  recogniz- 
ing the  rights  of  others  to  a  different  faith  and  prac- 
tice. When  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  hp.d  by  her  rul- 
ings caused  trouble  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Scotland,  the  Neals,  one  of  the  foremost  families  of 
the  shire  in  which  they  lived,  were  so  decided  in 
their  opposition  to  Catholicism,  and  so  determined 


460 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  resisting  encroaehnients,  that  they  were  practi- 
callv  driven  from  their  ancestral  home.  The.y  went 
to  Northern  Ireland,  where  thej-  worshiped  in  peace, 
but  hearing  of  the  laud  of  promise  and  religious 
liliert\-  across  the  sea,  tliey  willi  others  set  sail 
from  Londonderry,  making  their  first  settlement  in 
America  at  what  is  now  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
named  by  them  for  their  refuge  in   heland. 

The  first  of  tlie  Xcal  family  in  New  England,  was 
William,  a  fine  type  of  the  Scotch  citizen,  who  died 
when  full  of  years.  His  wife  was  also  of  good 
Scotch  blood,  and  a  noble  woman.  Among  their 
children  was  a  son,  Moses  L.,  who  was  born  while 
they  were  crossing  the  Atlantic,and  who  became  one 
of  the  most  honoralile  citizens  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire community  in  which  he  lived  so  long.  He 
was  a  loyal  American,  although  it  is  not  known 
that  he  was  a  fighter.  He  studied  law,  was  a  prom- 
inent attorney,  and  for  man}'  years  connected  with 
the  leading  offices  of  his  county.  He  married  Miss 
Martha  Prentice,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  the 
Granite  State,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  of  sim- 
ilar ancestr}'  with  her  husband.  She  died  in  mid- 
dle life,  and  her  husband  married  a  second  wife 
who  survived  him 

This  Moses  L.  Neal  had  nine  children,  one  of 
whom,  John  P.,  was  born  in  Rochester,  Strafford 
County,  N.  IL.  while  the  father  was  keeping  a 
prominent  inn.  .John  Neal  grew  up  in  his  native 
village,  but  afterward  went  to  Dover  and  learned 
the  carpenter's  and  cabinet-maker's  trades.  '  After 
completing  the  latter,  he  went  into  a  factory  for 
making  bobbins  for  winding  thread,  and  stood  at 
one  turning  lathe  for  fourteen  years.  This  long 
continiied  application  caused  his  health  to  fail,  and 
bujing  a  small  farm  near  Dover,  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits.  Finding  this  em- 
ployment agreed  with  him.  but  desiring  a  broader 
field  in  which  to  labor,  he  removed  to  the  Prairie 
.State,  where,  after  improving  his  original  home- 
stead, he  secured  large  landed  possessions.  He  be- 
>  came  the  owner  of  more  than  one  thousand  acres 
of  land  in  this  and  other  counties  prior  to  bis  death, 
which  took  phce  r)ctober  29,  1872.  at  the  age  of 
sevent\--five  j'ears.  A  life  of  unswerving  industrj-, 
pure  habits,  and  a  sterling  character,  gave  him  a 
warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him.    He 


became  somewhat  more  liberal  in  his  religious  be- 
lief than  his  forefathers  had  been.  He  was  gener- 
ous and  public-spirited,  transmitting  these  qualities 
to  his  son.  of  whom  we  write.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican, and  once  served  as  County  Commissioner, 
although  he  was  not  an  office  seeker. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Sallie  Clements.  She  was  born  November  2, 
1797,  in  .Strafford  County,  N.  K,.  coming  of  an  old 
and  highl\-  respected  family.  Her  parents  were 
Moses  aTid  Abigail  (Paul)  Clements,  of  English 
extraction,  and  among  the  early  settlers  of  New 
Hampshire.  Mr.  Clements  was  one  of  the  first  to 
rebel  against  paying  tithes  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, and  his  house  was  always  open  for  liberal 
church  service.  John  P.  Neal  and  his  wife  became 
the  parents  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  of 
whom  two  are  now  living,  viz:  Moses  L.,  our  sub- 
ject, and  Samuel  C.  Mrs.  Neal  possesses  the  true 
virtues  of  womanhood,  a  sweet,  even  disposition, 
and  Christian  spirit.  ReligiousI}-,  she  is  a  member 
of  the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  to  her 
counsel  and  loving  care  our  subject  owes  much  of 
his  indomitable  perseverance  and  unwavering  hon- 
esty which  have  given  hira  a  foremost  rank  among 
the  citizens  of  Peoria  County. 

In  connection  with  the  personal  sketch  of  Mr. 
Neal,  we  present  lithograpic  portraits  of  Moses  L. 
Neal.  the  grandfather  of  onr  subject,  and  for  whom 
he  was  named;  John  P.  Neal,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Peoria  Count}' ; 
Mrs.  Sallie  (Clements)  Neal.  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  and  who  still  survives  at  the  gi-eat  age  of 
nearl}-  ninety-three  3^ears;  also  of  our  subject,  the 
worthy  representative  of  a  noble  family. 


^^^»" 


EWIS  H.  THOMAS.     A   walk  throughout 
)i  the  leading  streets  of  Chillicothe  would  re- 

veal  man}'  thriving  business  establishments, 

but  none  which  give  greater  evidences  of  a  flourish- 
ing trade  than  that  of  L.  H.  Thomas,  who  h.is  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  business  interests 
of  Chillicothe  during  many  years.  He  in  Novem- 
ber, 1854,  established   a  drug  store,  the  first  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


461 


place  and  he  continues  to  deal  in  all  kinds  of  pure 
drugs.  He  also  carries  a  stock  of  wall  paper, 
school  supplies,  stationery,  etc.,  adapted  for  both 
country  and  city  demands.  His  establishment  is 
pleasauth'  located  on  the  west  side  of  Second 
Street. 

The  natal  day  of  Mr.  Thomas  w,as  September  4, 
1H30,  and  his  birthplace  Hallock  Township,  this 
county.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  this 
county  and  was  married  in  Princeton,  Bureau 
County,  to  Miss  Hannah  Kelley.  This  lady  was 
born  in  Muncie,  Pa.,  March  7,  1830,  but  reared  in 
Allentown  to  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  Her  father, 
William  Kelley,  then  removed  to  Ohio,  settling  at 
New  Haven,  Huron  County,  where  he  followed  the 
business  of  a  harness-m.aker  until  his  death,  which 
cut  short  his  career  in  the  prime  of  life.  His 
widow,  Elizabeth  ( Weaver)  Kelley,  subsequently 
came  to  Bureau  Count}',  111.,  where  the  daughter 
Hannah,  attained  to  womanhood  and  became  the 
wife  of  our  subject.  Sometime  after  Chillicothe 
became  the  home  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  they 
were  followed  hither  by  Mrs.  Kelley, who  passed  the 
remainder  of  her  daj's  here,  dj'ing  in  1870,  at  the 
;ige  of  three-soore  and  ten.  She  and  her  husband 
belonged  to  the  Methodist  Church. 

The  first  store  occupied  b}-  Mr.  Thomas  was  on 
Water  Street  where  all  the  business  was  done  dur- 
ing the  early  j'ears  of  ChiUicothe's  historj'.  In 
18.")7  he  built  the  first  store  on  Second  Street,  where 
he  carried  on  his  drug  business  until  1873,  at 
wliicli,  time  he  went  to  Chicago.  After  doing  busi- 
ness there  four  3ears  he  removed  to  Columbus, 
Cherokee  County,  Kan.,  where  he  sojourned  nearly 
eleven  years.  He  returned  to  Chillicothe  in  Jan- 
uary, 1888,  and  took  possession  of  his  present 
store.  He  po.ssesses  business  tact,  is  discriminating 
ill  the  selection  of  his  goods,  and  pleasing  in  his 
manner  toward  all  who  patronize  the  establishment. 
He  is  doing  a  good  business,  the  trade  increasing 
with  the  growth  of  the  city. 

To  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Thomas  three  children  have 
been  born.  A  son,  .Joseph,  was  accidentally  killed 
while  working  on  a  railroad  in  Arkansas.  He  was 
a  bright  and  promising  young  man  twenty-two 
years  old,  whose  death  was  a  severe  blow  to  his 
loving  parents.    ^Inmie  E.  resides  with  her  pan-nts 


and  assists  her  father  in  carrying  on  the  store. 
Francis  W.  is  clerking  in  a  drug  store  at  Webb 
City,  Mo.  He  married  Miss  May  Burgess,  of  Troy, 
Ohio. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  have  been  identified  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  since  early  life. 
Mr.  Thomas  has  been  an  ofHcial  member  for  many 
years  and  Sundaj'-school  Superintendent  fifteen 
years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  For  ten 
years  he  filled  the  office  of  Postmaster  in  Chilli- 
cothe. He  may  justlj'  be  called  a  good  man  and  a 
good  citizen,  who  honors  the  city  which  he  makes 
his  home  by  his  example  and  the  ])art  which  he 
bears  in  all  that  pertains  to  its  welfare. 

Francis  Thomas,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  but  was  only  a  child  when  his 
father,  John  Thomas,  removed  to  Champaign 
County.  Ohio.  That  section  was  wild  and  unbro- 
ken, inhabited  chiefly  by  Indians,  and  the  family 
were  surrounded  by  dangers  and  met  with  many 
privations.  After  having  improved  a  farm  and 
residing  thereon  some  years,  John  Thomas,  in  the 
year  1825,  came  to  Illinois,  obtaining  a  claim  on  new 
land  in  Peoria  Count}'.  A  few  years  later  he  re- 
moved to  Galena  where  for  some  years  he  was  in- 
terested in  lead  mines.  He  finally  sold  out  and 
settled  in  Lee  County,  where  he  died  when  about 
fourscore  years  of  age.  His  widow  remained  there 
for  some  years  after  his  death,  but  flnall}'  removed 
to  Bureau  Count}',  where  she  died  full  of  years. 

Francis  T'homas  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Champaign  County,  Ohio,  and  there  married  Miss 
Eupha  Richards,  daughter  of  a  pioneer  family  in 
the  same  county.  In  1826,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
turned  their  faces  westward  .and  reaching  Peoria 
County,  111.,  settled  in  Hallock  Township,  where 
the  red  men  were  more  numerous  than  the  whites. 
But  few  families  were  then  living  in  the  county 
and  between  it  and  Galena  no  settlements  had  been 
made.  Peoria  was  then  known  as  Ft.  Clark.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thomas  became  well  known  to  the  early 
settlers  in  whose  toils  and  privations    they  shared. 

They  had  not  lived  here  long  ere  the  wife  and 
mother  was  called  hence,  dying  in  1838.  She  had 
borne  seven  children,  one  of  whom  had  died  prior 
to  their  removal  from  Ohio.  Francis  Thomas  was 
acain  married  in  1844,  to   Elizabeth  Kimball,  who 


462 


PORTRAIT^AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


died  in  Ft.  Scott,  Kan.,  July  5,  1890,  at  the  age 
of  sevent3'-three  years.  The  father  of  our  subject 
passed  away  in  18G8.  He  was  a  strong  Whig  and 
Republican,  but  never  an  office-seeker.  He  be- 
longed to  the  Baptist  Church  of  which  his  widow 
was  also  a  member. 


WJ 


lOHN  vS.  KINXAII.  The  Kinnah  f.amily  arc 
well-known  and  gieatly  respected  residents 
of  Akron  Township,  with  whose  agricul- 
tural interests  they  are  closely  associated, 
owning  and  cultivating  considerable  land  in  this 
locality,  and  liaving  here  a  comfortable  home 
pleasantly  located  on  section  IG. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  .Tosc|)h  and  ^Margaret 
(Smith)  Kinnah,  natives  of  Scotland,  were  married 
in  Princeville,-aud  began  their  wedded  life  in  Akron 
Township,  of  whicii  the}'  thus  became  pioneers, and 
have  ever  since  dwelt  here  in  peace  and  content- 
ment. They  iiad  to  endure  man}"  trials,  brave 
many  dangers,  and  make  many  sacrifices  in  their 
earl}'  wedded  life  in  (u-dcr  to  make  a  home  for 
themselves  and  the  children  th.at  came  to  them. 
But  they  were  industrious,  persevering,  and  clieer- 
full}'  labored  to  bring  their  land  under  its  present 
good  tillage  and  to  prov'de  it  with  the  suitable 
buildings  and  machinery  for  carrying  on  farming 
operations.  Now  as  old  age  appro.aches  thev  can  en- 
joy the  fruit  of  their  toil  in  the  comforts  of  a  good 
home,  surrounded  by  children  and  friends,  who 
value  them  for  their  many  sterling  and  khidly 
traits  of  character,  and  they  will  ever  hold  an  hon- 
orable place  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county. 

Three  of  the  six  children  that  have  blessed  the 
married  life  of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinnah  are  still  liv- 
ing— John  S.,  Joseph  and  David,  and  three  have 
been  removed  by  the  hand  of  death,  as  follows: 
Cecillia,  who  died  when  seventeen  months  old; 
Margaret  J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  months; 
and  Robert,  who  married  Miss  Nancy  A.  Fry  and 
died  in  Akron  Township  when  twenty-nine  years 
old.  Their  son  David  married  Miss  Clara  E.  Wil- 
son. 

John  S.  Kinnah  is  a  native  of  Akron  Township, 


and  here  his  life  has  been  passed  on  the  old  home- 
stead where  he  was  born  and  is  still  making  his 
home  with  his  parents.  They  trained  him  carefully 
in  industrious  habits,  and  his  mother,  who  is  a 
worth}'  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  early 
instilled  into  his  mind  piinciples  of  rectitude  and 
morality  that  have  guided  him  through  all  the 
years  of  his  boyhood  and  manhood,  making  him 
true  to  himself  and  those  about  him.  His  father 
gave  him  an  excellent  opportunity  to  acquire  the 
rudiments  of  farming  on  his  farm,  and  he  early 
.adopted  the  calling  of  farmer  as  his  own,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres  of 
choice  farming  land  that  is  impro^'ed  and  under 
admirable  tillage. 

Our  subject  stands  among  the  solid  men  of  his 
native  township,  and  is  well  thought  of  by  the  en- 
tire comraunitv.  He  is  frank,  straightforward,  and 
stricti}-  honest  in  all  his  dealings,  and  is  regarded 
as  eminently  trustworthy.  lie  has  been  Highway 
Commissioner  for  six  }'ears,  and  in  that  capacitj'  is 
very  active  in  improving  the  highways  and  by- 
ways of  travel  in  Akron  Township.  He  is  a  man 
of  social  prominence,  being  C'onnected  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd-Fellows,  and  with  the  De- 
tective Mutual  Aid  Association,  as  one  of  its  most 
alert  members.  In  |iolitics,  he  is  a  true  Rei)ublican, 
stanchlv  adhering  to  his  part}-  whatever  betides. 


^ 


ARKER  T.  PUTNAM.  This  gentleman  is 
the  oldest  member  of  the  Stock  Exchange 
of  Peoria,  in  which  he  holds  the  office  of 
President.  The  organization  was  formerly 
known  as  the  Union  Stock  Yards.  Mr.  Putnam  is 
a  dealer  in  live  stock  and  a  commission  merchant, 
being  senior  member  of  Hie  firm  of  Putnam  & 
Wright.  The  firm  is  doing  a  flourisiiing  trade,  the 
stock  business  being  one  for  which  Mr.  Putnam  w'as 
fitted  by  years  of  experience  in  the  sale  of  meats. 
He  is  both  honest  and  shrewd  in  the  conduct  of 
business  affairs,  while  in  his  social  and  domestic  re- 
lations he  is  considerate  and  kindly. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Allegany 
County,  N.  Y.,  April  6,  1834,  and  he  came    West 


^:^/' 


rouTi.'Air  AM)  i!1()(;i;ai'iiicai,  album. 


467 


in  18")4\vitli  Lis  p:iroiits.  They  first  localeil  in 
Koi-lvfoni,  III.,  luit  lie  in  1860  removed  to  PcMiria 
wliich  licc;nn('  tiu'ir  |i('i-|i;:inent  linnu'.  IK'  (it  wiioin 
we  write  lirst  (Miguo'ed  in  tlic  trade  of  a  l)nteher 
and  in  18()2,  est;ilili.slK'd  a  market  of  his  own 
whieli  he  (iterated  sueeessfully  some  liflec'li  yeai's. 
lie  then  ahaiidoncd  it  and  tnrned  lii.s  attention  to 
tlie  stoek  tra(U\  in  whieli  he  has  been  occu|)ied  con- 
tinuous!}' from  that  time. 

Mr.  Putnam  has  twiec  been  a  member  of  the 
Hoard  of  Sujiervisors  prior  to  the  term  whieli  he  is 
now  serving',  hut  not  eonseeutively.  In  polities  he 
is  a  thorou,i>h-goin,<;  Ke|)ul)Iiean,  ever  ready  to  de- 
posit his  vote  for  the  eandidates  who  are  pledged 
to  support  the  principles  in  which  he  believes.  Me 
is  not  identilied  vvith  any  of  the  social  ortlcrs,  lind- 
ing  sullieienl  Held  for  his  benevolence  in  promiscu- 
ous cases  of  lu'cd.  .■ind  for  his  social  traits  in  the 
society  of  family  and  friends  in  a  more  homelike 
manner  than  that  of  the  fraternities. 

The  wife  of  .^Ir.  rutuani  was  known  in  her  girl- 
hood as  Miss  Laura  A.  Austin.  .She  is  a  native  of 
the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  in  theconduetof  her 
houseliold  affairs  manifests  all  the  thrift  whieli 
cliaraeterizes  the  New  England  wouian,  having  also 
many  traits  of  character  and  graces  of  manners 
which  extend  her  usefulness.  The  family  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Putnam  c(^mprises  two  sons — Frank  II. 
and  Fred  1!.  The  older  is  city  salesman  for  J.  C. 
Strcibeck  &  Co.,  while  the  3'ounger  is  in  the  employ 
of  P.  C.  IJartlett.  They  are  enterprising  3'oung 
men  with  good  educations  and  a  fitness  for  busi- 
ness life. 


OjORMAN    II.    S 
f    gentleuian  is  si 
_       i)    his  lal)oi-s  liavi 


'^i^i — - 

■^Ip^^ORiMAN  II.  SILLIMAN.  Altiiough  this 
is  still  on  the  sunny  side  of  life, 
e  been  so  successful  as  to  en- 
able him  to  retire  from  active  business  pursuits 
and,  surrounded  by  all  of  the  comforts  and  many 
of  the  luxuries  of  life,  enjoy  the  domestic  and  so- 
cial pleasures  to  which  his  tastes  lead  him  and 
whieli  his  finances  make  possible.  In  Dunlap  he 
has  erected  a  residence,  which  is  of  pleasing  ar- 
chitectural design,  substantially  built  and  sur- 
rounded by  grounds  tastefully  arranged  and  neatly 


kept.  Those  who  cross  the  threshold  of  the  hos- 
pitable home  find  it  well  furnished,  arrangeil  with 
a  view  to  the  comfort  of  its  occupants,  and  su|)- 
plied  with  an  abundance  of  good  cheer  for  both 
the  physical  and  mental  man.  P.esides  his  village 
proi)erfy  Mr.  Silliman  owns  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  valuahli^  land  williin  file  limits  of 
the  county. 

The  birth  of  .Mr.  Silliman  look  place  in  Ilallock 
Tf)wnship,  this  count}-,  October  30,  1842.  His 
boyhood  and  \outh  were  passed  in  acquiring  a 
good  education  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
farming,  to  wliich  he  i)roposed  to  devote  his  atten- 
tion. Until  1870  he  continued  to  reside  in  Ilal- 
lock Township,  pursuing  his  chosen  calling,  then 
removing  to  Peoi'ia  he  made  that  city  his  home  a 
year.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  became  a 
resident  of  Duiila|),  hiiving  until  1883  been  en- 
gaged in  th(!  grain  Inisiness.  The  success  which 
he  has  achieved  is  conclusive  evidence  of  his 
shrewdness  as  a  Ijusiness  man,  and  the  place  which 
he  holds  in  the  esteem  of  the  community  is  indi- 
cative of  his  worth  of  character. 

The  many  estimable  (pialities  posses.sed  by  Miss 
Fmily  ^Matthews,  a  native  of  Peoria,  won  the  re- 
gard of  JSIr.  Silliman  and  aroused  his  desire  to  se- 
cure her  com|)aiiionsliip  in  his  home.  His  wooing 
proved  successful,  and  on  February  1,  1866,  their 
marriage  took  place,  being  celelirated  in  IIall(>ck 
Township.  Mrs.  Silliman  is  the  ^youngest  of  three 
children  born  to  Leinaii  antl  Mabel  (Barker) 
Matthews,  who  now  oeeu|)y  a  farm  in  Medina 
Township.  The  parents  were  born  in  Connecticut, 
there  grew  to  maturity  and  became  man  and  wife. 
Soon  after  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Henry 
County,  111.,  coming  thence  to  Peoria,  where  Mr. 
Matthews  was  engaged  in  the  sale  of  clocks  about 
nine  years.  At  the  exiiiration  of  that  time  he  re- 
moved to  the  farm  upon  which  he  is  still  living. 
The  natal  day  of  Mrs.  Silliman  was  November  11, 
1845.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  but  one 
of  whom,  a  daughter.  Flora  E.,  has  been  spared  to 
the  fond  parents.  The  first  born,  Rollin  M.,  died 
September  20,  1870,  when  nearly  a  year  old. 

While  living  in  Ilallock  Township  Mr.  Silliman 
filled  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Pe.acc.  With  this 
exception  he  has  devoted  his  attention  exclusively 


468 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  his  personal  affairs  and  his  duties  as  a  private 
citizen.  His  political  affiliation  is  with  tlie  Demo- 
cratic party,  in  the  princiiiles  of  wiiich  lie  firmly 
believes.  He  is  liberal  in  his  religious  views.  His 
own  hosiMtable  spirit,  combined  with  the  charm- 
ing manners  of  his  wife,  makes  his  home  one  to 
which  the  best  people  of  the  neighborhood  fre- 
quent'j-  go,  finding  tiiere  every  means  of  social 
enjoyment  which  heart  can  wish.  No  lady  in 
Dunlap  is  better  qualified  to  act  as  hostess  than 
Mrs.  Sillinian,  and  her  efforts  are  abl}'  seconded 
b}'  her  winsome  daughter. 


NDREW    W.   PINKNEY,   .Sr.,    who   died 

(.@C!|'  .Inly  19,  18'.)(1,  had  lived  in  this  county 
III  ll  since  early  in  the  '30s,  knew  much  of  the 
primitive  life  and  customs,  and  had  wit- 
nessed a  large  part  of  the  growth  of  this  section. 
Not  only  was  he  well  informed  on  these  points,  but 
he  possessed  marked  financial  ability,  an  e.xcellent 
character,  and  a  genial  disposition  that  made  his 
companionship  desiral)le.  He  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  November  18,  1814.  and  belonged  to  an  his- 
toric famih'.  The  Pinkne^'s  were  originally  from 
France,  and  the  maternal  ancestors  lived  in  Ger- 
man}'. Grandfather  Poff,  on  his  mother's  side, 
came  to  America  with  Jolm  .Tacob  Astor. 

The  [larents  of  our  subject  were  Israel  and  Eliza 
(Poff)  Pinkney,  both  natives  of  New  York  Cit}',  in 
wiiich  tliey  resided  until  he  of  whom  we  write  was 
eighteen  j'ears  old.  Israel  Pinkney  and  his  brother 
William  were  merchants  there.  The  parental  fam- 
ily consisted  of  eleven  children,  the  survivors  of 
this  large  circle  being  Stephen,  Theodore  and  Kate, 
widow  of  D.  C.  Farrell,  all  of  I'eoria.  Five  of  the 
deceased  members  of  the  famil}'  died  in  infancy, 
and  Richard  and  George  in  mature  years;  these  two 
breathed  their  last  in  Peoria,  Richard  leaving  a 
widow. 

The  gentleman  with  whose  name  this  biography 
is  introduced,  clerked  for  James  A.  Pryor  in  the 
metropolis  prior  to  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
Peoria.     Their  journey  hither  was  performed   en- 


tirely by  water,  the  Hudson  River,  Erie  Canal  and 
Great  Lakes  carrying  them  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  they  embarked  on  the  Ohio  Canal,  anil  hav- 
ing reached  Portsmouth,  descended  the  Ohio  River 
to  its  junction  with  the  Father  of  Waters,  on  which 
and  the  Illinois  River  they  completed  their  jour- 
ney. The  party  consisted  of  one  hundred  emi- 
grants, and  seven  weeks  were  consumed  en  route. 
Many  grew  discour.aged,  and  returned  ere  long  to 
the  East,  but  the  Pinkneys  tried  farming  seven  miles 
from  Peoria,  and  remained  permanently  in  their 
new  location. 

Mr.  Wakefield,  who  died  a  few  3'ears  since,  pi- 
loted them  to  a  point  which  was  called  Orange  Prai- 
rie Ijy  the  elder  Pinkney,  and  there  they  purcliased 
four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land,  paying  $1.25 
per  acre.  The  father  took  a  quarter  that  had  some 
timber  upon  it,  and  the  sons,  Stejihen  and  Andrew, 
took  the  quarters  that  were  wholly  prairie.  They 
built  three  brick  houses,  the  first  on  the  prairie. 
The  father  had  bought  a  span  of  good  horses  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  these  were  sent  across  the 
country  to  the  new  home.  In  his  reminiscences  of 
farming  in  those  days,  our  suVjjoct  said  that  he  sold 
wheat  at  twenty-five  cents  a  bushel,  taking  calico 
at  thirty-seven  and  a-half  cents  per  }'ard  in  ex- 
change; eggs  brought  three  cents  a  dozen,  beef  and 
pork  one  and  a-fourth  cents  per  pound,  and  corn 
from  ten  to  twelve  cents  per  bushel. 

In  lHi)'J  Andrew  Pinkney  abandoned  the  farm, 
and  removed  to  Peoria,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  For  nine  years  he  clerked  for  a  distiller}', 
and  he  then  became  interested  in  spice  mills,  jfa}  ing 
$6,000  for  the  interest  he  jjurchased.  During  the 
next  five  years  he  made  8'25.000  in  the  business, 
and  he  then  retired  from  active  life,  and  since  that 
time  has  lived  quietly,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
prudence  and  wist,  investments.  Some  time  ago  lie 
,  bought  back  the  old  homestead,  the  purchase  price 
being  $13,000  for  that  which  originally  cost  8200. 

On  April  2.").  1843,  Mr.  Pinkney  became  the  hus- 
band of  Caroline  Farrell,  an  estimable  woman  who 
nobly  fulfilled  her  duties  as  wife  and  mother  until 
1880,  .when  she  entered  into  rest.  The  union  was 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  seven  children,  one  of  whom 
died  before  the  mother,  and  Charles  in  1885.  The 
survivors  are:    Emma,  wife  of    Ur.  Furr}'.  County 


l-ORTRAIT   AM)   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIUJM. 


469 


Physician;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Reuben  Sliinuer,  of 
New  York  City;  iNIary  ;  George;  and  Andrew,  .Jr., 
who  lives  on  tlie  old  farm.  The  surviving- compan- 
ion of  Mv.  Pinkney,  became  his  wife  .Inly  7,  I8«7. 
She  was  the  widow  of  .1.  P.  Bosworth,  of  Woodford 
County.  Her  character  and  acquirements  fit  her 
for  usefulness  in  an\'  sphere,  and  make  her  a  desir- 
able companion. 

Mv.  Pinkney  in  politics  was  a  Republican,  be- 
lieving that  in  that  party  the  hope  of  the  Nation 
lies.  He  never  held  any  office  except  that  of  Town- 
ship Collector  one  term,  in  Orange  Town.ship. 


ERASTUS  M.  LAWRKNCE.  In  a  section 
of  country  that  contains  as  many  attractive 
country  homos  as  does  Peoria  County,  it 
seems  a  work  of  supererogation  to  claim  pre-emin- 
ence for  any,  as  various  features  wanting  upon  one 
estate  are  to  be  seen  upon  others,  making  it  difllcult 
to  decide  which  is  most  worthy  of  compliment.  It 
would,  however,  be  agreed  that  the  farm  of  the 
gentleman  above  named  is  one  of  the  most  home- 
like and  attractive,  indicating  as  it  does  the  pres- 
ence within  the  dwelling  of  an  intelligent  and 
refined  family.  The  estate  is  located  on  section  11, 
Ehnwood  Township,  and  comprises  a  part  of  the 
Lawrence  homestead,  upon  which  the  parents  of 
our  subject  settled  many  years  ago.  The  tasteful 
dwelling  sets  back  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
road,  and  with  its  accompanying  buildings,  and 
surroundings  of  fruit  and  shailo  trees,  well-tilled 
fields  and  pasture  lands,  forms  a  [licture  fair  to 
look  upon. 

The  Lawrence  family  is  of  German  stock,  and 
later  generations  of  the  ancestors  lived  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  father  of  our  subject,  George  P.  Law- 
rence, came  west  to  Ohio,  with  his  father,  when 
quite  small,  their  home  being  made  near  Canton, 
Stark  County.  Later  when  a  young  man,  he  re- 
moved to  the  vicinity  of  New  Castle,  Coshocton 
County,  where  he  married  Phebe  Butler.  For 
several  years  he  was  engaged  in  trade,  but  after 
removing  to  Illinois,  which  he  flid  in  1856,  he 
tvirned  his  attention  to  farming.   He  purchased  one 


hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  afterward  adding 
to  it  until  the  homestead  comprised  three  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  a  portion  of  which,  as  before 
stated,  is  now  occupied  bj-  our  subject.  For  some 
six  years  i)rior  to  his  death  G.  P.  Lawrence  carried 
on  a  general  store  at  Summit,  Knox  Count}-.  He 
was  a  memlier  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  en- 
deavored to  instill  the  principles  of  Christianity 
into  the  hearts  of  his  children  and  qualify  them  to 
discharge  well  their  obligations.  He  died  in  1874, 
his  wife  having  preceded  iiini  to  the  silent  tomb, 
breathing  her  last  in  February,  18(lil. 

The  famil}'  of  (4.  P.  and  Phebe  Lawrence  con- 
sisted of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  were  born  be- 
fore their  removal  to  this  State.  The  family  record 
is  as  follows:  Lemuel  H.  died  in  Ohio  in  1881,  at 
the  age  of  fifty  years;  Oscar  B.  died  in  infancy; 
the  third  child  is  the  subject  of  this  notice;  Ange- 
line  is  the  wife  of  A.  (!.  Miles,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  Ar,iiij.\r;  Mary,  wife  of  M.  0. 
llarkness,  died  at  the  ago  of  forty-three  years: 
Ilattie  L.,  wife  of  George  Daughmer,  lives  at  Sum- 
mit, Knox  County;  George  W.  is  married  and  liv- 
ing near  Chanute,  Kan. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  earl\  leaining  all 
that  goes  to  make  up  a  successful  farm  life,  and  in 
the  meantime  receiving  a  practical  education  in  the 
schools  of  New  Castle,  t)hio.  He  had  reached  the 
age  of  twenty-four  years,  when  he  left  the  parental 
roof  to  set  up  his  own  home,  having  won  as  a  help- 
mate Miss  Emma  J.  (Jreen,  their  marriage  rites 
being  celebrated  at  her  home  in  the  township  that 
is  now  their  place  of  residence.  A  year  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Lawrence  bought  seventy-live  acres 
of  land  on  section  2,  upon  which  he  built  a  house 
which  afforded  shelter  to  the  family  four  years. 
He  then  engaged  in  trade  at  Oak  Hill  for  a  few 
months,  moving  thence  to  Summit,  Knox  County, 
where  lie  found  occupation  in  store-keeping  and 
the  buying  and  selling  of  lumber  and  grain  two 
years. 

In  1868  Mr.  Lawrence  returned  to  this  county 
and  took  charge  of  the  homestead,  of  which  he  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  (tarries  on 
mixed  farming,  raising  both  grains  and  stock.  A 
feature    of  the  estate  not  always  seen   is  a  large 


470 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


oreliaid  covciing  twenty  acres,  wliieli  in  one  season 
piodiiced  ><2.000  worth  of  apples.  In  1886-87  he 
moved  his  familj-  to  Elmwood  in  order  to  give  his 
cliiklren  greater  conveniences  in  obtaining  an  edu- 
cation, but  after  securing  that  object  again  took  up 
his  abode  on  the  farm.  Under  the  hospitable  roof 
good  cheer  abouiids  and  the  affable,  pleasing  man- 
ners of  the  host,  the  gracious  courtesy  of  his  wife 
and  the  intelligence  of  his  children,  combine  to 
enhance  tlie  charms  of  a  visit  there. 

Mr  Lawrence  is  one  of  those  public-spirited  men 
who  ever  stand  in  the  front  when  movements  are 
on  foot  that  promise  to  aid  in  developing  the  re- 
sources of  the  country  and  bringing  higher  advan- 
tages to  her  people.  He  has  been  Towushi|)  Trustee 
and  Scl.ool  Director,  and  in  the  work  of  IheL'nited 
Brethren  Church,  with  which  he  is  identified,  he 
acts  as  Steward,  Class-Leader,  etc,  also  holding  tlie 
office  of  Sunday-school  Superintendent.  The  sons 
and  daughters  who  rejoice  the  hearts  of  himself 
and  his  wife  are:  Fhctbe  O.,  wife  of  Oliver  Trotli, 
of  this  township;  Albert  L..  who  is  still  at  home; 
Hattie  E.,  wife  of  A.  Ct.  Walton,  of  Elmwood; 
Minnie  E.,  a  school  teacher  but  residing  at^  home, 
and  Edna  M.,  a  miss  of  sixteen  years. 


felLLIAM  LIEDERBECK.  Among  the  for- 
^/ij  eign-born  citizens  of  the  broad  Prairie 
Wz'  State,  -who,  by  the  exercise  of  good  judg- 
ment, unflagging  industrj-  and  unswerving  integ- 
rity', have  acquired  an  honorable  reputation  among 
their  fellow -men  and  secured  a  goodly  share  of 
properly,  may  be  mentioned  William  Biederbeck, 
of  Millbrook  Township.  He  is  an  excellent  repre- 
sentative of  the  agricultural  and  stock-raising  com- 
munities, and  b}'  reason  of  the  lo3-alt3'  to  the  Amer- 
ican flag  which  he  displayed  during  the  time  of  the 
country's  need,  is  still  more  deserving  of  notice  in 
a  Volume  of  this  nature. 

The  home  of  our  subject  is  on  section  9,  where 
he  owns  two  hundred  and  eighty-six  acres  of  fer- 
tile land  upon  which  may  be  seen  a  complete  line 
of  substantial  farm  buildings,  sufficiently  commo- 
dious to  fulfill  the  purposes  for   which   they   were 


erected  and  conveniently  located.  Every  part  of 
tlie  estate  bears  evidence  to  tlie  thrift  and  intelli- 
gence of  the  owner.  Mr.  Biederbeck  was  born  in 
Pru.«sia,  April  2(5,  1820,  and  carefully  reared  by 
his  good  parents,  John  and  Catherine  (Schutz)  Bie- 
derbeck. He  received  a  good  education  in  las  na- 
tive tf>ngue,  and  when  about  sixteen  years  old 
began  an  apprcnticeshij)  at  the  trade  of  a  carjjentcr 
and  joiner.  After  having  served  three  years,  he 
began  journej-  work,  continuing  it  in  his  own  coun- 
tr3r  until  1850,  and  later  pursuing  it   in   America. 

At  the  date  mentioned.  Mr.  Biederbeck  deter- 
mined to  seek  a  broader  field  for  his  labors  than 
the  thickly  settled  regions  of  his  native  land  af- 
forded, and  taking  passage  at  Bremen  on  a  sail 
vessel,  landed  in  New  York  City  after  a  voyage  of 
several  weeks.  He  spent  several  jears  in  the  East- 
first  in  the  State  of  New  Jersej'.  and  for  a  short 
time  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  In  that  city,  April  17, 
1857,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were  celebrated  between 
himself  and  iliss  Augusta  Kaus.  This  lady,  who 
has  noblj-  assisted  her  husband  by  her  good  coun- 
sel and  wise  management  of  domestic  affairs,  is  a 
native  of  Wurlemburg,  Germanj-,  born  August  19, 
1831,  to  John  and  Caroline  ( Aeple)  Kaus.  When 
about  twent3--one  j'ears  old  she  came  to  America. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Biederbeck,  ten  children  have 
been  born,  of  whom  we  note  the  following:  Rich- 
ard is  living  in  Millbrook  Township;  Amelia  is  the 
wife  of  Harry  Combs,  of  Colorado;  Mar3'  is  the 
wife  of  P.  Hart,  their  home  being  in  Stark  County ; 
Lincoln  A.  also  lives  in  Stark  County;  Augusta 
and  Sherman  W.  T.  have  homes  in  Millbrook  Town- 
ship; Carrie,  Addie,  Robert  Phillip,  and  Albert 
John  still  remain  under  the  parental  roof. 

On  August  20,  1862,  Mr.  Biederbeck  became  a 
member  of  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantrj'.  and  from  that  time  until  his  dis- 
cbarge, June  21,  1865,  fought  bravel3',  marched 
uucomplainingl3%  and  watched  patientl3-  among  the 
boys  in  blue,  who  endured  more  than  tongue  can 
tell  in  their  support  of  American  institutions.  He 
was  a  member  of  Sherman's  Fifteenth  Corps  dur- 
ing the  siege  of  Yicksburg,  also  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Jackson  and  Missionar3-  Ridge,  and  in 
the  entire  Atlanta  campaign.  He  made  one  of  the 
gallant  sixty  thousand  who  followed  the  leadership 


sc^-n 


POUTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALliUM. 


473 


of  the  reiiownert  "Teoiimseh"  from  Atlanta  to  the 
sea.  assisted  in  the  eaiitureof  Saxannah,  and  finally 
U'ok  pait  ill  the  battle  at  Beiitonville,  N.  C.  Mr. 
Biederlieck  was  one  of  the  fortunate  number  who 
escaped  wounds  and  taiitivity.  allhoiinh  he  liad 
inanv  narrow  escapes.  The  last  great  act  in  which 
he  participated  as  a  L'liiou  soldier,  was  the  Grand 
Review  at  Washington,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Peoria  County. 

Several  years  ago  Mr.  Biederbeck  located  njion 
the  farm  lie  now  occupies,  and  is  so  successfully 
conducting.  He  endeavors  to  liear  his  part  in  up- 
building the  material  and  moral  welfare  of  the 
county,  quietly  interesting  himself  in  all  which  lie 
believes  will  be  for  the  public  good.  He  has  served 
as  School  Director,  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  in  memory  of  his  campaign  life,  is  identified 
with  Post  Xo.  177,  G.  A.  R.,  a't  Brirafield.  He  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Laura,  are  active  members  of  society,  and  enjoy 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  their  neighbors  and 
friends.  Since  coming  to  America,  Mr.  Bietlerbeck 
has  acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  Knglish  lan- 
guage, in  which  lie  transacts  ail  his  business.  His 
strict  honesty  and  industrious  habits  are  well  known 
and  valued. 


4"e— ^ 


OVRl'S  TUCKER.  Too  much  credit  can 
scarcely  be  given  to  the  men  who,  coming 
to  this  county  a  h;ilf-century  ago,  braved 
the  dangers  which  surrounded  those  who  settled 
far  from  neighbors  in  a  country  overrun  by  In- 
iliaiis  and  savage  animals,  and  willingly  endured 
the  arduous  toils  necessary  to  develoi)  the  land  and 
open  it  up  for  the  advance  of  civilization.  One 
of  the  many  who  bore  a  part  in  the  pioneer  work 
of  Radnor  Township  was  Cyrus  Tucker,  a  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  whom  is  shown  on  the  opposite 
page.  He  came  hither  in  1837,  and  with  the  ex- 
ctplion  of  about  two  years,  made  this  his  home 
until  he  entered  into  rest,  August  "J,  1888. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Tucker  occurred  January   19, 
1801),  in  the  vicinity  of  Plymouth,  Mass.,  where  he 


was  reared  to  manhood  and  resided  until  he  came 
to  Illinois.  Alter  locating  here  he  remained  some 
four  or  five  years,  then  going  East,  sojourned  in 
his  native  State  two  years,  after  which  he  again 
came  West.  lie  accumulated  a  considerable  amount 
of  wt)rldl_y  goods,  leaving  an  estate  of  five  hun- 
dred acres,  on  which  he  had  made  excellent  im- 
provements, and  had  caused  good  buildings  to  be 
erected,  among  them  being  ever}' needful  structure 
for  the  comfort  of  the  family,  the  shelter  of  stock, 
and  the  housing  of  f;irm  machiner}'  and  crops. 

Mr.  Tucker  was  one  of  those  whole-souled,  enter- 
prising men,  who  not  only  pursued  his  life  work 
in  an  energetic  manner,  but  took  an  active  part  in 
the  affairs  of  the  townshi|),  interesting  himself  in 
every  worthy  movement,  and  becoming  known  as 
one  who  could  lie  counted  upon  to  assist  in  all 
which  would  promote  the  good  of  the  country. 
He  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  of  the  township, 
discharging  its  duties  in  a  creditable  and  satis- 
factory manner. 

An  important  step  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Tucker  was 
his  marriage,  August  11,  1841,  to  Miss  Abigail 
Shaw,  a  worthy  woman  who  shared  his  joys  and 
sorrows  but  a  few  short  years.  She  died  at  her 
home  in  this  township  October  7,  1840,  leaving  one 
son,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  about  fort3'-oue3'ears, 
dying  in  Galva.  After  having  lived  a  widower 
for  more  than  a  decade  Mr.  Tucker  contracted  a 
second  matrimonial  alliance,  celebrating  in  this 
county  on  September  13,  18.")7,  his  union  with  Miss 
Fanny  Keim.  This  most  estimable  woman  was 
born  in  Somerset,  Pa.,  May  19,  1823.  She  is  a 
woman  of  true  motlierl}-  feeling,  whose  affectionate 
interest  reaches  beyond  the  w^alls  of  hei  own  home 
to  include  all  who  are  in  sorrow  or  need,  and  to 
whom  she  can  be  in  any  way  a  helper.  She  became 
the  mother  of  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 
The  latter,  named  Ella,  died  in  childhood. 

George  W.  Tucker,  the  first-born  and  surviving 
child,  first  saw  the  light  in  this  township  August  1, 
1861.  Here  he  has  grown  to  manhood  and  always 
resided,  securing  in  earlier  years  an  excellent  edu- 
cation, and  so  good  a  fundamental  knowledge  of 
agricultural  pursuits  that  at  the  death  of  his  father 
he  was  enabled  to  take  charge  of  the  estate,  and  is 
now  conducting  it  most   elliciently.     He  gives  his 


474 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


attention' wholly  to  farming  and  stock-raising,  dis- 
playing a  spirit  of  progress,  and  while  not  .iba::- 
duning  old  and  tried  methods,  is  read}-  to  adopt 
uny  late  idea  in  which  his  judgment  concurs  after 
thorough  investigation.  A  worthy  son  of  an  hon- 
ored father,  he  has  already  secured  the  good-will 
of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  gives  promise  of  becom- 
ing an  important  member  of  the  agricultur.al  com- 
munitv  hereafter. 


^^r^-^^^^i^^^^^r^^^ 


^<  ^,^^ll" 


'  OlIN  SMITH  is  a  native  of  Peoria  County, 
and  is  now  occupying  a  prominent  place 
among  the  intelligent,  well-to-do  and  enter- 
prising j'oung  farmers  who  are  doing  so 
much  to  develop  and  extend  its  marvelous  agri- 
cultural interests.  He  owns  a  valuable  and  well- 
improved  farm  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
H,  Princeville  Township,  his  place  of  birth.  His 
father,  John  Smith,  was  an  old  and  prominent  set- 
tler of  this  localit}',  and  was  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  township. 

Mr.  Smitli,  the  elder,  was  a  native  of  Lanark- 
shire, Scotland,  his  father,  bearing  the  same  name 
as  iiimself,  being  also  a  native  of  that  place.  John 
was  a  name  in  the  family'  for  four  hundred  years 
back  to  the  time  of  William  Wallace.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  became  a  soldier  in  the  Eng- 
lish army  when  a  young  man  and  followed  a  mili- 
tar}-  life  for  nine  years,  being  a  member  of  the 
Seventy-first  Glasgow  Regiment.  He  was  in  Spain 
with  Wellington  and  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder 
during  the  Peninsula  War.  He  left  the  arm}-  be- 
fore the  battle  of  Waterloo.  At  the  battle  of  Cor- 
onna  he  was  wounded  in  the  breast  and  was  taken 
prisoner  and  imprisoned  six  mouths.  He  was  finally 
disciiargcd  from  the  army  at  the  age  of  thirty  years, 
he  being  one  of  five  brothers  who  had  enlisted. 
He  returned  to  Glasgow,  where  he  was  engaged  as 
a  cotton  dresser,  following  that  until  he  came  to 
America  and  became  quite  well  off.  In  1842  he 
embarked  for  this  country,  landed  in  New  Orleans, 
and  from  there  went  to  St;  Louis.  He  had  started 
witli  a  colony  for  Texas,  but  as  the  3-ellow  fever 
was  so  deadly  in  that  quarter  that  season,  they  had 


changed  the  course  of  their  journe}'.  He  lived  in 
St.  Louis  awhile,  and  in  1844  came  from  there  to 
Peoria,  and  invested  in  some  Government  land  on 
section  7,  Princeville  I'ownship.  and  made  his  home 
on  it  until  his  death  in  March,  1852.  He  was  a 
Presbj'lerian  and  was  strong  in  the  faith. 

The  fathei-  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  Scotland 
and  his  first  occupation  when  he  became  self-sup- 
porting was  as  a  clerk  in  a  bookstore.  Subsequently 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  dresser  of  cotton.  In 
1842  he  came  to  the  United  States  bj'  the  way  of 
Canada.  He  was  engaged  on  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  Rivers,  between  New  Orleans  and  St. 
Louis,  and  even  bej^ond  the  head  of  navigation  on 
the  Missouri  until  1845,  when  he  settled  here.  He 
bought  Government  land  on  section  7,  of  this 
township,  improved  it  and  was  activel}'  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock-raising  and  acquired  a  valua- 
ble properly,  being  at  one  time  owner  of  three 
hundreil  and  twent}-  acres  of  exceptionally  fine 
farming  land.  He  was  ever  liberal  and  j)ublic- 
spirited  and  bore  an  honorable  part  in  local  affairs, 
especiall}'  In  educational  matters,  and  at  various 
times  held  different  school  offices.  He  was  a  strong 
Republican  in  his  political  views  and  gave  gener- 
ous support  to  his  party.  Religiously,  he  was  a 
Presbyterian,  and  was  in  every  wa}'  an  exemplary 
Christian  gentleman.  His  death  here  May  27,  1890, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  two  months  and 
thirteen  days,  was  a  loss  to  the  citizenship  of 
Princeville. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Jane  Payne,  and  she  was  born  in  Carroll 
County,  Va.,  coming  of  a  worthy  family.  Her  fa- 
ther, Walter  Payne,  was  also  a  Virginian  by  birth, 
and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  AVar  of  1812.  About  1840  he  came  to  I.lli- 
nois  and  settled  in  the  timber  in  Princeville  Town- 
ship, and  carried  on  his  farming  operations  here 
until  he  retired  from  active  life,  and  from  that  time 
he  made  his  home  with  a  daughter  in  Toulon,  wliere 
he  died.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  a  highly  re- 
spected ladj',  is  still  residing  on  the  old  homestead. 
Of  her  marriage  eight  children  were  born:  Isa- 
belle,  Mrs.  Martin,  of  this  township;  Rachael,  Mrs. 
Ch.nse,  of  Akron  Township;  John;  Walter,  of  Gage 
County,  Neb.;  Mary  J., with  her  mother  in  Prince- 


rOKTKAlT  AND  BlUGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


475 


ville  Townsliip;  Margaret  A..  Mrs.  Miller,  who 
(lied  ill  (iage  County,  IS'eli. ;  William  W.,  of  (iagc 
Coiiny,  Neb.,  and  Lizzie,  Mrs.  Lewis,  of  Salt  Lake 
City. 

The  siilijecl  of  this  hiogra|ihieal  review  was  born 
in  Trineeville  Township,  .Inly  L'),  1 852,  and  was 
reared  to  man's  estate  on  his  father's  homestead. 
lie  gleaned  a  good  education  in  the  district  and 
graded  schools  which  he  attended  (hiring  the  winter 
session  until  of  age  and  he  then  entered  Cole's  Busi- 
ness College  in  Peoria,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated after  pursuing  an  excellent  course.  Leaving 
college  he  returned  home  and  entered  upon  his  ca- 
reer as  a  farmer  on  his  father's  farm,  remaining 
with  his  parents  until  he  w.as  twenty-three.  After 
his  mari'iage,  in  the  fall  of  1875,  our  subject  lo- 
cated on  his  present  place  and  has  since  been  act- 
ively engaged  in  its  improvement,and  h.as developed 
it  from  its  original  state  to  its  present  tine  condi- 
tion, breaking  a  part  of  the  prairie  sod  himself, 
and  in  1  S80  he  purchased  it  from  its  foi  iner  owner. 
It  comprises  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  18, 
and  its  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  are  already 
under  admirable  tillage  and  are  well  hedged,  and 
provided  with  a  neat  dwelling,  good  barns  and 
other  necessary  buildings.  It  is  a  very  desiral)le 
piece  of  jtroperly  and  is  well  watered  by  the  creek 
and  a  never-failing  su[iply  of  running  water,  has 
tine  groves  and  orchards  and  is  wellada[)ted  to  rais- 
ing, grain,  corn  and  oats.  Mr.  .Smith  has  two  teams 
of  Clydesdale  and  Shire  horses  of  good  grade,  and 
has  a  number  of  full  blooded  Poland-China  hogs, 
paying  much  attention  to  raising  that  animal  for 
the  mai'kets. 

Mr.  Smith  and  ISIiss  Bessie  A.  Koweliffe  were 
iiiarrie(l  in  .lubilee,  October  27,  1875,  and  their 
wedded  life  has  proved  a  mutual  lieneSt  and  has 
been  a  happy  one.  Mrs.  Smith  is  a  daughter  of  the 
lion.  William  Rowcliffe,  of  Jubilee  Township,  of 
whom  see  biography  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume. Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in  Erie  County,  Ohio, 
.laiuiary  IG,  1818,  and  was  a  child  when  she  came 
to  Illinois  with  her  parents.  She  is  a  lady  of  true 
culture,  having  received  the  advantages  of  an 
e.^cellent  education.  When  she  was  seventeen 
years  old  she  entered  the  Illinois  Normal  School, 
and  was  a  pupil  in  that  institution  for  six   months. 


She  afterward  engaged  in  the  profession  of  teaching 
for  some  nine  years  in  Jubilee  and  Kadnor.  She 
is  the  mother  of  four  children — Koy  I!.,  Jessie  G., 
Flossie  M.  and  John  II. 

Mr.  Smith  is  endowed  with  strength  of  character 
and  a  moral  and  mental  makeup  tlmt  place  him 
among  those  whose  citizenship  is  most  honorable  to 
his  native  township  and  county.  His  sturdy,  prac- 
tical traits  and  thrifty  habits  have  been  ver^'  ad- 
vantageous to  him  in  the  prosecution  of  his  calling 
and  have  already  put  him  among  the  men  of  easy 
circumstances  in  Princeville.  He  is  a  stalwart 
among  the  Republicans,  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
party  in  this  vicinity  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
county  conventions.  Relgiously  he  is  of  the  Pres- 
byterian faith. 


UCAS  C.  HICKS.     In  noting  tlie  successful 

ireyi  farmers    of    Hallock    Townsliip,     mentioii 

should  certainly  be  made  of  the  gentleman 


above  named,  a  large  landowner  who  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  has  lived  on  section  32.  The  home 
farm  comprises  three  hundred  acres,  l)esides  which 
Mr.  Hicks  owns  an  efjual  aiu(juntin  another  part  of 
the  township.  His  property  has  mostl3' been  made 
by  his  own  efforts  since  he  became  of  .age  and  sufli- 
ciently  indicates  that  he  has  been  industrious, 
priulent  and  careful  in  management. 

Mr.  Hicks  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Ohio, 
August  25,  1811),  coming  from  his  native  State  to 
Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1830,  with  his  parents. 
The  family  came  overland  in  accordance  with  the 
means  of  travel  of  the  [leriod,  making  settlement 
on  the  line  between  JMedina  and  Hallock  Town- 
ships, this  county.  The  father  secured  unbroken 
land  whereon  his  son,  our  subject,  pursued  the  even 
tenor  of  his  w.ay  until  he  became  of  age.  Soon 
after  reaching  his  maj'jrity  he  began  farming  for 
himself,  beginning  his  residence  on  his  present  es- 
tate in   184t^. 

At  the  home  of  the  luide  in  Ogle  County,  near 
Polo,  marriage  rites  were  celebrated  between  our 
subject  and  Miss  Sarah  Reed.  The  lady  was  born  in 
Ross  County,  Oliio,  M.ay    7,  1826,  and  was   quite 


476 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


j'omig  when  her  "parents  removed  [to 'the  Prairie 
State.  Here  she  grew  to  woraanhood.ncquiring  much 
knowledge  and  fitting  herself  for  usefulness.  She 
and  her  husband  are  worthy  of  the  esteem  in  which 
thi'v  are  held,  both  being  intelligeut,kindl3'  and  con- 
siderate in  theii-  intercourse  with  those  about  them. 
Mr.  Hicks  is  an  independent  Republican  in  politics. 
He  has  been  Supervisor  of  his  township  andsorved 
two  terras  as  County  Commissioner  under  the  old 
law. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Hicks  and  his  good  wife  com- 
prises six  sons  and  daughters  whose  record  is  as 
follows:  Lucius  married  JIarj'  A.  Siddons  and 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Ilalloek  Township;  Samuel,  a 
farmer  in  Medina  Township,  mari'ied  Lucia  Van- 
Buren ;  Ira  who  is  living  in  Peoria  and  connected 
with  a  dairy  and  cream  house  there,  is  a  widower, 
his  wife,  Nancy  15kie,  having  been  killed  in  the 
Chatsworth  disaster;  Emerson,  a  farmer  in  Hallock 
Townshii),  married  Ella  Kimball;  Mark  married 
Olive  Robinson  and  lives  on  a  farm  in  Hallock 
Township;  Adda  is  the  wife  of  .John  Snyder,  their 
iiome  being  on  a  farm  in  Medina  Townsliip. 

Mr.  Hicks  is  of  Welsh  ancestry  on  his  father's 
side,  altiiough  his  grandparents  were  natives  of 
Rhode  Island.  They  sojourned  for  a  few  years  in 
Nova  Scotia,  where  Joel  Hicks,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born.  He  was  three  years  old  when  his 
parents  emigrated  to  Delaware  County,  N.  Y., 
where  he  grew  to  maturity  and  married  Phebe 
Coleman.  That  worthy  woman  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut, belonging  to  an  old  New  England  family. 
Her  parents  removed  to  Delaware  County-,  N.  Y., 
when  she  was  young  and  she  grew  to  womanhood  in 
the  same  neighborhood  as  her  husljaud.  After  the 
birth  of  two  children  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joel  Hicks  re- 
moved to  Jackson  County,  Ohio,  the  husband  be- 
ginning there  as  a  small  fai'mer  and  miller.  He 
was  joined  by  his  parents,  and  a  few  years  later, 
his  father,  Levi  Ilicks,  was  accidentally  drowned 
at  Richmondale,  on  Salt  Creek,  near  the  Sciota 
River.  The  widow  of  Grandfatlier  Ilicks,  form- 
erly Mary  Waters,  subsequently  married  Judge 
Samuel  Reed,  of  Pike  Count}-,  Ohio,  dying  at 
I'iketon  when  quite  old. 

After  taking  up  their  abode  in  the  Buckeye 
.Slate,  Joel  Hicks  andhis'wife  lived  in  Jackson  and 


Ross  Counties  until  1830,  when,  as  before  men- 
tioned, they  located  in  Peoria  County,  111.  Mr. 
Ilicks  became  the  owner  of  three  quarter-sections 
of  land,  spending  the  remnant  of  his  days  on  his 
original  purchase  on  the  lines  between  Medina  and 
Hallock  Townships.  He  was  a  hard-working  man,  a 
good  citizen,  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Univer- 
salist  in  religion.  His  death  occurred  in  1851, 
when  he  was  nearly  sixtj'-nine  years  of  age.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  survived  her  husband  some 
twelve  years,  reaching  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
one  years  and  dying  at  the  homo  of  a  daughter, 
Mrs.  Mary  Parker,  in  Medina  Township,  in  1873. 
She  was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith.  Slie  was 
the  mother  of  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  of 
whom  three  sons  and  three  daughters  are  now 
living. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Ilicks,  of  this  notice,  were 
Samuel  and  Phebe  (Sanford)  Reed,  natives  of  the 
Empire  State,  who  removed  to  Ross  County,  Ohio, 
in  an  early  day.  In  1830,  tiiey  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Buffalo  Grove,  Ogle  Count}',  where 
they  began  to  make  a  home  in  tiie  pioneer  style. 
They  lived  to  be  quite  old,  securing  the  respect  of 
their  neighbors  and  acquaintances  by  their  sterling 
characters  and  pioneer  virtues.  During  the  Black 
Hawk  War  they  were  at  times  in  great  danger  of 
capture  by  the  savages,  which  they  escaped  by 
leaving  their  home  for  a  time.  Mr.  Reed  being  a 
cripple  was  not  able  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
war  against  the  red  men. 


^^^EORGE  D 
ill  (~^  prominent 


^^^EORGE  D.  SLYGH  is  the  son  of  a  former 
inent  pioneer  family  of  this  county  and 
re  of  this  State.  He  has  for  several 
years  been  actively  interested  in  agricultur.al  pur- 
suits, and  is  carrying  on  his  farming  operations  on 
one  of  the  choicest  farms  in  Millbrook  Township, 
which  is  pleasantly  located  on  section  31,  where  he 
has  a  comfortable  home. 

He  is  a  native  of  Knox  County,  where  his  birtii 
took  place  October  8,  1843.  His  parents  were  John 
I),  and  Mary  E.  (Potts)  Slygh,  his  father  born  in 
Dublin,  Ireland,  and  his  mother  a  native  of   Wash- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  AL15UM. 


477 


ingtoii,  D.  C,  she  being  of  English  descent.  In 
1883,  his  [larents  emigrated  from  ^'irgini;l  to  this 
State  and  locateil  in  tlie  townsliii)  of  Truro  in  the 
county  of  Knox,  they  being  among  its  ver3'  (irst 
settlers.  In  1853  they  came  to  this  county,  and 
settled  in  Rochester,  Jlillbrook  Township,  where 
they  both  died,  the  father  closing  his  career  Febru- 
ary' 21,  1882,  and  the  mother  passing  away  .Tuly 
26,  1875.  Mr.  Sli'gh  was  a  man  of  fine  education, 
having  been  college  bred,  and  was  progressive  and 
enlightened  in  his  views,  and  was  very  influential 
in  the  community,  taking  an  active  part  in  political 
and  public  matters  in  Millbrook  Township.  He 
served  as  Assessor  of  the  township,  and  was  promi- 
nent in  pushing  forward  its  material  and  social  in- 
terests. He  was  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  served  as  Deacon, 
and  his  death  was  a  serious  blow  to  its  interests. 
In  politics  he  was  a  true  Democrat  and  used  his  in- 
rtuence  to  promote  the  policy  of  that  party.  He 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Rochester,  for  many 
years  and  served  in  that  capacity  with  wisdom  and 
impartiality. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  children 
of  whom  the  following  survive:  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
James  Rockhold  of  Elmwood; Charles  C,  living  in 
Henr\';  Catherine,  widow  of  Dr.  W.  J.  Bennett,  of 
Rochester;  (ieorgiana  wifeof  John  Mills  of  Bureau 
Count}';  Henr}-  S.,  a  resident  of  Rochester;  George 
D.;  \irginia,  wife  of  C.  C.  Wycofif,  of  Milllnook 
Township;  Louisa,  living  in  Rochester. 

George  D.  Slygh  accompanied  his  parents  to  this 
county  and  to  their  new  home  in  the  village  of 
Rt)chestcr,  when  he  was  about  ten  years  old  and 
from  that  time  he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  count}'. 
He  was  reared  amid  the  primitive  scenes  of  its  pio- 
neer life  and  when  about  eighteen  years  of  age, 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  wheelwright  in  Roches- 
ter. He  followed  it  about  three  years  and  then  for 
two  years  eng.aged  in  the  hardware  and  agricultural 
implement  business  at  Elmwood,  and  the  remainder 
of  his  life  he  has  devoted  to  farming.  In  the  spring 
of  1888,  Mr.  Slj-gh  settled  on  his  present  farm  on 
section  31,  Millbrook  Township,  and  has  earnestly 
and  faithfuU}'  engaged  in  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement ever  since.  He  owns  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  as  flue  farming  land  as  may  be  found 


in  «11  the  neighborhood,  and  ils  good  condition  is 
due  to  the  care  and  labor  that  he  ha'!  bestowed  upon 
it.  Its  buildings  are  neat  and  comfortable;  it  is 
well  tilled  and  well  fenced,  and  is  admirably  adapted 
to  general  farming  purposes. 

December  7.  18()5,  was  the  date  of  Mr.  Slygh's 
marriage  with  Mar}'  D.  Wycoff,  who  was  born  in 
this  county  in  18i5,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George 
P.  and  Delia  A.  Wycoff,  early  settlers  of  the  county. 
By  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  >Slygh  have  five 
children — Ernest  W.,  Joseph,  James,  Mary  and 
Ethel. 

Township  and  community  value  Mr.  Slygh  for 
his  good  citizenship.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent 
sense,  of  wise  discretion,  and  has  a  thorough  practi- 
cal knowledge  of  his  work.  In  politics  he  has  in- 
dependent views,  but  gives  his  influence  in  support 
of  the  Democratic  ])arty.  He  is  never  behind  his 
fellow  townsmen  in  contributing  his  quota  towards 
the  material  improvement  of  the  township,  and  has 
been  of  great  assistance  in  bri]iging  about  its  pres- 
ent high  reputation  as  a  great  agi  icultural  center. 

*  ORTON  CHAMBERLIN,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
]li  Thomas  Hough,  of  Medina  Township,  died 
■;^  at  his  home  near  Vevay,  in  Switzerland 
0  County,  Ind.,  in  the  fall  of  1836.  He  was 
born  on  the  Hudson  River,  in  New  York,  being  a 
.son  of  Aaron  and  Hannah  (Runnels)  Chamberlin, 
who  were  also  natives  of  the  Empire  State,  whence, 
after  a  few  years  of  wedded  life,  they  removed  to 
Ohio  and  still  later  to  Switzerland  County,  Ind. 
After  having  lived  in  that  county  some  years, 
Aaron  Chamberlin  sold  his  property  there,  and  re- 
moving to  Iowa  located  on  a  farm  a  few  miles 
west  of  the  city  of  Burlington.  There  he  and  his 
wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days,  the  one 
living  to  the  age  of  ninety-three  and  the  other  to 
that  of  eighty-six  yeais.  They  were  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Old  School  Baptist  Church,  as  was  their 
son  Horton  and  his  wife,  known  to  all  their  ac- 
quaintances as  people  of  deep  religion?  feeling  and 
consistent  lives.  They  had  eight  sons  and  two 
daughters,  the  daughters  only  being  now  alive. 


478 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Our  subject  was  in  his  boyhood  when  his  par- 
ents became  residents  of  the  Hoosier  State,  going 
into  a  new  country  near  Vevay,  wliore  the  boy  be- 
came a  man.  He  adopted  the  occupation  of  a  farmer, 
making  Sw-itzerland  County  Lis  home  until  death. 
His  career  was  cut  short  in  his  thirtieth  year,  lie 
having  been  born  in  1807.  He  was  a  "Whig  in 
politics,  and  in  religion  of  the  Baptist  faith,  liaving 
a  consistent  Christian  character.  He  married  Jane 
Dickison,  a  native  of  Switzerland  County,  born 
near  Yevay  October  2,1813.  She  was  reared  to 
womanhood  in  that  county,  continuing  1o  reside 
tliore  until  a  year  after  the  death  of  her  husband, 
when  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Illinois,  bringing 
with  her  her  three  fatherless  children.  In  Medina 
Township,  this  count}',  her  son  Francis  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years,  and  Aaron  in  1862,  after  his 
marriage  to  Sarah  Robinson  and  the  birth  of  two 
children,  mother  and  children  also  being  now  de- 
ceased. 

The  parents  of  Jlrs.  Chamberlin  were  John  and 
Mary  (White)  Dickison,  natives  of  Virginia  and 
Kentucky-,  respectively.  The  former  had  been  taken 
to  Kentucky  when  young  and  had  there  grown  to 
man's  estate,  crossing  the  Ohio  River  and  making 
a  settlement  in  the  wilds  of  Switzerland  Count}-, 
Ind.,  while  yet  a  single  man.  There  he  married  iiis 
wife,  who  had  been  reared  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river,  .\fter  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dickison  purchased  new  land,  beginning  to  improve 
a  home  on  which  they*  continued  to  reside  until 
l,s;i7.  They  then  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Medina  Township,  this  count}',  which  was  their 
place  of  abode  during  the  balance  of  their  lives. 
Mr.  Dickison  was  sixty-four  years  of  age  and  his 
widow  sixty-six  when  called  hence.  The  latter  was 
a  Baptist.  Tiieir  daughter,  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
was  the  second  child  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Three  of  the  latter  are  still  living, 
all  now  quite  old  and  all  widows  of  farmers. 

The  only  living  child  of  our  subject  and  his  estim- 
able wife  is  a  daughter,  Hannah  M.,  wife  of  Thomas 
Hough,  to  whom  she  was  married  on  the  farm  they 
now  occupy.  Mr.  Hough  had  come  to  this  county  in 
l.S.")9, since  which  time  he  has  been  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising  here.  He  has  a 
tine  farm, the  most  of  which  is  under  cultivation  and 


well  stocked,  being  also  supplied  with  good  farm 
buildings  and  all  necessary  implements  and  ma- 
chines. He  was  born  in  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  near 
Doylestown,  September  11,  1826,  coming  of  old 
Pennsylvania  stock,  of  the  Quaker  faith.  He  is  the 
only  son  of  his  parents  and  has  one  sister  living. 
He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  and  was 
there  first  married  to  Isabella  Polk.  That  lady  was 
born  and  reared  also  in  Bucks  County,  belonging 
to  an  old  Pennsylvania  family,  many  members  of 
which  were  quite  prominent.  She  died  when  but 
twenty-tive  years  old.  leaving  two  children — Rob- 
ert and  Isabel.  The  former  married  Barbara  Knupp 
and  is  farming  in  Washington  County,  Iowa.  The 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  James  H.  Paden,  a  dealer 
in  musical  instruments  in  Greeley,  Col. 

Mr.  Hough  lived  for  a  time  in  Montgomery 
County,  Pa.,  whence  he  came  to  Illinois,  subse- 
quently marrying  the  daughter  of  our  subject.  .She 
was  born  after  the  death  of  her  father  and  was  but 
nine  months  old  when  her  mother  came  to  this 
county.  She  was  given  good  advantages  and,  be- 
coming very  well  educated,  taught  school  for  a 
time  before  her  marriage,  ilr.  Hough  has  also  had 
some  exiierience  in  ped.agogical  work.  Both  are 
numbered  among  the  most  intelligent  citizens  of 
this  section,  worthily  filling  their  spheres  in  life 
and  beicg  useful  to  those  about  them.  Mr.  Hough 
has  held  the  local  offices  of  the  township  and  has 
been  Deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  active  members;  he  is  a  sound 
Republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hough  are  the  parents 
of  four  children,  of  whom  Mary  J.  and  Elizabeth 
died  young,  and  John  C.  and  CLarles  F.  are  still  at 
home. 

The  original  member  of  the  Hough  family  in 
America  came  hither  from  London  as  early  as  1664. 
The  first  to  .abandon  the  Quaker  faith,  to  which  the 
family  adhered  strictly  for  several  generations,  was 
Robert  Hough,  the  father  of  Thomas  Hough.  That 
gentleman  was  a  farmer,  occupying  an  estate  which 
had  been  in  the  family  three  generations,  in  Doyles- 
town Township,  Bucks  County,  Pa.  He  was  an 
ardent  Whig,  prominent  in  local  politics.  He  died 
wlieu  fifty-five  years  of  .age^  His  wife  was  Miss 
Mary  Evans,  of  the  same  county,  who  survived 
him,  dying  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  seventy  six  years; 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


479 


she  was  a  Baptist.  Robert  Hough  was  the  son  of 
Richard  Hough,  anil  he  the  son  of  Joseph  Hough. 
Going  back  jet  another  generation  we  find  another 
Richard  Hough,  who,  on  settling  in  America,  se- 
cured laud  from  King  George  III.  the  same  being 
hekl  by  Iiis  direct  descendants  until  the  death  of 
Robert  Hough.  The  family  during  all  these  gen- 
erations were  farmers,  prominent  among  tiie  citi- 
zens of  Bucks  County. 


^= 


E^ 


Yi  AMES  BENNETT.  The  life  of  James  Ben- 
nett, of  Peoria,  has  been  marked  bj-  some- 
what romantic  incidents,  important  events 
having  been  brought  about  b}'  somewhat 
singular,  and  in  a  certain  sense  trivial,  incidents. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  the  undertaking  business, 
and  tlie  establishment  which  he  conducts  con- 
tains :i  line  stock  of  goods,  while  all  details  re- 
lating to  the  disposition  of  the  mortal  remains  of 
loved  ones  is  carefully  attended  to  by  the  proprie- 
tor and  his  assistants.  Mr.  Bennett  was  led  to  this 
business  through  the  following  incident.  One  Sun- 
d&y  afternoon,  while  walking  with  his  wife,  they 
stoi)ped  at  what  is  now  known  as  Moffatt's  Ceme- 
tery. Mrs.  liennett  remarked,  "  If  I  should  die, 
how  much  I  should  prefer  to  lie  here  than  to  be 
laid  away  in  Springdale;  it  is  so  lonesome  there." 
She  died  December  28,  1870,  not  long  after  this 
walk,  .ind  w.as  buried  as  she  desired.  Subsequently 
Mr.  Bennett  bought  the  propertj'  which  is  now 
owned  by  the  family,  althcuigh  controlled  by  an 
incorporated  bodj'. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  a  native  of 
Gloucestershire,  England,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard 
and  INIarj'  (Redwood)  Bennett.  His  ancestors  were 
farmers  for  nianj'  generations,  and  the  Bennett 
family  occupied  a  certain  farm  for  nine  hundred 
and  ninety-nine  years.  The  rental  was  one  shilling 
per  year,  and,  wonderful  to  relate,  it  was  collected 
<luring  all  those  years  with  great  regularity. 
Upon  the  occasion  of  a  visit  made  to  the  ancestral 
home  in  1887,  Mr.  Bennett  found  the  old  land- 
marks blotted  out,  the  estate  having  passed  back 
into  the  hands  of  its  original  owners.  The  father  of 


our  subject  was  a  moneyed  man.  who  labored  at 
the  occupation  in  which  the  family  had  so  long 
been  engaged.  He  was  the  father  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  youngest. 

The  latter  had  no  opportunity  to  attend  school, 
other  than  the  Sunday-school,  and  was  not  able  to 
read  or  write  until  nineteen  years  of  age.  A  young 
lady  was  conducting  his  correspondence  for  him. 
At  a  fair  the  3'Oung  man  nut  another  j'oung  lady, 
who  wrote  him  a  strong  love  letter.  This  he  was 
obliged  to  take  to  his  sweetheart  to  read,  and  she 
then  and  there  gave  him  the  '•mitten."  Being 
thus  left  without  an  amanuensis,  young  Bennett 
set  valianth-  to  work  to  learn  those  things  which 
had  been  neglected  in  his  j'outh.  He  had  left  his 
home  at  the  age  of  thirteen  jears  because  his 
father  objected  to  the  use  of  tobacco.  The  elder 
Bennett  having  declared  that  the  son  should  not 
use  the  vile  weed  in  his  presence,  the  lad  thought 
the  matter  over,  and  not  willing  to  give  up  that 
which  he  enjoyed,  nor  to  deceive  his  father,  de- 
termined to  try  the  world  alone.  When  he  left  the 
parental  roof  he  had  twenty-five  cents  in  his 
pocket,  and  he  now  declares  that  being  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  was  the  making  of  him.  as 
he  was  taught  self  reliance  and  learned  to  i)u»h  his 
waj'  as  he  would  not  otherwise  have  done. 

Going  into  Wales,  young  Bennett  sought  and 
found  work,  remaining  there  until  lie  was  nine- 
teen j'ears  old.  During  this  time  he  helped  to 
make  the  rails  that  were  used  in  the  New  York 
Central  Railroad.  From  Wales  he  went  to  Can- 
ada, where  he  sojourned  a  few  months  ere  making 
his  way  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.  There  he  sought  em- 
ploj'ment  in  the  iron  business,  but  a  strike  being 
in  progress  and  the  cholera  also  making  havoc  in 
the  citj-,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  idea  of 
locating  there.  Going  to  Cincinnati,  he  found 
cholera  raging  in  that  city  also,  and  therefore  re- 
turned (o  Canada,  where  he  remained  until  1855. 
He  then  came  to  Peoria,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  has  occupied  his  present  placeof  business 
twenty-seven  years.  He  was  eng.aged  in  the  harness 
business  about  fifteen  years,  after  which  he  took  up 
undertaking.  He  has  been  a  successful  financier,and 
now  owns  property  on  several  streets. 

In   Canada,  on    May   6.   1850,  Mr.  Bennett  was 


480 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ann,  daughter  of 
Robert  Bye.  She  bore  him  six  cliildren.  four  of 
whom  lire  now  living.  They  are:  Mrs.  Wolgaraott, 
oftliiscity;  Charles,  a  railroad  man,  whose  home 
is  in  Denver.  Colo.;  Mrs.  Kent,  of  this  city;  and 
INIrs.  Wilton,  whose  husband  is  with  her  father  in 
business.  After  a  happy  wedded  life  of  more 
than  twenty  years,  the  devoted  wife  and  mother 
was  ealied  hence.  In  the  fall  of  1871  Mr.  Bennett 
contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance,  bis  bride 
being  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Brown,  widow  of  Orrin  Brown. 
She  had  borne  the  maiden  name  of  Perkins  and 
is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  She  is  a  notable 
housewife,  an  excellent  neiglibor,  and  worthy  of  re- 
spect in  every  relation  in  life. 

Mr.  Bennett  cast  his  first  vote  in  the  ITnited 
States  in  18G0,  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  has  ever 
since  been  true  to  the  Repu))lican  part}-.  The 
personal  popularity  of  the  man  is  shown  in  the 
fact  that  he  was  the  onlj'  man  elected  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket  in  1884,  when  he  became  Coroner, 
and  that  in  1888  he  was  re-elected,  and  is  the 
present  incumbent.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  Druids.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Peoria  Consistory,  having  attained  the  thirty- 
second  degree  in  masonry. 


^p^EORGE  S.  PURSELL.  Among  the  well- 
11  (=,  known  and  highly  esteemed  residents  of 
""^S^    Brimtield    rownship    active  in  the   society 


the    well- 

f 

ty 

of  their  locality,  interested  in  the  elevation  of  the 
people  and  the  development  of  the  country  to  the 
utmost,  are  Mr.  Pursell  and  his  good  wife  who  oc- 
cupy a  pleasant  home  on  section  14.  Mr.  Pursell 
is  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  born  in  Ohio  County 
May  7, 1819,  and  reared  to  maturity  on  a  farin  in 
the  land  of  his  birth.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education,  mostly  under  the  subscription 
system  in  vogue  in  his  native  State  during  his  early 
years,  and  on  the  foundation  thus  laid  has  erected 
a  superstructure  of  varied  information  by  means  of 
reading  and  observation. 

In  1851,  with  his   wife  and  three  children    Mr. 
Pursell  emigrated  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  located  in 


Elmwood  Township  and  farmed  there  some  two 
3'ears.  He  then  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  on  section  14,  Brimfield  Township, 
settled  upon  and  improved  it.  He  made  of  it  what 
it  is  to-day — a  good  estate — continuing  to  occupy 
it  until  1872,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  res- 
idence. He  has  done  much  pioneer  work,  seen 
much  of  pioneer  life,  and  in  common  with  many 
other  residents  of  the  county,  has  endured  hard- 
ships in  getting  a  start  in  life.  An  eye  witness  of 
the  growth  of  the  county  for  many  years,  he  is 
proud  of  his  connection  with  tlie  development  of 
her  resources  and  grateful  for  the  prosperit}'  which 
attends  him. 

Mr.  Pursell  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
companion  was  Elizalieth  Johnson,  a  native  of  the 
Ke3'stone  State,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Jane  (Iler- 
vey)  Johnson,  with  whom  he  w.as  united  September 
14.  1841.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  six  chil- 
dren— Johnson,  George,  James  E.,  Lizzie,  Theo- 
dore II.  and  William.  Lizzie  is  now  the  wife  of 
R.  G.  Brooks,  living  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  John- 
son and  Theodore  H.,  are  the  only  other  members 
of  the  circle  iiovv  living.  The  mother  of  this  fam- 
ily died  December  14,  1855.  During  the  next  year 
Mr.  Pursell  was  again  married,  his  bride  being  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Flack.  She  was  born  in  Washington 
County,  Pa,,  November  14,  1823,  being  a  daughter 
of  David  and  Mary  (Stockton)  Flack,  both  natives 
of  the  Kej'stone  State.  The  second  marriage  of 
our  subject  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  chil- 
dren— John  S.  and  Mary  E. — both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased. 

When  about  eighteen  years  old  the  present  Mrs. 
Pursell  accompanied  her  parents  to  Marshall 
County,  W.  A"a.,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flack  died 
some  3'ears  later.  Their  family  consisted  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  Marj-  and  Anr>a  M.  are  deceased. 
The  survivors  are  Thomas,  now  living  in  Hender- 
son County,  111.;  Mrs.  Pursell;  Elizabeth,  whose 
home  is  in  Brimfield  Township;  John,  residing  in- 
Henderson  County;  and  David,  who  lives  in  Mis- 
souri. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Coulter)  Pursell,  the  latter  a  native  of 
the  North  of  Ireland  and  the  father  probably  born 
in  Pennsylvania.     The    parental  family    consisteii 


^^^^^ 


^.=:^^r^=^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


483 


of  ten  children  of  whom  the  survivors  are  Christy 
A.,  George  S.,  Jane  and  Elizabeth.  The  first 
named,  now  the  widow  McCoy,  occupies  the  home- 
stead in  Ohio  County,  W,  Va. ;  Elizabeth  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Yates,  living  in  Washington 
County,  Pa,;  and  Jane,  a  twin  sister  of  our  subject 
is  single  and  also  resides  there. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pursell,  of  this  notice,  belong  to 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Brimfield,  in  whie'.i 
Mr.  Pursell  has  served  as  Elder  a  number  of  j'ears. 
Mrs.  Pursell  has  been  a  resident  in  tliis  county 
since  1856,  and  is  therefore  almost  as  well  ac- 
quainted as  her  husband  with  the  stages  of  its  de- 
velopment. The}'  are  now  enjoj'ing  the  fruits  of 
their  labors,  enabled  to  cease  from  the  arduous 
toils  of  early  jears,  and  surrounded  by  comforts 
enjoy  the  society  of  kinsmen  and  friends. 


y;ILLIAM  P.  GAUSS.  The  wholesale  gro- 
cery firm  of  Gauss,  Jobst,  Bethard  &  Co., 
^  ^  of  which  the  subject  of  this  notice  is  the 
senior  member,  is  doing  a  fine  business,  occuiij-- 
ing  Nos.  1  U)  and  118  Main  Street,  as  successors  to 
S.  II.  Thompson  <fe  Co.  The  new  firm  commenced 
business  Marcli  1,  1890,  and  gives  employment  to 
eight  men  outside  of  the  members  of  the  firm. 
Their  promptness  and  courteous  treatment  of  their 
customers,  together  with  excellent  business  ability, 
are  already  giving  prominence  and  standing  to  the 
company,  which  is  rapidly  taking  a  leading  posi- 
tion among  similar  interests  in  the  city. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  of  German  birth 
and  parentage,  a  native  of  the  I'rovince  of  Wur- 
temburg,  and  born  July  19,  1812.  He  emigrated 
to  America  with  his  i>arents  in  18S3,  when  a  lad 
of  eleven  years,  the}'  locating  first  in  New  York 
City.  Thence  they  removed  to  New  Jersey,  but 
sojourned  there  only  a  comparative!}'  brief  time, 
coming  in  185G  to  Peoria,  of  which  Mr.  Gauss 
has  since  been  a  resident.  He  served  three  months 
in  the  army  during  the  late  Civil  War,  as  a  member 
of  Company  E,  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  for 
three  years  w.as  in  the  Seventeenth  Missouri  In- 
fantry, going  through   the   South  with    Gen.  Sher- 


man, and  participating  in  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  At  Ringgold,  Ga.,  he  was  wounded  in 
the  arm,  but  soon  recovered,  and  with  this  excep- 
tion escaped  the  vicissitudes  of  war  practically 
unharmed. 

After  receiving  his  honorable  discharge  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Gauss  returned  to  Peoria, 
and  for  five  years  thereafter  was  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  in  company  with  R.  A.  Scliimpff. 
At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  embarked  in 
business  for  himself,  locating  at  Nos.  113  and  115 
South  Madison  Street,  where  he  operated  success- 
fully for  a  period  of  fourteen  years,  and  until  be- 
coming associated  with  his  present  partners. 

Upon  becoming  a  voting  citizen  Mr.  Gau.ss  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  local  affairs,  repre- 
senting at  the  present  time  the  Second  Ward  in 
the  City  Council.  He  is  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  also  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  the  Mutual  Aid  Society, 
and  Tribe  No.  53,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 
He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  among  his 
countrymen,  who  form  a  large  portion  of  the  re- 
liable and  substantial  element  of  Peoria.  Mr. 
Gauss  w.as  married  October  31,  18()7,  in  I'eoria,  to 
Miss  Louisa  Potthoff.  Mrs.  Gauss  like  her  hus- 
band is  of  German  birth  and  parentage,  born  in 
North  Germany,  and  came  to  America  with  her 
mother  when  a  child.  The  seven  bright  children 
of  this  union  are  named  respectively:  William  F., 
Sophia,  Julia,  Matilda,  Ida.,  Louis  J.  and  Clara. 
They  are  all  at  home  witli  their  [larenls,  who  in- 
tend that  they  shall  be  given  all  the  advantages, 
eilucational  and  otherwise,  within  their  power. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  (iauss  accom- 
panies this  record  of  the  principal  events  of  his 
life. 


OBERT  ELLIOTT  CAMPBELL.  Radnor 
Township  contains  no  belter  example  of 
quiet,  efficient  pursuit  of  an  agricultural 
calling  than  that  afforded  by  our  subject. 
Early  in  life  he  determined  to  become  a  farmer, 
and  giving  all  the  strength  of  liis  mind   to  bccom- 


484 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ing  proficient  in  his  chosen  work,  he  has  succeeded 
well,  having  an  estate  which,  although  not  so  large 
as  some,  produces  abuudantl\-  of  various  crops  in 
their  season,  and  is  furnished  with  such  improve- 
ments as  make  it  a  place  of  most  attractive  appear- 
ance and  a  home  of  great  comfort.  It  consists  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section  36. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  a  descendant  of  two  Peans}-lva- 
nia  families  of  great  respectability,  his  parents 
being  Robert  and  Catherine  (Fasnacht)  Campbell, 
who  spent  several  j-ears  after  their  marriage  in 
their  native  State.  In  1840  they  came  West,  re- 
siding in  Peoria  for  a  short  time,  and  then  remov- 
ing to  Richwood  Township,  this  county,  changing 
their  residence  to  Radnor  Township  in  1S45.  Set- 
tling on  section  36,  they  continued  to  reside  there 
until  the  early  part  of  the  '80s.,  when  they  removed 
to  California,  the  husband  and  father  dying  there 
April  23.  18110.  The  widowed  motiier  is  still 
living. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  eight  sons  and 
two  daughters,  the  surviving  members  being  Will- 
iam W.,  a  resident  of  California ;  Margaret  C,  widow 
of  Horace  Ferris,  of  California;  Robert  E.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Hattie  R. ;  Caleb  B.,  resid- 
ing in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.;  David  F..  also  living  in 
the  Golden  State,  and  Charles  C,  who  likewise  re- 
sides there.  The  deceased  children  died  j'oung, 
with  the  exception  of  John  F.,  who  gave  his  life 
for  his  country,  having  been  killed  at  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg.  He  w.as  a  member  of  Company  A, 
Sevent3'-seventh  Illinois  Infantry. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  w.is  born  in  Richwood 
Township,  this  county,  January  5,  1844,  but  be- 
came of  age  in  Radnor  Township,  where  he  has 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  For  thirteen 
years  he  lived  in  his  native  townshii)  in  the  neigh- 
■  borhood  where  his  parents  resided.  As  has  been 
intimated,  he  is  one  who  has  attended  to  his  own 
affairs,  not  seeking  public  office  or  a  prominent 
place  among  his  fellow-men.  He  is  sufHcientlj' 
interested  in  politics  to  keep  himself  well  posted 
regarding  the  issues  of  the  day,  voting  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  whenever  election  day  comes  around. 
He  is  a  man  of  decided  public  spirit,  deeplj'  in- 
terested in  the  [irogress  of  education,  every  bene- 
volent work,  and  all  which  will  increase  the  mate- 


rial prosperity  of  the  countr3'.  His  private  character 
is  an  upright  one,  his  disposition  genial  and  his 
manners  courteous.  He  is  therefore  highly  res- 
pected by  those  who  know  him. 

At  the  home  of  tlio  bride  in  Medina  Township, 
May  3.  1873,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were  celebrated 
between  our  subject  and  Miss  Clara  E.  Case.  This 
lady  is  a  daughter  of  Jerome  H.  and  Maria  (Howe) 
Case,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Oswego  County. 
N.  Y.,  but  were  living  in  the  West  prior  to  their 
marriage.  That  event  was  celebrated  in  Peoria, 
after  which  they  settled  in  Medina  Township.  Mrs. 
Case  dying  there^in  April,  1870.  Their  family 
consists  of  five  children — Albert  N.,  Charles  N., 
Clara  E.,  Flora  J.  and  Irving  J.  The  eldest  and 
youngest  sons  live  in  this  township  which  was  their 
birthplace,  and  the  second  son  in  Radnor  Town- 
ship. The  j'ounger  daughter  is  now  the  wife  of 
E.  H.  Divelbliss. 

The  birth  of  Mrs.  Campbell  took  place  May  30, 
1849.  She  received  an  excellent  education,  and 
having  been  carefull3'  reared  bj'  her  parents,  grew 
to  womanhood  in  the  possession  of  many  womanly 
virtues  and  accomplishments.  She  was  formerly 
identified  with  the  ^Methodist  Church,  but  is  now 
a  Presbyterian.  She  has  borne  her  husband  five 
children,  whom  the}-  are  endeavoring  to  rear  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  fit  them  for  useful  and  honor- 
jible  careers.  The  interesting  group  bear  the  names 
of  Robert  J.,  Walter  E.,  Olive  M..  Fred  C.  and 
Flora  M. 


-4- 


-^ 


-4- 


IRAM  REED  was  reared  and  educated  in 
]iledina  Township,  having  been  born  on  the 
old  homestead  March  20,  1827.  He  became 
of  age  here  and  has  always  been  a  farmer. 
He  now  owns  a  fine  estate  of  three  hundred  and 
seventy  acres,  most  of  which  is  tillable,  and  upon 
which  a  full  line  of  substantial  farm  buildings  has 
been  erected,  each  being  sufficiently  commodious 
for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  designed  and  oc- 
cupying a  convenient  location  upon  the  land. 

Mr.  Reed  was  married  in  Hallock  Township  to 
Miss  M.argaret  Blaud,  a  native  of  Shelby  County, 
Ohio,  whose  natal  day  was  August  22,  1837.     She 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


485 


is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Lavina  (Ai-mstrong) 
Bland,  natives  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  respectively, 
who  were  married  in  Shelby  County,  beginning 
their  wedded  life  upon  a  farm  there.  The  most  of 
their  huge  famil}-,  of  which  five  daughters  and 
three  sons  survive,  were  horn  in  the  county.  In 
181.')  they  removed  to  the  Prairie  State,  settling  in 
Ilallock  Township,  this  county,  improving  a  farm 
upon  which  they  resided  until  the  death  of  the 
husl)and  anil  father  in  1865.  Mr.  Bland  was  then 
past  middle  age.  He  had  made  man^'  friends  dur- 
ing his  residence  in  this  county.  His  widow  is  now 
seventy-three  years  of  age  and  is  living  with  her 
children.  She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  since  early  j-outh  and  has  ever  eiiileavored 
to  act  in  a  manner  consistent  with  lur  belief.  Mrs. 
Reed,  who  is  the  eldest  of  her  parents'  children, 
was  nearly  of  age  when  the  family  left  her  native 
State.  She  iiussesses  an  intelligent  mind,  is  a  capa- 
ble housewife  and  a  consistent  Christian. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  have  been  born  four  chil- 
(li(  II  three  of  whom,  John  W.,  T.  LaF.ayette  and 
Hiram  S.,  are  still  inmates  of  tlie  old  home.  The 
eldest  of  these  is  farming  on  his  own  account.  The 
liist  born  in  the  family  is  a  daughter,  Laura  E., 
now  llie  wife  of  William  Snyder,  who  is  engaged 
ill  fanning  in  Guthrie.  Oklahoma.  The  parents  at- 
tend the  Baptist  Church.  i\Ir.  Reed  is  in  no  sense 
.•ui  iidice-seeker,  but  is  sufticientlv  interested  in  pol- 
itics to  cast  his  vote  on  every  election  day,  and 
eonlinue  a  firm  believer  in  Democratic  (irinciples. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  suliject  was 
Samuel  Reed,  a  native  of  one  of  the  New  England 
Slates,  whose  later  j'ears  were  spent  in  New  York. 
Among  the  members  of  his  large  family  w.as  a  son, 
Thomas  15.,  who  was  reared  in  the  Empire  State, 
and  while  unmarried  settled  in  Ohio,  pursuing  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer,  to  which  he  h.ad  been  bred. 
He  married  Frances  Wilkinson,  a  native  of  the 
r.uckeye  State,  whose  parents  had  journeyed  thither 
friim  Kentucky,  the  land  of  their  birth. 

A  few  years  after  their  marriage  Thomas  B.  Reed 
and  his  wife  came  with  teams  from  Ross  Count3-, 
Oliio,  to  Peoria  County,  111.  Their  journey  w.as  a 
long,  tedious,  and  almost  fatal  one,  the^-  having 
been  met  by  a  raging  prairie  lire,  which  they  es- 
caped only  by  seeking  low  land  coveicil  with  water. 


where  they  remained  unhurt  while  the  flames 
leaped  nearlj'  over  them.  After  thus  literally  wad- 
ing through  fire  and  water  they  settled  on  a  por- 
tion of  the  unbroken  lands  of  Medina  Township, 
identifying  themselves  with  the  pioneers  of  the 
early  '30s.  They  lived  to  build  up  a  good  home  on 
section  3,  to  see  .the  countrj-  fully  improveii  and 
thickly  populated.  They  died  at  a  goodly  age,  Mr. 
Reed  being  more  than  sevent3'-five  3ears  old  when 
called  hence.  He  had  been  quite  prominent  in  the 
township,  having  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
some  jears.  His  family'  included  three  sons  and 
four  daughters,  one  son  and  one  daughter  being 
now  deceased. 


J~  TCHOLAS  SCHADB.     This  young  and  en- 
/  terprising   farmer    and    stock-breeder,    was 
J   born  where  he  now  resides,  on  section    12, 

Rosefield  Township,  June  16,  185'J.  His  father, 
John  Schaub,  was  born  in  Germany,  learned  the 
trade  of  a  cabinet-maker,  and  served  according  to 
the  custom,  in  the  German  arm \-.  He  was  the  son 
of  Adam  and  Mary  Schaub.  having  a  brother  A<iam 
and  a  sister  Mary,  but  being  the  onh'  member  of 
the  family  who  came  to  America.  He  landed  at 
New  Orleans  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks,  and  re- 
mained in  the  Southern  metropolis  nine  years,  work- 
ing at  his  trade.  He  then  came  to  Peoria  County, 
111.,  locating  at  Kickapoo,  where  he  married  Mrs. 
Catherine  Backes,  »wKlug.  He  then  located  where 
our  subject  resides,  living  there  until  his  death, 
March  7,  1877. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Germany, 
March  7,  ISlG.to  Peter  A.  and  Elizal)eth  Klug.  The 
Klu<'  family  comprised  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  one  son  and  four  daughters  came  to 
the  United  Slates.  These  were  John;  Sina,  Mrs. 
Blatch;  Eliz.abeth,  Mrs.  Frank  Shepherd;  Margaret, 
Mrs.  Peter  Backes;  and  the  mother  of  our  subject. 
Catherine  Klug  married  Jacob  Backes,  with  whom 
she  came  to  the  United  States  in  March.  1842,  hav- 
ing spent  ten  weeks  on  the  way.  They  located  on 
eighty  acres  on  section  12,  Rosefield  Township,  this 
county,  which  they  improved,  and  upon  which  she 


486 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


afterward  resided  with  her  second  husband.  Her 
first  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  Germanj".  John  and  Jacob 
are  living  in  this  county. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  five  children,  he 
of  whom  we  write  being  the  youngest.  The  others 
are  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Adam  Keleh.  of  Kickapoo; 
Carrie  E.  who  remains  on  the  home  farm ;  Jolin 
who  died  leaving  three  sons  and  two  daugliters; 
and  Peter,  now  living  in  Orient,  Adair  County, 
Iowa.  Nicholas  Schaub  received  a  good  common- 
school  education,  and  being  reared  on  the  farm, 
early  became  acquainted  with  its  management.  At 
the  age  of  t^venty-one  yenrs  he  began  life  for  him- 
self, taking  charge  of  the  homestead,  which  in  the 
settlement  of  the  estate  fell  to  him,  he  also  having 
the  care  of  the  family.  He  makes  a  speciiilty  of 
thorough-bred  Poland-China  hogs,  doing  also  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  to  which  his  mother  be- 
longs, and  of  which  his  father  w.as  a  communicant. 


WILLIAM  MOFFITT,  who  is  extensively 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  in 
^  ^  Chillieothe  Township,  where  he  has  one 
of  the  largest  and  finest  managed  farms  in  all  Peo- 
ria County,  represents  one  of  the  oldest  and  best 
known  pioneer  families  of  this  part  of  Illinois,  both 
his  father  and  his  father's  father  having  been  early 
settlers  of  this  region,  and  borne  a  prominent  part 
in  developing  the  county.  Our  subject  has  also 
been  of  great  assistince  in  pushing  forward  the 
best  interests  of  the  community,  and  is  a  credit  to 
his  native  township  and  county,  where  he  islooked 
upon  with  great  respect.  He  is  one  of  the  noble 
armj'  of  veterans  who  fought  in  the  late  war, 
whose  patriotism  and  loyal  devotion  to  their  coun- 
try- in  her  darkest  hours  saved  her  from  dishonor 
and  disunion. 

Mr.  Mottitt  was  born  on  his  father's  old  home- 
stead in  this  township  March  22,  1839.  His  father, 
John  Moffltt.  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  son  of 
John  Moffltt,  Sr.,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
of  Irish  parentage,  though  some   Scotch  blood  ran 


in  his  veins.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  grew 
to  manhood  in  North  Carolina,  and  at  different 
times  learned  the  various  trades  of  hatter,  Iilack- 
smith  and  miller,  and  was  thus  well  prepared  to 
fight  life's  battles.  After  his  marriage  to  Miss 
L3-dia  Cox.  also  a  North  Carolinian  liy  birth,  he 
came  westward  .as  far  as  Ohio,  and  settled  among 
the  pioneers  of  Chillieothe,  in  Ross  County,  where 
he  built  a  mill  which  he  operated  some  years. 
About  1835  or  1836  he  and  his  wife  followed 
their  son  John  to  this  place,  the  latter  having 
come  here  in  1S3I  and  established  a  home.  John 
Moflitt,  Sr.,  built  up  a  home,  in  which  he  and  liis 
wife  spent  their  declining  days  in  peace  and 
comfort,  he  rounding  out  a  ripe  old  age  of  more 
than  three  score  3'oars  and  ten.  and  she  preceding 
him  in  death  a  few  years,  d3'ing  full  of  j-ears.  He 
had  been  reared  in  the  Quaker  faith,  but  marrj'- 
ing  out  of  the  church  he  was  ever  after  a  dis- 
senter, lie  was  a  good  old  man.  a  well-known 
pioneer  and  he  held  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of 
his  associates. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  the  third  child  of 
a  large  family  of  some  twelve  children,  all  of 
whom  married  and  reared  families,  and  in  the 
course  of  time  departed  this  life.  John  IMotfltt 
became  of  age  in  Ohio  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  ^Largaret  Dawson,  who  was  born  in  Penus3'l- 
vania  in  1805,  of  Irish  parentage.  Her  parents, 
after  coming  to  this  country,  had  settled  in  Penn- 
S3ivania,  whence  the3'  afterwards  moved  to  Ross 
County.  Ohio,  where  John  Dawson,  the  fattier, 
died.  His  wife  Margaret  subsequentl3'  came  to 
Illinois,  and  died  in  this  township  when  an  old 
lady  past  eighty  years  of  age.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moffltt  lived  at  Richmond  Dale, 
near  Chillieothe,  Ohio,  where  he  owned  and 
■worked  a  grist  and  sawmill  for  some  3'ears.  In 
1833  he  made  a  trip  to  this  part  of  Illinois  and 
secured  a  location  both  for  a  mill  site  and  a  home, 
and  in  the  following  year  came  here  with  his  fam- 
ily. He  became,  in  the  3'ears  that  followed,  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  and  well-to-do  of  the  pio- 
neers among  whom  he  had  settled,  and  was  a  con- 
spicuous figure  in  developing  the  great  resources 
of  the  county.  He  became  a  large  landowner, 
and  had  in  his  possession  about  thirteen   hundred 


PORTRAIT  AXl)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


487 


acres  of  land,  which  was  in  its  natural  state  when 
he  purchaseil  it.  He  lived  to  see  it  well  improved 
and  under  cultivation.  In  their  early  life  here 
he  and  his  wife  had  to  endure  many  hardships 
and  piivatious,  and  led  a  life  of  self-sacrifice  in 
those  pioneer  times.  There  were  but  few  settle- 
ments in  tills  part  of  the  State,  and  he  had  to  go 
away  to  Chicago  for  salt  and  other  supplies.  He 
was  well  known  all  over  the  county,  and  none 
knew  him  but  to  revere  and  respect  him  for  his 
great  personal  worth,  and  at  his  death  March  1, 
1 882,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he  left  an  un- 
blemished record  as  a  pioneer  and  a  citizen,  and 
as  one  who  in  all  the  relations  of  life  had  been 
true  to  himself  and  to  those  about  him.  He  was 
eminent!}'  fitted  for  the  pioneer  labors  that  he 
performed,  as  he  was  a  man  of  fine  physique,  who 
scarcely'  knew  a  da}'  of  sickness,  and  he  possessed 
more  than  ordinary  powers  of  endurance  and  en- 
ergy. His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  greatly  attached  and 
who  had  faithfull}' shared  with  him  his  pioneer  life 
and  its  attendant  trials,  and  had  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  his  success,  was  not  long  separated  from 
him,  her  death  occurring  three  days  after  his.  She 
was  a  loving  wife  and  a  tender,  devoted  mother, 
who  worked  hard  to  rear  a  large  family.  Neither  siie 
nor  her  husband  identified  themselves  with  an}-  i)ar 
ticnlar  religious  faith,  but  their  creed  was  ex- 
pressed in  the  moral,  upright  lives  that  they  led. 
William  Mollltt  was  the  youngest  but  two  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, of  wiioni  six  are  still  living,  and  but  one  3et 
unmarried.  Our  subject  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  this,  his  native  county,  and 
was  just  entering  upon  a  strong,  sturdy  manhood, 
wlien  the  hour  of  his  country's  peril  called  upon 
him  to  show  his  patiiotism,  and  he  was  prompt  to 
res])ond.  He  enlisted  in  the  Seventh  Missouri 
Infantry,  .as  a  member  of  Comi)any  I,  commanded 
by  Capt.  J.  S.  C.  Roland  and  Col.  John  I).  Ste- 
venson. His  regiment  was  sent  to  the  South,  and 
in  the  long  and  weary  siege  of  \'icksburg  he 
proved  himself  to  be  possessed  of  the  fine  soldierl}- 
qualities  of  vjdor,  promptitude  and  endurance, 
and  he  did  good  service  in  many  skirmishes.  Dur- 
ing the  whole  course  of  the  three  years  that  he 
p.assed  in  the  army  he  escaped  unhurt  from  ball  or 


b.ayonet,  and  w.as  never  taken  prisoner,  and  was 
iihvays  ready  to'report  for  duty  day  or  night.  He 
won  deserved  promotion  to  the  position  of  Ser- 
geant, and  was  honorably  discharged  at  St.  Louis, 
Mo..  June  1,  1864. 

Mr.  Moffitt  w,as  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and 
has  been  activelj'  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  and 
raising  stock  for  several  years.  Eight  years  ago  he 
came  into  possession  of  his  present  farm,  lying 
partl\-  on  section  IG,  Chillicothe  Township,  and 
comprising  about  one  thousjind  acres  of  as  fruit- 
ful land  .13  is  to  be  found  in  this  locality,  forming 
as  it  does  a  part  of  the  alluvial  Illinois  River  bot- 
toms. The  most  of  it  is  under  cultivation,  and  is 
well  stocked  with  cattle,  horses  and  hogs  of  excel- 
lent breeds,  while  substantial,  roomy  buildings  and 
many  other  improvements  add  greatlj'  to  the  value 
of  the  place. 

The  marriage  of  ^Ir.  Moliilt  to  Miss  Abbie  I. 
Pond  was  solemnized  in  this  township,  and  here 
they  have  established  a  very  pleasant  home,  which 
is  rendered  very  attractive  to  their  numerous 
friends,  or  to  the  stranger  who  ma}-  happen  to  cross 
its  threshold,  by  the  kind  consideration  of  the 
hostess  for  the  welfare  of  her  guest  and  the  court- 
eous hospitalit}'  of  the  host.  Their  two  sons, 
Philip  A.  and  William  R.,  coin|)lete  the  household 
circle. 

Mrs.  Moffltt  was  born  in  St.  Clairsville,  Bel- 
mont County,  Ohio,  November  22,  1850,  to  Lam- 
bert and  Penelope  (Murray-)  Pond,  natives  respect- 
ively of  New  Jersey  and  N'irginia.  They  were 
married  in  Ohio,  but  after  the  l)irth  of  their  chil- 
dren came  to  Chillicothe,  and  settled  here  on  a 
fami.  They  lived  in  this  township  some  years, 
and  then  went  to  Sedgwick  County.  Kan.,  and  lo- 
cated some  ten  miles  from  AVichila,  and  there  Mrs. 
Pond  died  in  December,  1888,  at  an  advanced  age. 
Mr.  Pond  is  stUl  living,  he  being  now  about  foui-- 
score  yeais  old,  and  makes  his  home  in  Kansas. 
Jlrs.  Mollitt  was  reared  and  educated  in  ()hio,  and 
and  was  quite  a  young  lady  when  she  came  to  this 
State  with  her  parents.  She  and  her  husband  are 
genial,  social  people,  and  arc  among  the  leaders  in 
the  community. 

Our  subject's  career  as  a  boy  and  man  in  this 
county  of    his  nativity  has   been  such  as  to  jus- 


488 


rORTRAlT  AND  BlOURArHIC'AL  ALI5UM. 


tify  the  coufldence  reposed  in  !jim,  and  his  old 
friends  and  neighbors  of  man^'  j'ears  standing, 
some  of  whom  have  watched  his  course  through 
life,  will  testify  to  his  fine  personal  character  for 
unswerving  integrity,  trutlifuluess  and  unblem- 
ished honor. 


^  AMES  MONROE  has  accumulated  a  hand- 
some propeit3^  wiiile  actively  carrying  on 
milling,  mining  and  farming,  ami  is  one  of 
the  sulistantial  citizens  of  Peoria  Count}', 
of  which  lie  is  a  resident  of  man}-  years  standing, 
coming  litre  in  pioneer  times,  and  .<inee  attaining 
manhood  ha*  made  himself  very  useful  in  develop- 
ing the  rich  and  varied  resources  of  this  part  of 
Illinois.  He  has  a  beautiful  home  in  Limestone 
Township,  his  fine  residence  on  the  brow  of  the 
bluff  commanding  a  beautiful  view  of  the  city, 
witli  the  court-house  about  four  miles  awav. 

Mr.  Monroe  was  born  October  11,  1822,  in  Luz- 
erne County,  Pa.,  the  third  son  and  eighth  child 
of  Samuel  and  Lois  (Brown)  Monroe.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  New  Yorl<.  and  after  marriage 
lived  for  7uany  years  in  Pennsylvania,  whence  he 
emigrated  to  this  State  in  1836.  On  the  22nd  of 
July,  that  year,  with  a  party  of  seventeen,  includ- 
himself,  wife  and  eleven  children,  he  embarked  on 
a  raft  on  the  Tunkhannock  Creek,  and  going  a 
distance  of  eiglit  miles  entered  the  Susquehanna, 
down  which  the  little  company  floated  for  one 
hundred  and  forty  n.iles.  then  proceeded  on  the 
same  boat  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  miles  up 
the  Juniata  River  to  Holidaj'sburg,  where  they 
crossed  the  Alleghanies  on  the  great  inclined  plane 
railway,  of  thirt^'-eight  miles,  to  Johnstown.  From 
there  they  proceeded  down  the  Kissecommita 
Creek,  and  as  the  canal  was  out  of  order,  they 
landed  and  took  the  same  boat  below  the  falls  of 
the  Ohio  at  Louisville,  where  they  took  the  steamer 
"Junius"  for  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Monroe  had  piloted  his 
own  boat  through  llie  rapids,  which  was  considered  a 
very  rash  act  by  llie  boatmen  of  those  days.  At  St. 
Louis  the  part\-  was  broken  up.as  Mr.  Monroe's  fam- 
ily was  the  only  one  to  come  in  this  direction.     He 


and  his  wife  and  children  got  aboard  the  steamer 
'•Illinois,"  bound  for  Peoria,  where  the}-  eventually 
landed  the  5th  of  September,  having  been  nearly 
two  months  on  the  way.  traveling  all  the  time  except 
when  it  was  necessary  to  tie  up  and  do  washing  and 
baking.  They  found  Peoria  but  a  struggling  vil- 
lage of  about  eight  hundred  people.  The  Mon- 
roes stopped  in  the  village  for  a  fevv  weeks,  when 
the  father  engaged  himself  to  Orin  Hamlin  to  run 
a  mill,  which  he  soon  leased  and  out  of  which  he 
made  a  good  deal  of  money.  For  the  first  two 
years  the  family  lived  in  about  the  same  place,  a 
squatters  claim  of  a  small  piece  of  land,  on  which 
they  erected  a  shanty  in  which  all  lived.  Tliesui'- 
rounding  country  was  in  a  very  uncivilized  condi- 
tion and  wild  animals  were  numerous.  Mr.  Jlonroe 
has  often  seen  w-olves  between  their  house  and 
town,  near  where  the  Catholic  Cliureh  now  stands, 
and  at  night  many  of  them  w-ere  heard  making  the 
air  melodious  with  their  howls.  The  father  of  our 
subject  made  his  home  with  him  in  liis  old  age  until 
his  death,  in  1860.  In  his  political  views  he  was 
a  strong  Demociat.  His  name  is  classed  among 
the  honored  pioneers  of  our  county,  who  will  ever 
be  held  in  remembrance  for  what  they  did  in  de- 
veloping the  county. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  fourteen  years  w-hen  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  their  new  pioneer  home 
and  he  grew  to  a  sturdy  strong  manhood  amid  its 
primitive  scenes.  When  twenty-four  years  of  age, 
he  and  his  brother  John  purchased  the  mill,  which 
his  father  had  leased,  and  operated  it  together 
until  18-19,  when  John  went  to  California,  during  the 
gold  excitement,  and  died  there  shortly  after. 
Mr.  Monroe  then  continued  the  mill  business  alone 
for  many  years  very  prosperously,  and  also  exten- 
sively eng.aged  in  mining,  and  has  paid  consider- 
able attention  to  farming.  There  was  a  quarter  of 
a  section  of  land  with  the  mill,  and  our  subject 
bought  the  most  of  this  after  his  brother's  death, 
and  from  time  to  time  has  disposed  of  it  at  good 
prices  for  lots.  He  still  retains,  however,  twenty- 
five  acres  of  it,  w-hich  he  has  placed  under  excel- 
lent cultivation,  and  has  supplied  it  with  all  the 
best  improvements.  He  built  his  present  roomy, 
commodious  residence  in  1858,  and  it  is  one  of  the 
substantial  old  houses  of  the  county. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALUUM. 


18',) 


Mr.  Monroe  has  l)een  tliree  times  married,  his 
first  wife  and  lliinl  wife  iiaviiii;-  no  chiiilren.  The 
maiden  name  of  liis  second  wife,  tlie  mollier  of  his 
children,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1857,  was 
Mary  E.  C'nnnini;han].  Of  tlie  fonr  children  burn 
to  onr  snbjecl  of  that  union,  all  are  married  and 
well  settled  in  life,  ;is  follows:  John  N..  a  resident 
of  Morris  County,  Kan.,  is  married  and  has  one 
child;  Benjamin  F.,  who  is  married  and  has  one 
child,  owns  a  farm  adjoining;  his  brother  John's; 
I'lmnia  V.  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Fisher  of  Peoria, 
and  they  have  two  children;  Annie  B.  is  the  wi^e 
of  E.  J.  F'isher,  an  attorney-at-law  in  Harper,  llar- 
[)er  County.  Kan.,  and  they  have  one  child.  The 
mother  of  these  chihlren  (lei)arted  this  life  in 
1869. 

Mr.  JMonroe  has  ever  been  a  man  of  weight  and 
influence  in  the  count}',  whose  develoi>ment  he  has 
promoted,  and  he  has  given  an  impulse  to  many 
an  enterprise  to  advance  the  growth  and  best  in- 
terests of  his  adopted  township,  and  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  the  conduct  of  pulilic  affairs, 
holding  many  ollices  of  trust  and  honor  in  the 
count}-.  He  was  elected  Supervisor  three  differ- 
ent times,  and  has  been  Treasurer  of  the  School 
F'und  fur  the  townshi|i,  and  also  a  mad  oHieial. 
Politically  our  subject  has  always  voted  for  a 
Democratic  candidate  for  (he  Presidency,  but  in 
county  and  local  affairs  he  is  not  bound  by  party 
ties.  Our  subject  has  never  identilitd  himself 
with  any  church,  but  is  a  contirmed  s[)iritualist 
in  his  religious  views.  He  seeks  the  good  of 
others  and  does  what  he  can  to  elevate  hunnnit}-. 


'F_^ENRY  SCHENCK.  It  would  be  hard  to 
/  )l)  find  among  the  farming  community  of  F^lm- 
wood  Townshii),  a  man  who  wields  greater 
influwice  or  has  greater  personal  popnlarit}- 
than  he  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  His 
life  has  been  marked  with  no  wonderful  events,  but 
has  been  spent  in  the  pursuance  of  the  peaceful 
calling  of  a  farmer,  and  in  a  share  in  the  local  pub- 
lic affairs.     His  home  is  upon  section   6,  where  he 


has  a  fine  tract  of  land,  a  sul)stantial  and  attractive 
residence,  and  the  various  improvements  which 
mark  his  estate  as  that  of  a  i)rosper()us  man.  In 
addition  to  his  real  estate,  ho  is  interested  in  a  bank 
at  Elmwood,  his  entire  worldly  possessions  giving 
him  a  rank  among  the  wealthy  men  of  the  town- 
ship. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  was  December  14, 
18.'?5,  and  his  birthplace  Ohio,  to  which  his  parents 
h.'ul  removed  at  an  early  day.  That  worthy  cou- 
l)le,  Peter  P.  and  Catherine  (Johnson)  Schenck, 
were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  father  was  a 
farmer.  The  latter  died  in  1882,  at  an  .advanced 
age,  but  the  mother  passed  away  in  1859.  They 
had  five  children,  all  now  dead  except  our  subject. 
He  received  a  fair  education  in  the  common  sc'hools, 
and  ori  the  home  farm  learned  the  best  methods  of 
making  the  soil  prochictive  of  rich  results  in  grain 
and  fruits  of  the  field. 

When  twenty-three  years  old. Mr.  Schenck  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  receiving  some  assistance 
from  his  father,  and  thus  beginning  his  career  un- 
der more  favorable  auspices  than  man\'.  His  capi- 
tal, however,  would  not  have  accomiilished  much, 
had  he  not  known  how  to  use  it  to  good  advantage, 
and  save,  as  well  as  spend,  at  proper  times.  He 
settled  upon  his  present  homestead  in  1864,  and  in 
1874  built  the  residence  that  now  adorns  it,  also 
putting  on  the  various  improvements  it  bears.  The 
estate  consists  of  two  hundred  and  ten  acres,  and 
ISIr.  Schenitk  also  has  an  interest  in  eleven  sections 
in  Kansas.  He  became  connected  with  the  banking 
firm  of  Clinch,  Schenck  &  Lott,  in  1888,  but  still 
gives  his  personal  attention  to  his  agricultural 
work. 

In  1859  Mr.  Schenck  led  to  the  hymeneal  altnr 
Miss  Maria  Cath.arine  Kem|),  who  died  in  1867. 
Her  i)arents,  David  aiul  Sarah  (Snyder)  Kemp,  were 
old  settlers  in  the  Prairie  State.  Mr.  Schenck  was 
again  married  in  iMay,  1869,  on  this  occasion  be- 
coming the  husband  of  Mrs.  Susan  Snyder,  nee 
Selby.  This  lady,  a  native  of  Ohio,  is  more  than 
ordinarily  intelligent,  well  skilled  in  household  arts, 
and  with  a  Christian  charac'ter  that  makes  her  in- 
fluence felt  by  all  with  whom  she  comes  in  (contact. 
The  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four 
children,  two  now  living.     These  are  Harry,  sev- 


490 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eiitcen  years  old,  aiul  Edna  E.,  thirteen.  Mrs. 
Stlieiick  has  one  cliihl  yet  living,  hy  her  first  lius- 
hand.  All  are  well  advanced  for  their  years,  liav- 
ing  been  encouraged  to  attend  school  and  gain  all 
thej'  could  of  useful  knowledge. 

While  living  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Schenck  was  a  School 
Director.  He  is  now  Supervisor  of  Elmwood  Town- 
ship. In  politics  he  has  always  been  interested, 
frequently  acting  as  delegate  to  conventions,  and 
affiliating  wiMi  the  Democratic  party.  In  a  town- 
ship that  is  strongly  Republican,  lie  was  elected  to 
his  present  position  by  the  handsome  majority  of 
seventj'-five,  by  which  he  is  very  much  elated. 
This  fact  indicates  the  I'eputation  he  enjoys,  and 
which  lie  hopes  to  sustain. 


m-- 


jj^  ARTIN  KINGMAN.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  foui- 
boys.  His  father  was  from  Massachusetts, 
and  his  motlier  from  Virginia.  They  came 
to  Illinois  in  1834,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Deer 
Creek  Township,  Tazewell  Countj%  where  Martin 
was  born  April  1,  1844.  His  father  died  when  he 
was  four  j^ears  old,  leaving  his  mother  with  a  young 
family  to  rear.  When  fourteen  years  of  age  he  left 
liome  to  earn  his  living,  attending  school  in  the 
summer  and  teaching  in  the  winter.  By  this  means 
he  was  enabled  to  acquire  a  good,  practical  educa- 
tion. Wljen  eighteen  years  old  he  enfered  the 
army  as  a  private  in  Company  G,  Eighty-sixth 
Regiment  Illinois  Infantry,  returning  at  the  close 
of  the  war  as  a  First  Lieutenant,  during  that  time 
having  never  lost  a  day  or  been  absent  from  his 
command,  a  most  remarkable  record.  Part  of  the 
time  he  was  on  detached  service,  being  in  chaige 
of  the  Ambulance  Corps,  and  afterward  being  As- 
sistant Quartermaster. 

After  his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Kingman  en- 
gaged in  various  lines  of  business  until  1867,  when 
the  farm  machinery  firm  of  Kingman  &  Dunham 
was  organized.  Tliis  lirm  existed  for  three  years 
when  failure  of  healtii  made  it  necessary  for  Mr. 
Dunham  to  go  to  California.  The  firm  of  King- 
man, Hotchkiss  &  Co.,   was   then  organized,    and 


existed  for  two  years.  The  firm  of  Kingman  &.  Co., 
composed  of  Martin  Kingman,  C.  A.  Jamison,  and 
G.  H.  Schimpff,  was  then  formed.  The  firm  of 
Kingman  <fe  Co.  prospered  so,  that  in  1882  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  incorporate  it  with  1600,000 
capital.  A  house  was  establisiied  at  St.  Louis  in 
1882,  and  in  1884  a  house  was  established  at  Kansas 
Cit}'.  These  three  houses  do  business  throughout 
tlie  entire  southwest,  west  and  northwest.  Not- 
withstanding the  magnitude  of  this  business,  Mr. 
Kingman  has  identified  himself  with  other  large 
and  important  enterprises.  In  1879,  the  private 
bank  of  Kingman,  Blossom  &  Co.,  was  organized, 
and  continued  until  1884,  when  it  was  succeeded 
by  the  Central  National  Bank,  of  which  Mr.  King- 
man is  President  and  a  large  stockholder.  He  is 
also  President  .and  a  large  stockholder  of  the 
National  Hotel  Company,  being  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  its  organization.  The  National  Hotel 
is  one  of  the  finest  iiotels  in  the  West.  He  is  Presi- 
dent and  a  large  stockholder  of  the  Peoria  Cordage 
Company,  which  was  organized  in  1888.  He  is 
Vice-President  of  the  Peoria  Electric  Light  Com- 
pany. He  has  served  as  President  of  the  Peoria 
Fair  Association  for  two  years;  he  has  also  identi- 
fied himself  with  other  large  enterprises,  among 
them  being  the  Moline  Plow  Company,  Moline,  ill., 
the  Marseilles  Manufacturing  Company,  ^Marseilles, 
III.,  tlie  Milburn  Wagon  Company,  Toledo,  Ohio, 
being  a  large  stockholder  in  each.  In  1889,  he  or- 
ganized the  People's  Savings  Bank  in  Lower 
Peoria,  and  having  recently  sold  that  interest  he  is 
now  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Peoria  Savings, 
Loan  and  Trust  Company,  which  will  commence 
Inisiness  on  January  1,  1891,  in  the  elegant  new 
Young  Mens'  Christian  Association  Building,where 
this  bank  will  have  one  of  the  finest  banking  rooms 
in  the  city. 

Mr.  Kingman  has  been  a  strong  supporter  of  re- 
ligious objects,  being  an  active  member  and  Trustee 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church  for  many  j-ears. 
He  also  devoted  a  large  amount  of  his  time  to  act- 
ing as  Treasurer  oi  this  church  wiille  its  present 
handsome  building  was  erected;  he  also  served  two 
terms  as  President  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  and  while  President  conceived  the 
idea  that  the  Association  ought  to  some  time  have 


*»\ 


P^o- 


!»/   -^.-J     '5^ 


"•^.J^* 


"VT^  «^  ■^■^■^ 


S. 


roirruAir  an'd  uioguaphical  album. 


493 


:i  building  tliat  would  be  an  ornainent  to  the  city 
and  a  credit  to  the  Association.  He  advocated  the 
desii-alnlily  of  the  lot  ou  whicii  the  building  now 
stands,  as  being  the  most  suitalile  plac<^  for  such  a 
structure,  and  to  secure  this  lot,  he,  with  Mr.  O.  J. 
Bailey,  bought  it  and  held  it  until  the  time  came 
when  the  Association  was  ready  to  erect  a  building. 

While  enumerating  his  business  successes,  vve 
must  not  forget  to  mention  his  marriage.  lie  was 
married  May  21,  18G7,  to  Miss  Kmeline  'I'.  Shelly. 
Four  sons  and  one  ttaughter  have  been  born  to  them, 
and  two  sons  ancl  the  daughter  are  living. 

Personally,  Mr.  Kingman  st.ands  very  high  in  the 
opinion  of  the  people  of  Peoria,  and  his  reputation 
is  by  no  means  confined  to  that  citj'.  Socially,  he  is 
very  affable  and  courteous,  and  makes  a  favoralde 
impression  at  sight.  Of  course,  the  immense  busi- 
ness interests,  in  which  he  is  the  controlling  spirit, 
compel  him  to  be  a  very  busy  man.  Justice  and 
truth  com|)els  us  to  state,  that  he  works  too  much. 
This  is  not  due  to  an  inordinate  desire  for  gain, but 
bct'ause  he  loves  progress,  lie  is  as  eager  in  the 
work  of  building  up  some  important  enterprise, 
even  when  his  pecuniary  interest  in  it  isslight,  as  if 
his  whole  fortune  and  reputation  were  staked  on  it. 
If  he  could  moderate  his  zeal  and  enthusiasm  and 
work  less,  it  might  be  to  his  ailvantnge;  yet  this 
docs  not  certainly  follow.  With  his  nature,  the 
nearest  thing  to  rest  is  a  change  of  employment ;  if 
compelled  to  remain  idle,  rust  would  probably'  be 
more  dangerous  than  wear.  Mr.  Kingman  is  a  type 
of  the  keen,  pushing,  progressive  Western  merchant. 
He  is  a  self-made  man,  and  his  course  in  life  thus 
far  has  been  onward  and  upward. 


INUS  SCOVILL.     Among  the    well-known 
((^  citizens  of  Chiliicothe  should  be  noted    the 
^  gentleman  above  named,  who  is    enjoying 


the  ease  and  repose  won  by  years  of  successful 
effort.  He  has  made  his  home  in  the  city  of  Chil- 
iicothe since  the  fall  of  1887,  after  having  resided 
in  Medina  Township  more  than  a  iialf  century.  He 
has  seen  the  country  imi)rove  around  him  and  for- 
cibly contrasts  its  appearance  when  he  first  beheld 


it,  in  May,  1831,  with  that  which  it  presents  to-day. 
No  one  rejoices  in  the  prosperity  and  high  civiliza- 
tion of  this  part  of  the  Prairie  State  more  than  he 
of  whom  we  write. 

Before  outlining  the  life  work  of  our  subject  it  will 
not  be  amiss  to  make  brief  mention  of  the  family 
history.  His  father,  Linus  Scovill,  Sr.,  and  his 
grandfather,  Abijah  Scovill,  were  born  in  Con- 
necticut. His  grandmother.  Patience  (Wolf) 
Scovill,  visis  a  native  of  the  same  Stale,  whence 
the  family  removed  to  Ontario  County,  N.  Y., 
after  the  Revolution.  Grandfather  Scovill  was  a 
member  of  the  Colonial  army  throughout  that  noted 
contest.  In  the  Empire  State  he  and  those  of  bis 
family  who  were  able  to  assist  him,  took  up  pion- 
eer labors,  undergoing  the  usual  i)rivalions  and 
manifesting  the  hardy  persistence  to  which  the  later 
generation  owes  the  comfort  of  its  surroundings. 

Linus  Scovill,  Sr.,  was  young  when  his  parents 
removed  to  the  Empire  State  and  there  he  grew  to 
manhood.  He  was  still  quite  young  when  he  left 
home  to  join  the  army  in  the  War  of  1812,  through 
which  he  served,  as  did  some  of  his  brothers, 
though  not  in  the  same  regiment.  After  the  war 
had  closed  he  returned  to  his  father.  While  grow- 
ing up  in  Ontario  C'uunly,  Mr.  Scovill  became 
a  personal  friend  of  Solomon  Spalding,  the  writer 
of  the  Book  of  Mormon.  Mr.  S|)alding  had  no 
thought  at  that  time  that  his  book  would  gain  such 
fame  and  wrote  it  with  no  design  to  deceive,  but  as 
a  novel  in  historical  style  butof  imaginative  scenes. 
He  referred  to  this  fact  in  conversation  with  Mr. 
Scovill  one  day,  saying  that  his  own  head  was  the 
scroll  and  the  cellar  of  the  house  in  whi(^h  the^'  were 
boarding,  the  eaves  or  place  of  discovery. 

In  the  Empire  State,  the  father  of  our  subject 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Seely  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Goshen.  Her  parents,  Israel  and  Sarah 
(Gale)  Seely,  finally  removed  to  Illinois,  the  fa- 
ther dying  in  this  county  in  August,  1813,  when 
past  three-score  and  ten  years  old.  The  mother  died 
in  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  at  an  advanced  age. 
Linus  Scovill,  Sr.,  had  for  some  years  prior  to  his 
marriage  been  a  dry -goods  clerk,  but  after  that  in- 
teresting event  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming. 
He  finally  removed  to  Indiana  about  1820,  making 
his  home  in  the  western   part  of   that  State    some 


494 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  niOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eleven  years.  He  then  came  into  Illinois,  crossing 
the  Illinois  River  when  Peoria  was  still  known  as 
Ft.  Clark, and  settling  onaG  jvernmenl  claim  which 
he  purchased  from  John  Love  in  what  is  now  Me- 
dina Township,  this  countj-.  His  claim  liad  been 
located  by  him  the  year  before,  during  his  first  trip 
to  this  State,  which  was  made  with  a  view  of  getting 
out  of  the  country  whose  people  were  troubled 
with  milk  sickness. 

The  Scovill  family  found  themselves  in  a  wild 
countr3-,4he  unbroken  prairie  traversed  chiefly  by 
Indians,  but  after  some  j-ears  the  land  was  im- 
proved and  beautiful  homes  built  up  far  and  near. 
Mr.  Scovill  was  a  thrifty  man  who  having  secured 
a  fine  piece  of  land  improved  it  well,  leaving  to  his 
heirs  a  good  inheritance.  He  was  called  from  time 
to  eternitj'  November  15,  1840,  when  somewiiat 
past  fifty-four  j'ears  of  age.  He  w-as  one  of  the  well- 
known  pioneers,  honored  of  men  for  his  manlj^  con- 
duct and  industrious  life.  His  wife  survived  him, 
dying  in  1863.  at  the  age  of  about  seventj^-three 
years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
while  her  husband  was  a  L'niversalist. 

Linus  Scovill,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
was  born  in  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  March  10, 
1815,  and  had  but  recently  entered  his  teens  when 
his  father  landed  in  Illinois.  The  next  year  the 
j-outh  enlisted  as  a  teamster  for  the  Bi.ack  Hawk 
War  and  after  having  fulfilled  the  duties  of  his 
iwsition  as  long  as  his  services  were  needed,  resumed 
the  agricultural  work  which  he  had  begun  in  bo3'- 
hood.  After  he  became  the  proprietor  of  the  home- 
stead he  made  man^'  improvements  upon  it,  ere  he 
left  it  to  remove  to  Cbillicothe,  having  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  this  section  of  the  countrj'.  It  com- 
[n-ised  three  hundred  and  twenty'  acres  on  sections 
21,  and  22,  Medina  Township,  was  favorably  lo- 
cated, and  the  seat  of  a  verj'  successful  farm  life. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride  in  Cbillicothe  Township, 
Mr.  Scovill  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Juliet 
A.  Murra3-.  This  estimable  lady  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, June  19,  1812,  and  was  quite  young  when  her 
parents,  John  and  C3'nthia  Murrav,  removed  to 
Ohio.  There  her  father  died,  the  mother  with  her 
six  children  coming  to  Illinois  in  1846.  Mrs.  Mur- 
ra3'  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life  in  this  county, 
d3-ing  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scovill  in  Me- 


dina Township  when  quite  an  old  lady.  Mr. 
Scovill,  although  an  active  local  politician  is  in  no 
sense  an  office-seeker.  He  has,  however,  been  elec- 
ted to  most  of  the  local  ollices  of  the  township  and 
has  carried  out  the  wishes  of  the  people  by  acting 
in  their  behalf.  Politically  he  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  and  his  wife  attend  the 
Baptist  Church. 

In  connection  with  this  sketch  arc  presented 
lithographic  portraits  of  Mr.  Scovill  and  his  esti- 
mable wife,  who  are  widely  known  as  pioneers  of 
Peoria  Count3'. 


AVID  SMITH.  The  town  of  Dunlap  is  the 
*  seat  of  the  thriving  business  of  this  gentle- 
man, who  handles  general  merchandise,  keep, 
ing  an  abundant  su[)pl3'  of  well-selected  goods 
suited  to  the  wants  of  the  dwellers  in  the  contigu- 
ous counUy  as  well  as  those  who  reside  in  the  cor- 
porate limits.  Although  Mr.  Smith  wa.s  reared  on 
a  farm,  and  spent  his  earlier  years  in  tilling  the  soil, 
he  has  shown  his  abilit3'  to  conduct  business  enter- 
prises, being  a  judicious  buyer,  a  genial  salesman, 
and  a  capable  manager. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  the  late  James  Smith,  who 
is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  Prairie 
State  having  come  hither  in  1837,  and  becoming  a 
resident  of  this  county  in  1844.  At  that  time  he 
located  in  Radnor  Township,  spending  the  remnant 
of  his  days  there,  entering  into  rest  in  1872.  He 
married  Maria  Clevenger,  a  native  of  the  Buckev'e 
State,  who  is  now  living  in  Dunlap.  As  pioneer 
settlers  this  worthy  couple  endured  toils  and  priva- 
tions, and  braved  dangers,  cheerfull3'  bearing  all  in 
order  to  bestow  upon  posterity  a  larger  extent  of 
cultivated  land  and  a  broader  civilization. 

The  parental  family  was  a  large  one,  consisting 
of  fifteen  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eld- 
est. He  w-as  born  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
July  13,  1830,  and  having  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  this  State,  attained  to  manhood  in  this 
county,  in  which  he  has  spent  the  most  of  his  time 
since  his  youth.  Having  been  reared  on  a  farm,  he 
pursued  an  agricultural  career  until  1873,  when  re- 


PORTRAIT  AM)   Bl()i;i{AI'lIICAL  ALBUM. 


4 'J  5 


niovina;  into  Unnlap.  he  embarked  in  the  stock 
business.  To  tliat  line  of  trade  lie  devoted  liis  en- 
ergies some  four  or  Ave  years,  then  turned  ins  at- 
tention to  grain  and  lumber,  in  which  he  ilcalt 
aliout  eight  years.  In  the  meantime  he  established 
himself  in  the  mercantile  business,  to  which  he  is 
now  giving  his  attention  with   satisfactory  results. 

The  estimable  woman  who  presides  over  the  do- 
mestic economy  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Smith  was 
known  in  her  girlhood  as  Sliss  Martha  Chapin. 
She  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  but  prior  to 
her  marriage,  was  living  in  Illinois,  that  event  hav- 
ing been  celebrated  in  this  county,  Slay  11,  1851. 
Under  her  skillful  management  the  dwelling  is  a 
place  of  neatness,  good  cheer  and  home  comfort, 
and  many  are  the  neighborly  deeds  of  kindness 
which  she  finds  time  to  perform.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  have  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy,  and  Florence  when  about  fifteen  years  old. 
The  survivors  are:  Alice,  now  the  wife  of  Paul  H. 
Harrison;   and  Ann,  wife  of  Smith  Stephens. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  Republicanism.  He  has  filled  the 
oflices  of  Highwa\'  Commissioner  and  School  Di- 
rector, manifests  great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  and  the  better  development  of  the  ma- 
terial resources  which  the  Prairie  State  affords  her 
sons  and  daughters,  and  lives  an  upright  life. 


-^^ 


^'REDERICK  B.  BLANCHARD.  The  ca- 
reer of  this  gentleman,  now  a  stock-shipper 
IJ^  ~  and  dealer  in  grain  at  Priuceville,  has  been 
one  of  undeviating  integrity  and  unwearj'ing  in- 
dustry. His  labors  have  been  rewarded  by  a  fair 
share  of  this  world's  goods,  among  his  possessions 
being  two  residences  in  the  town  which  is  now  his 
home.  He  is  of  Southern  ancestry,  his  grandpar- 
ents having  been  born  in  Virginia  and  his  parents 
in  North  Carolina. 

(Grandfather  Blanchard,  whose  given  name  was 
'I'homas,  tilled  the  soil  in  North  Carolina  for  some 
time,  then  journeyed  to  Logan  County,  Ky.,  on 
foot  with  pack  horses,  passing  the  remnant  of  his 
days  there.     He   became  wealth}-,   owning  a  large 


l)lantation.  His  son,  AViliiam  1'.,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  six  years  old  when  taken  to  Kentucky 
where  he  grew  to  maturity  and  engaged  in  fann- 
ing. He  married  Mary  Earliam,  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Barham,  who  removed  from  Virginia 
to  North  Carolina  and  later  to  the  Blue  Grass  State. 
He  subsequently'  made  an  early  s(;ttlement  in  Coles 
County,  this  State,  dying  there  at  a  goodly  age. 
He  was  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  opposed  to  slavery 
and  so  in  1819  he  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Lawrence  County.  He  bought 
Government  land,  farming  there  until  1836,  when 
he  changed  his  location  to  Peoria  Count}'.  Early 
in  the  spring  he  [lurchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  laud  and  building  a  log  house  brought  his 
family  hither  in  the  summer.  He  was  a  prosperous 
farmer,  was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  the  organiz- 
ing of  Priuceville  Townshij),  with  the  first  election, 
was  held  at  his  house.  He  finally  retired  to  Prince- 
ville,  where  he  died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
one  years.  His  vvife  also  died  in  this  place.  He 
was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  and  his  wife  had  a  large  family  whose  record  is 
as  follows:  Louise,  Elizabeth  and  Philena,  died  in 
Princeville;  William  K.  and  Thomas  W.  in  Oregon, 
and  James  C.  in  Washington;  Mary  A.  is  also  de- 
ceased, and  Daniel  H.,  who  lived  to  be  but  six 
years  old;  John  L.,  Mason  M.,  and  Delilah  live  in 
Princeville,  the  hitter  being  an  inmate  of  the 
household  of  our  subject;  Henry  C.  is  mining  near 
Joplin,  Jasper  Count}',  Mo.;  and  Jemima,  the 
widow  of  Benjamin  Merritt,  lives  in  Galva,  this 
State. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  near  Law- 
renceville.  III.,  April  3,  1835,  and  was  brought  to 
Peoria  County  the  next  year.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  where  he  early  assisted  to  break  prairie  and 
in  other  ways  add  to  the  worth  of  the  parental 
estate.  His  limited  educational  privileges  were  en- 
joyed under  the  subscription  plan,  by  which  schools 
were  kept  up  in  the  early  days.  When  twenty 
years  old  he  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land  adjoin- 
ing his  father's  farm,  operating  it  in  connection 
with  work  on  the  homestead  until  1866.  He  then 
located  in  Princeville  and  with  bis  brother,  Mason 
M.,  opened  a  general  store  which  they  carried  on  a 


I'JC 


POUTUAIT  A^'D  HIOGRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


year.  Our  subject  then  bought  out  bis  brothei' and 
uontinued  the  l)usiiiess  alone,  pursuing  a  successful 
mercantile  career  until  1883.  He  then  sold  out  to 
devote  bis  entire  attention  to  the  gi'ain  and  stock 
business,  in  which  be  had  engaged  some  j'ears  be- 
fore, lu  1871  be  built  an  elevator  and  in  1884 
began  buying  and  shipping  stock  also.  These  en- 
terprises be  is  still  successfully  prosecuting. 

Mr.  Blanchard  worked  hard  to  secure  the  rail- 
roads through  Princeville,  the  accomplisbmcnt  of 
his  i)urpose  costing  him  much  money  as  well  as 
Ijersonal  effort.  Time  lias  shown  that  his  belief 
that  the  interests  of  the  town  would  be  much  ad- 
vanced was  well  founded.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  first  Council  in  this  place  and  is  novv  serving 
acceittabl}'  as  School  Director.  His  strong  adher- 
ence is  given  to  the  Republican  party,  bis  first 
Presidential  ballot  having  been  cast  for  Gen.  John 
C.  FrcTnont.  In  religion  he  adheres  to  the  princi- 
ples iM'omulgated  in  the  Christian  Church. 

An  important  step  in  the  life  of  our  subject  oc- 
curred in  Princeville,  March  12,  1857,  wlien  he  be- 
came tlie  husl)aud  of  Miss  Amy  Reeves.  This  lady 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  October  30,  1838,  but 
reared  and  educated  in  Princeville.  She  is  well 
fitted  to  discharge  the  duties  which  devolve  upon 
her  as  wife  and  mother,  widle  as  a  member  of  so- 
ciety she  is  highly  regarded  for  her  pleasing  social 
qualities  and  kindly  nature.  The  family  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Blanchard  consists  of  five  living  children, 
viz. :  Ettie  M.,  Ilattie,  William  K.,  Lucius  and  Lois. 
Ettie  was  graduated  from  the  Normal  School  at 
Valparaiso,  Ind.,  and  became  the  wife  of  A.  D. 
Edwards,  Supervisor  of  Princeville  Township  and 
a  merchant  in  Monica;  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  Leroy 
Wear,  of  Princeville  Township,  and  prior  to  her 
mairiage  was  a  school  teacher.  The  other  children 
are  at  home.  The  parents  have  lost  three  chihlren  : 
EUena,  Matilda  and  Freddie. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Blanchard  was  Jacob  Reeves, 
a  native  of  New  York,  who  became  a  resident  of 
Ohio  wlien  young.  He  was  married  near  Cleveland 
to  Hannah  M.  Scofield,  likewise  a  native  of  the 
Empire  State,  but  reared  in  Ohio.  About  1837 
this  couple  removed  to  Stark  County,  III.,  settling 
in  the  spoon  of  the  Spoon  River,  where  Mr.  Reeves 
followed   farming  and  bis  trade  of  a  mason   until 


his  death  in  184G.  His  widow  supported  and  wisely 
reared  her  famil3',  removing  to  I'rinceville  the 
year  after  her  husband's  death,  and  dying  here 
under  the  roof  of  our  subject,  in  1888,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-nine  years.  She  was  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church.  Mrs.  Blanchard  is 
the  sixth  of  the  eight  children  which  comprised  the 
famil3'.  Of  these  James  died  in  Peoria  when  a 
young  man;  John  lives  in  Abilene,  Kan.;  ;\Irs.  Jane 
Cook,  in  Lyons  County,  Kan. ;  ]\Irs.  Harriet  Miller, 
in  Saline  County,  Neb. ;  Benjamin,  in  Pottawato- 
mie County,  Kan.;  Jacob  died  when  an  infant;  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Blanchard  lives  in  KoloUa,  Washington 
Conntv,  Kan. 


ACOB  HOFFMAN.  This  gentleman  has 
been  for  ten  years  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  Peoria,  furnishing  emplo}'- 
ment  for  a  number  of  men  and  adding  to 
the  circulation  of  '•lilthy  lucre"  by  a  flourishing 
traile  in  cigars  and  tobacco.  He  manufactures 
from  six  hundred  thousand  to  seven  hundred 
thousand  cigars  annuall3',  furnishing  occni)ation 
for  fourteen  cigarmakers,  besides  other  help  of 
various"  kinds.  His  business  was  established  in 
1873,  at  which  time  he  became  a  resident  of  this 
city. 

Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  native  of  Prastibor,  Austria, 
whei-e  he  was  born  October  5.  1849.  His  parents 
are  Benedict  and  Barbara  (Austria)  Hoffman,  his 
father  being  a  general  storekeeper  in  his  native 
land.  Some  time  before  reaching  his  majority 
young  Hoffman  came  to  America,  lauding  on  her 
shores  in  1867.  He  had  already  been  em[)loyed  as 
a  clerk  in  the  hardware  business,  and  in  it  he  con- 
tinued for  a  time,  locating  in  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
From  that  city  he  finally'  removed  to  Peoria,  where 
he  has  made  many  friends  and  acquired  a  good 
reputation. 

Mr.  Hoffman  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but 
takes  no  special  interest  in  politics.  Outside  of  his 
business  affairs  and  his  home,  his  chief  enjoyment 
is  in  social  orders,  in  a  number  of  which  he  holds 
membership.      He    belongs    to    the    Independent 


**"  db*    ^*  xJ^.-f         J 


RE5.0F  5IEBELD  Reents^  5ec.H.  RosefieldTp.  Peoria  Co.Ill 


.^.^■^^ytir^rtg; 


''-»^J--,-.-fa>>-'-:^-- 


Store  &  Residence  or,  A.U.  Potter,   EdelsteinJll. 


'AN\ym 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


499 


Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Inited  Woikmen,  Red  iMen,  Cerman  Workmen* 
.Rifle  Club  and  Turners'  German  School.  He  was 
married  October  5,  1«7G,  to  Miss  Maggie  Lang- 
jahr.  The  liappy  union  lias  been  blest  by  the 
hirlh  of  one  child,  I>crtie. 


^^^-'-'-yy^^-^^— 


AULS.  LEITZ.  This  name  will  be  recog- 
nized by  many  readers  as  that  of  a  rising 
young  architect  of  Peoria — a  man  who  has 
already  achieved  marked  success  in  his  line, 
who  bears  tlie  reputation  of  an  honest,  trustworthy 
business  man,  and  whose  private  cliaracter  is  irre- 
proachable. He  is  entirely  self  made,  owing  his 
fame  and  success  to  his  own  works,  backed  by  his 
inherited  talent  for  art,  which  has  been  of  great 
benefit  in  the  occu[)ation  to  which  he  devoted  him- 
self. We  are  pleased  to  invite  the  reader's  at- 
tention to  his  portrait,  which  is  presented  in 
connection  with  his  personal  sketch. 

Mr.  Leitz  is  a  native  of  Louisville,  K}'.,  born  in 
1858,  and  belonging  to  a  family  which  has  produced 
artists  and  musicians  of  high  re|iute..  His  fatiicr, 
Theodore  L.  Leitz,  was  born  in  Germanv,  and  was 
formerly  an  ofliccr  in  the  German  army.  He  is  at 
present  residing  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.  He  has  won 
fame  as  an  artist,  while  his  eldest  son,  now  United 
States  Band  Master  at  ^\allejo,  Cal.,  has  gained  re- 
nown as  a  musician.  The  mother  of  our  subjec't 
was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Matilda 
Scheidemantle. 

When  he.  of  whom  we  write,  was  five  years  old 
he  went  to  Indianai)olis.  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools  when  he  had  arrived  at  a  suitable  age, 
afterward  pursuing  his  studies  in  Lidiana  Univer- 
sity. After  leaving  college  he  began  the  study  of 
architecture  under  Edwin  May,  of  Indianapolis, 
one  of  tiie  (irst  of  American  architects.  A  few  of 
the  masterpieces  designed  by  tliis  gentleman  are  the 
Indiana  State  Asylum,  the  State  House,  the  Marion 
County  Court-house,  and  the  Nortliern  Indiana 
State  Prison.  Y^oung  Leitz  remained  under  his  tu- 
telage eight  years,  imbibing  in  a  great  measure  the 


architectural  conceptions  which  have  made  his 
instructor  famous. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Leitz  came  to  Peoria,  at  once  as- 
suming a  position  among  the  leading  architects  of 
th.e  place.  Ilis  works  are  not  confined  to  the  city, 
but  include  the  Pontiac  Reform  School  building, 
the  hospital  at  Bloomington,  and  many  other  prom- 
inent structures  in  the  West.  A  large  number  of 
the  fine  residences  in  Peoria  are  due  to  his  cre- 
ative genius,  while  the  High-School  buihling, 
the  J.  II.  Lee  school  building,  the  Reed  school  and 
librarj'  building,  which  are  pronounced  by  compe- 
tent judges  to  be  among  the  best  school  buildings 
of  the  West,  were  also- designed  by  him. 

The  culture,  refinement  and  estimable  character 
of  Miss  Sarah  Albs,  a  native  of  Toronto,  Canada, 
won  the  regard  of  Mr.  Leitz,  which  being  recipro- 
cated, they  were  united  in  marriage  in  1884.  They 
are  the  happy  parents  of  two  interesting  children — 
Olga  and  Nita.  Mr.  Leitz  is  building  an  elegant 
residence  on  Moss  Avenue  for  a  home,  which  under 
the  control  of  his  wife,  will  undoubtedly  become 
a  favorite  resort  for  the  best  society  of  the  city. 


7  0HN  STURM.  Among  the  early  settlers 
of  Medina  Township  whose  life  work  has 
been  successfully  pursued,  may  be  numbered 

/  John  Sturm,  now  deceased.  He  was  a  fine 
representative  of  the  hard-working,  progressive 
agriculturist,  and  of  tlie  man  of  studious  habits, 
intelligence  and  upright  character.  Beginning  his 
career  with  a  small  cai)it;d,'he  acquired  a  landed 
estate  of  about  thirteen  hundred  acres,  the  greater 
part  of  which  was  placed  under  good  cidlivation 
prior  to  his  death.  By  reason  of  his  enterprise  and 
interest  in  the  material  prospeiity  and  increase  in 
civilization  of  this  section,  he  became  influential  in 
the  community,  but  not  as  a  politician  or  public 
oflicer.  He  had  no  desire  for  olficial  honors,  being 
content  to  act  well  his  part  as  a  private  citizen. 

]\Ir.  Sturm  was  a  son  of  the  Buckeye  State,  born 
January  2.5,  1817,  and  had  passed  his  three-score 
years  and  ten  when  called  from  time  to  eternity, 
the    date  of  his    demise   being  February  15,  1888. 


m 


500 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Ho  had  accompanied  his  parents  to  Medina  Town- 
ship, this  county,  where  the  remainder  of  his  youth 
was  passed  and  the  many  years  of  his  active  life. 
In  this  township  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Dick- 
ison,  who  proved  a  true  helpmate  to  her  good  hus- 
band, working  hard  with  hio)  to  accumulate  the 
fine  propert}'  in  which  she  now  holds  her  dowry 
rights.  Siie  was  born  in  Switzerland  Countj-,  Ind., 
November  10,  1825,  coming  to  Illinois  with  her 
parents  in  1837.  She  was  the  recipient  of  very 
careful  home  training  and  a  practical  education, 
and  is  now  numbered  among  the  kind  m.-itrons  and 
genial  neighbors  of  the  section  in  whicii  she  lives. 
Her  beautiful  home  is  gl.adly  sought  by  her  ac- 
quaintances, and  many  are  the  social  hours  spent 
by  them  under  its  roof. 

Mrs.  Sturm  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Polly 
(AVhite)  Dickison,  natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  State, 
of  Southern  parentage  and  mixed  ancestrj'.  Soon 
after  their  marriage  they  located  in  Switzerland 
Count}',  Ind.,  among  the  earl}'  settlers.  There  their 
seven  children  were  born,  three  of  whom  are  yet 
living,  all  on  farms,  and  two  in  Medina  Township. 
In  1837  they  made  the  overland  journey  to  Central 
IIHnois.  bringing  such  articles  as  were  necessary  to 
furnish  their  home  in  a  new  country.  They  located 
on  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  whicli  they  reclaimed 
from  its  primitive  condition,  finally  acquiring  a 
large  properly.  A  part  of  the  land  upon  which 
Mossville  is  located  belonged  to  them.  Mr.  Dick- 
ison died  in  1852  and  his  .wife  about  two  years 
later,  each  having  reached  the  age  of  sixtj-'flve 
years.  They  were  highly  regarded  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  township  as  honest,  upright  and  hos- 
|)it<able  citizens.  ' 

Our  subject  and  his  good  wife  became  the  parents 
of  eight  children.    A  sou,  .lohn,  died  in  the  flower  of 
of  manhood  soon  after  reaching   his   majority,  and 
Alvin  when  four  j-ears  old.     The  living  members 
of  the  family  are:  Marj-,  wife  of  Frederick  Webster,   ; 
a  farmer  in  Champaign  County;  Wallace,  a  farmer   j 
in  his  native  township,  who  married  Anna  Bland;   ! 
Frank,  a  farmer  in  the  same  township,  who  married 
■Tane  Bland,  and  after   her  death  Elizabeth  Schil- 
watcher;    Albert,  who  married  Nanc}'  Buttles,  of 
Indiana,  and  occupies  a  farm  in  this  county,  Mark, 
who   operates   and   lives  upon   his   mother's  farm; 


Laura,wife  of  William  Johnson,  a  farmer  in  Wood- 
-ford  County.  Mark  was  first  married  to  Miss  Jenn}' 
Knupp,  of  Iowa,  who  died  leaving  one  child,  after 
which  the  widower  married  Sena  Kruse,  of  Chilli- 
cothe. 


\f?OIIN  R.  HARRISON  has  been  an  almost 
life-long  resident  of  Radnor  Township, 
wherein  he  has  successfully  prosecuted  the 
work  of  an  agriculturist,  winning  from  the 
fertile  soil  so  large  a  share  of  its  products  that  he 
has  been  enabled  while  still  in  middle  life  to  retire 
from  active  labors  with  the  prospect  of  spending 
his  remaining  j'ears  without  undue  exertion.  He 
is  the  owner  of  a  fine  property  consisting  of  two 
hundred  and  ninety  acres,  the  greater  part  of  which 
is  ou  section  10.  Radnor  Township.  The  estate  is 
now  rented. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  born  in  Hampshire  County, 
W.  Ya..  where  his  parents  had  settled  immediately 
after  their  marriage.  His  mother,  Mary  Susan 
(Evans)  Harrison,  was  a  native  of  that  State,  and 
his  father,  James  Harrison,  wjis  born  in  England. 
In  1834  the  worth }•  couple  removed  to  Peoria 
County,  III.,  settling  in  Rosefield  Township,  later 
rcsiiling  in  Princeville  Towushi)),  and  still  later 
in  Akron  Township.  The}'  finallj-  removed  to 
Henry,  Marshall  Countj',  where  they  passed  their 
last  days.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  sul)ject  was  the  eldest. 

The  natal  daj-  of  John  R.  Harrison  was  June  25. 
1833.  He  was  therefore  but  a  year  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  this  county,  in  which  he  was  reared 
to  manhood,  acquiring  a  good  education  and  be- 
coming skilled  in  agriculture,  to  which  he  has  given 
his  chief  attention  since  youth.  In  the  township 
in  which  he  now  resides  he  was  married,  August 
21,  1855,  to  Miss  Amanda  Hatfield,  soon  after  re- 
moving to  Boone  Countj-,  Iowa,  where  he  and  his 
bride  sojourned  a  short  time.  Returning  to  the 
Prairie  State  the\-  located  permanently  and  until 
December,  1888,  Mr.IIarrison  was  actively  engaged 
in  farming.  He  has  held  various  offices,  his  intelli- 
gence, trustworthiness,  and  zeal  for  the  public  wel- 
fare, being  recognized  by  his  fellow-citizens.     For 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


501 


four  years  he  was  Township  Assessor,  an  ollice  in 
which  he  is  now  serving  satisfactorily.  As  School 
Director  anil  School  Trustee  he  has  promoted  the 
interests  of  education,  and  as  an  active  member  of 
the  Republican  party  has  labored  for  good  govern- 
ment. 

The  wife  of  ilr.  Hairison  is  a  native  of  llie  Hoos- 
ier  State  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Phebe  (Cod- 
dington)  Hatfield,  who  settled  in  this  county  about 
1845.  After  residing  in  Radnor  Townsiiip  for  a 
long  term  of  years,  they  removed  to  Taylor 
County,  Iowa,  d3-ing  there  some  years  later.  Their 
family  consisted  of  twelve  children,  Mrs.  Harrison 
being  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  She  was  born 
June  3,  1835,  in  Parke  County,  Ind.,  has  received 
a  good  education,  is  an  excellent  housekeeper  and 
has  been  a  devoted  mother  to  her  offspring.  She 
h.is  made  manj-  and  warm  friends  in  the  neighbor- 
hood in  which  slie  has  long  so  resided. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison  eleven  children  have 
been  born,  the  most  of  whom  are  married  and  oc- 
cnpj-ing  homes  of  their  own.  Mar}'  S.  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Lamay  ;  Ida  K.,  of  John  Brassfield  ;  Levi 
I.  married  Miss  Carrie  Manker;  Adelia  is  the  wife 
of  Wally  Smith;  Maggie,  of  Flavins  S.  Barrett; 
Alice,  of  George  Newkirk;  Rachel,  of  George  Tay- 
lor; Lettie  and  Ella  still  linger  under  the  parental 
roof;  James  II.,  who  was  the  second  child.dicd  when 
about  thirteen  months  old,  and  Phebe,  who  was  tiie 
eighth,  when  two  years  old. 


■€~*-^- 


<"•*•=*/ RANCIS  A.  SWITZER.     Among  the  well- 

Pl  regulated  estates  of  Roscfleld  Township  is 
one  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixt^' 
acres  on  section  I,  wliich  under  the  careful  and 
intelligent  control  of  our  subiect,  is  j'ielding  a 
satisfactory  income,  wliile  presenting  an  appear- 
ance of  order  and  comfort  attractive  to  the  pass- 
er-by. The  owner  of  this  estate  is  numbered  among 
the  substantial  men  of  this  township  to  which  he 
came  in  1871  from  Kane  County,  where  he  was 
born  November  15.  1852.  Having  been  reared  on 
a  farm  he  earlj-  liecame  acquainted  with  all  that  is 
necessary  to  a  successful  agricultural  life,  being  led 


to  prosecute  his  researches  in  that  direction  by  a 
desire  to  engage  in  the  work  of  his  ancestors.  He 
received  a  good  common-school  education  to 
which  he  has  added  by  reading  and  observation, 
now  ranking  among  the  most  intelligent  men  of 
this  vicinil}'. 

John  W.  Switzcr,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  on  the  8tli  of  August,  1810. 
When  eight  years  old  he  went  to  Canada  with  his 
parents  who  settled  near  Toronto.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter,  following  it  in  that  country 
until  November,  1%37.  when,  on  account  of  the 
rebellion  in  Canada,  he  and  his  brother  Martin, 
returned  to  the  United  States.  Going  to  Chi- 
cago Mr.  Switzer  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  near  that  city,  improving  the  same 
and  residing  thereon  until  1SC4.  lie  then  re- 
moved to  Dowagiac,  Mich.,  where  he  sojourned 
seven  j'ears,  after  which  he  settled  in  Peoria  County, 
of  which  he  is  still  a  resident.  His  chosen  loca- 
tion was  on  section  I,  Rosefield  Township,  where 
he  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  acres,  all  of  which  he  has  had  thoroughly 
improved.  He  lias  been  blind  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and 
in  religion  devoted  to  the  principles  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  having  the  entire  sym- 
l)athy  of  his  wife,  who  is  also  a  member.  Mi-. 
Switzer  has  been  so  fortunate  as  to  witness  several 
notable  events,  having  in  May,  lSl6,  seen  Fulton's 
first  effort  to  run  a  steamboat,  and  in  January, 
1819,  seen  the  first  half-mile  of  canal  dug  at  Al- 
bany, N.  Y. 

The  mother  of  our  3ul)jcct  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Mary  J.  Gaddis.  She  was  born  in  Inis- 
killin,  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  February  9, 
1819,  being  a  daughter  of  William  and  Deborah 
(Blair)  Gaddis,  who  were  natives  of  the  same 
county.  They  came  to  the  United  States  in  1822, 
settling  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Gaddis  was  a 
minister  in  the  Methodist  Flpiscopal  Church  and  in 
1837  was  sent  from  the  Tro^'  Conference  to  the 
Illinois  Conference.  He  and  his  wife  died  in  La- 
Fa3'ette,  Stark  County,  heat  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
and  she  when  sixty-five  years  old.  They  had  two 
sons  and  five  daughters,  named  respectively:  Henr}', 
John,  Elizabeth,  Keziah,    Mary    J.,    Deborah    and 


502 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Jemima.  All  reared  families  except  the  youngest. 
Henry  died  in  California;  John  is  now  living  in 
Wisconsin  and  the  daughters  in  Illinois. 

To  John  W.  and  Hilary  J.  (G.addis)  Switzcr 
nine  children  were  born,  of  whom  those  reared  to 
niatnritj'  are:  Charles  \V.  of  Brown  County,  Minn.; 
William  H.,  a  millwright  of  Pullman, 111.;  Edmund 
B.  of  Chicago;  George  of  BrimBeld  Townsliip; 
Francis  A.,  our  subject;  John  S.,  of  Elmwood. 
William  H.  was  in  the  Union  army  three  j-ears 
as  a  member  of  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry.  George  .Sw-itzer 
was  born  August  10,  1849,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  six  j'ears  spent  in  a  grist-mill  in  Michigan 
has  lived  upon  a  farm.  In  1 870  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Kendall  Count}',  whence  he  came 
to  Peoria  County  in  January,  1889,  since  that 
time  m.aking  his  home  with  his  parents.  On  June 
12,  1870,  he  married  Marj- Ella,  daughter  of  Nich- 
olas and  Mar}-  (Hopkins)  Congdon.  a  devoted 
Christian,  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
who  was  removed  from  him  by  death,  April  1, 
1888.  She  left  six  children — Albertus  H.,  Arthur 
E.,  Martha  L..  Ralph,  Mary  J.  and  Frances  P. 

Grandfather  Switzer  w.as  born  in  County  Tipper- 
arj-,  Ireland,  was  a  bl.acksmilh,  wagon-maker  and 
farmer.  He  married  Mary  Maurice  of  Queens 
County,  rearing  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
three  of  the  sons  becoming  residents  of  the  Prai- 
rie St-ate.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1804, 
si)ending  four  years  in  Maine,  and  eight  years  at 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.  His  next  residence  w.as  in  New 
York,  whence  he  emigrated  to  Canada  two  and  a 
half  years  later,  taking  up  land  in  the  Dominion 
and  .abandoning  his  trade  for  farm  life.  Having 
taken  an  interested  part  in  the  Patriot  War  he 
was  thrown  into  prison,  but  having  been  released 
in  1838,  he  and  his  wife  came  to  Kane  Count}-,  HI., 
where  he  died  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  seventy--four 
years  and  his  wife  in  186fi,  at  the  age  of  eigiity- 
four.  He  w.as  a  warm  person.al  friend  of  the  late 
John  Wentworth  of  Chicago. 

Martin  .Switzer,  just  mentioned,  was  a  son  of 
John  Switzer,  a  native  of  County  Limerick,  w-hose 
first  wife,  Mary  Sparrow,  bore  him  three  children, 
all  of  whom  emigrated  to  Canada.  The  second 
wife  of  John  Switzer  was  Nanc}-  R3-an,  who  bore 


him  nine  sons  and  two  daughters,  one  of  these  be- 
ing the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  The  Switzer 
family  is  tr.aced  to  one  of  three  brothers,  all  officers 
under  the  Prince  of  Orange  in  1688,  who  being 
sent  to  Ireland  to  quell  troubles  there,  remained 
a  resident  of  the  Emerald  Isle. 

Grandfather  Gaddis  w.as  the  first  of  his  family 
to  come  to  the  United  States.  His  parents  were 
Henry  and  Eliza  (Hicks)  Gaddis,  natives  of  Ire- 
land to  which  a  former  generation  of  the  Gaddis 
family  liad  been  driven  from  Scotl.and  during  re- 
ligious dissensions.  Three  of  the  brothers  of  the 
Rev.  William  Gaddis, — James,  John  and  Adam — ■ 
followed  him  to  America.  Another  brother,  Henr}-, 
was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Salamanca.  Spain.  The 
wife  of  William  Gaddis  was  Deborah  Blair,  a 
daughter  of  Edward   .and  Deborah  (Gaddis)  Bl.air. 


■+-1- 


^-^ 


^^.EORGE  HOLMES.  This  young  gentleman 
III  ^-,  .and  his  charming  wife  occupy  a  ple.asant 
^^i^l  home  in  Akron  Township,  their  fertile  land 
being  supplied  with  a  full  line  of  adequate  struc- 
tures, such  as  are  needed  to  shelter  the  stock,  house 
the  crops,  and  afford  comfort  to  the  faniil}-.  IIos- 
pitalit}-  is  dispensed  with  a  bounteous  hand,  both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  being  genial  and  social,  and 
having  the  characters  that  make  their  home  a  fa- 
vorite gathering  place  of  the  intelligent,  respected 
members  of  the  community.  Mr.  Holmes  has  al- 
ready become  quite  prominent  as  a  progressive 
farmer  and  public-spirited  man.  He  is  now  serv- 
ing as  Township  Supervisor  for  the  second  term, 
having  been  first  elected  in  the  spring  of  1889,  and 
re-elected  in  1890. 

Our  subject  is  the  fourth  child  in  a  family-  com- 
prising seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  born  to 
John  and  Lydia  (Chambers)  Holme.s.  of  Medina 
Township.  He  was  born  there  December  2,  1859, 
and  reared  to  man's  estate,  acquiring  a  practical 
education  chietly  in  the  common  schools.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  his  marriage,  which 
occurred  in  Peoria  February  21,  1883,  after  which 
he  set  up  his  own  home  in  KickapooTowtiship.  He 
sojourned  there  but  a  year,  removing  thence  to 


J  0^-^-€ny^    <f\o  .e-^/^tJ^-^ 


^^ 


'yi 


f^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL«ALBUM. 


507 


Radnor  Townsliip.  mikI  a  twelvemonth  later  still,  to 
Akron  Town?'  ip.  where  he  has  since  been  a  resi- 
dent. 

Mr.  Holmes  led  to  the  h3-meneal  altar  Miss  Effle 
Keach,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Marian  (Fash) 
Keach,  of  Kickapoo  Township,  whose  life  history 
will  be  found  on  a  page  of  this  Album.  The  bride 
wj\s  born  in  that  township,  January  18,  1863.  She 
had  the  school  privileges  in  which  the  Prairie  State 
takes  just  pride,  and  stored  her  mind  with  useful 
knowledge,  adding  to  that  siie  learned  at  sciiool  the 
domestic  and  social  wisdom  that  fitted  her  for  the 
s|iheres  of  wife,  mother,  and  member  of  society. 
She  has  l)orne  her  husband  one  daughter,  Nellie 
M.,  who  is  the  fourth  generation  now  living  in  the 
Keach  line. 

The  estate  of  Mr.  Holmes  consists  of  eighty  acres 
of  fine  land  on  section  23.  Prior  to  his  election  to 
the  ollice  he  now  holds,  Mr.  Holmes  had  filled  that 
(if  Township  Collector  two  years  in  the  same  Town- 
ship. He  is  well  posted  regarding  political  matters, 
his  judgment  concurring  in  the  princii)les  of  the 
Democratic  party,  to  which  he  therefore  gives  his 
suffrage.  As  he  is  quite  j'oung,  the  prominence  of 
.Ml'.  Holmes  in  the  township  proves  his  ability  and 
popularity, ~and  gives  promise  that  as  years  are 
added  he  will  become  one  of  the  most  infiuential 
men  in  the  count}'. 

>|'ACOB  HEPPERLY.  Fortunate  is  the  boy 
who,  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at  an 
early  age,  has  the  skill  to  do  and  the  strength 
to  endure  until  he  acquires  a  footing  among 
men;  more  fortunate  he  who  combines  with  his 
manual  skill  and  bodily  strength,  the  moral  princi- 
ples and  self-respect  that  bring  with  his  financial 
success  the  esteem  of  those  who  know  him.  Such 
was  the  case  with  the  late  Jacob  Hcpperly  of  Peo- 
ria whose  portrait  we  present  on  the  opposite  page. 
He  was  long  an  honored  resident  of  the  city  to 
which  he  first  came  when  it  was  but  a  frontier  set- 
tlement, and  in  which,  from  1853  until  the  day  of 
his  death,  ho  hml  continuously  made  his  home.  His 
substantial  fortune  w.'is  built  up   by    dint    of  great 


energy  and  enterprise,  and  his  life  was  characterized 
b3'  those  sterling  qualities  and  habits  that  secured 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow-men. 

The  natal  day  of  Mr.  Hepperly  was  April  11, 
1813,  his  parents,  Conrad  and  Mary  (Eckhardt) 
Hepperl}',  natives  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  and 
his  birthplace  Gettysburg,  Pa.  Ho  secured  a  some- 
what limited  education  during  his  boyhood  and 
learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking  from  his  father. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  ho  left  his  home,  and 
after  visiting  various  places,  arrived  in  Peoria 
March  19,  1831.  His  trip  w.as  not  a  continuous 
one,  but  such  as  a  boy  would  be  compelled  to  make 
if  obliged  to  recruit  his  finances  on  the  way.  This 
was  done  by  our  subject  by  plying  his  trade  at 
various  points.  He  made  bis  wa}'  from  Pittsburg 
down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi  Rivers  to  St. 
Louis,  whence  he  went  to  Jacksonville,  111.,  on 
horseback. 

Feeling  the  need  of  a  better  education,  young 
Hepperlj'  attended  school  in  Jacksonville  for  a 
time,  supporting  himself  by  working  at  his  trade  in 
hours  not  devoted  to  study.  Upon  reaching  Peoria 
he  went  to  work  in  a  cabinet  sho|),  soon  afterward 
securing  emploj'ment  with  Mr.  Moffatt,  the  miller, 
for  whom  he  hauled  flour  to  market  with  an  ox 
team.  The  persistent  industry  and  frugal  economy' 
of  Mr.  Hepperly  met  with  their  reward  and  he  was 
finally  .able  to  purchase  a  mill  in  Tazewell  County. 
After  sojourning  there  for  a  time  he  returned  to 
Peoria  in  1853.  lie  accumulated  a  fine  property, 
erected  a  number  of  houses  and  several  business 
buildings  in  the  cit3%  a  gristmill  in  Woodford 
County,  and  some  years  since  retired  to  enjoy  the 
affluence  his  efforts  had  secured. 

Mr.  Hepperl}'  died  February  8,  1888,  at  his  resi- 
dence in  Peoria.  He  had  been  a  strong  robust  man, 
able  to  enjo}'  every  reasonable  recreation  to  which 
his  tastes  led  him,  and  to  assist  in  the  various  en- 
terprises for  the  pulilic  welfare  in  which  his  abun- 
dant means  enabled  him  to  take  part. 

Mr.  Hepperly  was  married  December  6,  1812, 
to  Mrs.  Clarissa  Meacham,  who  was  born  in  the 
Empire  State,  February-  5,  1810,  and  began  her 
residence  in  Peoria  in  1833.  Soon  after  the  death 
of  Mr.  Hepperly  she  began  to  exhibit  symptoms  of 
mental  derangement,  finally  acquiring  the  habit   of 


508 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


leaving  her  bed  at  all  hours  of  the  night  and  wan- 
dering about  the  premises.  Her  only  daughter, 
witii  whom  she  lived,  slept  on  a  lounge  near  the 
door  of  her  a])artnient  in  order  if  possible  to  pre- 
vent accidents,  luit  in  spite  of  these  precautions  the 
aged  lady  left  the  liouse  unkni<wn  to  the  family  and 
it  is  supiwsed  committed  suicide,  as  her  body  was 
found  floating  in  the  cistern.  Mrs.  Hepperly  had 
lived  in  Peoria  more  than  fifty  3'ears,  had  witnessed 
its  growtli,  had  assisted  lier  husband  in  accumula- 
ting his  substantial  fortune,  but  notable  to  survive 
the  loss  which  befell  iier  in  the  sunset  of  life,  met 
this  sad  fate  June  23.  1890. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hepjierly  were  the  parents  of  two 
children,  one  of  whom  is  still  living.  This  is  Mrs. 
Harriet  C.  Hotclikiss.  widow  of  James  M.  Hotch- 
kiss,  a  railroad  man  who  met  his  death  on  a  train 
on  the  Mexican  Central  Railroad,  in  INIexico  not  far 
from  Chihuahua. while  acting  as  conductor,  October 
19,  1883.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hotchkiss  were  married 
April  9.  1868.  and  became  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren— Mary  T.  and  Robert  J.,  now  grown  almost 
to  manhood  and  womanhood.  Their  intelligence, 
good  breeding  and  deep  affection,  prove  a  source  of 
consolation  to  tiieir  widowed  mother  in  the  afflic- 
tions which  have  befallen  her  in  the  loss  of  her 
trusted  companion  and  the  more  recent  deaths  of 
her  revered  parents.  Although  for  some  years  a 
resident  of  Central  America,  at  San  Jose,  Costa 
Rica,  she  has  more  recently  been  occupying  the 
parental  homestead  at  No.  200  Fourth  Street. 


-^-^"« 


ANFORU  M.  GREEN.  This  gentleman  is 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  S.  M.  Green 
ifc  Co.,  wholesale  and  retail  fish  dealers  at 
the  foot  of  Main  >Slreet,  and  although  not 
an  old  man,  ma}'  be  called  an  old  business  man  of 
Peoria  as  he  has  been  established  here  since  1863. 
For  several  years  he  has  been  interested  in  real 
estate,  buying  and  selling  quite  extensively.  His 
reputation  in  business  circles  is  good,  and  by  all 
the  patrons  of  his  establishment  he  is  considered 
worthy  of  trust. 

Bureau  County,  111.,  claims  Mr.  Green  as  one  of 


her  sons,  he  having  been  born  there  January  8, 
1840.  His  parents,  George  and  Mary  (Reed) 
Green,  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  that 
county,  to  which  George  Green  came  while  yet  a 
young  man  with  his  father,  John  Green,  in  1828. 
His  birthplace  was  near  Dover,  Tenn.,  and  in  the 
same  State  his  wife  was  born,  although  at  the  time 
of  their  marriage  she  was  living  in  Gallatin  County, 
111.  Until  within  two  years  of  his  death.  George 
Green  resided  in  Bureau  Ctmuty,  his  demise  taking 
place  in  Shelby  County,  in  1846.  The  willow  and 
family  returne(}  to  Bureau  County  the  following 
year  and  there  our  subject  lived  until  1860. 

Soon  after  the  breaking  out  of  tiie  late  Civil 
War  the  subject  of  this  sketch  enlisted  in  Company 
D,  Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry,  which  was  sent  to 
St.  Louis  and  wintered  at  Cape  Girardeau.  Thence 
they  went  into  active  service,  participating  in  the 
noted  engagements  at  Ft.  Henr}-,  Ft.  Donelson, 
Shiloh,  Corinth,  Jackson,  Miss.,  luka  and  Bolivar, 
and  enduring  the  bard  marches,  the  dangers  of 
skirmishing  and  the  monotony  of  camp  life  during 
the  weeks  and  months  which  intervened.  After 
the  battle  of  Bolivar,  Mr.  Green  was  discharged 
for  permanent  disability  incurred  in  the  service. 

When  he  could  do  no  more  to  insure  the  safety 
of  his  country,  Mr.  Green  returned  to  Bureau 
County,  and  in  the  fall  of  1863,  came  to  Peoria. 
He  took  up  work  at  his  trade  in  a  horse-collar  shop, 
continuing  there  some  two  5'ears.  He  then  entered 
the  fire  department,  but  in  1867,  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  city  expressing  and  freight  hauling,  which 
he  followed  successfully  for  nineyears,  owning  and 
running  five  teams.  In  1879,  he  established  him- 
self at  his  present  location  in  the  fish  trade,  which 
he  has  built  up  until  his  wholesale  and  city  business 
is  larger  that  of  any  other  dealer  here.  He  imports 
fish  from  Wisconsin  and  various  points  in  the'  East. 
The  company  has  remained  the  same  since  the  busi- 
ness was  established. 

Mr.  Green  won  for  his  wife  Miss  Louisa,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Calhoun)  Farrell,  old  set- 
tlers of  Peoria,  at  whose  home  the  wedding  was 
celebrated  November  4,  1864.  After  a  happy 
■  wedded  life  of  nearly  twent3'-five  years  Mrs.  Green 
passed  away  May  12,  1887.  She  had  borne  her 
husband  four  children,  three  of  whom  have  crossed 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


509 


the  river  of  death.  Carrie  M.,  the  only  survivor, 
still  remains  with  her  father.  Mr.  Green  has  had 
little  to  do  with  polities,  except  to  cast  his  ballot 
with  the  Republican  part}-.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Although  not 
idenlilied  with  any  religious  body,  he  is  a  regular 
attendant  of  Union  Chapel  on  East  Bluff. 

(I/^ON.  WILLIAM  ROWCLIFFE.  It  is  with 
)l(  pleasure  that  we  trace  the  history  of  this 
prominent  resident  of  Peoria  County 
through  the  principal  events  of  his  past  life. 
We  cannot  follow  it  through  every  changeful  year, 
every  devious  path,  but  can  only  record  the  chief 
events  in  a  life  that  covers  a  period  of  three-score 
and  ten  years,  which  since  maturity  have  been 
passed  in  useful  toil  for  his  family,  his  neighbors 
and  his  country.  Although  not  a  native-liorn 
American,  Mr.  Rowcliffe  is  as  loyal  and  patriotic  a 
citi/.en  as  the  broad  State  of  Illinois  can  boast. 
During  the  late  Civil  War  he  was  active  in  pro- 
curing recruits  and  having  himself  enlisted  did 
gallant  service  in  camp  and  field  from  September, 
l><(;-2,  until  July  31,  18G5.  At  present  a  resident 
of  .lubilee  Township,  he  is  enjoying  the  comforts 
which  adequate  means  can  obtain  and  good  health 
will  allow,  respected  by  all  who  know  him  for  his 
honorable  character  and  years  of  usefulness. 

Our  subject  belongs  to  an  old  Devonshire  family, 
his  father  having  lived  on  the  skme  place  until 
lifty  years  old.  He  held  parish  offices  in  Swine- 
bridge,  in  which  parish  he  was  born  in  178i).  In 
1.S3G  he  set  sail  with  his  family  to  found  a  home  in 
America,  and  reaching  Huron  County,  Ohio,bought 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  on  the  San- 
dusky River,  on  which  he  continued  his  olden  oc- 
cupation of  tilling  the  soil.  His  political  views  were 
expref.sed  in  the  platform  of  the  AVhig  party  and 
his  religious  faith  by  the  creed  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  departed  this  life  July  1, 
1862,  sincerely  mourned  by  manj- friends  as  well  as 
by  the  children  to  whom  he  had  been  a  kind  and 
considerate  parent. 

The  wife  of  John  liowcliffc  was  Grace,  daughter 


of  Peter  Face}-,  a  Devonshire  farmer.  She  died  on 
the  voyage  to  America  in  May,  1830.  The  subject 
of  this  notice  is  the  oldest  of  the  parental  family. 
His  brothers  are  John,  who  died  in  Ohio  in  1847; 
James,  now  living  in  Huron  County,  that  Slate; 
George,  a  resident  of  Akron  Township,  this  county, 
and  his  only  sister  is  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Ford,  of  Ohio. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Devonshire,  England, 
March  12,  1818,  reaied  on  the  farm  and  was  the 
recipient  of  somewhat  limited  school  privileges  un- 
der the  subscription  system.  He  was  eighteen  years 
old  when  the  family  left  Biddcford,  England,  on 
the  sail-vessel  "Ebenezer"  which  after  a  stormy 
voyage  finally  reached  New  York,  seven  weeks 
having  lieen  occupied  in  the  passage.  He  remained 
with  his  father  in  Huron  County,  Ohio,  until  he 
was  of  age,  then  began  working  out  by  the  month 
and  year,  continuing  his  education  at  night  schools 
and  on  Sundays.  For  two  or  three  years  he  rented 
a  farm,  then  buying  a  tract  near  Nor  walk,  he  im- 
proved and  operated  it  until  the  spring  of  1853. 

Selling  then,  Jlr.  Rowcliffe  turned  his  footsteps 
toward  Peoria  County,  111.,  to  which  he  had  been 
induced  to  come  by  the  representations  of  ac- 
quaintances, although  his  original  intention  had 
been  to  settle  in  Will  Count}-,  near  Joliet.  He 
shipped  his  goods  to  Chicago,  whence  he  was  con- 
veyed to  Peoria  by  a  team,  finding  but  a  small 
town  where  now  a  flourishing  city  stands.  Locating 
in  Kickapoo  Township  he  farmed  the  James  Voor- 
liees  place  the  first  summer,  the  following  spring 
renting  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Jubilee 
Township.  In  1855  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  11,  the  following  year  add- 
ing one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  12.  The 
land  was  raw  prairie,  bare  of  improvements.  It  was 
necessary  to  use  live  yoke  of  oxen  on  the  breaking 
plows  with  which  the  tough  sod  of  the  prairies  was 
first  turned.  Mr.  Rowcliffe  made  various  improve- 
ments upon  the  place  prior  to  his  departure  for 
fields  of  civil  strife. 

Mr.  Rowcliffe  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth  Illinois 
Cavalry,  was  mustered  into  service  at  Peoria  Janu- 
ary 7,  1863,  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  M, 
and  sent  south  to  join  the  army  of  the  Ohio  in  Ken- 
tucky. The  first  three  months  of  his  active  service 
was  during    the  Morgan  raid  and   after  the  cap- 


510 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lure  of  tlie  noterl  Southoniei-  at  Buffington  Isle,  liis 
regiment  was  willi  (ien.  Burnsiile  in  the  East  Ten- 
uossec  eountr}'.  Tbere  the  Lieutenant  participated 
in  tlie  liattle  of  Walker's  Ford,  liean  Station  and 
Fairdarden.  Tlie  command  was  then  sent  into 
('arolina  to  break  up  Lidmn  squads,  in  which  two 
regiments  ha(]  previouslj'  been  unsuccessfully  en- 
gaged. Jjieut.  Rowcliffe  was  in  command  of  the 
company  most  of  the  lime  during  this  service, 
which  was  successful,  twenty-one  of  the  Indians 
being  taken  prisoners. 

During  the  Indian  raid  the  First  Lieutenant  of 
Company  A  was  killed,  and  Lieut.  Rowcliffe  was 
detailed  to  bring  his  body  home.  After  perform- 
ing that  sad  duty  he  was  detailed  to  take  recruits 
from  Spring-Held  to  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  where  he 
mounted  and  drilled  them  until  June  18G4.  lie 
was  next  ordered  to  re-equip  and  take  them  to 
Cleveland,  Tenn.,  having  but  ten  days  in  which  to 
accomplish  that  purijose.  He  had  not  only  to  dis- 
tribute the  new  stores  but  to  gather  up  the  old  un- 
serviceable ones.  After  reat'liing  Cleveland  and 
transferring  the  troops  and  equipments  be  rejoined 
his  regiment  at  IJig  Shanty.  Detailed  as  an  ordi- 
nance officer  on  the  statTof  Col.  Cajiron  before  the 
battle  of  Kenesaw  IMountain,  he  laid  there  and  took 
care  of  the  wounded  until  July  27. 

AVe  next  find  Lieut.  Rowcliffe  fighting  in  Wlieel- 
er's  force  during  the  Stoneman  i-aid  to  Macon.  Ga. 
At  Sunshine  Church  a  battle  took  place  and  after 
accomplishing  their  purpose  of  destroying  tlie  rail- 
road and  stores,  the  brigade  passed  on.  During  the 
night  the  horse  of  Lieut.  Rowcliffe  mired,  he  w-as 
obliged  to  leave  the  animal  and,  his  comrades  hav- 
ing passed  on,  to  take  to  the  woods  alone.  It  was 
seventeen  d.ays  before  he  reached  Atlanta,  during 
which  time  he  was  hunted  and  hounded  and  spoke 
with  but  two  persons — one  black  and  one  white. 
He  followed  the  North  star  for  a  guide  by  night, 
crossing  streams  on  logs  and  planks,  suffering  fronj 
the  lack  of  food  and  drenched  by  the  rain  which 
fell  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  but  to 
whicli  he  no  doubt  owi'd  his  final  escape  from  the 
dangers  which  threatened  him.  After  the  second 
day  he  had  nothing  to  eat  but  thirteen  ripe  peaches 
which  he  found  on  an  old  plantation,  and  during 
the  last  day  of  his  travel  he  several    times   fainted 


from  weakness.  The  first  day  he  was  tracked  by 
blood  hounds,  but  having  hidden  before  the  dew 
went  off  he  thus  threw  them  off  the  scent.  The 
continuous  rains  and  the  darki'.ess  favored  him  and 
he  finally  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

After  a  time  Lieut.  Rowcliffe  went  to  Turner's 
Ferry  to  guard  Sherman  while  throwing  his  armj' 
about  Atlanta.  The  verj'  next  morning  Gen.  Slo- 
cum  sent  to  Col.  Capron  to  go  to  Atlanta  and  act 
as  advance  guard  for  the  Twentieth  Corps,  as  he 
bad  no  mounted  men.  Lieut.  Rowcliffe  suggested 
the  raising  of  a  volunteer  company  of  officers  to 
act  as  privates  in  this  duty,  and  securing  twenty- 
four  recruits  he  started  for  Atlanta.  The  advance 
guard  was  near  that  city  wlien  met  by  the  Mayor 
and  officials  who  announced  their  readiness  to  sur- 
render the  place.  Lieut.  Rowcliffe,  whom  Gen. 
Slocum  had  left  in  command  of  the  advance,  told 
them  to  wait  for  the  General  who  would  soon  be 
along,  and  he  with  his  cavalry  dashed  on  into  tlie 
town  which  they  were  thus  the  first  to  enter.  At  a 
cross  street  the}-  met  a  rebel  squad,  there  was  a 
cross  fire,  both  parties  ran,  but  the  rebels  soon  gave 
way  before  the  cavalry. 

Returning  to  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  Lieut.  Rowcliffe 
w.as  remounted  and  then  going  to  Nashville  took 
his  place  in  the  left  wing  of  the  Union  Army.  His 
brigade  was  the  first  struck  by  Hood's  right  and 
for  two  days  ke[>t  up  a  running  fight  while  moving 
toward  Columbia.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  left 
upon  Duck  River  to  guard  forts  there.  Hood's 
force  having  divided  and  surrounded  them  they 
had  to  cut  their  w.aj'  out  at  night,  reaching  Frank- 
lin the  day  before  the  battle  there,  after  which  they 
lay  in  the  edge  of  a  field  a  couple  of  weeks.  Then 
followed  the  battle  of  Nashville,during'  which  Lieut. 
Ivowcli&'e  had  charge  of  the  ambulance  eor[is  of  the 
cavalrj'.  The  order  detailing  him  for  Ambulance 
Director  was  issued  the  day  before  the  battle.  The 
command  having  followed  Hood  to  Gravelly 
Springs,  had  their  last  fight  with  him  on  Christmas 
day. 

Our  subject  gathered  up  the  wounded,  took  them 
back  to  Franklin  and  then  went  on  down  the  Ten- 
nessee River.  The  division  being  ordered  back  to 
guard  the  Alabama  Railroad  at  Pulaslvi,  he  left  it 
and  rejoined  the  regiment,  although  Gen.    Wilson, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


511 


then  in  command,  wished  him  to  accompany  the 
division.  Our  subject  liad  no  receipt  for  the  sup- 
plies  he  liad  left  at  Cleveland  and  was  anxious  to 
return  there  and  straigliteu  up  matters.  After 
getting  the  receipt  he  rejoined  the  regiment  at 
Js'ashvilie,  thence  accompanied  them  to  Pulaski 
and  there  remained  on  picket  turnpike  duty  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  thus  engaged  when 
the  news  of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln 
reached  him.  Mr.  Rowcliffe  received  a  Captain's 
commission  from  "Uick"  Oglesby,  but  was  dis- 
charged as  First  Lieutenant.  He  was  rarely  absent 
from  duty,  declaring  when  the  doctor  told  him  to 
go  to  the  hospital  that  he  preferred  to  die  in  battle. 
He  passed  llirough  the  various  dangerous  scenes  of 
his  army  life  without  receiving  a  scratch. 

During  the  absence  of  our  subject,  the  farm  had 
been  managed  by  his  wife  and  the  boys,upon  whom 
the  work  of  the  place  had  somewhat  gained.  He 
took  hold  with  a  will,  and  with  his  more  thorough 
un<lerstandiMg  of  the  work  before  them  to  guide 
their  efforts,  an  improvement  soon  took  place.  A 
small  part  of  the  old  place  has  been  sold,  the  pies- 
ent  acreage  of  the  homestead  being  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres.  It  is  supplied  with  commodious 
barns,  a  windmill,  and  everything  in  the  way  of 
buildings  and  machinery  which  will  expe<lite  the 
work  carried  on.  The  land  is  fertilized  by  a  creek 
which  flows  through  it  and  renders  it  excellent 
feeding  ground  for  stock  as  well  as  productive  of 
good  crops.  Mr.  Rowcliffe  raises  a  good  grade  of 
cattle  and  sheep,  having  upwards  of  a  hundred  of 
the  latter.  lie  also  raises  manj'  swine  and  some 
horses. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  daughter  of  the  Rev.  James 
Ford,  of  the  IMethodist  Episcopal  Church,  who  came 
to  America  in  1833,  settling  in  Huron  County, 
Ohio.  He  bought  three  hundred  acres  of  land  there 
witli  the  intention  of  farming,but  died  three  months 
after  his  ariival.  His  wife.  Mary,  for  whom  Mrs. 
Rowcliffe  w.as  named,  remained  on  the  farm  with 
her  children  until  her  death.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rowcliffe  seven  children  have  been  born,  wiiose 
record  is  as  follows:  .John  W.  of  the  firm  of  Blaine 
<fe  Rowcliffe,  dealers  in  books  and  stationery,  is  lo- 
cated in   Peoria;  George  is    engaged   in    farming, 


owning  eighty  acres  near  his  parent;  James  A.  is  a 
pharmacist  in  Peoria;  Charles  resides  in  Kewanee 
where  he  is  Secretary  of  the  Young  Men's  Clui»- 
tian  Association;  Mary  J.  married  Aaron  Mollitt  of 
Princeville  and  died  in  188G,  leaving  two  sons; 
liessie  A.  is  the  wife  of  John  Smith,  a  farmer  near 
Princeville,  whose  sketch  will  be  found  elsewhere 
in  this  volume;  Celeste  I.  married  A.  N.  Case,  a 
farmer  of  Medina  Township.  All  are  well  educated, 
(ieorge,  James  and  Charles  having  been  students  at 
Abingdon  College,  and  Bessie  A.  an  attendant  at 
the  Normal  Scliool  in  Bloomington,  111.  Mrs. 
Rowclift'e  departed  this  life  January  3,  1888,  and 
her  remains  W'ere  deposited  in  the  cemetery  at 
Princeville. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Rowcliffe  was  Supervisor  of  the 
township,  and  resigning  the  position  when  lie  en- 
tered the  army,  was  re-elected  soon  after  his  return, 
serving  several  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  when  the  court  house  was  built  in  Peoria. 
He  has  held  the  offices  of  Collector,  Assessor,  etc. 
He  has  been  School  Director  for  forty  years  except 
when  in  the  army  and  is  now  discharging  the  duties 
of  that  office.  He  has  been  very  instrumental  in 
building  schoolhouses  in  this  section,  one  having 
been  erected  on  his  farm.  For  twenty-four  years 
he  has  held  the  oHice  of  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Nominated  and  elected  to  the  legislature,  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  he  served  in  the  Twenty-^iinth 
session  vvhen  Elijah  Haines  was  Speaker  of  the 
House.  Mr.  Rowcliffe  was  a  member  of  several 
committees,  took  part  in  the  various  discussions 
and  earned  the  reputation  of  a  man  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  welfare  of  his  constituency  and  firmly 
opposed  to  everything  which  savors  of  bribery  or 
corruption.  He  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party  which  he  h.as  served  .-js  member  of 
the  Township  Central  Committee  and  delegate  to 
the  State  and  county  conventions. 

Mr.  Rowcliffe  was  formerly  identified  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd-Fellows.  He  is  a  de- 
vout Christian,  for  over  forty  years  having  been 
a  local  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
for  wlii(-h  he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1842.  He 
was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Zion  congrega- 
tion in  Radnor  Townshif)  in  which  he  has  held  the 
various  offices  and  is  still  serving  as  Superintendent 


512 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  Ibe  Sundaj'-school.  In  erecting  their  house  of 
worship  he  bore  an  important  part.  It  is  needless 
to  say  that  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  people 
and  that  his  excellent  views  are  greatly  appreciated 
by  those  about  him. 


^\^:-i^-i?:#- 


ENRY  RANDALL,  is  one  of  the  leading 
manufacturers  of  brick,  which  forms  so 
important  an  interest  in  this  county.  He 
carries  on  a  large  business  in  Limestone 
where  he  has  an  extensive  yard  which  is  well  sup- 
plied with  all  needed  appliances.  He  is  a  native  of 
Shtliicld,  Yorkshire,  England,  where  he  was  born 
February  5,  1840.  Here  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
brick- maker  in  Sheffield  from  John  Gregory,  for 
whom  he  worked  twenty-one  j-ears,  becoming  one 
of  the  most  faithful  and  skillful  emploj'es,  and 
gaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  best  mode  of 
manufacturing  brick.  In  1872,  he  left  his  native 
England  to  take  up  his  residence  in  this  country. 
After  his  arrival  here  he  went  to  Minonk,  where  he 
had  an  uncle  in  the  brick  business.  E.  Goodwin, 
and  he  labored  in  his  yards  for  eleven  years.  In 
1883.  he  came  to  Peoria,  a  stranger  and  prospected 
for  clay  till  he  found  that  which  suited  his  purpose 
on  section  26. Limestone  Township,  his  long  experi- 
ence and  keen  eye  showing  him  quickly  the  value  of 
this  plastic  earth  as  a  materi.il  for  brick.  He  then 
leased  the  laud  for  ten  years,  and  activel3-  entered 
the  business  for  himself,  commencing  with  a  small 
capital  which  he  gra(liiall\-  increased  till  he  is  now 
one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  of  brick  in  Ihe 
county.  His  brick  are  of  a  superior  quality  for 
which  he  finds  a  good  market,  selling  to  one  of 
the  largest  contractors  in  the  cit}-,  and  oftentimes 
making  as  many  as  thirteen  hundred  thousand  per 
vear.  He  has  three  kilns  and  employs  from  four- 
teen to  fifteen  hands  in  the  yards  and  about  seven 
teams  on  the  road. 

Our  subject  was  marrieil  in  England  to  Miss 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Henry  Hill,of  Leicestershire, 
England.  This  devoted  wife  accompanied  him 
across  the  waters,  and  by  her  cheerful  assistance 


and  kindl}'  counsel  has  done  much  to  aid  him    in 

the  upbuilding  of  their  new  home.  Five  of  their 
eleven  children  are  living.  Alice  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  Hill,  one  of  the  merchants  of  Bartonville 
and  lhe3'  have  two  children;  William,  is  a  young 
man  at  home,  who  has  acquired  the  brick-making 
business;  Ada  is  the  wife  of  John  Monroe,  a  brick 
manufacturer;  Herbert  is  at  home;  Albert  is  the 
3-oungest  of  the  family. 

In  our  subject,  this  township  and  county  have  a 
valuable  addition  to  their  citizenship,  as  he  is  in  all 
respects  a  conscientious,  fair  dealing,  business  like 
man,  and  is  a  fine  representative  of  one  of  the  prom- 
inent industries  of  Peoria  County,  which  his  intelli- 
gent enterprise,and  sound  practical  knowledge  of  his 
calling  have  greatlj'  furthered.  His  neighbors  and 
friends,  of  whom  he  has  many,  find  him  a  pleasant 
associate  who  is  obliging  and  thoughtful  in  his  in- 
tercourse witli  them.  Politically  the  Republican 
party  receives  his  stanch  support.  He  comes  of  a 
good  old  Methodist  family  and  is  himself  of  a  sin- 
cerely religious  nature. 


■^EORGE  L.  WEATHERWAX.  No  factor 
j5^,  has  been  more  important  in  raising  this  sec- 
tion of  the  countrj-  to  its  present  condition 
of  solid  and  enduring  prosperiti*,  than  the  citizen 
soldiers  who  fought  so  bravely-  and  sacrificed  so 
much  in  the  late  war,  saving  the  L'uion  from  de- 
struction, and  at  the  close  of  hostilities  quietly  re- 
sumed peaceful  vocations,  and  in  every  walk  of 
life  have  aided  the  progress  and  growth  of  c)ur 
great  Republic.  The  subject  of  this  biogra[ihical 
notice  is  a  representative  of  that  element.  Thougii 
not  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Brimfield  Town- 
ship, he  is  justl}'  considered  on.e  of  its  pioneers,  as 
he  has  here  developed  on  section  8.  a  desirable 
farm  compiising  one  hundred  and  tweut3'-five  acres 
of  land,  which  is  under  excellent  cultivation  and 
is  provided  with  substantial  improvements. 

Mr.  Weather  wax  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Holmes  County,  November  16,  1845.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Susan  (Craig)  Weatherwax,  na- 
tives respectively  of  New  Y'ork  and  West  Virginia. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


513 


He  is  ihe  youngest  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  of 
wliocu  the  following  survive:  John,  a  resident  of 
Indiana;  Andrew,  living  in  Brimfield  Township; 
Catherine,  wife  of  T.  Patterson,  who  lives  near 
Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Anna  M.,  a  resident  of  Holmes 
County,  Ohio;  Jaeob,  living  near  Mt.  Vernon, 
Ohio;  Abram,  of  Holmes  County;  and  George  L. 
William  and  Mary  are  deceased  and  one  cliild  died 
in  infancy. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native 
county-,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Ohio,  which  he  did  not  attend  after  he 
was  fifteen  years  old.  Although  he  did  not  have 
the  advantages  afforded  the  youth  of  to-day.  he 
has  always  been  fond  of  reading  and  is  well  in- 
fornie(L  He  was  still  a  boy  when  the  war  broke 
out  and  with  the  ardor  of  youth  and  an  inborn  pa- 
triotic love  of  country,  he  desired  to  take  part  in 
it,  and  August  17,  1861,  had  his  name  enrolled  as 
a  member  of  Company  1!,  Sixteenth  Ohio  Infantrv, 
which  at  first  formed  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio,  and  subsequently  was  assigned  to  the  Thir- 
teenth Army  Corps  and  later  became  a  part  of  the 
Army  of  the  Gulf.  Our  subject  took  part  in  the 
skirmishing  at  Cumberland  Gap,  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Tazewell,  Tenn.,  and  with  his  regi- 
ment was  pursued  b)'  Gen.  John  Morgan  in  their 
retreat  from  Kentnckj'  to  the  Ohio  River,  anil  after 
that  was  sent  as  far  .as  Charlrstown,  W.  Aa.  From 
there  he  and  his  comrades  went  to  Memphis,  and 
joined  Sherman's  army,  which  co-operated  with 
Grant  at  ^'icksburg.  and  Mr.  Weatlierwax  took 
|)art  in  that  memorable  siege  and  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  at  Chickasaw  Baj'ou,  where  Sherman 
w,as  nearly  defeated,  and  there  our  subject  was 
taken  i)risoner.  December  29,  1SG2.  He  was  after- 
wards exchanged  and  with  his  cor|>s  was  transferred 
to  the  department  of  the  Gulf,  and  operated  on  the 
Texas  Coast,  taking  an  active  part  in  capturing 
Ft.  Esperanza. 

Mr.  Weatlierwax  and  his  regiment  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  Red  River,  being  sent  as  far  as  Alex- 
ander, where  they  assisted  in  building  the  now- 
historic  dam,  that  was  erected  to  raise  the  water  to 
get  the  guiil)oats  over  the  rapids.  They  subse- 
quently fought  in  the  battle  of  Marksville,  La.,  and 
in  numerous  skirmishes  of  minor  importance.     For 


more  than  three  years  our  subject  was  in  the  South 
and  underwent  all  the  varied  experiences  of  military 
life,  proving  himself  to  possess  excellent  soldierly 
qualities  and  faithfully  (jerforming  his  duty  while 
defending  the  old  flag,  lie  was  honorably  dis- 
charged October  31.  IHGL 

After  the  excitement  of  life  on  the  battlefield, 
Mr.  Weatherwax  returned  to  his  home  in  Ohio,  and 
in  Februarj-,  18G5,  made  a  new  departure,  emigrat- 
ing from  there  to  this  county,  of  which  he  has  been 
an  honored  citizen  from  that  time.  For  some  two 
years  he  labored  as  a  farm  hand.  In  the  spring  of 
1867,  he  located  on  his  present  farm,  where  he  has 
ever  since  made  his  home. 

Our  subject  was  married  December  6,  1866,  to 
Marv  M.  Reed.  She  was  born  in  West  \irginia, 
January  30,  1846,  toWilliara  and  Margaret  (McCoy) 
Reed,  both  natives  of  West  Virginia.  Iler  paternal 
ancestors  are  said  to  have  been  of  Scotch-Irish 
l)lood,  and  her  maternal  progenitors  were  of  Scotch 
origin.  Her  father  was  twice  married  and  b}'  his 
first  wife  had  the  following  live  children :  Louisa, 
wife  of  J.  C.  Coe,  of  Brimfield  Township;  Angus, 
who  was  a  soldier  and  gave  up  his  life  for  his 
country  in  1863;  Mary  M.;  Martha,  wife  of  J.  H. 
Moore,  of  Millbrook  Township;  and  Rachael,  de- 
ceased. By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Reed  had  four 
children,  namely:  Commodore  A.,  of  Jlillbrook 
Township;  James  C,  of  Millbrook  Township;  Wil- 
lis J.,  of  Brimfield  Townshii);  anil  Frank  W.,  of 
Elmwood  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weatherwax  have  had  six  children  : 
Margaretta,  William  A.,  .Sarah  F,,  Cora  B.  (de- 
ceased). Waiter  J.,  and  Mary  C. 

Mr.  Weatherwax,  ably  assisted  by  his  wife,  who 
has  wisely  counseled  him  and  cheerfully  helped  him 
in  all  his  undertakings,  has  accumulated  a  desirable 
competence,  and  has  built  up  a  cozy  home  replete 
with  all  the  comforts  of  life  and  the  center  of  gen- 
uine hos|)itality.  A  man  of  Mr.  Weatherwax "s  in- 
telligence, firmness  of  char.acter  and  high  principle, 
necessarily  exerts  a  good  influence  in  his  commun- 
ity, and  is  potent  in  its  public  life.  So  we  find  our 
subject  occupying  various  social  and  civic  posi- 
tions. In  June,  1890,  he  was  elected  Secretary  of 
the  Old  Settler's  Association  of  Brimfield  Town- 
ship, and  he  is  also  prominently  identified  with  the 


514 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Agricultural  Association  of  Fiencli  Grove,  this 
county,  which  he  is  ably  serving  as  President,  this 
being  his  fifth  term  as  an  incuuibeut  of  that  ortke. 
lie  is  or.e  of  the  leading  members  of  theG.  L.  Foot 
Post,  No.  177,  G.  A.  R.  at  Brimfield.  was  the  Qrst 
commander  of  the  Post  and  served  as  suc-h  success- 
ivelj'  five  years  and  to  his  energetic  administration 
of  its  affairs,  it  owes  much  of  its  success  as  an  or- 
ganization. He  has  been  Township  School  Trustee, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  and  iiis  wife  are  honored  memliers  of 
the  Presbyterian  Clnirch,  which  lie  has  served  as 
Trustee. 


ENRY  SHADE.  The  prosperity  of  Uiis 
county  is  due  in  no  small  measure  to  its 
active  and  intelligent  agriculturists,  who 
■*  have  brought  its  farming  interests  to  such 
a  high  point  that  it  is  pre-eminent  in  that  regard. 
The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  is  a  worthj' 
member  of  the  farming  community  of  this  section 
of  the  Slate,  and  is  the  proprietor  of  a  desirable 
farm  on  section  18,  Millbrook  Township. 

Mr.  Shade  was  born  in  Portage  Count}',  Ohio, 
April  25,  1828,  his  parents,  Adam  and  Marj' 
(Brener)  Shade,  being  numbered  among  the  pio- 
neers of  that  region.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother  was  a  Virginian  by 
birth.  Two  of  his  father's  brothers  served  in  tiie 
War  of  1812,  and  he  wished  to  join  the  army,  but 
he  was  too  young  and  the  war  closed  before  his 
ambition  could  be  gratified,  although  he  enlisted. 
In  1841,  the  elder  Mr.  Shade  emigrated  with  his 
family  to  Stark  Countj-  in  this  State,  and  resided 
there  about  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  joined  the 
pioneers  of  this  county,  and  bought  an  eighty-acre 
tract  of  wild  land  in  Jlillbrook  Township,  which  is 
now  occupied  by  Josiah  Jaques.  He  toiled  hard  to 
improve  it  into  a  farm,  that  in  years  became  a 
very  desirable  |)iece  of  property, and  there  his  useful 
career  was  brought  to  a  close  September  22,  1872, 
at  a  ripe  old  age.  He  was  the  father  of  a  large 
family  of  children,  of  whom  the  following  survive: 
Rebecca,  the  widow  of  Mr.  Shaw  of   this   county; 


Henrj- ;  William,  a  resident  of  Kansas;  .Jacob  liv- 
ing in  Kansas:  Mary,  wife  of  .Samuel  Lambcrtson 
of  Iowa;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  Tofflemeyer  of 
Kansas. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  their  pioneer  home  in 
this  State.  He  received  the  rudiments  of  his  edu- 
cation in  the  subscription  schools  of  Oiiio  and  af- 
terward attended  tlie  public  schools  of  this  count}-. 
With  the  exception  of  about  four  jears  when  he 
was  employed  as  a  car|)enter,  he  has  always  en- 
gaged in  farming,  having  gained  a  thorougli  train- 
ing  on  the  old  homestead  from  his  father,  who  was 
a  good,  practical  farmer.  He  settled  on  his  home- 
stead in  Millbrook  Township  in  185G  and  has  le 
sided  here  ever  since.  He  has  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seven  acres,  and  he  may  well  take  pride 
in  the  fact  that  its  development  to  its  present  fine 
condition  is  the  result  of  jiis  unremitting  and 
well-directed  labors.  Its  fertile  acres  yield  good 
harvests  in  return  for  the  constant  care  that  he  ex- 
pends upon  them,  and  in  its  well-tilled  fields,  its 
neat  buildings,  and  every  convenience  to  operate 
it  to  a  good  advant.age,  we  find  one  of  the  best  ap- 
pointed places  in  the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Shade  was  first  married  to  Anne  Scogill, 
their  wedding  taking  place  Jul}'  10,  1851.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Peter  Scogill.  By  that  marriage 
our  subject  became  the  father  of  one  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Sneider  of  Knox 
County.  Mr.  Shade  was  married  a  second  time 
March  1,  1857,  taking  as  his  wife  Lucinda  Cook, 
who  was  born  in  Switzerland  County,  Ind,,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1839,  Her  parents  were  James  and 
Mary  (Cogswell)  Cook,  natives,  respectively,  of 
New  England  and  Kentucky,  They  were  early 
settlers  of  the  county  of  her  birth,  and  had  four 
children  born  to  them,  of  whom  Mrs,  Siiade  and 
her  brother  Milton,  of  that  county,  are  the  only 
survivors.  The  father  died  in  Southern  Illinois 
in  1842,  and  her  mother  in  Switzerland  County, 
lud.,  in  1868.  Mrs.  Shade  came  to  Illinois  with 
her  brother-in-law,  Henry  GuUioil.  and  his  family, 
Mr,  Shade  has  found  in  her  an  admirable  helpmate 
and  all  that  a  true  wife  should  be.  ,She  is  a  highly 
esteemed  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  takes  a  prominent  part  in  society  work. 


Ceoroe  JLaiie 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


517 


She  is  also  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  El- 
more Ladies'  Aid  Sociely,  of  wiiifh  she  is  Piesi- 
ilent. 

Mr.  ShiuU'  is  in  ever}'  respect  worlliy  of  tiio  coii- 
sidoiittion  nccordod  to  him  uii  ;ill  sides,  .as  he  is  a 
man  of  strict,  probity,  is  manly,  just,  ami  straight- 
forward in  liis  relations  wilii  olliois,  and  in  the  do- 
mestic circle  is  a  devoted  hnshand  and  a  wise 
fatlier.  lie  lias  an  inteliiaent  knowlediie  of  politics, 
and  gives  sturdy  support  tf)  Rcpidjliean  principles. 
He  has  served  with  <>reat  etticiency  as  School  Di- 
rector, lie  comes  of  a  iiatriotic  family,  and  two 
of  his  lirothers.  Jacob  and  Daniel,  were  soldiers  in 
the  late  war. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  greatl\- 
lilessed  in  their  wedded  life  by  the  birth  of  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  the  following  ten  are  living: 
Clara,  wife  of  Simon  Heller  of  Yates  City;  Wil- 
liam, of  this  county;  Mary,  wife  of  Frank  Terry 
of  Knox  County;  James,  of  F-lm wood  Township; 
Olive,  FJIa,  Viola,  Ida,  Elsie  and  Sylvester. 


^^ 


^^=^P^ORGE  J.  LANE,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers 
(11  ,_— ,  in  Trivoli  Township,  has  resided  therein 
%^J^  since  his  first  year.  Although  he  has 
passed  through  many. a  hard  time  and  received 
many  a  hard  knock  in  the  battle  of  life,  he  has  won 
success  in  the  accumulation  of  property,  and  still 
better,  is  held  in  good  repute  and  is  well  liked  liy 
those  who  know  him.  His  fine  estate  consists  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  20,  and 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section  30,  all  im- 
proved except  the  timber  land,  and  devoted  to  the 
purposes  of  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  to 
the  latter  of  whicli  it  is  well  adapted,  being  situa- 
ted at  the  head  of  Copperas  Creek. 

Grandfather  Lane,  whose  given  name  was  James, 
was  the  son  of  an  Irishman,  and  was  a  farmer  and 
distiller  in  North  Carolina,  his  native  State,  until 
1814,  when  he  removed  to  Gallatin  County,  Tenn. 
There  he  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  and 
stock-raising,  holding  the  office  of  Sheriff  of  the 
countj'  several  terms.  In  1818  he  removed  to 
Hamilton  County,  III.,  opening  up  a  farm  on  Gov- 


ernment land,  and  operating  it  until  he  retired 
from  active  life,  and  coming  to  Pcori.a  County, 
died  here  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  Ik- 
was  High  Sheriff  of  Hamilton  County. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Thomas  Lane,  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  April  1,  1807.  His  early 
3'ears  were  spent  upon  a  farm,  and  when  of  a  suit- 
able age  he  began  working  at  trades,  having  a 
strong  inclination  for  all  mechanical  employments, 
and  being  occu[)ied  at  different  times  in  carpenter 
and  cooper  work.  He  was  married  in  Hamilton 
County,  this  State,  and  buying  a  farm,  attempted  to 
make  a  living  at  agriculture  there,  but  failed.  In 
the  fall  of  1834  he  started  for  Peoria  Count}'  with 
an  ox  team  and  covered  wagon,  bringing  his  wife 
and  child.  He  traveled  in  company  with  others, 
camping  out  by  the  wayside  and  reaching  his  des- 
tination with  twenty-five  cents  in  his  i)ocket.  He 
located  on  section  30,  Trivoli  Township,  buying 
forty  acres  and  later  adding  eighty  acres.  He 
built  a  log  house,  covered  with  claplioards,  and  by 
dint  of  arduous  exertion  conquered  fortune. 

In  1848  Mr.  Lane  erected  a  good  brick  house, 
the  material  for  which  had  been  made  by  him  the 
preceding  j'ear.  While  in  Hamilton  County  he  be- 
gan preaching  in  the  Melhoilist  Episcoi)al  Church, 
and  after  coming  to  Peoria  County  he  founded  a 
society  in  his  own  neighborhood,  assisted  in  build- 
ing an  edifice,  and  until  his  death  was  a  prominent 
member.  He  became  Local  Elder,  rode  many  miles 
to  preach  the  gospel  and  started  numerous 
churches.  He  was  much  interested  in  township 
affairs,  particularly  in  educational  matters.  He 
died  suddenl}-,  April  1,  1879,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-two years,  having  been  in  active  life  up  to 
that  date. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Mary  B.  Matliis.  She  was  born  in  Union 
County,  Ky.,  in  1811.  Her  father,  Martin  Matins, 
a  native  of  the  same  State,  was  a  farmer.  After 
his  death  his  widow  married  a  Mr.  Proctor  and 
came  to  Illinois.  Mrs.  Lane  is  now  living  on  the 
old  homestead ;  she  has  been  blind  for  two  years. 
She  is  the  mother  of  eight  children,  our  subject 
being  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  The  first-born, 
Marjr  J.,  died  in  Hamilton  County;  Lewis  M., 
John  M.  and  Saiah  E.  died  in  Trivoli  Township, 


518 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


this  coantj,  the  date  of  the  latter's  decease  being 
1883;  William  H.  resides  on  section  1,  this  town- 
>■■;  :  Thomas  S.  in  another  part  of  it;  and  Mrs. 
V...1A  E.  Rice  at  the  old  home. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  was 
I>om  in  Hamilton  County.  Jnlv  27,  1S33.  brought 
to  this  conntj-  when  but  little  more  than  a  year  old 
and  reared  on  the  farm.  He  first  attended  school 
when  eight  years  old,  the  text  boots  which  he  used 
being  the  old  Webster  spelling  book,  the  Kew  Tes- 
tament and  Pike's  Arithmetic,  in  irhich  he  passed 
the  Rule  of  Three,  gaining  the  reputation  of  an 
adTanced  scholar.  The  school  was  in  session  about 
six  months  during  the  year  and,  strange  to  say. 
was  held  in  a  frame  building.  The  lad  was  early 
set  to  work  on  the  farm.  Ieamin£  to  drive  oxen, 
breaking  prairie  witli  the  wooden  mold-board  plow, 
grubbing  and  bearing  a  part  in  wolf  and  coon 
hunts,  husking  bees,  and  fox  hunting  with  hounds, 
and  al^  kiliiug  some  deer.  One  of  his  experiences 
in  early  life  was  killing  thirty  snakes  in  au  hour. 
His  early  home  was  the  log  house,  which  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  brick  structure  which  family  and 
friends  considered  an  elaborate  mansion. 

Young  Lane  remained  at  home  until  after  he 
had  become  of  age,  but  when  twenty  years  old  be- 
gan working  with  his  father  on  shares,  getting  one- 
half  the  proceeds  of  their  labors.  He  then  rented 
four  years,  and  in  1856  bought  eighty  acres  of  the 
land  he  still  owns,  paying  #3,000  for  the  same. 
Grain  was  hauled  to  Peoria  and  Reed's  Landing, 
and  to  those  places  he  also  diore  the  hogs  and 
other  stock  he  had  to  sell.  Two  years  after  pur- 
chasing the  property  he  located  upon  it,  making 
the  improvements,  which  include  CTerything  need- 
ful and  convenient.  He  has  added  to  his  real  es- 
tate as  circumstances  warranted,  now  finding  almost 
constant  employment  for  five  teams  on  the  farm 
which  he  ;  y  soperintends.     He  raises  high- 

ST  =  r^e  =;■    ::■ ;attle,  shipping   his  own   stock 

:  reding  one  to  three  car  loads  per  year. 

His  iiO'i>by  is  raising  and  feediug  hogs,  and  his 

droves  are  probably  the  lai^iest  in  the   township. 

He  also  deals  to  some  extent  in  sheep  and  horses. 

"esides  orer  the  pleasant  home 

c ;  : : . .  _  -.  _e  his  wife  February  4. 1858,  the 

marriage.being  celebrated  in  this  township.     She  is 


a  native  of  Nicholas  County,  Ky.,  came  to  this 
section  when  a  young  lady,  ami,  having  borne  an 
excellent  reputation  as  Mi^  Mary  E.  McGraw,  has 
added  to  her  list  of  friends  by  her  eaimbility  and 
devotion  to  her  family. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  became  the  parents  of  a 
large  family,  comprising  four  sons  and  eight 
daughters.  Eldwin  M.  is  married  and  farming  in 
his  native  township:  Thomas  S.,  a  graduate  of  the 
Springfield  Commercial  College,  operates  a  farm 
of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Kansas;  Mary 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Ed.  Wells,  a  farmer  in  Rice 
Countv.  Kan.:  Emily  F. died  when  thirteen  months 
^  J.  is  married  and  residing  in  this  town- 
iinp;  Aimuie  A.  died  May  23,  1878;  George  H. 
is  working  on  the  home  farm ;  Amanda  T.  married 
Jackson  Wright,  a  farmer  in  Fulton  County;  Sa^ 
rah  E..  Ida  M.,  Ada  T.  and  Amy  L.  are  with  their 
parents. 

In  1879  Mr.  Lane  was  electetl  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  has  since  served  continuously,  and  is 
also  School  Director,  in  which  i>osition  he  has 
acted  for  years.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  county  conventions.  He  is  Trustee 
and  Steward  in  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Concord,  was  on  the  Building  Committee  when 
the  edifice  was  rebuilt,  and  has  been  Class-Leader. 

A  lithographic  por&ait  of  Mr.  Lane  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  Tolume. 


-wwafeniTF 


^OSIAH  JAQUES  is  one  of  the  foremost  of 
the  pioneers  who  came  to  this  county  in  the 
'50s  and  he  h.<is  been  prominently  identified 
with  its  agricultural  development  ever  since. 
He  has  been  pre-eminently  succe^ful  in  the  prose- 
cution of  his  calling  and  is  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners and  wealthiest  citizens  of  Millbrook  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  his  home  and  is  here  possessed 
of  a  valuable  property. 

Mr.  Jaques  is  a  native  of  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
bom  March  15,  1829,  to  Santford  and  Elizabeth 
(Thomas)  Jaques.  His  father  was  a  native  of  New 
York  State,  the  Jaques  family  being  of  French  ori- 
gin. His  mother  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  her  Ca- 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUOGRAPHICAL  ALIUM. 


519 


tlier  coming  from  Wales.  The  parents  of  our 
subjoct  wcic  early  pioiiccis  of  Ohio,  and  lie  ijrew 
up  unckr  the  inlluences  of  the  prinillive  life  that 
the  early  settlers  of  that  State  were  obliijed  to  lead. 
In  the  early  suhscrij)li()ii  schools  of  Ohio  he 
gleaned  a  somc»vhat  meagre  education,  as  the  ad- 
vantages were  not  such  as  the  youth  of  to-(l,iy  en- 
joy, but  our  subject  was  a  liriiihl  intelligent  lad. 
and  made  good  use  of  his  books  and  observing 
powers  and  having  read  much  and  thought  much, 
has  l<ei)t  abreast  of  the  times.  He  was  bred  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer,  and  having  a  natural  taste  for  that 
calling,  has  alw.ays  pursued  it,  and  has  been  more 
than  or<liiiarily  prospered.  The  same  ambitions, 
active  sjiiril  that  led  his  forefathers  to  leave  their 
early  homes  in  sunny  France,  or  among  the  moun- 
tains of  Wales,  and  cross  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic 
to  a  new  and  strange  country,  and  in  a  later  day 
brought  his  parents  to  settle  in  the  primeval  for- 
ests of  Ohio,  animated  our  subject,  and  in  18.53,  he 
ventured  forth  from  his  earl^'  home  and  came  to 
I'eorua  County,  and  in  the  spring  of  1854,  settled 
on  his  present  farm  in  Millbrook  Township,  his 
residence  being  on  section  18. 

Mr.  Jaques  first  purchased  eight}'  acres  of  land 
here  paying  $20  an  acre  for  it,  it  being  almost  in  its 
original  wildness  with  scarcely'  any  improvements. 
His  original  investment  has  brought  him  in  large 
returns,  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  six  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land,  lying  mostly  in 
this  county.  He  has  placed  his  property  under 
excellent  improvement,  has  provided  commodious 
and  conveniently  arranged  buildings  for  every  pur- 
pose, and  has  all  the  modern  machinery  in  use  on  a 
model  farm.  The  abundant  harvests  gleaned  from 
his  broad  acres  bring  him  in  a  large  income  and  he 
derives  much  money  from  other  sources. 

April  17,  1856,  Mr.  Jaques  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Isabella  Pralz.  Mrs.  Jaques  was 
born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  (Wetzel)  Pratz,  and  a  sister  of 
the  well-known  W.  W.  Pratz,  of  whom  a  sketch 
appears  in  this  work.  Mrs.  Jaques'  parents  were 
pioneers  of  this  county,  coming  here  from  Ohio 
when  she  was  about  two  j-earsold. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jaques  have  had  eleven  children, 
of  whom  the  following  seven  are  still  living:  Will- 


iam H.,  a  resident  of  Brimfield  Township;  Almira, 
wife  of  Charles  Craig,  of  Knox  County;  Alvira, 
David,  Margaret,  Harriet  and  Mattie.  The  names 
of  the  deceased  arc  .John,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth,  and 
one  child  ditd  in  infancy.  Millbrook  is  indcbteil 
to  no  one  more  than  to  our  subject  for  the  great 
work  that  has  been  accomplished  in  making  it  one 
of  the  best  improved  agricultural  centers  of  the 
county,  his  activity,  far-seeing  and  intelligent  en- 
terprise, and  marked  force  and  decision  of  character 
being  potent  factors  in  the  advancement  of  its 
farming  interests.  He  has  also  pl.ayed  an  important 
part  in  elevating  its  social  and  religious  status,  his 
generous  hand  being  noted  in  ever}'  scheme  devised 
for  the  welfare  of  the  community.  He  is  a  man  of 
consistent  Christian  virtues,  of  a  broad  and  calm 
outlook  on  life,  and  in  him  and  his  amiable  wife  the 
Christian  Church  finds  two  of  its  most  earnest  sup- 
porters. In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  and  uses  his  influence  to  forward  its 
interests. 


-^ 


^^  ONRAD    BONTZ,  Ji;.  of  Limestone  Town- 
(l(  ship,  is  the  son   of  one  of  Peoria's    early 

^^r  German  settlers.  The  father,  Peter  Bontz, 
came  to  America  when  a  young  man  from  the 
Kingdom  of  Bavaria,  determined  to  tr}-  his  fortunes 
in  the  New  World  that  promised  protection  to  all 
who  would  take  refuge  under  her  banner.  Like 
most  of  those  who  sought  our  shores,  he  was  poor 
except  in  health  and  energy,  but  witih  this  capital 
he  set  out  to  make  for  himself  and  those  he  loved 
a  comfortable  home,  his  spirit  buoj'ed  by  hope 
amid  all  his  discouragements.  At  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
he  was  married  to  the  maiden  of  his  choice,  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Kauffmann.  She  had  accompanied  her 
parents,  Henry  and  Christina  (Fellastean)  Kauff- 
mann, to  America  a  short  time  before  Mr.  Bontz, 
thev  having  come  from  the  same  place  as  himself. 
The  young  couple  lived  in  Ohio  for  a  short  time 
after  their  marriage,  then  removing  to  Peoria 
County,  HI.,  they  made  for  themselves  and  their 
growing  family,  a  pleasant  and  comfortable  home  b}' 
their  frugality  and  close  application  to  business.  At 


5-20 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  same  time  tbey  managed  to  give  to  eacli  of  their 
children  a  good  education,  b^-  which  they  have 
been  well  fitted  for  the  battle  of  life.  Before  mov- 
ing from  Ohio  thej-  were  blessed  with  one  daughter, 
Margaret,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  John  B.  Look, 
also  of  a  very  old  German  family.  This  couple 
now  have  five  children  and  are  among  the  prosper- 
ous farmers  of  the  count}-. 

The  oldest  member  of  the  parental  familj'  born 
in  Peoria  Count}-  is  Mary  Ann.  how  the  wife  of 
II.  J.  Neumiller,  a  prosperous  ]iver\  man  of  Peoria 
and  the  mother  of  one  child.  AVilliam  P.,  the  eld- 
est son,  now  owns  a  fine  farm  adjoining  the  old 
homestead,  his  family  including  two  children. 
Peter,  who  is  married  and  has  one  child,  is  also 
h  icated  on  a  farm  near  the  old  home ;  Louie  E.,  a 
young  man  of  fine  education  and  great  promise,  a 
o-raduate  of  the  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso,  Ind., 
is  head  bookkeeper  for  a  large  iron  mining  firm  at 
Iron  wood,  Mich.,  his  present  salarj'  being  §100  per 
month.  Conrad,  our  subject,  is  the  only  one  of  the 
family  left  at  home,  he  being  the  youngest  and 
unmarried. 

Our  subject  found  it  necessary  at  the  death  of 
his  father,  which  occurred  in  1887,  to  leave  school 
and  take  charge  of  the  farm  for  his  mother,  who  is 
now  well  advanced  in  years.  He  has  been  a  student 
in  the  college  at  Valparaiso,  from  which  he  still 
expects  to  be  graduated  whenever  circumstances 
will  allow  him  to  complete  the  course  of  stud}"  there. 
He  is  the  possessor  of  a  first  grade  certificate  for 
Peoria  County  and  has  taught  several  terms  in  the 
neighboring  schools.  He  is  a  young  man  of  very 
studious  habits,  with  a  mind  capable  of  great  ac- 
quisitions, and  ambitious  to  develop  his  capacities 
to  their  full  extent.  "With  his  attainments,  a  strict 
integrity,  and  zeal  in  any  calling  he  may  choose, 
ne  predict  for  him  a  bright  future  in  the  great 
world  which  lies  before  him. 

From  the  small  beginning  made  by  the  father  of 
our  subject,  he  was  able  to  rear  his  family  to  be 
come  useful  members  of  society  and  leave  his 
widow  in  easy  circumstances.  With  the  help  of  his 
boys,  as  they  became  able  to  assist  him,  lie  reclaimed 
I'.is  estate  from  the  woods  by  continuous  hard  la- 
bor, making  it  one  of  the  most  highly. cultivated 
farms  in  the  township.     He  had  the  satisfaction  of 


knowing  that  he  had  done  his  whole  duty  to  his 
family  ere  called  from  time  to  eternity.  He  was  a 
son  of  John  and  Eva  (Sniderfritzer)  Bontz.  The 
maternal  grandmother  of  our  subject  also  came  to 
Peoria  in  1851,  spending  the  remnant  of  her  days 
in  this  neisrhborhood. 


^^EORGE  F.  CONKLIN  is  numbered  among 
(11  (-—  the  old  timers  of  Elm  wood  Township,  where 
^^sll  li6  has  lived  nearly  half  a  century.  His 
home  is  situated  on  section  2G,  the  estate  compris- 
ing one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  land,  well 
improved  and  nearly  all  under  tillage.  The  entire 
place  presents  an  appearance  of  order  and  wise 
management  indicative  of  the  enterprise  and  pro- 
gressive ideas  of  the  owner,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  according  to  the  most  approved  methods, 
and  who  is  reaping  the  reward  of  his  efiforts. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  J.  and 
Calisla  (Campbell)  Conkliu,  natives  of  the  Empire 
State,  in  which  they  were  married  and  continued 
to  I'cside  until  1845.  They  then  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, setting  up  their  home  in  Elmwood  Township, 
Peoria  Count}',  which  was  still  but  sparsely  settled. 
There  was  at  that  time  but  one  house  in  Elmwood, 
and  that  a  log  one.  A  tract  of  unimproved  laud 
on  section  16,  became  the  scene  of  the  efficient  la- 
bors of  the  husband,  to  whom  farming  was  a  life 
work.  A  log  house  was  first  built  and  from  time 
to  time,  as  his  means  would  allow,  Mr.  Conklin  put 
uj)  other  buildings  and  made  various  improve- 
ments. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  poor  when  they 
came  to  Illinois,  having  but  §10  when  they  reached 
here,  but  painstaking  efforts  and  frugal  manage- 
ment conquered  adverse  circumstances  and  tiiey 
became  possessed  of  a  competence.  They  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Ei)iscopal  Church,  w-ell 
known  and  highly  respected  in  the  community, 
and  the  husband  was  prominent  in  local  offices. 
He  belonged  to  the  Republican  party.  He  died  in 
1876,  but  his  widow  still  survives,  being  now  sev- 
ent} -eight  years  old.  She  lives  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Joliu  Post,  on  the  old  homestead.     The  par- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


521 


ental  family  consists  of  three  children,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  first-born.  Wiliiaui  C.  resides  on 
section  16,  and  Adeline  is  tiie  occupant  of  the  old 
liorae. 

The  eyes  of  our  subject  opened  to  the  light  in 
Livingston  Count}^  N,  Y.,  September  12,  1837. 
He  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  tilling  the  soil, 
his  boyhooil  being  spent  in  the  manner  customar_y 
on  new  farms  and  in  securing  such  an  education  as 
the  common  schools  afforded  opportunities  for.  He 
began  life  for  himself  when  twenty  years  old,  rent- 
ing and  operating  farms  for  several  years.  In  1861 
he  won  as  his  companion  Miss  Zerelda  Whitney, 
who  has  looked  well  to  the  waj's  of  her  household 
and  lias  as  capably  managed  her  department  of  their 
affairs  as  our  subject  has  the  matters  which  per- 
tained particularly  to  him.  Mrs.  Conklin  is  a 
daughter  of  Seva  and  Hannah  AViiitnoy,  who  died 
during  her  childhood. 

In  1866  Mr.  Conklin  bought  eigiity  acres  of  his 
present  estate  to  which  he  afterward  added,  making 
up  the  quarter-section.  The  residence  was  new 
when  he  took  possession  of  the  property,  and  u|)on 
it  he  lias  kept  up  adequate  repairs,  surrounding  it 
with  other  necessary  buildings.  He  h;<s  been  School 
Director  and  Pathmaster,  manifesting  an  earnest 
interest  in  the  matters  wiiich  will  adcl  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community  of  wiiich  he  li.as  long  been  a  re- 
spected member.  He  has  alwa3'S  been  interested  in 
politics  and  believing  that  the  principles  of  de- 
mocracy are  best  adapted  for  the  national  good,  he 
upholds  thein  with  his  ballot.  lie  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  liie  (i range. 

-^ ^^^ ^ 


,^^AUL  HAGERTY.  Peoria  lias  been  the 
^^^  iiome  of  this  gentlemen  since  18.05,  and 
),!  the  center  of  the  mechanical  labor  in  which 
lie  enjo3's  a  liigh  reputation.  He  is  a  mill- 
wright, thorouglily  understanding  his  trade  and 
excelled  by  none  in  the  reliable  manner  in  which 
all  his  business  tranactions  are  conducted  and  con- 
tracts fulfilled.  In  the  course  of  thirty-five  3-cars 
he  has  had  a  hand  in  the  construction  of  numerous 
mills  and  distilleries,  having  built  or  rebuilt  nine- 


teen of  the  latter  in  Peoria  alone.  Every  distill- 
ery in  the  cit^'  except  one  was  erected  by  him, 
either  alone  or  in  company  with  a  former  partner, 
and  the  one  exception  was  rebuilt  by  them.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  the  city  contains  many  evidences 
of  his  skillful  workmanship  and  capability  as  a  di- 
rector of  others. 

Mr.  Hagerty  is  a  native  of  Venango  County,  Pa., 
and  the  youngest  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters 
born  to  John  I.  and  Ann  (Sharp)  Hagerty.  Six  of 
this  family  are  still  living.  The  natal  day  of  our 
subject  was  June  24,  1823.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
years  he  began  learning  the  art  of  making  pig 
metal  from  the  raw  material,  becoming  capable  of 
taking  charge  of  a  furnace  for  which  he  obtained 
as  high  wages  as  $60  per  month.  Seeing  no  pros- 
pect for  advancement  iu  that  line  of  labor,  how- 
ever, he  accepted  an  apprenticeship  as  millwright 
at  §18  per  month.  He  was  twenty-two  years  old 
when  he  began  the  new  trade,  after  learning 
which  he  spent  about  two  years  .as  foreman  of 
construction  on  the  New  York  &  Erie  Railroad. 

In  1852  Mr.  Hagcrt^'  came  to  Illinois,  locating 
at  Ottawa,  where  he  began  constructing  bridges 
for  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad 
Company.  Three  years  later  he  removed  t;j  Pe- 
oria where  until  1869  he  worked  witii  I.  G.  Rey 
nolds,  as  a  millwright.  At  the  date  last  mentioned 
he  opened  business  for  liimself.  The  first  mill  he 
built  was  at  Kewanee  and  the  second  at  Pekin.  Al- 
though he  is  growing  ohl  in  years  he  still  carries 
on  his  business,  being  possessed  of  abuiidant  vital- 
ity .and  enterprise. 

In  his  political  atliliations  .Air.  Hagert^'  has  been 
with  the  Republicans  from  the  organization  of  the 
party.  Prior  to  that  time  ho  was  a  Whig,  his  first 
vote  having  been  cast  for  Ilenr}'  Clay.  Of  a  social 
nature  and  benevolent  spirit,  he  has  identified  him- 
self with  the  Masonic  fraternity  as  a  channel  iu 
which  to  exercise  those  traits.  In  business  circles 
he  is  held  in  good  repute  for  his  honorable  dealing 
and  mechanical  skill,  and  throughout  the  city  he 
has  many  warm  personal  friends. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hagerty  was  celebrated  at 
the  bride's  home  in  Peoria  May  15,  1856.  The 
lady  whom  he  won  as  companion  and  helpmate  was 
Sarah  Sloan,  a  native  of  Chenango  County,    N.  Y., 


522 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


who  had  accompanied  her  parents  to  Peoria  in 
1855.  She  is  an  estimable  woman  who  looks  care- 
fully after  the  comfort  of  her  dear  ones,  who  has 
carefully  reared  her  children,  and  is  ever  read}- 
to  do  neighborly  deeds  of  kindness.  The  family 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hagerty  consists  of  Samira,  wife 
of  Robert  Graber;  Almon  S.;  Clara,  wife  of  Les- 
ter Rose;  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  C.  P.  Tefft;  Robert 
S.;  and  Harry  Guy.  The  youngest  son  still  re- 
mains under  the  parental  roof  and  the  others  abide 
in  Peoria.  Robert  holds  a  position  in  the  Mer- 
chant's National  Bank.  Mr.  Hagerty  and  wife  are 
both  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

_ — . — 'W'l'S*^!'^"  '" ■ — -- 


^AMES  CLARK.  The  history  of  this  county 
1  is  best  told  in  the  record  of  the  lives  of  its 
i  pioneers,  and  it  gives  us  pleasure  to  place 
'(^  '  on  the  pages  of  this  Bioguaphical  Album 
these  lines  concerning  an  early  settler  of  this  part 
of  Illinois,  who  has  passed  the  best  part  of  his  life 
within  the  borders  of  this  county,  and  has  done 
much  for  its  good,  and  has  greatl}'  aided  in  de\ el- 
oping its  resources  and  in  beautifj-ing  it.  He  has 
here  a  comfortable  home  and  he  has  made  the 
grounds  around  it  very  attractive  b}-  the  lovely 
trees  that  adorn  the  place,  and  many  of  which  were 
planted  by  his  own  hands.  Some  of  them  have 
a  diameter  of  from  three  to  four  feet  through  the 
hutt.and  some  fine  large  black  walnut  trees  which  he 
raised  from  the  seed,  having  planted  the  nuts,  are 
particularly  noticeable. 

.Tames  Clark,  Sr.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  England,  coming  of  a  good  family,  and  he 
received  a  fine  education.  As  a3-oung  man  he  was  a 
clerk  in  a  bank,  and  afterward  gave  his  attention 
to  tilling  tlie  soil,  and  had  under  his  management 
a  farm  of  fifteen  hundred  acres.  To  a  man  of  such 
a  mind  and  energetic  characteristics,  life  in  a  new 
country  had  particular  attractions,  and  in  1837  he 
left  his  native  land  and  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  this  county.  He 
shrewdly  saw  the  great  fertility  of  the  land  on  the 
open  prairie  and  m.ade  his  settlement  on  a  quar- 
ter-section, while  he  rented  a  home  in  the  neigh- 


borhood, where  he  lived  until  he  could  improve 
his  place.  His  family  lived  on  tliat  place  two  or 
three  years,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in  1840, 
and  a  valualile  pioneer  was  removed  from  the 
scene  )f  his  usefulness.  When  he  first  located  on  his 
land  he  had  to  have  a  plow  to  break  the  prairie  sod, 
and  he  iugeniousl}"  contrived  one  that  was  a  great 
improvement  on  an}'  that  were  then  in  use.  He 
went  to  a  blacksmith  in  Peoria  and  had  a  share 
and  an  upright  piece  made,  which  he  attached  to 
the  beam,  and  to  this  he  added  a  frame  mold,  and 
then  fastened  them  with  iron  rods  on  the  back  of 
the  share,  and  with  this  implement  he  could  throw 
the  sod  in  any  direction  he  wished.  Toby  &  An- 
derson, who  afterward  became  famous  for  tlieir 
plows,  when  the}'  began  their  business  invited  Mr. 
Clark  to  Peoria  to  give  them  his  idea  of  the  way 
tiie  jjIow  should  be  made,  and  the}'  followed  his  di- 
rections in'evcry  respect  in  manufacturing  breaking 
plows.  The  first  Scotch  harrow  used  in  this  county 
was  made  by  them  on  the  origiu.al  Scotch  harrow 
plan,  they  having  brought  the  teeth  with  them 
from  England.  In  1839,  or  1840.  Mr.  Clark  im- 
ported the  first  grain  drill  from  England  that  was 
ever  used  in  Peoria  County,  and  this  machine  is 
still  on  the  place  and  is  better  than  any  now  in 
use.  At  that  time  it  cost  him  §50  for  importing  it. 
The  first  year  after  his  father's  death  our  sub- 
ject erected  a  substantial  house  on  the  place,  and 
in  1S4'2  the  family  moved  into  it.  In  the  s(iring 
of  the  following  year  the  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Isabella  Walker,  and  the  oldest  sister 
died,  and  Mr.  Clark  soon  brought  Miss  Susan  Ben- 
son to  preside  over  his  home.  She  has  been  to  him 
a  most  excellent  wife,  and  her  able  management  of 
household  affairs  greatly  contributes  to  the  comfort 
and  happiness  of  her  household.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clark  have  five  children  living,  as  follows:  Susan 
Harriett,  at  home;  Ella  G., James  Benson,  J.  W.  W. 
and  Cyril  B.  The  three  sons  are  married  and  well 
settled  in  life.  The  daughters  are  young  ladies 
of  unusual  ability  and  force  of  character,  and  are 
both  teachers  and  writers  for  Sunday-school  papers. 
James,  who  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at 
Oak  Park,  Chicago,  has  three  children — Ella.  Ruth 
and  a  baby;  William,  whose  business  is  putting  up 
elevators,  is  a  resident  of  Riverside,  near  Chicago, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


523 


and  has  a  familj'  of  three  children — Douglas, 
Lucia  and  Margaret;  Cyril  is  now  a  student  of 
Champaign  College,  where  he  expects  to  graduate 
from  the  engineering  department;  he  is  m,arried, 
and  has  two  children — Grace  and  an  infant. 

Mr.  Clark  is  among  our  most  highly  esteemed 
citizen,  and  no  one  knows  him  but  to  respect  the 
genuine  integrity  of  his  character.  He  has  always 
been  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  the 
family  have  .adhered  to  the  Church  of  England 
and  are  faithful  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

I\Ir.  Clark's  wife  was  reared  in  the  neighborhood 
where  his  father  settled.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
.John  Benson  and  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  .John  Ben- 
son, and  it  gives  us  pleasure  to  incorporate  in  this 
sketch  a  notice  of  the  life  and  work  of  the  latter. 
He  is  the  beloved  rector  of  St.  .James  Episcopal 
Church,  and  makes  his  home  with  our  subject. 
He  w.as  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  .lune  8,  1815, 
and  was  there  reared  and  received  some  educa- 
tion. He  came  to  this  country  in  1833,  with  his 
parents,  John  .and  Harriett  Benson,  and  the  same 
year  accompanied  them  to  Illinois  and  settled  with 
them  in  Edwards  County,  where  they  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1834.  The  family  then  came 
to  Peoria  County,  the  Rev.  John  being  a  youth  of 
nineteen  j'ears,  and  here  he  studied  law.  His 
father  was  a  lawyer,  as  w.as  also  his  grandfather, 
John  15enson,  who  was  a  member  of  the  English 
bar,  and  their  ancestry  were  of  the  lords  of  Eng- 
land, being  all  land-holders  and  members  of  the 
Church  of  lOngland.  Mr.  Benson,  Sr.,  bought  the 
claim  to  several  pieces  of  land  and  settled  on  one 
tract  that  was  in  Kickapoo  and  Limestone  Town- 
ships, comprising  three-quarters  of  a  section.  He 
was  intending  to  purchase  the  place  at  the  land 
sale  in  1835,  but  his  death  by  the  .accidental  dis- 
charge of  his  rifle  jnit  an  eml  to  his  plans.  He 
left  a  widow  and  a  family  of  six  children,  John 
being  the  eldest  boy.  This  placed  the  responsi- 
bilitj'  of  the  care  of  the  family  mainly  upon  his 
shoulders,  and  he  took  charge  of  affairs  until  the 
death  of  his  mother,  which  occurred  in  Se[)tember, 
1 835. 

In  May,  1835,  our  subject  went  to  (Juinc}'  and 
ln)Ught  the  land  on  which  the  family  had  the  claim 
ill   the   name  of  his   mother,  and    he   lived   on  the 


same  place  until  18GG,  when  he  sold  it.  Services 
were  held  at  his  house  b^'  Bishop  Chase,  of  Jubi- 
lee, as  earl}-  as  1830,  and  were  continued  there  for 
some  ye.ars.  Finally,  a  parish  was  organized,  and 
in  1845  a  fine  stone  church  w.as  erected  within  half 
a  mile  of  Mr.  Benson's  home  in  Limestone.  In 
1843  our  subject  took  a  trip  South  for  the  health  of 
his  wife,  and  going  to  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  spent  the 
ensuing  five  years  there,  and  was  there  ordained  to 
the  ministry,  he  having  previously  studied  with 
that  end  in  view.  Bishop  Polk,  of  that  State,  pre- 
siding at  his  ordination.  Coming  home,  he  was  put 
in  charge  of  the  stone  church  in  1852,  and  occupied 
its  pulpit  very  accept.ablj'  until  1857,  when  he  was 
called  to  Farmington  to  take  charge  of  the  church 
there.  For  twelve  years  he  w.as  engaged  in  that 
place.  He  then  removed  to  this  parish,  and  has 
been  pastor  of  this  church  inost  of  the  time  since. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Benson  was  married  to  Miss 
Euphemia  Clark,  daughter  of  .James  Clark,  of 
Limestone,  in  1838.  She  was  born  in  Huntington, 
England,  and  came  from  London  to  this  country 
with  her  parents.  B}-  her  death,  in  1875,  he  was 
bereft  of  a  devoted  wife  and  congenial  companion. 

In  1865,  as  he  was  broken  down  in  health  and 
his  wife  was  far  from  well,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benson 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  P^ngland  to  recuperate  amid 
the  scenes  of  his  youth,  and  ten  months  were  passed 
very  pleasantly  among  his  old  friends.  In  1866 
they  returned  to  Peoria,  and  he  organized  the  St. 
John's  ISIission,  and  had  charge  of  it  the  ensuing 
live  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  had 
a  call  to  J^ewistown,  the  county  seat  of  t^jlton 
County,  and  became  rector  of  St.  .James  Church, 
which  he  had  oiganizcl  some  years  before.  After 
resigning  his  pastorate,  which  had  been  very  suc- 
cessful, in  that  city,  he  returned  to  Jjimestone,  and 
resumed  his  old  position  as  rector  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  this  place  as  before  mentioned. 

The  condition  of  the  country  at  the  time  when 
the  Benson  family  settled  here,  and  the  wonderful 
change  that  has  since  taken  place,  is  well  illus- 
trated by  the  following  account  of  their  journey 
hither  and  subsequent  events.  In  the  fall  of  1833 
Mr.  .John  Benson,  the  f.ather  of  our  subject,  rode 
on  horseback  over  a  good  share  of  Canada,  Mich- 
igan  and   Illinois,  and  while   passing    through  Chi- 


524 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cago  he  prophetically  remarked  that  that  little 
trading-post  was  destined  to  be  the  great  com- 
incrcial  center  of  the  West.  As  he  passed  through 
Ft.  Clark,  !ie  was  enchanted  with  its  site  and  sur- 
rounding scenerj-.  an<l  decided  to  locate  in  this  vi- 
cinity. He  returned  for  his  family,  whom  he  met 
ill  Cincinnati,  and  the}"  proceeded  down  the  river 
to  Southern  Illinois  on  the  return  journey,  and 
he  there  fitted  out  his  wagon  with  horses  and  two 
teams  of  oxen.  Leaving  the  ox-teams  at  Vandalia 
afterward  with  the  household  goods,  he  traveled 
over  the  greater  part  of  this  State  with  his  wife 
and  children,  driving  from  Canton  to  Lewistown, 
and  from  there  to  Merchant's  settlement,  which 
was  tlie  starting-point  of  Farmington.  From  there 
the}'  drove  straight  east  without  any  track  of 
any  kind  over  the  wild  prairies  to  answer  as  a 
guide. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Handayside  was  build- 
ing a  log  house  near  the  dividing  line  between 
Lewistown  and  Logan  Townships,  and  from  there 
tlie  Bensons  cuuld  by  close  observation  see  a  track, 
which  led  to  a  spring  on  a  place  where  Jones  had 
started  a  farm  about  six  and  one-half  miles  from 
the  city,  and  tliis  became  a  famous  watering-place 
for  travelers  along  the  road  between  Peoria  and 
Farmington,  in  the  days  when  they  carried  produce 
to  market. 

kYMAN  SEELYE.  The  sous  of  the  pioneers 
of  Peoria  County ,natives  of  the  soil,  who  are 
so  closely  associated  with  its  present  pros- 
l)eious  condition,  are  finely  represented  by  this  ac- 
tive and  capable  young  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
who  is  conducting  his  agricultural  interests  on  a 
quarter  of  section  30,  Hallock  Township,  which  is 
as  rich  a  piece  .of  farming  land  as  can  be  found  in 
this  locality,  and  under  his  skillful  management 
yields  good  returns  in  rep.ayment  of  the  care,  time, 
and  money  expended  upon  its  culture.  It  is  well- 
stocked,  is  supplied  with  a  set  of  good  buildings, 
and  excellent  farming  machiner}',  and  everything 
about  the  place  is  well  ordered. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  a  well-known  pioneer 
of  this  county,  Danford  Seelye,   who  has  borne   a 


conspicuous  part  in  the  development  of  this  region, 
and  is  still  actively  engaged  in  looking  after  his 
extensive  agricultural  interests  in  Hallock  Town- 
ship, with  whose  name  and  history  his  own  will 
ever  be  associated.  He  and  his  wife  are  of  stanch 
New  England  origin,  his  birthplace  being  amid  the 
lovely  rural  scenery  of  Vermont,  and  hers  among 
the  beautiful  Berkshire  hills  of  Massachusetts,  and 
from  their  ancestry  they  inherited  those  sturdy 
trails  of  char.a(;ter  that  have  made  them  invaluable 
citizens  of  the  Prairie  State,  and  these  they  have 
transmitted  in  a  large  degree  to  their  son,  of  whom 
we  write. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was  born 
on  the  parental  homestead.  August  28,  1857,  and 
here  he  was  carefully  trained  by  his  parents  to  the 
useful  and  honorable  career  that  he  has  since  adopted 
as  his  life  work.  He  h.as  lived  on  his  present  farm 
and  successfully  operated  it  for  the  past  five  years. 
This  attractive  estate  was  the  birthplace  of  his 
wife,  he  having  purchased  it  of  her  father. 

Mr.  Seelye  was  married  at  the  home  of  Elder 
Hick,  in  this  township,  to  Miss  Sar.ali  N.  Green,  in 
February,  1885.  She  was  born  on  this  farm,  her 
birth  occurring  January  6,  18G5.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Jefferson  and  Mary  (Nelson)  Green,  natives 
of  New  York  and  Peoria  County,  JIL,  respectively. 
They  were  married  in  the  township  of  Medina,  and 
later  came  to  this  township  and  bought  the  home- 
stead now  owned  by  our  subject,  and  this  remained 
their  home  until  they  retired  from  farming,  and  in 
1886  went  to  Dunlap  to  reside.  There  Mrs.  Green 
died  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  She  was  a 
most  excellent  woman,  and  a  kind  and  loving 
mother.  Mr.  Green  is  still  an  honored  resident  of 
Dunlap,  and  is  now  upwards  of  fifty  years  old. 
Mrs.  Seel3'e  is  one  of  the  youngest  of  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  yet  living,  and  all  married  and 
settled  in  life.  She  was  reared  and  educated  in 
this  township,  and  is  in  all  respects  a  woman  of  re- 
fined character  and  attributes.  Her  happy  wedded 
life  with  our  subject,  has  been  productive  to  them 
of  one  daughter,  Josephine. 

Mr.  Seelye  is  a  practical,  energetic,  thrifty  young 
man.  whose  excellent  capacity  for  well  directed  la- 
bor has  already  placed  him  among  the  substantial 
men  of  the  township,  and  we  m.ay  well  say  that  he 


JP /V,  Ci^cdJZ^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


527 


is  a  credit  to  his  biitiiplace.  He  and  liis  wife  are 
sensible,  well-informed  people,  are  popular  in  so- 
eiet}-,  and  tbe\'  understand  well  how  to  make  their 
hospitable  home  attractive  to  their  friends,  of  whom 
they  have  many,  or  to  the  stranger  who  may  chance 
to  cross  its  tiireshold.  Mr.  Seelye  has  never  been 
an  office  seeker,  but  takes  sufficient  interest  in  poli- 
tics to  support  the  Democratic  party. 


« — ^i,*' 


-5^^- 


-*~r^ 


IIILANDER  H.  CHASP:.  Peoria  County 
])}  numbers  among  its  best  citizens  manj-  who 
are  "native  and  to  the  manner  born,"  and 
we  have  a  fine  representative  of  these  in 
the  person  of  Philander  H.  Chase,  who  is  conduct- 
ing extensive  agricultural  interests  in  Akron 
Township,  the  place  of  his  birth,  with  the  rare 
judgment,  keen  intelligence  and  marked  skill  that 
phices  him  among  the  foremost  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  of  this  locality. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Simon  P.  and  Ann 
11.  (Houston)  Ciiase,  were  among  the  old  settlers 
of  this  county,  coming  from  New  Hampshire 
in  1812.  making  the  entire  journey  from  their  New 
England  home  to  the  wild  prairies  of  this  section  of 
llie  county  in  a  wagon.  They  located  in  Akron 
Township,  in  1845,  and  during  their  lives  occupied 
an  important  position  amongst  its  pioneers.  In  the 
(■()mfortal)le  home  that  thej'  built  up  here  the  fa- 
ther died  January  9,  1870.  The  mother  passed 
from  earth  in  Warren  County,  .lanuary  13,  1875. 
Tliey  had  three  children  of  whom  our  subject  was 
the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

Se|)tember  18,  1846,  w.as  the  date  of  the  birth  of 
our  subject,  in  the  pioneer  home  of  his  parents  in 
Akron  Township.  Here  the  years  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  were  passed,  and  in  the  local  schools  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  substantial  education 
which  was  completed  by  a  course  of  study  in 
Princcville  Academy.  He  has  always  made  his 
home  in  Akron  Township,  and  having  been  bred 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  he  adopted  farming  as  his 
life  work,  and  now  owns  a  farm  of  three  hundred 
acres  on  sections  5.  Ifi,  17  and  21.  It  is  replete 
with  valuable  improvements,  and    is  supplied  with 


buildings  of  a  substantial  order;  Mr.  Chase  is  just 
erecting  a  commodious  house,  which,  when  it  is 
completed,  will  be  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes 
in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Chase  was  married  in  Princcville,  111.,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1871.  to  Miss  Nannie  Calvin,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  bore  him  one  child  who 
dieil  in  infancy,  and  their  happj-  but  brief  wedded 
life  was  brought  to  a  close  by  her  death  November 
I,  1872. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  April 
8,  1875,  taking  as  his  wife  Miss  Rachael  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  Princcville  Township.  Their  pleasant 
home  circle  is  completed  by  their  two  children — 
Carrie  B.  and  Forest  M. 

Mr.  Chase  is  a  man  of  high  principles,  is  well 
endowed  mentally  and  physically,  and  possesses  in 
a  full  degree  those  characteristics  so  essential  to 
success  in  an}'  walk  in  life.  lie  stands  high  in  the 
citizenship  of  his  native  county,  and  to  his  ac- 
tive public  spirit  and  the  intelligent  interest  he  has 
always  manifested  in  the  welfare  of  Akron  Town- 
ship, it  owes  much  of  its  present  prosperity.  He 
has  held  the  offices  of  Highway  Commissioner  and 
Township  Assessor,  discharging  their  dirties  with 
characteristic  fidelity  and  honesty.  In  politics  the 
Republican  party  has  his  entire  allegiance.  He  and 
his  wife  are  active  workers  in  the  Presb3'terian 
Church  and  contribute  most  generously  to  its  sup- 
port. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Chase  will  be  no- 
ticed on  another  page  of  this  volume. 


■•^-^&-:-#r 


<¥)OnN  D.  PHARES.     This  gentleman  is  a  son 
of  a  pioneer  of  this  county,  and  is  a  worthy 


m 


member  of  its  farming  community,  the 
proprietor  of  a  good  farm  on  section  29, 
Brimfleld  Township,  where  he  is  prosperously  en- 
gaged in  raising  grain  and  stock.  He  is  a  native 
of  Butler  County,  Ohio,  born  January  3,  1843,  to 
Gr.andersou  R.,and  Eliza  A.  (Snyder)  Pharcs,  his 
mother  now  being  deceased. 

When  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  his 


528 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


parents  emigraterl  from  their  home  in  Ohio,  to  this 
county,  the  fninily  coming  Ijy  rail  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Jolin,  who  came  by  liorsebacl<  and  assisted 
in  bringing  eleven  horses  to  Illinois.  His  father 
settled  in  Brimfleld  Townshiii,  and  after  residing 
in  various  planes  finall)'  located  on  section  22. 
where  he  made  a  permanent  settlement.  Though 
he  was  not  the  original  settler  on  that  place  it  was 
still  in  a  wild  condition.  It  was  a  part  of  the  open 
prairie  and  he  erected  a  ln>ard  shanty  that  was  of 
good  dimensions,  and  was  cut  into  four  ruoms.  and 
in  thi.s  the  family  made  their  home  for  a  ^number 
of  years.  Mr.  Pharcs  was  a  pioneer  of  the  town- 
ship, and  did  well  in  ins  farming  operations,  and 
became  a  respected  citizen  of  the  community.  He 
was  the  father  of  a  large  family  of  children,  of 
whom  the  following  survive:  Joseph,  Jolin  D., 
Susan,  now  Mrs.  .lackson  ;  Henry;  Eliza  A.,  wife  of 
Martin  Smith;  Ellen,  wife  of  George  Kotli;  Amy 
A.,  wife  of  Cieorge  Carr.of  Cass  County,  Iowa; and 
Katie,  wife  of  Sampson  Mnrnan  of  Nebraska. 

John  Phares  vvas  reared  to  a  stalwart,  sturdy 
manhood  in  this  county  amid  the  scenes  of  |)ioneer 
life,  and  was  early  called  ui)on  to  assist  liis  father 
in  the  pioneer  labors  of  developing  a  farm,  .and 
while  so  doing  acquired  a  good  [jractical  knowl- 
edge of  farming  in  its  various  branches.  He  re- 
mained actively  engaged  with  his  father  till!. e  was 
twentv-iive  years  old,  having  received  in  the  mean- 
time a  moderate  education  in  the  local  schools. 
The  advantages  offered  him  were  not  such  as  the 
boy  of  to-d.iy  enjoys,  but  he  i>aid  careful  atten- 
tion to  his  books  when  he  had  an  opportunity 
to  go  to  school,  and  since  then  has  aimed  to  keep 
posted  in  all  matters  of  general  importance.  The 
good  iinproveinenls  on  his  farm,  which  comprises 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  highly  fertile 
land  under  excellent  tillage,  have  all  been  made  b}' 
himself,  and  he  may  well  feel  satisfied  with  what  he 
lias  accomplished,  as  from  his  (ilace  he  derives  a 
good  income  and  is  enabled  to  support  his  family 
in  comfort. 

j\lr.  Phares  has  not  been  unassisted  in  his  labors, 
but  by  his  marriage  in  1858,  to  Jennie  Snyder, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  PhillipSnyder,  both  now 
deceased,  he  secured  the  active  co-operation  of  a 
most  excellent  helpmate.     Their   pleasant  married 


life  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  one 

son,  Phillip  H..  who  w.as  born  August  23,  1870. 

The  perusal  of  this  lirief  sketch  recording  the 
life  of  one  of  Brimfield's  most  wortliy  citizens,  will 
show  that  all  our  subject  h.as  and  is,  is  due  to  his 
own  exerticjns,  that  he  is,  in  f.act,  one  of  our  self 
made  men,  and  he  has  performed  a  creditaliU^  part 
in  building  u\t  the  township,  while  he  h.as  been  ac- 
(piiring  his  property'.  With  commendable  public 
siiiril  he  favors  all  things  to  advance  the  welfare 
of  the  community  and  has  been  particularly-  active 
in  educational  matters,  serving  zealously  as  School 
Director.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  firm 
supporter  by  voice  and  vote  of  the  policy  of  his 
party. 

:^}^— 


^  OHN  WASSON.  Millbrook  Township's  ex- 
tensive agricultural  interests  are  well  repre- 
sented by  this  gentlera.an  who  is  one  of  its 
most  active  and  progressive  farmers  and 
stock-raisers.  Though  not  an  early  settler  of  this 
place  he  may  well  be  .accorded  an  honorable  posi- 
tion among  its  pioneers,  as  he  has  done  much  work 
in  developing  its  resources. 

He  is  a  native  of  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  ))orn 
May  29,  1833,  his  parents  being  George  and  Sarah 
(Brewster)  Wasson,  natives  of  New  York.  His 
father's  oldest  brother,  John  Wasson,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  AVar  of  1812,  and  our  subject's  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Our  sub- 
ject grew  to  a  vigorous  manhood  in  his  native 
county,  and  early  adopted  farming  as  his  life  work. 
In  his  youth  he  liad  but  little  chance  to  secure  an 
education,  but  attended  school  .all  that  he  could, 
and  is  mainly  self-educated.  In  1854  he  came  to 
this  county,  and  spent  nearly'  a  year  west  of  Chilli- 
cothe,  and  for  a  time  was  located  in  Elm  wood  and 
in  Briinruld  Townships.  In  the  latter  place,  one 
of  the  most  inii>ortant  events  of  his  life  took  place, 
and  that  was  his  marrirge  November  13,  1856, 
with  Betsey  C.  Aldrich,  a  native  of  Missouri. 

In  the  spring  of  1868  Mr.  Wasson  came  to  Mill- 
brook  Township,  having  been  favorably  im|n'essed 
with  the  many  advantages  its  rich  soil  offered  to  a 
practical,  enlightened  farmer.      He  selected  a  site 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHKAL  ALBUM. 


5-29 


on  section  14,  and  bns  here  built  up  a  commodious 
home  rc'|ilete  with  eveiy  (lesiral)le  comfort,  lie 
has  here  a  hirge  faru)  of  three  hundred  acres  of 
finely-cultivated  land,  well  supplied  with  improve- 
ments of  a  substantial  order.  In  the  acquisition  of 
this  valuable  property  Mr.  Wasson  has  successf ullj' 
demonstrated  what  a  man  can  accomplish  if  he 
works  with  a  determined  will,  bringing  sound, 
ronnd-about  common  sense  and  cool  calculation  to 
his  labors. 

Hy  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Wasson  have 
become  the  (larcnts  of  a  large  family  of  children,  of 
whom  the  following  survive:  George,  living  in 
Princeville  Township;  Ella:  Samuel;  Lillie,  wife  of 
.Icwett  Uaines,  of  Stafford  County,  Kan.;  Nettie, 
wife  of  ^Villianl  Davis,  of  Duncan  ;  William,  May, 
Clifford,  Delia  and  Glenn.  Louisa  F.  and  Bertha  L. 
are  deceased. 

For  more  than  thirtj'-three  years  Mr.  Wasson 
has  lived  among  the  people  of  this  count}',  who 
have  ever  found  him  to  be  a  man  of  the  highest 
moral  conduct,  who  carries  on  his  business  affairs 
with  undeviating  honesty,  and  one  who  has  due 
regard  for  his  word.  That  he  holds  the  con- 
(Idence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  is  shown  by  the  f,act 
that  they  have  elected  him  to  public  ofiices,  and  he 
has  served  faithfully  as  Township  School  Director 
a  number  of  years,  was  Road  Commissioner  one 
tcim,  and  also  has  been  Director  of  his  district,  and 
he  is  never  backward  in  his  generous  help  in  for- 
w;irding  all  schemes  for  the  betterment  of  the  towu- 
sliip.  In  politics  he  is  a  decided  Republican.  His 
wife  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  and  they  are  both  active  members  of 
the  society  and  do  much  good  work. 


lUSTAV  CORNELIUS.  This  worthy  Ger- 
man-American citizen  of  Limestone  Town- 
ship, is  as  well  acquainted  with  the  condition 
of  affairs  in  this  county  during  its  early  settlement 
:is  any  man  now  living.  As  will  be  seen  by  a  pe- 
rusal of  these  brief  paragraphs,  he  and  his  family 
bore  their  p:.rtamid  tiie  toils  shared  by  all  families 
upon  the  frontier,  and  lived  in  themann(!r  common 


to  tlie  settlers  before  the  building  of  good  highways 
and  the  introduction  of  what  we  look  upon  as  the 
comforts  of  civilization.  He  has  been  fairly  success- 
ful in  a  financial  sense  and  has  secured  what  is  bet- 
ter than  riches,  the  thorough  respect  of  those  amid 
wiiom  his  life  lias  been  spent  for  many  years  and 
who  recognize  the  sterling  worth  of    his  character. 

Mr.  Cornelius  was  born  in  the  Fatherland,  April 
30,  1822,  anil  after  having  accpiired  an  excellent 
education,  learned  the  trade  of  a  miller.  lie  was  a 
schoolmate  of  Prince  Bismarck,  whose  power  has 
been  felt  not  oul}'  in  Germany,  but  far  beyond  the 
borders  of  the  country  in  which  he  so  long  held  an 
exalted  position.  Mr.  Cornelius  had  not  been  long 
in  America  before  he  had  become  a  fair  reader  and 
writer  of  English,  and  so  well  armed  for  contact 
with  American  citizens.  He  has  been  a  great  reader 
and  year  by  year  has  stored  up  knowledge  on  vari- 
ous topics,  until  he  has  become  one  of  the  best  in- 
formed men  one  could  meet  in  a  (hi\r's  journey. 

When  twenty-six  3-ears  of  age  Mr.  Cornelius  bade 
adieu  to  his  native  land,  sailed  to  Quebec,  thence  to 
Buffalo,  Milwaukee,  and  via  Peoria  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.  In  that  city  he  remained  al)out  six  months, 
wlieu,  having  been  pleased  with  the  appearance  of 
Peoria  County  as  he  passed  through  it  on  the  boat, 
he  returned  hither.  In  his  journey  to  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  the  only  railroad  on  which  he  had  rid- 
den was  one  on  which  horses  were  used  to  pull  the 
cars.  He  was  privileged  to  enjoy  a  view  of  the 
wonderful  falls  of  Niagara,  also.  After  coming  to 
Peoria,  he  secured  employment  in  the  mill  at  Blue- 
town,  two  miles  across  the  river  in  Tazewell 
County  and  after  working  there  a  year  rented  the 
mill.  The  owners  asked  him  for  security  for  the 
rent,  but  told  him  that  if  he  would  get  married  he 
would  not  need  to  give  any.  He  was  not  averse  to 
this  means  of  advancing  his  welfare,  and  winning 
the  consent  of  Miss  Augusta  Springborn,  a  native 
of  his  own  land,  did  as  he  had  been  advised  and  set 
up  a  home  of  his  own. 

Mr.  Cornelius  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
which  stood  a  little  log  shanty,  covered  with  clap- 
boards, and  having  a  rude  chimney  and  fire-place. 
The  first  night  he  slept  therein  a  storm  arose  and  he 
was  soon  thoroughly  wet  by  the  descending  rain. 
He  made  up  his  mind  to  go   to  Peoria  and    secure 


530 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  services  of  a  Mr.  Plum  to  build  a  house,  and 
going  to  the  door  he  was  greeted  with  the  sight  of 
a  drove  of  seven  deer  close  to  his  bouse.  There 
were  neither  fences  or  j'ards  in  that  earl}-  time  and 
only  a  few  people  had  stables.  The  few  there  were 
were  constructed  of  poles  covered  with  straw  and 
the  owners  were  considered  very  high-toned.  Horses 
were  tied  to  the  rear  of  wagons  to  be  fed  and  stood 
out  the  year  around.  The  housekeepers  were  not 
troubled  with  carpet  moths,  such  a  luxury  as  a  car- 
being  unknown  as  a  covering  for  the  floors,  which 
were  of  mother  earth.  A  broom  and  shovel  were 
used  to  clean  these  rude  floors. 

The  first  house  occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cor- 
nelius had  not  a  nail  used  in  its  construction,  bolts 
being  the  only  articles  used  asiile  from  the  native 
wood.  The  cloor  was  fastened  by  a  bolt  that  could 
be  used  from  the  outside  or  inside,  and  no  lock  was 
thought  of.  A  broom  set  against  the  door  from 
the  outside  w.as  an  indication  that  the  family  was 
away  from  home.  In  those  daj-s  hogs  were  allowed 
to  run  in  the  woods,  each  pioneer  having  his  own 
mark  b}^  which  to  distinguish  the  animals  belong- 
ing to  him.  In  the  fall  tlie  hogs  were  killed,  taken 
to  Peoria  and  sold  to  a  Mr.  Varis,  who,  when  asked 
what  he  would  give  for  hogs  was  accustomed  to  re- 
ply ••seventy-five  cents  apiece."  If  told  the}'  were 
extra  large  he  would  simply  answer  '•a  hog  is  a 
hog."  The  head  and  feet  together  with  the  ribs 
would  be  thrown  away.  At  that  time  a  little  log 
bridge  over  the  Kickapoo  was  the  connection  be- 
tween the  home  of   our  subject  and  Peoria. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  proved  a  most  capable 
helpmate  and  devoted  mother,  and  to  her  judicious 
management  of  the  household  affairs  was  due  not 
onlj'  the  comfort  of  the  home  life,  but  much  of  the 
financial  success  and  increased  prosperitj'  of  the 
family.  She  lived  to  see  her  childi-en  grown  to 
maturity,  fitted  for  usefulness  in  society-,  and  many 
of  them  inmates  of  homes  of  their  own,  ere  she  ex- 
changed time  for  eternity.  She  breathed  her  last  in 
October.  1887,  leaving  many  friends  to  mourn  her 
departure.  She  and  her  husband  had  long  been 
identified  with  the  Lutheran  Church  and  in  that 
faith  instructed  their  offspring.  Mr.  Cornelius  is 
Democratic  in  political  views  and  practices,  and  has 
served  in    official  stations,  to  which   he  has    been 


nominated  by  his  party  associates.  During  a  period 
of  nine  years  be  served  as  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways, being  also  Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

The  family  of  our  subject  consists  of  eleven  chil- 
dren whose  record  is  as  follows:  Henr}',  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twent3'-two  years,  left  a  wife  and  one 
child;  Julius  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three;  Huldah,  wife  of  Sebastian  Eiberger,  lives  in 
Missouri;  .John  is  married,  has  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  and  lives  a  half  mile  east  of  his  father; 
William,  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  occupies  a 
farm  in  Kingman  Countj",  Kan. ;  Francis,  also  of 
of  Kingman  County,  h.as  one  sou  and  one  daugh- 
ter; Anna  is  the  wife  of  August  Oehmke  of  Ne- 
maha County,  Kan.,  their  family  comprising  two 
daughters;  Paul,  with  his  wife  and  son,  lives  in 
Kingman  County,  Kan.;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Ubbo 
Freriehs  and  the  mother  of  two  daughters — Katie 
and  Louisa;  Fred  is  unmarried  and  now  in  Kans.as, 
but  intends  to  return  to  Peoria  County  in  the  fall; 
Katie  is  the  wife  of  George  J.  Deiter,  of  Gentry 
Count}',  Mo.  The  Freriehs  hare  charge  of  the  old 
homestead  of  our  subject  who  makes  his  home  with 
them.  The  three  sons  who  are  living  in  Kingman 
County,  Kan.,  each  own  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  there. 


-©^^ 


i\\  ERRITT  REED.  The  recently  deceased 
Merritt  Reed  was  an  almost  life-long  resi- 
dent of  Medina  Township,  where  he  had 
made  many  friends  by  his  industrious  hab- 
its, comi)anionable  manner  and  fine  moral  character. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  in 
which  he  long  held  the  office  of  Deacon.  He  never 
sought  office,  finding  sufficient  to  occupy  him  in 
the  duties  pertaining  to  his  private  life  and  good 
citizenship,  but  was  ever  ready  to  deposit  his  vote 
in  behalf  of  Democratic  principles  in  which  he 
firmly  believed.  The  agricultural  work  to  which 
he  devoted  his  life  proved  successful,  and  when 
called  hence  he  left  an  estate  of  more  than  three 
hundred  acres,  the  exceedingly  comfortable  home 
heiiig  now  occupied  by  his  widow. 

Thomas  B.  Reed,  the   father  of  our  subject,  was 


rOUTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


531 


born  in  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  November  27, 
1799,  and  about  1819  removed  to  Ohio  with  bis 
parents.  There  lie  married  Frances  Wilkinson  and 
after  a  few  years  of  wedded  life  determined  to 
remove  to  the  frontier.  With  their  small  family 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  settled  on  unbroken  land  in  this 
county  in  the  latter  |)art  of  the  '20s,  when  few 
white  pe«>|ile  were  living  in  the  northeastern  part 
and  Peoria  was  known  as  Ft.  Clark.  They  began 
their  work  here  under  conditions  known  only  to 
the  early  pioneers,  having  alread3-  endured  a  tedi- 
ous and  dangerous  journey  liither.  They  lived  to 
see  the  country  developed  into  beautiful  homes  and 
to  themselves  accumulate  a  large  fortune.  During 
the  Black  Hawk  War  Mr.  Reed  shared  tiie  experi- 
ences of  those  who  traveled  far  on  horseback  and 
underwent  privations  in  fighting  savage  foes,  but 
escaped  injury  except  that  resulting  from  exposure. 

The  worthy  couple  occuiiied  their  homestead  on 
section  3,  Medina  Township,  until  thej-  became 
quite  advanced  in  \'ears,  Mrs.  Reed  dying  .Inly  ">, 
1869,  and  Mr.  Reed  March  22,  1875.  They  were 
highly  respected  as  representative  pioneers  and 
prominent  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr. 
Reed  was  a  Deacon  for  years.  He  held  township 
olHces,  among  them  that  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  many  years.  The  family'  of  the  good  couple 
consisted  of  two  sons  and    four  daughters. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  born 
in  .lackson  County,  Ohio,  February  12,  1824,  being 
tile  eldest  member  of  the  parental  family.  He  grew 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  this  county  and 
in  the  township  of  which  lie  was  a  resident  married 
Miss  pjlizabeth  McKenney.  vvlio  proved  a  faithful, 
efficient  helpmate  to  her  husband,  and  a  wise,  af- 
fectionate mother  to  their  children.  She  was  born 
in  Hagerstown,  Ohio,  IMa}'  27,  1829,  but  was  reared 
chiefly  in  this  county*  to  which  she  came  when  about 
ten  years  old.  She  is  the  mother  of  three  children, 
one  deceased,  Hiram  Herbert,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  months.  The  living  are  Frances 
F.,  wife  of  John  Hollihan,  who  lives  on  and  works 
the  Reed  homestead;  Thomas  L.,who  married  Ger- 
trude AVeber  and  occupies  a  farm  in  this  township. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Reed  were  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Douglas)  McKenney,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  on   the  ocean  while  his   parents 


were  coming  to  the  United  States.  His  mother 
died  at  his  birth  and  was  consigned  to- a  watery 
grave.  His  father  landed  in  New  York  City, 
and  the  child  was  ere  long  adopted  by  a  Virginia 
family  and  in  the  Old  Dominion  grew  up  a  useful 
man,  learning  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith.  In  that 
State  he  married  a  lady  of  Scotch  birth  who  had 
accompanied  her  parents  to  the  United  States  in 
her  youth.  She  grew  to  womanhood  in  the  Old 
Dominion,  whence  after  her  marriage  she  removed 
to  Hagerstown,  Ohio. 

There  Mr.  McKenney  followed  his  trade  until 
1837,  when  with  his  wife  and  family  he  made  the 
overland  journey  to  what  is  now  Kingston,  Taze- 
well County,  111.,  and  there  establ'shed  a  smithy. 
A  few  months  later  he  was  kicked  bj'  a  horse  he 
was  shoeing,  dying  from  the  results  of  the  injury 
some  weeks  later.  He  had  served  in  the  War  of 
1812.  His  wife  survived  him  a  year,  dying  near 
Peoria  when  upwards  of  three-score  years  of  age. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKenney  belonged  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Of  their  nine  children,  Mrs. 
Reed  and  ]Mrs.  Nancy  Thomas,  of  Rutland,  this 
State,  are  the  only  survivors. 


— >^;;^ — ••^^>^ 


NTHONY  W.  HAMMKTT.  a  prominent 
resident  of  Chillicothe  Township,  his  birth- 
place, represents  one  of  the  leading  interests 
of  this  part  of  his  native  count}',  as  a  prosperous 
owner  and  operator  of  a  coal  mine,  and  he  is  also 
connected  with  the  agricultural  concerns  of  this  re- 
gion. He  is  a  son  of  one  of  our  earliest  and  most 
respected  pioneer  families,  and  was  born  in  this 
township,  near  where  he  now  lives,  September  6, 
1833. 

His  father,  John  Hammett,  was  born  in  1803,  in 
the  State  of  Kentucky,  and  it  is  thought  his  parents 
were  Southerners.  He  was  reared  on  a  plantation 
in  his  native  State,  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Sumner.  Slie  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky of  Southern  parentage,  and  was  reared  in  that 
State.  After  marriage,  she  and  her  husband  set- 
tled near  Bowling  Green,  and  there   resided   until 


532 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1829,  when  they  left  their  old  Kentucky  liome,  to 
establish  a  new  one  on  the  wild  piairies  of  Illinois. 
Tiiey  located  in  Chillicothe  Township,  on  a  part  of 
the  land  now  owned  by  our  subject,  which  was 
then  in  possession  of  the  Government,  but  which 
they  afteivvard  purchased  as  soon  as  it  came  into 
the  market.  There  they  din  tlieir  share  of  the  i)io- 
neer  labors  in  developing  tiie  agricultural  resources 
of  the  townsliip,  and  improved  a  good  farm.  Wlien 
they  grew  old  they  retired  from  active  life  to  a 
pleasant  home  in  Chillicothe,  and  there  the  father 
died  April  21,  1883,  leaving  behind  an  unblem- 
ished record  of  a  life  well  spent,  and  his  memory 
is  cherished  Hko  that  of  other  pioneers  who  have 
l)assed  away.  He  lived  here  during  the  Black  Hawk 
War.  and  as  he  was  unable  to  go  himself,  sent  a 
subsiiLute  in  his  place  to  take  part  in  the  struggle. 
He  was  a  truly  good  man,  and  had  many  friends. 
Of  a  sincerely  religious  character,  he  died  in  the 
faith  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  early  life  he 
was  a  Democrat,  but  not  liking  the  policy  of  that 
party  with  reference  to  the  conduct  of  the  affairs 
of  the  nation  before  the  war,  he  identified  himself 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  ever  after  was  a 
strong  advocate  of  its  principles.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  is  still  living,  and  has  attained  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty  years.  She  makes  her  home 
in  Chillicothe  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Miller.  She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  for  many  3'ears. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  in  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  eldest  daughter  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  and  four  of  the  family  are  yet  living, 
namely:  Hannah,  wife  of  Timothy  McLaughlin,  a 
farmer  in  Nemaha  County,  Kan.;  our  subject; 
Emily,  wife  of  W.  II.  JMiller,  Esq.,  of  Chillicothe: 
and  Ellen,  wife  of  Samuel  Hostleton,  of  Chillicothe; 
all  of  these  four  children  were  born  in  this  town- 
ship and  count}'. 

Mr.  Hammett,  of  whom  we  write,  grew  to  man- 
hood under  the  influences  of  a  pioneer  life,  that 
obtained  here  in  his  youth.  In  those  early  times, 
when  the  county  was  sparsely  settled,  and  there 
were  but  few  neighbors,  the  family  suffered  many 
hardships  and  privations  in  their  struggle  to  de- 
velop a  farm  from  the  beautiful  prairies  and  up- 
lands of  this  region.     He  received  his  education  in 


the  old  log  schoolhouse  with  its  primitive  furnish- 
ings, which  nestled  among  the  hills  of  Peoria 
County.  He  has  long  been  active  in  the  miniug 
and  farming  industries  of  this  region,  owns  a  valu- 
able farm  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  on  section 
9,  forty  acres  of  which  he  devoted  to  agricultural 
purposes,  and  the  remainder  to  mines,  as  underly- 
ing the  soil  is  one  of  the  finest  veins  of  coal  to  be 
found  in  this  localit}'.  It  is  about  three  feet  In 
thickness,  and  can  be  brought  to  the  surface 
through  the  side  hills  at  the  rate  of  one  and  one- 
half  tons  a  day  to  each  miner.  This  coal  is  of  a 
most  excellent  quality,  and  commands  a  ready  mar- 
ket. Some  years  ago  Mr.  Hammett  em[)lo3ed 
twenty  men  to  mine  for  him  on.  the  hills  of  tiiis  sec- 
tion, and  still  has  a  number  of  men  engaged  in  that 
occupation.  By  careful  attention  to  his  business, 
and  by  judicious  management,  he  has  acquired  a 
comfortable  property,  and.  is  numbered  among  our 
well-to-do  citizens. 

]Mr.  Hammett  was  married  in  this  township  to 
Miss  INIargaret  A.  Brown.  She  was  born  in  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  Maj'  7,  1834,  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Nancy  (Dawson)  Brown.  Mr.  Brown  was 
born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  maturity.  He 
there  met  and  married  his  wife,  who  was  a  native 
of  that  State,  and  after  marriage  he  began  to  farm 
in  Ross  County,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  dying  in  1840,  ere  j'et  he  had  reached  mid- 
dle age.  His  vvife  diefl  there  some  years  later.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  cliuieh,  and  was  looked  upon 
as  a  good  woman.  Mrs.  Hammett  was  the  youngest 
daughter  in  a  family  of  four  daughters  and  four 
sons,  and  was  quite  young  when  she  came  West.  She 
is  the  mother  of  eight  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing are  deceased;  Charles,  Olive  B.,  and  Minnie. 
Those  living  are:  Cornelius,  who  married  Margaret 
Kaiser,  and  lives  on  his  father's  farm ;  Eleanora, 
wife  of  Joseph  Wipple,  a  carpenter  of  Westerly, 
R.  I.;  Agnes,  wife  of  Charles  Wagner,  of  Meuden, 
Mo.,  of  which  place  he  is  a  railroad  agent;  Otto, 
a  farmer  in  this  township,  who  married  Augusta 
Johnson;  and  James  F.,  who  lives  at  home  with 
his  parents. 

During  his  useful  and  busy  career,  Mr.  Hammett 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


5;!3 


§,  (triKE  1).  KEMP.  Pi-obnbly  no  resident 
of  Uic  farming  dislriels  of  Uruiifield  Town- 
ship possesses  a  more  liiglily  cultured 
mind,  a  more  upright  eiiaracter,  or  a  more 
earnest  interest  in  the  welfare  of  humanity,  tlian 
tlie  above-named  gentleman — an  olil  settler  living 
on  section  .'!2.  He  is  a  native  of  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  born  December  21,  1845,  and  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Peoria  County,  111.,  to  which  his  parents 
removed  in  1853.  His  progenitors  having  taken 
possession  of  an  almost  new  tract  of  land,  his  early 
life  was  spent  amid  the  scenes  of  pioneer  develop- 
ment, In  which  he  assisted  from  time  to  time  as 
occasion  demanded  and  his  strength  would  permit. 
The  fundamental  education  of  our  subject  was 
obtained  in  the  district  schools  of  his  township, 
after  which  he  studied  for  a  time  in  the  academy 
at  Elmwood,  still  later  entering  Otterbine  Univer- 
versity  in  Ohio.  Owing  to  ill-health  he  was  not 
able  to  complete  the  course  of  study  there,  but  re- 
turned to  his  home  after  two  years'  attendance. 
He  has  been  a  continuous  resident  in  Peoria 
County  since  that  time,  and  has  devoted  liiraself 
with  good  success  to  the  various  departments  of 
agricidtural  life.  His  home  farm  consists  of  a 
quarter-section  of  land,  the  appearance  of  wiiich 
indicates  that  its  owner  is  a  man  of  good  judgment 
and   orderly  ways,   wliile   the   dwelling  gives  evi- 


has  displaj-ed  sagacity  and  fertility  of  resource  in  j 
a  marked  degree,  and  these  traits  have  made  him 
what  he  is,  and  gained  him  what  he  has.  He  and 
his  wife  are  people  of  warm  hearts  and  generous 
natures,  and  are  noted  for  their  kindness  and  hos- 
pitalil}',  and  are  regarded  with  sincere  feelings  of 
affection  and  esteem  by  the  entire  et)mmunity.  A 
man  of  Mr.  llanimett's  character  and  standing,  is 
invaluable  in  a  civic  cai):ici1y,  and  he  has  held  many 
of  the  local  offices,  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  the 
township.  In  politics  he  stands  among  the  most 
stalwart  Democrats  of  the  count}-.  Mr.  Ilammett's 
honesty  and  integrity  of  purpose  are  well  known, 
and  when  his  word  is  passed,  all  are  cognizant  of 
the  fact  that  he  will  stand  b}-   it  whatever  betides. 


dence  of  the  i)rescnce  therein  of  relined  woman- 
hood. Besides  the  home  farm  Mr.  Kemp  has  an 
additional  twenty-six  acres  in  Elmwood. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Kemp  is  a  Pro- 
hibitionist, and  in  1S8G,  having  been  given  the 
l)arty  nomination  for  Sherift',  received  the  hi.ghest 
vote  on  the  ticket  in  the  county.  He  belongs  to 
the  LTnited  Krelhren  Church,  in  whicli  he  has  offi- 
ciated as  Class-Leader  and  .Steward,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  held  the  position  of  Superintendent  of 
the  Sunda3--school.  At  the  general  conference  of 
the  church  in  1885,  Mr.  Kemp  was  chosen  member 
of  a  commission  to  revise  the  Constitution  and 
Confession  of  Faith  of  that  denomination.  The 
commission,  which  included  twenty-seven  men  ex- 
clusive of  the  Bishopric,  met  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
November,  188G,  and  the  result  of  their  delibera- 
tions having  been  presented  to  and  adopted  by  the 
church  in  November,  1888,  was  finally  ratified  by 
the  General  Conference  of  1889.  For  a  number 
of  years  Mr.  Kemp  has  been  a  eorresponde.nt  for 
the  Agricultural  Department,  for  both  Springfield, 
111.,  and  Washington,  D.  C. 

On  December  21,  1871,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were 
celebrated  between  our  subject  and  Miss  Sarah 
Lingle,  a  native  of  Butler  County-,  Ohio,  and 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Schenck)  Lingle. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Ken]|)  is  deceased,  but  her 
mother  lives,  her  home  now  being  in  Christian 
County,  111.  Like  her  husband,  Mrs.  Kemp  is  a 
consistent  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
her  earnest  aim  being  to  cany  the  principles  of 
Christianity  into  her  daily  life.  She  and  her  hus- 
band have  two  children — D.  Everett,  born  Decem- 
ber 29,  1872,  and  Malcolm  E.,  liorn  .lanuai-y  5, 
1877. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  writo  is  l)elieved  to 
be  of  German  ancestry  in  both  lines,  and  it  is  also 
supposed  that  both  his  parents  were  born  in  the 
Buckeye  State.  His  father,  David  Kemp,  breathed 
his  last  in  this  county,  June  24,  1881.  His  mother, 
Sarah  (Snj'der)  Kemp,  still  lives  at  an  advanced 
age,  having  been  born  in  Ai)ril,  1823.  The  good 
couple  removed  from  Ohio  toHlinois  in  1853,  their 
journey  being  performed  with  a  team  and  wagon, 
as  was  cu.stomary  at  that  time.  Mr.  Kemp  having 
purchased  land  in  Biimfield  Township,  this  county, 


534 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lived  on  section  29,  a  number  of  j-ears,  removing 
from  it  to  Elmwood,  where  he  passed  his  last  days. 
Tlie  farm  on  which  liis  pioneer  labors  were  ex- 
pended is  still  known  as  the  Kemp  homestead. 

David  Kemp  was  useful  in  his  day  and  genera- 
tion, holding  tlie  public  oflices  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  Township  Supervisor  for  j-ears,  and 
doing  much  local  ministerial  work  for  the  L'nited 
Brethren  Church,  of  which  iie  was  one  of  the  foun- 
ders in  the  township.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  had  received  but  limited 
educational  advantages,  but  had  an  excellent 
knowledge  of  humanity  and  its  needs.  By  means 
of  his  industrious  labors  he  secured  a  good  estate, 
raid  by  his  personal  character  and  upright  life  se- 
f  ured  the  respect  of  an  extended  circle  of  acquain- 
lanc.s.  His  family  consisted  of  tliree  children,  our 
subject  being  the  youngest.  The  others  are:  Maria 
C  deceased,  formerly  wife  of  Henry  Schenck,  of 
Elmwood  Township;  and  Samuel  S.,  of  Brimfield 
Township. 


RTIIUR  T.  ANTCLIFF.  Among  the  num- 
ei'ous  manufacturing  establishments  of  Peo- 
ria, that  of  llr.  Antcliff  should  not  be 
unnoted.  It  is  located  on  the  corner  of 
Adams  and  Persimmon  Streets,  and  although  the 
force  employed  is  not  so  large  as  that  in  man^- 
establishments  in  the  cit3',  a  good  business  is  done, 
amounting  to  some  18,000  per  annum.  The  busi- 
ness was  established  bj*  Mr.  Antcliff  in  1887,  being 
that  of  brass  foundry  and  pipe- fitting  works,  in 
which  the  proprietor  of  the  establishment  has  had 
an  experience  of  jears,  which,  following  a  tliorough 
apprenticeship,  makes  him  competent  to  partici- 
pate in  the  mechanical  work  or  oversee  that  of  his 
eight  emploj'es. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Thomas  H.  and 
Elizabeth  (Wall)  Antcliff,  a  worthy  English  couple 
who  emigrated  to  America  in  1850.  Thej' located 
at  Brimfield,  Peoria  County,  111.,  and  the  father 
having  abandoned  the  tailor's  trade,  at  which  he 
previously  worked,  adopted  an  agricultural  life, 
continuing  it  some  years.     He  then  bought  out  a 


blacksmith   shop,  having  charge  of  it  for  a  time. 

In  1857  he  was  elected  Constal)le. 

His  loj-alt)'  to  his  adopted  country  was  so  in- 
tense that  Mr.  Antcliff  enlisted,  in  May,  1861,  in 
Companj'  A,  Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantrj*.  He 
served  until  after  tlie  battle  of  Shiloh,  where  he  was 
struck  bj'  a  shell,  which  broke  his  left  arm  in  seven 
places  and  also  injured  his  right  elbow.  Besides 
that  disastrous  battle  he  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ments at  Fredericktown  and  Ft.  Donelsou.  together 
with  the  usual  skirmishes  and  minor  campaign 
duties.  After  returning  from  the  army  he  was 
elected  Coroner  of  Peoria  Count}',  and  while  serv- 
ing his  second  term  died  February-  14,  1865. 

The  parental  familj'  consisted  of  four  children, 
two  of  whom,  Elvira  and  Mary  Ann,  are  deceased. 
Rosamond  is  the  wife  of  Eugene  Partridge,  a 
blacksmith  in  Peoria;  Arthur,  our  subject,  who  wa.*; 
born  in  England,  June  7,  1847,  passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  this  county,  and  in  September,  1861, 
became  a  drummer  in  the  company  to  which  his 
father  was  attached.  He  was  in  service  two  years 
and  two  daj-s,  being  constantl}-  with  the  Seven- 
teenth in  the  capacity^  of  musician,  but  entering 
the  smoke  of  battle  only  at  Fredericksburg  and  Ft. 
Donelson. 

After  the  war  3'oung  Anctliff  engaged  as  fire- 
man on  the  Cliicago,  Rock  Island  it  Pacific  Rail- 
road, continuing  in  the  service  of  that  road  about 
two  j-ears.  He  then  served  an  apprenticeship  in 
brass  finishing  with  J.  H.  Thompson,  for  whom  he 
did  journe}'  work  two  years,  or  until  the  death  of 
his  employer,  when  he  went  to  Chicago,  remained 
eighteen  months,  and  returning  to  Peoria  entered 
the  employ  of  S.  A.  Kinsey.  A  j'ear  and  a  half 
later  he  went  to  Chicago  a  second  time,  and  after 
working  at  his  trade  there  another  year  came  back 
to  Peoria.  Until  1872  he  alternated  between  the 
firm  of  Frasier,  Thompson  ife  Co..  and  Mr.  Kinsey 
as  employers. 
[  Mr.  Antcliff  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  spend- 
ing four  3-ears  as  foreman  for  Kuperflee  Bros.,  then 
pursued  the  same  avocation  iu  Kansas  Cil}'  for  a 
short  time.  In  1877  he  started  a  brass  factory  in 
Jacksonville,  111.,  but  eighteen  months  later  went 
again  to  St.  Louis  for  a  short  sojourn.  His  next 
move  was  to  Litchfield  as  an  employe  of  the  Litch- 


,j4nm.-      yc?7t4 . 


PORTRAIT   AND  HKXniArillCAL  ALBUM. 


o37 


field  Car  &  I\Iacliine  Compaii}-,  going  thence  to 
I'aim  to  hihor  in  tlie  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad 
slioi)S.  In  1880  he  returned  to  Peoria,  where  after 
a  few  years  he  instituted  his  present  business  estab- 
lishment. 

Mr.  Antcrff  is  a  member  of  Br^an  Post,  No.  67, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  of  Columbia  Loilge,  Xo.  21 ,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
His  political  adherence  is  given  to  the  Republican 
part}',  for  whose  princi|)les  and  candidates  he  never 
fails  to  dei)<:>sit  his  ballot  upon  election  day.  He 
has  made  it  an  object  to  become  well  informed  re- 
garding the  news  of  the  day  and  the  topics  which 
bear  u[)on  his  life-work,  while  not  neglecting  those 
of  general  interest.  His  manly  life  retlects  credit 
upon  his  character  and  training  and  wins  for  him  the 
resi)ect  of  those  who  know  him.  His  i)leasant  home 
is  presided  over  by  an  intelligent  and  worthy  lady 
who  became  his  wife  .January  2,  1870.  She  was 
known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Angnsta  Kem- 
per, the  family  to  which  she  belonged  being  from 
Hcuiy,  this  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Antcliff  are  the 
parents  of  two  children  living,  Emma  and  .\ugusta, 
and  a  son.  Freeman,  who  was  taken  from  them  in 
infancy. 

-^ M — -^ — 


1^  RS.  ANN  (PAGTTER)  POTTS.  Among 
the  portraits  of  representative  residents  of 
11^  Peoria  County  presented  in  this  volume, 
the  reader  will  notice  on  the  opposite  page 
that  of  Mrs.  Potts,  whose  energy,  force  of  charac- 
ter and  business  tact  are  apparent  at  a  glance.  She 
is  an  example  of  rare  business  talent,  which  is 
often  developed  by  women  when  situated  favorably' 
for  its  exercise.  In  the  management  of  her  affairs 
she  shows  a  keen  foresight,  quick  intelligence  and 
prudent  econoiu}-,  that  have  [ilaced  her  in  the 
front  rank  among  the  business  members  of  the 
community. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Potts  was  Jonathan  Pagtter, 
a  native  of  Fathringo,  England.  Her  mother  was 
Susan  S.  Kelcic,  a  native  of  Shillon,  Warwickshire, 
England.  The  former  died  in  his  native  country 
in  1S42,  but  the  latter,  who  survived  her  husband 
a  number  of  years,  took  up  her  residence  in  Amer- 
ica at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.    She 


made  her  home  with  her  daughter,  our  subject,  for 
some  three  years,  when  she  laid  aside  her  mortal 
body  and  departed  to  the  land  where  the  inhabi- 
tants never  grow  old  -or  say,  "I  am  sick."  Four- 
score years  and  six  she  traveled  life's  pathwaj', 
doing  good  as  she  had  opportunity,  and  has  richly- 
earned  her  present  rest.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pagtter 
were  the  parents  of  nineteen  children,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  youngest. 

Mrs.  Potts  was  born  March  28.  1832,  in  Folshill, 
Warwickshire,  England,  where  she  grew  to  woman- 
hood. She  was  married  iu  Folshill  church,  October 
13, 1845,  to  Samuel  Potts,  who  was  born  in  Breedon, 
Leicestershire,  England,  December  24,  1821.  They 
settled  first  in  Folshill,where  Mr.  Potts  was  engageil 
in  coal  mining.  They  made  their  home  in  AV'arwick- 
shire  and  Staffordshire  until  1856,  when  thej-  came 
to  the  United  States  and  took  up  their  abode  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  remained  something  over  one 
year.  Trusting  to  do  better  in  the  West,  they 
once  more  packed  up  their  household  goods  and 
journeyed  toward  the  setting  sun.  Upon  arriving 
in  Peoria  County  they  were  so  well  pleased  that 
they  decided  to  locate  here  permanently,  and  pur- 
chasing a  plot  of  ground  in  Kickapoo  Township, 
they  erected  a  large  brick  house,  which  overlooks 
the  village  of  Pottstown  and  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. 

Mr.  Potts  engaged  in  mining  extensively,  and 
was  also  employed  in  building  stone  bridges,  taking 
the  contracts  and  sui)ervising  the  work  while  it 
was  being  performed.  He  resided  in  the  old  home 
until  January  G,  1889.  He  was  Supervisor  for 
three  years,  Highway  Commissioner  several  years, 
and  took  an  active  part  iu  [)olilical  affairs,  but  did 
not  ally  himself  with  any  party,  preferring  to  be 
independent,  and  cast  his  vote  as  his  judgment 
dictated. 

Mrs.  Potts  was  the  mother  of  fifteen  children, 
nine  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  living  members 
of  the  family  are:  Samuel,  George;  Lucy,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Andrew  J.  Slaxwell;  Eveline,  the  wife 
of  John  Wright;  Nettie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Edward 
jNI.  Cannan;  and  Leah  (i.  The  deceased  children 
are:  Mar}-  A.,  John,  John  II.,  Tsadore  L.,  Michael; 
Hannah  was  the  wife  of  Michael  Clancy,  and  died 
in    Pottstown;  Susanna   was    the  vvife  of   William 


538 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


McLoiigbliu,  and  tlied  at  Poltstown  in  December, 
1872;  Sarah  was  the  wife  of  H.  F.  Thurston,  and 
died  at  Pottsto-wn,  December  27,  1872;  one  died 
unnamed.  Mrs.  Potts  is,  as  before  stated,  an  ex- 
cellent business  woman.  She  has  operated  mines  in 
Pottstown,  a  village  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Potts, 
and  at  present  is  engaged  in  managing  a  large 
brickyard,  in  addition  to  taking  the  oversight  of 
of  a  farm  of  some  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land.  Although  so  bus}'  with  the  various  cares 
devolving  upon  her,  Mrs.  Potts  yet  finds  time  to 
devote  to  the  welfare  of  those  with  whom  she  is 
associated,  and  stands  high  in  the  esteem  and  re- 
gard of  her  friends  and  acquaintances  both  as  an 
honorable  and  reliable  business  woman,  and  as  a 
true  and  warm  friend. 


ORSON  B.  STOWELL.  The  life  of  the  far- 
mer is  not  devoid  of  opportunities  for  the 
practice  of  the  sterling  virtues  of  industr}', 
perseverance,  honesty,  and  brotherlj^  kindness.  On 
the  contrary,  it  affords  abundant  chance  for  the  ef- 
forts of  all  who  wish  to  build  up  a  fine  character, 
while  carr3-iug  on  the  vocation  in  which  they  hope 
to  secure  a  competence  and  make  provision  for  their 
declining  years.  That  this  is  true,  may  be  seen  in 
the  life  of  the  gentleman  above  named,  an  hon- 
ored and  influential  resident  of  Hallock  Township. 
He  is  active  in  local  politics,  and  in  those  move- 
ments which  tend  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the 
communitv  in  material  affairs,  in  mind  and  in 
spirit,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  among  the  leaders 
of  society"  in  their  section  of  the  State. 

The  grandfatiier  of  our  subject,  Bisha  Stowell, 
who  was  born  in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  De- 
cember 9,  1779,  descended  from  a  farailj-  who  had 
settled  in  Massachusetts  on  coming  from  P^ngland 
about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  centurj-.  Some 
of  the  descendants  afterward  took  up  their  abode 
in  Vermont,  where  Grandfather  Stowell.  after  at- 
taining to  proper  years  became  a  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Fields,  who  was  born  March  20,  1784, 
presumably"  in  the  same  Slate,  and  died   in   1819. 


The  husband  survived  her  some  j'ears,  and  coming 
to  Illinois  in  1840  with  a  son,  died  at  their  new  lo- 
cation ia  Hallock  Township.  Peoria  County,  a  few 
daj-s  later — Se|)tember  5.  He  h.ad  married  a  second 
wife,  who  also  died  in  this  county,  the  date  of  her 
decease  being  in  1859.  She  was  born  in  1792.  and 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  ^lary  .lohnsou.  Bisha 
Stowell  and  his  wives  belonged  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  following  its  te.achings  with  the  strictness 
of  the  New  England  stock  whence  the}-  sprang. 

The  children  of  Bisha  Stowell  and  his  first  wife 
were  eight  in  number,  of  whom  Ebeiiezer,  the  f.a- 
ther  of  our  subject,  w<as  the  third.  All  are  now  de- 
ceased, as  are  likewise  five  of  the  seven  children  of 
the  second  wife.  Ebenezer  Stowell  was  born  in 
Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  October  19,  1807.  He 
served  a  regular  apprenticeship  to  a  millwright,  be- 
coming a  skilled  workm.an  at  the  trade,  which  he 
foJlowed  in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  until 
1843.  At  that  date  he  made  a  permanent  location 
in  Peoria  County,  111.,  spending  the  remainder  of 
his  active  life  as  a  farmer.  lie  had  made  his  first 
trip  hither  with  two  kinsmen — Rosswcll  and  Isaiah 
Nurse — in  183G,  coming  most  of  the  way  on  foot. 
The  three  men  purch.ased  a  large  tract  of  wild  land 
in  Peoria  and  Marshall  Counties,  which  was  |>laced 
in  the  market  that  year,  after  which  our  subject  re- 
turned to  his  native  State  to  sojourn  there  a  few 
}'ears  longer.  Besides  carrjing  on  his  trade,  Mr. 
Stowell  was  for  a  few  years  connected  with  a  lum- 
ber company  at  Bingliampton,  N.  Y. 

Bringing  his  family  and  some  household  goods 
across  the  country  with  a  team  and  wagon.  Ebene- 
zer Stowell  began  the  development  of  his  land  on 
section  3,  where  he  ere  long  became  well  and  favor- 
ably known.  His  first  wife  was  Pauline  Bridge- 
man,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  April  14,  1811. 
and  died  there  Ma}-  7,  1834,  after  the  birth  of  her 
only  child.  She  was  a  noble  young  woman  in  the 
prime  of  life,  whose  promising  career  was  cut  short 
by  an  untimely  death,  and  left  grief  and  sorrow  in 
many  hearts.  Mr.  Stowell  married  for  his  second 
wife  Laura  Bridgeman,  a  sister  of  his  first  com- 
panion, and  her  worthy  successor  as  a  helpmate. 
She  w.as  born  July  H,  1808,  and  died  April  2,  1889. 
She  and  her  husband  were  Congregationalists,  and 
charter  members  of  the  organization  in  this  county, 


PORTRAIT  AND  15I0G RAPHICAL  ALIU'M. 


539 


which  was  begun  with  six  members,  and  located  at   , 
l>a\vii  Ridge.     Mr.  Slowcll  brcatlieil    liis   last    Maj- 
7,  1.S8(). 

TliL'  .secoiid  iiiarriago  of  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  productive  of  eight  children,  si.x  of  whom 
are  still  living.  'I'liey  and  their  elder  brother,  our 
subject,  were  carefully  rc.ired,  being  given  every 
advantage  which  their  surroundings  would  allow 
to  become  intelligent,  well-read,  and  upright  in 
character.  He  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  in 
Binghampton,  JS\  Y.,  May  7.  1834.  and  was  but  a 
small  bo_v  when  he  accomiianied  his  father  and 
stepmother  to  the  West.  lie  grew  to  the  .age  of 
twenty  years  in  the  township  which  is  now  his 
home,  then  spent  four  years  on  the  road  in  this 
Stale  and  Indiana.  He  then  married  and  settled 
where  he  has  since  resided,  now  owning  two  hun- 
dred and  ten  acres  of  good  land,  most  of  it  under 
improvement.  A  full  line  of  necessary  and  con- 
venient farm  buildings  stand  upon  the  broa<l  acres, 
the  dwelling  being  particularly  homelike  in  appear- 
ance, and  the  evidences  of  progressive,  practical 
oversight  being  manifest  on  every  hand. 

The  lady  who  presides  over  the  household  econ- 
omy at  the  home  of  our  subject,  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Miss  Harriet  R.  Church.  She  w.as 
born  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.,  October  9, 
1833*  was  reared  with  great  care,  and  received  a 
good  practical  education.  (She  is  a  motherly  woman, 
to  whom  her  children  owe  much  for  her  devotion 
and  wise  counsel,  while  to  her  husband  her  price  is 
far  above  rubies.  She  is  one  of  nine  children  born 
to  Norman  and  Rebecca  (Delurga)  Church,  the  fa- 
ther having  been  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  of  New 
England  parentage,  and  the  mother  born  in  Ver- 
mont, but  of  French  ancestry.  Mr.  Church  died 
in  the  Empire  State  in  middle  life,  and  his  widow 
subsequently  came  West,  living  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  years,  and  dying  in  Calva,  this  State.  She  be- 
longed to  the  ^lethodist  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  B.  Stowell  have  had  five  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom — Fanny  and  Luther — are  still 
inmates  of  the  parental  home.  The  third  cliild,  L. 
Rebecca,  married  J.  15.  Bell,  and  died  under  her 
parents'  roof,  January  13,  1890,  leaving  a  daughter, 
.lennie  B.,  who  has  since  followed  the  mother  to  the 
tomb;   William   L..  the  eldest  son,  married   Alice 


Merrill,  and  occupies  a  farm  in  the  same  township 
as  his  father;  I^ydia  P.  is  the  wife  of  .lames  P. 
Green,  a  farmer  in  Marshall  County.  All  the  chil- 
dren are  naturally  smart,  and  having  had  their 
faculties  well  developed,  are  self  supporting,  well 
informed,  and  useful  members  of  the  community. 
Parents  and  chihlren  belong  to  the  Congregational 
Church.  Mr.  Stowell  is  now  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
has  other  local  offices,  and  takes  an  active  part  in 
political  affairs  of  the  section.  He  is  a  sound  Re- 
publican. 


is^m 


'RED.  AVENKER.  Many  of  the  best  citizens 
of  the  Prairie  State  are  natives  of  lands  far 
across  the  sea,  and  thi»  county  is  not  with- 
out her  share  of  these  foreigners,  who  3et  are  true 
Americans  in  their  love  for  the  country  of  their 
adoption  and  interest  in  her  best  growth.  One  of 
these  is  Fred.  Wenker,  of  Ilallock  Township,wlio  for 
several  years  has  been  occui)ying  a  good  fai  ui  on 
section  8.  His  estate  comprises  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  which  he  is  pursuing  the  peaceful 
calling  of  a  general  farmer,  adding  year  by  3-ear  to 
an  already  established  reputation  !is  a  reliable  citi- 
zen and  honorable  man. 

Amid  the  romantic  scenery  of  Canton  Berne, 
Switzerland,  February  10,  1831,  he  of  whom  we 
write,  was  born.  His  father,  Jacob  Wenker,  was  a 
farmer  and  exemplified  in  his  person  the  virtues  of 
a  good  old  Swiss  family  of  the  Protestant  faith. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  thirt3'-tive  }"ears,  when  his 
son,  our  subject,  was  but  seven  years  old.  The 
mother,  formerly  IMiss  Elizabeth  Kuffer,  reared  her 
two  children,  bestowing  upon  them  the  best  advan- 
tages which  she  could  obtain,  teaching  them  high 
l)rinciples  and  useful  habits. 

In  18.j4  Mrs.  Wenker  with  her  son  and  daugh- 
ter took  passage  for  America,  leaving  Havre  de 
Grace,  France,  in  November,  and  landing  in  New 
Orleans,  La.,  in  Januarj-,  18.')5.  Their  voyage, 
though  long,  had  been  pleasant.  The}'  came  up 
the  Mississippi  River,  and  began  their  life  in  the 
New  World  on  a  farm  in  Ivickapoo  Township,  this 
county.     The  mother  lived  with  her  son   until   her 


540 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


death  in  1888,  having  survived  to  the  advanced 
age  of  eigiity-tvvo  years.  Her  daughter,  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  Ladiey,  lives  in  New  Orleans. 

Our  subject  had  passed  his  majority  before  he 
came  to  America,  and  was  fully  equipped  for  his 
duties  here  as  far  as  his  principles,  determination, 
and  industrious  habits  could  fit  him  for  the  duties 
of  a  citizen  of  America.  lie  had  steadilj'  pursued 
his  purpose  to  secure  a  good  home,  and  conduct 
himself  in  a  manner  befitting  one  with  whose  early 
training  so  much  pains  had  been  taken,  and  his 
standing  in  the  community  proves  his  success.  In 
this  county  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Whittemore, 
who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  February  5,  1842. 
She  was  but  a  year  old  wlien  her  iiarents  came  to 
this  county,  settling  in  Kickapoo  Township,  where 
the  father,  Daniel  Whittemore,  is  yet  living,  well 
advanced  in  years  and  in  fortune.  His  wife,  Bet- 
sey Irish,  died  in  that  townsiiip  in  1872,  when  more 
than  three  score  years  of  age. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  reared  and  educated 
in  a  manner  customary  to  the  daughters  of  pros- 
perous farmers,  becoining  well  skilled  in  domestic 
management,  well-informed  regarding  general  top- 
ics, and  capable  of  discharging  her  duties  as  the 
heail  of  a  household.  She  is  the  mother  of  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Lizzie  and  Sophia  E.  have  been 
called  hence.  The  living  are:  Frederick]).,  Lena 
M.,  Albert  D.,  and  Arthur  N.  All  reside  at  home, 
the  second  son  assisting  in  the  farm  work,  and  the 
oldest  pursuing  a  mechanic's  calling.  Mrs.  Wen- 
ker  is  a  member  of  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  Church. 
Mr.  Wenker  easts  his  vote  with  the  Republican 
party. 

OHN  HENSEL.  The  farm  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  this  gentleman,  consists  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  7,  Ilallock  Township,  and 
without  being  sufficiently  large  to  require 
undue  exoition  in  its  management  and  cultivation, 
affi)rds  an  excellent  support  and  abundant  field  for 
intelligent  labor.  The  land  is  naturally  good,  and 
is  kept  in  a  state  of  fertility  liy  the  use  of  the  best 
feitilizing  agents,  and  a  proper  rotation  of  crops, 
while  ujjou  it  tlie  various  improvements  have  been 


made  which  stamp  it  as  the  abode  of  an  intelligent 
and  thrifty  family.  It  has  been  the  home  of  our 
subject  since  1860,  at  which  time  he  came  to  the 
countv  from  the  East. 

Mr.  Ilensel  is  one  of  those  industrious  and  thor- 
oughly honorable  Germans,  whose  citizenshij)  is  an 
honor  to  the  laud  of  their  adoption,  and  who  afford 
worthy  examples  of  the  results  of  persevering, 
straightforward  efforts.  He  was  born  in  Frank- 
fort-on-the  Main.  Januarj-  1,  1819,  received  a  good 
education  in  his  native  cit^',  among  his  accomplish- 
ments being  an  excellent  knowledge  of  the  English 
language.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  harness-maker 
and  upholsterer,  following  it  in  his  native  land  for 
some  time.  There  he  married  Miss  Jeanette  Fresh, 
a  native  of  Stuttgart,  in  which  city,  and  in  Frank- 
fort she  was  reared  and  educated. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hensel  bade  adieu  to  their  native 
Innd  in  1852,  embarking  at  Rotterdam  on  a  sail- 
ing-vessel which  cast  anchor  in  New  York  Harbor, 
after  a  voj'agc  of  six  weeks.  The  good  wife  died 
in  the  metropolis  four  years  after  her  arrival,  leav- 
ing three  children — Charles,  Matilda,  and  Einma. 
Mr.  Hensel  continued  to  live  in  New  York  until 
18G0,  when  he  came  West,  selected  and  purchased 
land,  and  assisted  by  his  second  wife,  Ijegan  the  ini- 
l)rovements  which  have  resiUted  in  the  formation 
of  a  pleasant  home.  The  lady  whom  he  chose  as 
his  second  companion,  was  Miss  Susan  Carpes,  who 
had  been  living  in  New  York  City  for  some  time 
prior  to  her  marriage.  She  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1825,  came  to  America  when  a  young  woman, 
and  after  having  lived  to  the  age  of  forty  j-ears, 
died  at  her  home  in  this  county  in  1882.  She  left 
two  children,  Lena  and  John. 

The  sons  and  daughters  of  our  subject  are  mar- 
ried and  living  upon  farms  in  various  localities. 
Charles  is  located  near  Hoopeston,  this  State,  hav- 
ing married  Miss  Mary  Fentrick;  Matilda  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Weidmann,  of  Ilallock  Township;  Emma 
married  Albert  Shane,  their  home  being  in  Akron 
Township;  Lena  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Rapp,  of 
Marshall  County;  John,  who  married  Sabria  Ben- 
nett, lives  in  Kansas.  Father  and  sons  are  sound 
Democrats,  and  the  entire  family  belong  to  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Dietrich   Hensel, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


543 


who  came  of  a  good  German  stock,  wasau  engineer 
and  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  Fatherland,  being 
but  in  his  prime  when  his  career  was  cut  short  by 
death.  Our  subject,  the  only  child  of  his  parents, 
was  quite  small  when  bereaved  of  his  father's  care, 
after  which  time  his  mother  endeavored  as  far  as 
possible  to  supply  to  her  son  the  place  of  both  fa- 
ther and  mother.  She  also  was  of  German  blood, 
having  borne  the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  Weid- 
mann.  Slie  died  at  Frankfort-on-lhe-Main,  not  far 
from  her  birthplace,  when  past  three-score  years  of 
age.  She  and  her  husband  belonged  to  the  Luth- 
eran Church. 


~i-^^=^^4ri~i^ 


fBRAIIAM    RANDLH     The    indomitable 
perseverance  and  force  of  character,  which 

li    almost    invariably    are    the    heritage    of 
(^J  every  native  of  that  dominion  on  whose 

possessions  the  sun  never  sets,  are  displayed  in  tiie 
life  of  Mr.  Randle.  Although  perhaps  not  a  pio- 
neer of  Peoria  County,  he  has  resided  here  many 
years  and  is  identified  with  many  of  the  important 
enterprises  of  the  community.  His  poi'trait  is  ])re- 
sentcd  in  connection  with  this  brief  review  of  his 
life. 

The  jiarents  of  Mr.  Randle  were  George  and 
Mar3'  Ann  (Woodhouse)  Randle,  natives  of  War- 
wickshire, P>ngland,  where  thej-  passed  the  j'ears  of 
their  early  married  life.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
also  named  George,  [lassed  his  entire  life  within 
the  bounds  of  his  native  parish  of  Warwickshire. 
The  father  of  our  subject  remov^ed  his  family  to 
America  sometime  in  the  fall  of  1865,  or  the 
spring  of  1866,  and  settled  in  Peoria  County.  He 
had  previously  spent  some  time  in  this  country  and 
was  so  well  pleased  that  he  decided  to  make  it  his 
permanent  place  of  residence.  I'pon  the  arrival  of 
George  Randle  and  his  family  in  tliis  county  they 
pitched  upon  a  place  near  the  present  village  of 
Pottstowu,  Kickapoo  Township,  as  a  suitable  site 
for  a  home  and,  purchasing  the  coveted  spot,  im- 
mediately began  the  building  of  a  house.  Mr. 
Randle_was  emploj'ed  in  farming  and  coal  mining  in 
that  place  until  his  death,  which  occurred   in  Feb- 


ruary, 1874.  The  mother  of  our  subject  still  sur- 
vives. They  vvere  the  parents  of  nine  children,  five 
of  whom  were  sons. 

The  subject  'of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  son  an<l 
third  child  of  his  father's  family,  and  wjis  horn  in 
Warwickshire,  England,  March  27,  1847.  When 
onl}-  about  fourteen  years  of  age  he  left  home  and 
traveled  to  Vancouver's  Island,  where  he  re- 
mained a  short  time  then  went  to  San  Fran- 
cisco and  other  places  in  California;  afterward 
he  proceeded  to  Portland,  Ore.,  thence  to  Victoria, 
where  he  remained  four  weeks,  from  there  to  Nan- 
imo,  in  the  British  Dominion,  where  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Hudson  Baj-  Comjjan}'.  He  remained 
with  that  company  about  two  and  one-half  j'ears, 
then  again  went  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  made 
a  short  stop,  then  made  a  tour  to  several  other 
places,  finallj'  engaging  himself  to  the  Vancouver 
Coal  and  Mining  Compan}-,  with  which  he  re- 
mained until  in  March,  1864.  Soon  after  dissolv- 
ing Ms  connection  with  the  above  company  he 
went  via  boat  to  New  York,  thence  to  Peoria, 
reaching  the  latter  place  about  the  last  of  August, 
1864. 

The  first  occupation  of  our  subject  in  the  count3' 
of  Peoria  was  in  the  business  of  coal  raining,  which 
he  pursued  for  sometime  near  Pottstowu.  Later  he 
bought  a  farm  in  that  vicinity  known  as  the  Thurs- 
ton farm,  which  he  cleared  and  in  connection  with 
his  father,  cultivated  and  improved.  The  farm  was 
the  joint  possession  of  himself  and  father  but  after 
the  death  of  the  father  our  subject  was  sole  owner. 
He  operated  it  until  in  March.  1883,  when  he  sold 
out  and  purchased  land  in  I-^d  wards,  where  he  has 
since  been  a  resident.  His  property  embraces  some 
thirty-five  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Randle  is  quite  a  prominent  man  in  politics 
and  h.as  been  honored  by  his  part}'  with  a  number 
of  official  positions,  chief  of  which  arc  those  of 
Constable,  a  position  he  filled  three  terms.  Court 
Bailiff,  and  Township  Supervisor.  He  was  elected 
to  the  latter  office  in  April,  1889,  and  re-elected  in 
the  spring  of  1890.  As  intimated  above  he  has 
held  various  other  offices,  most  of  them  of  a  minor 
character,  and  is  a  popular  and  respected  worker  in 
the  ranks  of  his  partj'.  His  political  affiliations  ai-e 
with  the  Democrats,  whose  principles  Bml  in  him  a 


544 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


warm  supporter.  He  has  taken  a  prominent  part 
in  the  different  mining  organizations  and  among 
the  Knights  of  Labor,  in  both  of  which  his  extensive 
travels  have  made  liim  a  high  autlioritj'  and  a  val- 
ued adviser. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Kickapoo  Tosvnshi[) 
to  Miss  Amanda  Jones,  a  native  of  Peoria  County. 
She  bore  him  several  children  but  only  one  lived 
lo  grow  to  maturity,  William.  Mr.  Randle  was 
ao'ain  married  in  the  same  townshi|).  taking  for  his 
second  wife  Miss  Mary  Ann  Jones,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children,  named  rcspectivel3' :  Louisa.  Mary 
Ann,  Abraham,  Lottie,  three  who  died  unnamed  in 
infanc}%  and  George.  The  mother  joined  her  de- 
parted ones  in  th«  other  world  December  21,  1887. 


OBERT  A.  GREEN,  an  extensive  grain. 
.vi^f  coal,  and  live-stock  dealer,  with  his  interest 
(Si  \V  centered  in  Edelstein,  occupies  a  prominent 
place  among  the  s  igacious.  wide-awake  busi- 
ness men  of  Peoria  Count}'.  He  established  him- 
self in  his  present  business  in  1887  when  the  Santa 
Fe  Railroad  was  completed,  and  here  he  has  the 
finest  location  for  his  business  along  the  whole  line 
as  this  is  one  of  the  best  grain -growing  regions  of 
the  West.  lie  has  a  large  elevator  with  a  capac- 
ity of  fortj-  thousand  bushels,  besides  other  accom- 
modations for  his  grain,  and  is  conducting  a  large 
trade.  He  has  long  been  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  the  State  as  a  successful 
farmer  in  La  Prairie  and  A'alle}-  Townships,  in 
Marshall  and  Stark  Counties,  where  he  has  a  large 
farm,  once  comprising  four  hundred  acres,  two 
hundred  of  which  he  has  given  to  his  sons.  He 
settled  on  his  homestead  many  years  .ngo  and  im- 
proved it  into  one  of  the  best  farms  in  that  part  of 
the  State,  supplying  it  with  a  substantial  set  of 
buildings,  including  a  fine  residence,  and  keeping 
il  well  stocked  with  a  good  class  of  cattle,  and  was 
greatly  prospered  in  all  that  he  undertook. 

Mr.  Green  was  born  in  Berlin,  Rensselaer  County, 
N.  Y.,  February  15,  1827.  His  father.  John  Green, 
was  also  a  native  of  that  county,  while  his  father, 


bearing  the  same  name  as  himself,  was  born,  reared 
and  married  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  The 
name  of  his  wife  was  Sarah,  and  she  was  also  a 
native  of  that  New  England  State,  and  was  of  ster- 
ling antecedents.  John  Green,  Sr.,  removed  with 
his  young  wife  to  New  York  State  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  Berlin.  He  found  the  county  in  a 
wild  state  and  his  pioneer  home  was  in  the  primeval 
forests,  two  miles  from  the  present  site  of  the  vil- 
lage. In  the  years  of  toil  that  followed  he  hewed 
out  a  farm  from  the  heavy  timber  and  lived  to  see 
the  county  well  developed.  He  and  his  wife  both 
died  full  of  3ears.  They  were  early  members  of 
the  Seventh-Day  Baptist  Church.  He  did  faithful 
service  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  one  of  the  oldest 
of  a  large  family  of  children,  all  of  whom  are  now 
deceased,  though  they  lived  to  be  quite  old.  He 
grew  up  in  Berlin  and  early  became  a  full-fledged 
farmer,  and  established  a  home,  having  married  in 
his  native  township  Sarah  Saunders.  He  was  next 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Maxon,  who  was 
also  born  in  that  place,  coming  of  parents  who 
had  settled  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  an  early 
d.ay.  After  the  birth  of  three  children.  Mrs.  Sarah 
Green,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  died,  when  she 
was  in  the  prime  of  life.  His  father  died  when  an 
old  man  of  eight3'-three  years.  Bj^  his  first  wife 
Mr.  Green  had  four  sons,  all  of  whom  lived  to  ma- 
turity. By  his  third  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Tabitha  P^oster,  he  h.ad  three  sons,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  manhood.  His  last  wife  survived  him, 
dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  j'ears.  She  had 
been  a  good  mother  and  step-mother  and  was  loved 
by  all  who  knew  her.  .John  Green,  Jr.,  and  his 
three  wives  were  all  members  of  the  Seventh-D.ay 
Baptist  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Green  was  a 
stanch  old-line  Whig. 

Our  subject  was  the  youngest  child  of  his 
mother  and  was  carefully  reared  by  his  father  and 
step-mother,  his  own  mother  having  died  when  he 
was  eighteen  months  old.  He  was  married  in 
Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Frances  Rich- 
ardson, who  was  born  in  that  county,  in  1834,  and 
a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Richardson,  na- 
tives of  the  State  of  New  York.  They  were  reared 
•and  lived  in  St.  Johnsville,   Montgomery^  County, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


545 


until  their  death.  Mr.  Richardson  for  some  years 
was  the  iieeper  of  a  public  hotel.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  seventjr-two  years,  and  his  wife  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five.  Mrs.  Green  was  the  oldest  of  their 
five  children,  and  all  are  yet  living.  She  is  a  ver^- 
intelligent,  well-informed  woman  and  received  a 
good  education  in  a  seminary  in  her  native 
county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  have  three  children — Fred, 
who  married  Katie  Murraj-,  and  lives  in  Marshall 
Count}-  on  a  part  of  his  father's  lioinestead;  James, 
who  married  Lina  Stowell,  and  occupies  another 
part  of  his  father's  farm;  and  Marj'  E.,  wife  of 
Fred  Wood,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Wood  being  con- 
nected  with  the  Troy  Manufacturing  Bank. 

Mr.  Green  came  to  this  State  in  1858  and  for 
three  years  vvas  located  in  Farmington.  He  then 
purchased  land  in  Hallock  Township,  which  he 
sold  three  years  later,  and  bought  land  in  Marshall 
County,  in  La  Prairie  Township,  and  also  in  Val- 
ley Township,  Stark  County,  where  he  was  exten- 
sively engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  until 
he  came  to  Edelstein.  He  is  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  business  eai)acit3',  possessing  keen  fore- 
siglit  and  the  practical  ability  to  manage  large  en- 
terprises with  success.  He  is  not  a  politician  or 
an  oflice-seekor,  but  [assesses  sound  views  on  po- 
litical subjects  and  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  and  his  wife  are  among  the 
most  valued  members  of  the  Seventh-Day  Bap- 
tist (Miurch  and  contribute  generously  toward  the 
maintenance  of  the  good  work  tliat  it  is  carrying 
on  in  tliis  eomniunitv. 


TOSIAH  MORROW.  This  gentleman  has 
liecu  a  lifelong  resident  of  Akron  Town- 
ship, having  since  1838  lived  upon  the 
same  section — 20 — where,  he  now  has  a  fine 
farm,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  three  acres 
under  good  improvement  and  thorough  cultiva- 
tion, forming  a  home  of  great  comfort  and  attract- 
ive appearance.  One  of  the  most  prominent 
characteristics  of  Mr.  JNIorrow  is  his  deep  interest 
in    educational    and    church    matters.      Although 


there  are  many  men  who  bestir  themselves  in  such 
work  or  who  contribute  liberally  from  the  means 
with  whicli  the}'  have  been  blest,  yet  there  are  in 
every  community  some  who  take  the  lead  in  this 
respect,  and  in  the  section  in  which  he  lives  ]\Ir. 
Morrow  leads  the  van. 

The  natal  daj-  of  our  subject  was  September  26, 
1834,  and  his  birthplace  the  parental  farm  in  this 
township.  Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  early  deter- 
mining to  pursue  a  farmer's  life  and  preiiaring 
himself  for  the  work  b}-  thorough  observation  and 
participation  in  the  practical  labor  belonging 
thereto.  He  was  married  on  the  same  section  on 
which  he  lives,  to  Ellen  Aid  rich,  a  capable,  noble- 
hearted  woman,  who,  like  himself,  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  and  highly  regarded  by 
the  members  of  the  communit3^ 

Mrs.  Morrow  is  a  daughter  of  Linus  and  Gratia 
(Carlisle)  Aldrich,  natives  of  New  Hampshire,  in 
which  State  both  died.  In  Cheshire  County  their 
daughter  Ellen  was  born  November  18,  183C, 
being  the  ninth  of  their  ten  children.  She  became 
the  wife  of  our  subject  June  4,  1863,  and  has 
borne  him  seven  children:  Thomas  E.,  Laura  E., 
Elliott  W.  and  Gratia  E.  are  living;  Linus  A., 
Lucy  M.  and  an  infant  have  crossed  the  river  of 
death. 

Mr.  Morrow  has  held  the  oillce  of  Township 
Collector  three  years  and  has  also  been  School 
Trustee.  He  took  an  active  part  in  forming  the 
Princpville  Academy,  an  exi  client  institution,  which 
Is  carried  on  under  the  auspices  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  which  religious  body  he  is  an 
Elder.  The  academy  has  from  its  organization 
been  in  charge  of  able  instructors,  among  tliem 
being  Mr.  Stevens,  Charles  Brusie,  of  Dunlap, 
and  the  present  Superintendent,  Mr.  Southgate. 
Mr.  Brusie  held  the  chief  position  in  the  school 
two  years,  performing  its  duties  in  a  remarkably 
successful  manner  and  doing  much  to  build  up  the 
reputation  of  the  institution.  Miss  Emma  Jenness, 
who  has  been  assistant  for  three  }'ears,  is  also  very 
successful  in  her  work.  The  town  in  which  this 
academy  is  located  was  named  after  Daniel  Prince, 
who  married  a  sister  of  the  late  Thomas  Mor- 
row, father  of  our  subject. 

Thomas    Morrow    was    born    in     the    Buckeye 


5  46 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


State,  January  25,  1808,  becoming'  a  resident  of 
Parke  County.  Ind.,  wiiere  he  marricdMiss  Eleanor 
McMillin,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Soon  after  tiaeir 
marriage,  in  the  spring  of  1831,  tliey  came  to 
Peoria  County,  settling  in  Akron  Township,  wliere 
Mr.  Morrow  died  March  10,1848.  Mrs.  Morrow 
survived  until  June  14,  1877,  reaching  quite  an 
advanced  age.  The  honored  couple  were  among 
the  organizers  of  the  Presb3'terian  Church,  in 
Princevilie,  and  were  foremost  in  every  good 
work  undertaken  by  the  settlers  in  the  section  in 
wliicli  tliey  live.  They  reared  a  large  family  of 
eight  sons  and  three  daughters,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  being  the  third  on  the  family  roll. 


ILLIAM  COWLEY.  No  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  this  county  still  living  among  us, 
*^^  is  more  worthy  of  representation  in  this 
BiOGiiAi'iiiCAL  Album  dedicated  to  the  citizens  of 
this  section  of  Illinois,  than  this  gentleman,  who 
has  long  lived  here,  and  has  not  only  witnessed  the 
wonderful  transformation  wrought  by  man  in  de- 
velo()ing  the  rich  resources  of  tiiis  region,  but  has 
had  a  hand  in  it.  He  was  an  early  settler  of  Brim- 
lield  Township,  and  for  many  years  labored  with 
assiduous  toil  to  improve  his  fine  farm  on  section 
16,  and  acquired  a  competence  which  enables  him 
and  his  wife,  who  has  actively  shared  his  work,  to 
|)ass  their  declining  years  in  comfort  and  prosper- 
ity. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  wlucii 
is  in  the  Irish  Sea,  north  of  AVales,  his  birth  occur- 
ring there  March  3,  1811.  His  parents,  Thomas 
and  Catherine  (Tearc)  Cowley,  were  also  natives 
of  that  Island,  and  until  he  was  seventy  years  of 
age,  his  father  never  left  that  little  spot  of  earth, 
emigrating  then  to  America. 

Our  subject  was  the  only  son  in  his  parents'  fam- 
ily and  was  reared  on  his  native  isle,  and  received 
a  fair  education  in  its  schools,  though  he  did  not 
have  the  line  advantages  thai  the  30uth  of  to-day 
enjoy.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn 
liie  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship until  he  was    twentj'one  years    old. 


After  that  for  a  time  he  ws  employed  as  a  jour- 
neyman at  his  calling  in  Liverpool  and  Manchester, 
England.  In  1836,  in  the  vigor  and  strength  of 
the  opening  years  of  an  active  manhood,  he  took 
his  life  in  his  own  hands,  and  started  on  the  long 
journey  to  America,  where  he  hoped  he  might,  un- 
der tlie  good  opportunities  offered  to  foreigners, 
secure  a  comfortable  competence  and  build  up  a 
good  home.  He  took  passage  at  Liverpool  on  the 
good  ship  "Thomas,"  at  White  Haven,  and  after  a 
long  and  tiresome  voyage  of  forty-three  daj-s, 
landed  in  New  York  Chy.  In  that  great  metropo- 
lis he  found  work  at  his  trade,  and  lived  there  some 
three  years.  He  next  took  up  his  residence  in  the 
South,  and  we  hear  of  him  working  in  Mobile,  Ala., 
at  his  calling  for  several  years.  He  was  also  em- 
ployed as  a  journeymen  and  a  contractor  in  Mem- 
phis, Tenn.,  for  some  thirteen  years. 

In  1846,  our  subject  made  a  new  departure,  and 
became  a  landowner  in  tliis  State,  buying  the  prop- 
erty on  which  he  now  resides,  and  removing  to  it 
from  Tennessee  in  1853,  and  since  then  has  made 
farming  his  life  work.  He  at  first  purchased  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  at  §4.50  an  acre,  it  being 
then  in  a  wild  condition,  as  the  Indians  had  left  it, 
and  he  turned  the  first  furrow  of  what  is  now  a 
most  excellent  farm,  he  having  brought  it  to  its 
present  condition  of  great  productiveness  and  line 
im|)rovement,  by  persevering  and  well  directed 
labor.  He  has  added  to  his  original  purchase,  and 
now  has  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  under 
good  cultivation,  supplied  with  the  necessary  build- 
ings of  a  good  order  and  conveniently  arranged, 
and  with  all  the  ap|)liances  for  carrying  on  farm- 
ing. 

Mr.  Cowley  has  been  greatly  assisted  in  the  ac- 
cumulation of  his  property  by  his  good  wife,  who 
is  at  once  counselor,  friend  and  helpmate.  Their 
marriage  was  solemnized  November  9,  1841,  and  to 
them  have  come  nine  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing four  are  living:  Cornelia  J.,  widow  of  Mr.  Slo- 
cum,  of  Brimfield  Township;  William  T.;  Daniel; 
and  Martha,  wife  of  Joseph  Harper,  of  Peoria. 
The  five  deceaser!  are:  Cornelia,  Daniel,  Jlargaret, 
Edward,  and  Catherine  A.  Mrs.  Cowley,  whose 
:£>aiden  name  was  Martha  Price,  is  a  native  of 
Flintshire,  Wales,  and  was  born  March  28,  18111,  a 


>*»IIVrpr;!     , 


CCAU^C^-^^^   >&v^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


549 


daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Dooir)  Price, 
natives  of  Wales.  She  came  to  this  countrj'  in 
1840. 

Jlr.  (Rowley  began  life  in  this  countrj'  with  but 
little  me.ins,  and  experienced  man}'  of  the  incon- 
veniences and  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  The  com- 
fortable home  in  which  he  lives  is  the  work  of  his 
own  liand,  and  was  built  by  him  in  the  spring  of 
1848,  the  doors  and  window  sashes  having  been 
made  by  him  at  Mempliis,  and  brought  hither  with 
him  on  a  steamer  when  he  came  to  this  county. 
Activity,  clear  discernment,  and  excellent  powersof 
calculation  have  been  the  faculties  with  which  our 
subject  is  gifted,  that  have  made  his  career  as  a 
pioneer  farmer  of  Brimfield  Township,  alike  honor- 
able to  himself  and  useful  to  the  communitj'.  He 
and  his  wife  regulate  tiieir  lives  by  Cliristian  prin- 
ciples, and  arc  regarded  with  feelings  of  trust  and 
affection  by  tiic  people  around  them.  They  are 
valued  members  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  of 
Brimfield  Township.  Religiously,  they  ai-e  of  the 
Metliodist  Episcopal  faith,  being  devoted  members 
of  the  church  in  the  township,  in  which  he  is  acting 
as  Steward  and  Trustee.  In  him  the  Democratic 
party  finds  a  sturdy  supporter,  and  lie  is  ever  ready 
with  true  public  spirit,  to  favor  all  things  tending 
to  the  good  of  the  community.  He  was  formerly 
identified  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. 


ARRISON  REED.  On  the  opposite  page  ap- 
l^ears  a  portrait  of  this  gentleman,  who  is  a 
Government  employe  in  the  revenue  ser- 
vice in  Peoria.  I^e  is  the  son  of  a  well- 
known  pioneer  of  this  county,  and  for  many  j'ears 
lias  been  variously  identified  with  its  interests,  and 
prominent  in  its  business  and  social  circles.  He  is 
a  veteran  of  the  late  war,  and  fought  in  many 
battles,  his  valor  and  patriotism  making  him  one  of 
the  most  efficient  soldiers  in  tJie  rank  and  file  of 
the  Union  Army. 

June  30,  1837,  was  the  date  of  the  birth  of  our 
subject  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  is  a 
son  of  Nathan  and  Hannah  (Merrill)  Reed,  natives 
respectively  of    Kentucky  and  Alaino.     His  father 


settled  in  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  and  was  a  Govern- 
ment employe.  In  1845  lie  came  to  this  State  and 
was  one  of  its  pioneers,  locating  first  in  Jackson- 
ville, and  being  a  near  neighbor  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. He  subsequently  removed  to  Rushville,  and 
in  1852  came  to  this  county,  where  he  has  ever 
since  been  numbered  among  its  most  esteemed  citi- 
zens. In  the  month  of  April,  1867,  he  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  lose  the  wife  and  companion  who  had 
for  man3'  years  shared  with  him  life's  joys  and  sor- 
rows. He  afterward  went  to  Iroquois  County,  and 
in  1878  was  again  married  and  settled  near  Wat- 
seka,  where  he  still  lives.  Mr.  Reed  was  a  devoted 
follower  of  "Old  Tippecanoe,"  as  is  evidenced  by 
his  conferring  his  name  on  his  son,  our  subject, 
and  he  gave  the  grandson  of  the  old  hero  hearty 
support  during  the  last  Presidential  campaign. 

Harrison  Reed  was  a  lad  of  eight  years  when  his 
parents  came  to  tliis  State,  and  twelve  years  old 
when  they  took  up  their  abode  in  Rushville,  and  a 
youth  of  fifteen  when  they  made  their  permanent 
home  in  this  countj'.  He  first  began  business  for 
himself  as  a  farmer,  and  was  thus  engaged  until  the 
date  of  his  enlistment  in  the  army.  As  soon  as 
possible  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  vol- 
unteered in  defense  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and 
September  29,  1861,  his  name  was  enrolled  as  a 
member  of  Company  H,  Fifty-seventh  Illinois  In- 
fantry, commanded  by  Capt.  Josiah  Robbins  and 
Col.  S.  D.  Baldwin,  of  Chicago,  the  latter  of  whom 
resigned,  his  place  being  filled  by  Lieut.  Col.  F.  J. 
Hulburt,  of  Chicago,  after  the  battle  of  Corinth. 

Our  subject  had  enlisted  in  Galva,  whence  he 
was  sent  to  Princeton,  thence  to  Chicago,  where  he 
and  his  comrades  were  dispatched  to  Ft.  Donelson. 
His  regiment  was  activelj'  engaged  at  Pittsburg 
and  Shiloh,  besides  doing  good  service  in  the  siege 
of  Corinth,  and  in  the  battle  at  that  place.  After 
being  stationed  at  that  point  some  time,  they  were 
transferred  to  the  Fifteenth  Army  corps, Sherman's 
command.  Our  subject  and  h'S  comrades  were  with 
the  famous  commander  on  his  "March  to  the  Sea," 
and  fought  valiantly  in  the  battles  of  Resaca, 
Kingston,  Rome,  Altoona  Pass,  Savannah,  and  Ben- 
tonville,  and  carried  the  colors  triumphantly  from 
Corinth  to  the  sea.  Tlie  weary  and  battle-worn 
veterans  composing  our    subject's    regiment   were 


550 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


mustered  out  after  that  long  march  on  the  25th  of 
December,  1864. 

Mr.  Reed  retired  from  the  army  to  Peoria,  and 
resumed  the  business  of  farming,  which  he  con- 
tinued i>rosperously  until  1870.  Failing  health  then 
admonished  him  that  he  must  seek  ciiange  of  climate 
and  new  scenes  and  occupations,  and  lie  went  to 
Kansas  Citj',  and  engaged  in  coopering  for  some 
j'ears.  In  1876  he  returned  once  more  to  Peoria, 
and  has  ever  since  made  his  home  here,  and  is 
I>leasantly  located  at  No.  808  Seventh  Street.  In 
the  month  of  October,  1889  he  was  selected  to  fill  a 
responsible  position  on  the  revenue  force,  and  im- 
mediately entered  upon  his  duties,  and  is  still  an 
incumbent  of  the  office.  Resjiect  and  esteem  are 
accorded  to  him  by  his  fellow-officers,  as  is  due  to 
a  man  of  his  well-known  fine  chaiacter  and  stand- 
ing in  the  eommunit}-.  In  him  Briner  Post,  No. 
67,  a.  A.  R.,  has  one  of  its  most  interested  mem- 
bers. Of  an  open  and  trutiiful  nature,  he  is  also  re- 
ligiously inclined  and  favors  Methodism. 

Mr.  Reed  and  Miss  Maggie  A.  Van  Arsdale.  a 
native  of  Peoria,  were  united  in  marriage  March  7, 
1867.  She  is  a  fine  woman  and  is  a  representative 
of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  county.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  still  honored  residents  of  the  county. 

OHN  C.  ROBERTS,  M.  D.  is  a  finely  edu- 
cated and  well-trained  physician  and  occupies 
an  honorable  position  in  the  medical  pro- 
(^^J  fession  of  this  count}',  Peoria  being  his  seat 
of  practice.  Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Morton,  Tazewell  Countj',  on  a  farm,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  early  training.  He  was  ambitious  to 
obtain  an  education  and  after  he  had  left  the  public 
schools,  he  entered  Paxton  College  in  Paxton, 
studied  there  one  term,  and  then  became  a  student 
at  AVesleyan  University-  at  Bloomingtou.  where  he 
pursued  a  fine  collegiate  course.  His  mind  early 
turned  to  the  medical  profession  as  his  choice,  and 
he  entered  upon  the  necessary  studies  to  fit  himself 
to  be  a  phjsician,  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Chapin  in 
Holder,  McLean  County.    He  subsequently  entered 


the  college  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Chicago, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1887, 
taking  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  and  hav- 
ing pursued  a  special  course  in  Pediatrics,  he  re- 
ceived a  certificate  thereof. 

Our  subject  has  obtained  his  education  through 
his  own  efforts  as  he  h.as  been  entirely  without  help 
during  the  long  struggle.  In  order  to  defr.ay  ex- 
penses he  sometimes  engaged  in  teaching  and  first 
taught  in  Ford  County.  After  receiving  his  di- 
ploma the  Doctor  located  in  Peoria  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  his  profession  in  this  city.  He  has 
alread}'  acquired  a  good  practice  which  is  steadily 
increasing  as  he  is  becoming  better  known,  and  a 
bright  and  promising  future  is  before  him  in  his 
medical  career. 

February  23,  1887,  was  the  date  of  the  marriage 
of  Dr.  Roberts  to  Miss  Alice  Casey,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  her  parents  being  well-known  residents  of 
Bloomington.  The  Doctor  possesses  a  bright,  ac- 
tive, well  trained  mind,  and  his  knowledge  of 
medicine,  and  of  the  branch  to  which  he  is  par- 
ticularly devoted  is  of  a  superior  order.  He  is  a 
man  of  purest  personal  character  and  of  fine 
social  attributes  anil  is  prominent  in  social  and  re- 
ligious circles  in  this  city.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  of  the  Kickapoo  Tribe, 
and  is  identified  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen.  He  belongs  to  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  no  scheme  is  put  forward 
for  the  moral  elevation  of  the  community  with 
which  he  is  not  connected. 


^ 


'^OHN  GILLETT,  M.D.,  druggist  and  one  of 
the  foremost  citizens  of  Dunlap,  occupies  an 
honorable  position  among  the  representa- 
tives of  the  medical  profession  of  this 
county.  His  father,  the  late  Gardner  Gillett,  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  while  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Phosbe  Bishop,  was  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  In  1838  they  emigrated  from 
Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  to  this  county,  and  settled 
among  the  earl}-  pioneers  of  Trivoli  Township, 
where  he  developed  a  farm   and   was  prosperous!}- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


551 


engaged  in  its  management  until  death  closed  his 
career  October  20,  1878,  at  a  ripe  old  age.  His 
wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  dying  in  1869. 
They  had  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daiigh- 
ers,  and  our  subject  was  Iheir  third  child  in  order 
of  birth. 

Dr.  (iillett  was  born  in  the  town  of  Canaan,  Col- 
umbia County,  N.  Y.,  September  5,  1823.  When 
he  was  thirleen  years  old,  he  went  to  live  with  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Justus  Mead,  in  Ontario 
County,  N.  Y.,and  remained  with  him  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old.  Up  to  that  time  his  educa- 
tion liad  been  obtained  in  the  common  schools.  A 
thoughtful,  studious  youth,  he  w.as  very  desirous 
to  become  more  learned,  and  he  then  entered  the 
Waterloo  Academy,  at  Waterloo,  Seneca  County, 
and  for  a  [icriod  of  one  and  one-half  years  was 
closely  engaged  at  his  books  there,  and  pursued  an 
excellent  course  of  study.  He  next  became  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Lyons  Tnion  School,  which  he  attended 
a  ])(>rtion  of  one  year.  He  tiius  acquired  a  solid 
foundation  for  any  profession  that  he  might  care 
to  enter,  and  for  awhile  he  was  engaged  as  a  teacher. 
He  taught  in  Seneca  County,  having  charge  of  a 
j^ihool  at  Seneca  Falls  for  one  year,  and  another  at 
Waterloo,  the  ensuing  year.  At  Seneca  Falls  he 
began  to  prepare  himself  to  be  a  physician,  and 
studied  with  a  Dr.  Brown  for  six  months.  In  the 
spring  of  1848  he  entered  the  office  of  Landon 
Wells,  and  diligently  read  medicine  under  his  tu- 
ition for  two  and  a  half  years,  and  during  that  time 
spent  two  terms  at  the  Geneva  Medical  College, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  with  an  honorable 
standing  in  his  class  and  received  his  diploma.  He 
first  established  himself  as  a  medical  practitioner 
in  the  town  of  Romulus,  Seneca  County,  N.  Y.  He 
was  there  one  year,  and  in  the  fall  of  1851  decided 
to  take  up  his  residence  in  Illinois,  as  he  wisely 
thought  that  in  a  newly  settled  country  men  of  his 
calling  would  l)e  greatly  in  demand  and  that  lie 
would  have  better  opportunities  to  rise  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

After  coming  to  this  State  the  Doctor  took  up  his 
residence  in  La  Salle, where  he  was  actively  engaged 
in  practice  until  May  16,  1864.  In  that  month 
he  had  the  sad  misfortune  to  lose  the  wife  who  hnd 
accomiiaiiied  him  from  his  native   State  to  his  new 


home  in  Illinois,  and  he  then  left  that  place  coming 
to  this  county  and  settling  in  Trivuli.  He  secured 
a  good  practice  in  that  town  and  resided  there  un- 
til October,  1871,  and  in  that  month  came  to  Dun- 
lap.  The  village  had  been  but  recently  platted 
and  his  was  the  first  residence  erected  and  he  was 
the  first  to  engage  in  business,  establishing  himself 
here  as  a  general  merchant  in  connection  with  his 
work  as  a phjsician,  and  his  daughter,  Jessie  B.  was 
the  first  child  born  in  Dunlap.  The  Doctor  con- 
tinued in  general  mercantile  business  till  1874, 
and  then  opened  a  drug  store  and  carried  on  busi- 
ness as  a  druggist  exclusivel\'.  The  village  has 
grown  up  around  him  and  with  its  growth  his  bus- 
iness has  increased  and  he  now  comm.ands  a  very 
profitable  trade  not  only  here  but  among  the  resi- 
dents of  the  outlying  country.  His  store  is  neatly 
fitted  up  and  is  well  stocked,  and  his  patrons  are 
sure  of  getting  none  but  the  purest  drugs  or  the 
best  of  anything  that  is  usually  found  in  a  drug 
store. 

Dr.  Gillett  has  been  twice  married.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  wedded  in 
Varick,  Seneca  County,  N.  Y.,  November  17, 1852, 
was  Julia  A.  Planning.  She  was  a  native  of  0  wego, 
Tioga  Count}',  N.  Y.  She  bore  him  two  children, 
of  whom  the  eldest  died  in  infancy.  Their  second 
child — Luc\'  Chester — is  now  the  wife  of  Morris  J. 
Rogers.  In  their  home  in  La  Salle,  the  wife  and 
mother  departed  this  life  May  5,  1864. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject,  which  took 
place  in  this  county,  October  20,  1866,  was  to  Al- 
mia  E.  Blood, a  native  of  Trivoli  Township;  their 
pleasant  wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  them  by 
the  birth  of  one  daughter,  Jessie  B. 

When  Dr.  Gillett  took  up  his  residence  in  this 
county,  its  citizenship  received  a  valuable  acquisi- 
tion. His  high  reputation,  his  attainments,  his  bus- 
iness tact,  and  his  active  public  spirit  have  given 
liim  a  leading  place  among  the  citizens  of  Dunlap 
and  he  has  been  potent  in  placing  this  busy,  enter- 
prising village  on  a  substantial  basis.  While  living 
in  La  Salle,  the  Doctor  was  prominent  in  its  pub- 
lic life ;  was  at  one  time  Alderman  of  the  city,served 
one  term  as  School  Director,  and  was  Overseer  of 
the  Poor  for  four  years.  He  was  elected  School  Di- 
rector   in    Trivoli    and    has    held    tlial    imi)ortaiit 


552 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


office  in  Dunlap,  and  uses  his  influence  in  every  way 
to  advance  its  educational  interests.  He  takes  a 
lively  interest  in  political  affairs,  as  a  lo^yal  and 
iutclligent  citizen  slionid,  and  he  is  an  advocate  of 
the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraterait}-  since 
1851.     lu  his  rclioious  views  he  is  liberal. 


J  AVID  D.  NIGHTINGALE  is  an  old    set- 
j  tier  of  this  couut3'  and,  as  a   pioneer  of 
Millbrook  Township,   has   helped  in    the 
development   of   this    region,  and  is    still 
identifled   with   its  agricultural    interests,   owning 
and  occupying  a  good  farm  on  section  20. 

This  venerable  gentleman  is  a  native  of  York- 
shire, England,  and  was  there  bora  November  5, 
1810.  His  parents,  David  and  M.iry  Nightingale, 
were  also  of  English  birth  and  bree:liug.  When  a 
youth  of  between  sixteen  and  eighteen  years,  our 
subject  took  an  import.ant  step  in  life,  boldly 
venturing  forth  from  his  old  home  and  taking 
passage  at  York,  England,  in  a  sail  vessel,  landed 
in  Quebec,  Canada,  six  weeks  later,  and  thence 
came  to  the  I'nitcd  States.  He  began  his  life 
in  this  countrj-  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  but 
after  remaining  there  a  few  years  he  emigrated  to 
this  count}'  and  has  been  a  resident  here  ever 
since.  Thus  much  of  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  this  part  of  the  State  has  taken  place  un- 
der his  eye,  and  he  has  done  what  he  could 
towards  its  improvement  fiom  the  wild  state  in 
which  he  found  it,  to  its  present  fine  condition,  as 
a  well-developed  and  wealthy  section  of  the  coun- 
try. For  a  number  of  j'ears  after  he  arrived  here 
Mr.  Nightingale  farmed  on  shares  in  Millbrook 
Township,  and  then  bought  the  farm  that  be  now 
owns  and  has  made  it  his  home  manj'  j-ears.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  his  neighborhood, 
and  his  farm,  when  it  came  into  his  possession, 
was  merely  a  tract  of  wild,  uncultivated  land,  and 
its  development  has  been  the  work  of  his  own 
hand,  much  severe  Labor,  many  sacrifices,  and  the 
hardships  and  trials  incidental  to  pioneer  life  in  a 
newly  settled  country  going  to  its   making-up.     It 


comprises  eighty  acres  of  well-tilled  land,  that  is 
supplied  with  good  buildings  and  every  needful 
appurtenance  for  carrying  on  farming   operations. 

Mr.  Nightingale  was  married  in  New  York  State 
to  Mary  A.  Heaton,  who  was  to  him  all  tliat  a  true 
and  loving  wife  could  be.  She  was  devoted  to  his 
interests,  faithfullj'  shared  his  pioneer  labors  and 
worked  hard  in  the  performance  of  the  duties  de- 
volving upon  her  in  the  care  of  a  large  family. 
She  walked  b}-  his  side  manj'  j'ears,  encouraging 
and  cheering  him  in  his  work  and  her  death  was  a 
serious  loss  to  him.  She  bore  him  ten  children,  of 
whom  the  following  are  living:  Adrian;  Mar^^wife 
of  James  Leery,  of  Kansas;  Julia,  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas; Harriet,  wife  of  William  Doddsworth :  Fran- 
cis and  DeWitt. 

Mr.  Nightingale  is  well-known  by  the  people 
among  whom  he  came  to  settle  so  long  ago,  when 
in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  manhood,  and  among 
whom  he  has  grown  old,  and  all  accord  him  the  re- 
spect due  to  his  age  and  worth.  His  pioneer  work 
links  his  name  with  the  history  of  Millbrook 
Township,  and  he  will  evtr  be  held  in  veneration 
as  one  of  its  earl}'  settlers.  He  has  led  a  busy  life, 
and  has  therebj-  secured  a  comfortable  competence 
that  will  forlif}^  him  against  want  in  the  coming 
years.  He  is  a  sturdy  Republican  politicall}',  and 
has  served  creditably  as  School  Director,  and  has 
done  what  he  could  to  further  the  educational, 
moral  and  material  interests  of  Millbrook  Town- 
ship. 

-   o<r>e>    , 


fclLLIAM  W.  VAN  TASSEL,  of  Peoria,  is 
a  storekeeper  in  the  employ  of  the  Gov- 


W 


ernment,  and  is  one  of  the  best  ofiicials 
on  the  Revenue  force  in  this  city.  He  is  a  native 
of  the  city  of  New  Y'ork,  born  May  6,  1839.  His 
parents,  Albert  and  Harriet  (Drawbridge)  Van 
Tassel,  were  likewise  natives  of  the  Empire  State. 
Our  subject  grew  to  man's  estate  in  the  city  of 
ills  birth,  and  was  well  educated  in  its  public 
schools.  In  the  fall  of  1862  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and  gave  his  attention  to  farming  till  1871.  Then 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Peoria,  and  engaged  in 
railroading  in   the   freight  department,  .and    con- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BKHiRAl'IIICAL  ALBUM. 


553 


tiiiued  iu  that  relation  without  interruption  until 
1889,  when  be  accepted  iiis  present  position  under 
the  government,  entering  upon  his  duties  the  loth 
of  October.  His  standing  in  the  community  is 
among  our  best  citizens,  those  who  are  most  ac- 
tive iu  advancing  all  schemes  for  its  social  and 
moral  elevation.  He  and  his  wife  are  among  the 
loading  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Cluirch  iu  tliis  city,  and  lie  has  been  prominent  as 
a  Class-Leader  for  many  years. 

Our  subject  was  a  volunteer  in  the  late  war,  and 
liis  millitary  record  is  honorable  alike  to  himself 
and  his  country,  and  is  commemorated  bj'  his  con- 
nection with  Briner  Post,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  ^'an  Tas- 
sel threw  aside  all  personal  aims  and  ambitions  to 
take  part  in  the  great  conflict,  enlisting  in  the 
spring  of  18G2  in  the  Eiglilh  New  York  Infantry, 
and  for  three  months  was  iu  the  service  under 
Gen.  McClellan.  In  the  month  of  February,  1865, 
lie  re-enlisted  and  became  a  member  of  llie  One 
Hundred  and  Fortj'-eight  Illinois  Inf.antr^f,  and 
was  engaged  in  battles  and  skirmisiies  in  Tennes- 
see until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  honorably 
discliargcd  from  the  armj'  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, ISGo. 

Mr.  Van  Tassel  was  married  in  18G1,  to  Miss 
Jane  Boardman,  a  native  of  England,  and  of  their 
pleasant  wedded  life  eiglit  children  have  been  born, 
of  wliom  the  following  six  are  still  living:  Robert 
\\'.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grain  business  in  Peo- 
ria; Ethvard  J.,  Hattie,  George,  Alpha  and  Harri- 
son, all  of  whom  have  been  well  educated  in  tlie 
public  schools. 


UGH  MORROW,  a  native  and  a  resident 
of  Akron  Townsliip  since  his  birth,  is  now 
one  of  its  foremost  citizens.  For  many 
^)  j^ears  he  has  been  prosperously  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  having  always  followed  the 
vocation  of  a  fanner,  and  he  has  on  section  20,  a 
choice  farm,  whose  improvements  make  it  one  of 
the  most  desirable  estates  in  the  vicinity. 

Thomas  Morrow,  the   father  of  our  subject,   a 
native  of  Ohio,  was  one  of  the   early    pioneers  of 


Peoria  County,  settling  in  AI<ron  Townsliip  among 
its  very  first  settlers.  He  was  reared  in  iiis  native 
State  and  was  married  to  Eleanor  McMillin,  who 
was  born  iu  Kentucky.  They  came  to  Illinois 
from  Parke  County,  Ind.,  in  the  spring  of  1831, 
and  established  their  pioneer  home  on  the  wild 
prairies  of  what  is  now  Akron  Townsliip,  and  here 
they  lived  until  death  called  them  hence.  The 
father  was  an  active  business  man  and  was  a  good 
fa"rmer,  and  his  death,  March  19,  1848,  was  a  seri- 
ous blow  to  the  interests  of  the  townshij).  His 
good  wife  survived  him  until  June  14,  1877, 
when  she  too  passed  away.  The^^  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, 6f  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest. 

Hugh  Morrovv  was  l)orn  in  this  township,  April 
14,  1832,  the  first  child  born  in  the  township, 
and  has  always  resided  iu  this  locality.  He 
gained  a  practical  education  in  the  local  schools, 
and  on  the  old  iiomestead  early  acquired  the  rudi- 
ments of  farming,  and  has  since  become  very 
skillful  in  this  noble  calling.  For  nearly  thirty 
years  he  was  engaged  very  profitably  in  operating 
a  threshing  machine.  He  has  placed  his  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  under  good  tillage 
and  has  made  all  the  necessary  improvements  that 
constitute  a  first-class  farm. 

On  January  12,  18GU,  our  subject  and  Miss 
Emiliue  Wilson  were  united  iu  marriage  in  this 
his  native  township,  and  their  wedded  life  has 
been  iiroductive  of  mutual  happiness.  Mrs.  Mor- 
row is  a  daughter  of  Willi'un  H.  and  Sarah  (Wil- 
son) Wilson,  who  came  to  this  county  in  1848.  and 
cast  in  their  lot  with  the  i)ionecrs  of  Akron  Town- 
ship, and  here  resided  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  They  came  from  Brown  County,  Ohio, 
where  Mrs.  Morrow  was  born,  December  8,  1835. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrow  have  nine  children,  viz: 
Alice,  wife  of  Alexander  Gra^-;  Anna,  wife  of 
James  Kinney;  Albert  M.,  who  married  Emma 
Alter;  Ambrose  W.,  John  R.,  Lewis  A.,  Willard 
N.,  Evelyn  and  Grant  R. 

Mr.  Morrow  has  faithfully  and  honorably  served 
his  township  as  Highway  Commissioner  and  as 
School  Director,  and  has  held  the  latter  office  many 
years.  In  politics  he  gives  a  stanch  support  to 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  genial,  courteous 
gentleman,  always  willing  to  do  a  favor  and  gen- 


554 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


erously  extending  a  helping  hand  to  all  who  are 
need}'  or  suffering,  and  the  place  that  be  holds  in 
the  hearts  of  his  fellow-citizens  is  a  warm  one.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  with  which  they  have  been  connected  for 
a  long  term  of  years,  and  their  Christian  faith  is 
illustrated  in  their  everyday  life. 

— *> ■•o»o.'gc)^<Y^-o»o..  <<■«- 


DWARD  MANSFIELD.  Early  identified 
witii  the  agricultural  interests  of  Peoria 
/ILsii^  County,  Mr.  Mansfield  has  met  with  marked 
success  in  tlie  prosecution  of  his  calling,  and  has 
acquired  a  front  rank  among  tlie  stock-raisers  and 
feeders  and  grain-growers  of  this  part  of  Illinois, 
he  being  the  most  extensively  engaged  in  these  in- 
terests of  any  agriculturist  of  Princeville  Town- 
sliij).  He  is  a  large  landowner,  having  many  acres 
of  land  both  in  this  and  Jubilee  Townships,  and  lie 
has  built  up  an  attractive  home,  replete  with  all 
that  goes  to  make  life  comfortable. 

A  native  of  New  York,  our  subject  was  born  in 
the  pretty  town  of  Esperance,  in  Schoiiarie  County, 
August  8,  1826,  descending  from  standi  New  Eng- 
land stock.  His  father,  I^everett  Mansfield, was  born 
in  the  month  of  November,  1786,  in  North  Haven, 
Conn.  He  was  a  son  of  Richard  Mansfield,  who 
was  born  in  that  city  May  24,  1763,  and  was  a 
saddler  by  trade.  He  married  Mar3'  Stiles  and 
subsequently  died  in  North  Haven.  His  father, 
Titus  Mansfield,  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  also  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  a  large  land- 
owner, and  was  proprietor  of  the  famous  Mansfield 
Farm.  His  father's  name  was  Joseph  Mansfield, 
and  the  origin  of  the  family  in  America  dates  back 
to  one  Richard  Mansfield,  who  located  in  Connec- 
ticut in  the  seventeenth  century,  coming  to  this 
country  from  Exeter,  Devonshire,  England,  in 
1639,  and  locating  near  the  town  of  Hamden,  and 
from  him  descended  a  large  family.  For  a  further 
account  of  the  MansHelds  we  refer  you  to  the  biog- 
rajihy  of  H.  Mansfield,  of  Peoria,  which  appears  in 
this  volume. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  on  a  New 
England  farm   in   his  native  State  and  after  mar- 


riage went  from  the  phice  of  his  birth  to  Esperance, 
Schoharie  Count}',  N.  Y.,  which  was  then  in  its  in- 
fancy, and  became  one  of  its  prominent  pioneers. 
He  bought  a  piece  of  land  in  the  timber,  cleared  it 
and  made  a  productive  farm  of  it  and  also  engaged 
in  liotel-keeping  on  the  great  Western  Turnpike  at 
Esperance  for  some  thirty  years.  In  1843  he  dis- 
posed of  his  property  there  and  came  westward  as 
far  as  Kane  County,  this  State,  and  settled  near 
Elgin  on  a  tract  of  wild  land  that  he  purchaseil  on 
his  arrival.  He  im])rovcd  it  and  followed  farming 
there  until  his  retirement  from  active  life.  He  re- 
sided with  our  subject  for  one  year  after  that  and 
then  bought  a  place  in  Princeville  Townshi|),  and 
there  his  life  was  brought  to  a  close  December  22, 
1868.  He  was  a  sturdy  Democrat  in  political 
views,  and    religiousl}'  was  a  stanch  Presbyterian. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Sarah  Sanford,  and  she  was  born  in  North 
Haven,  Conn.,  March  8,  1789.  She  died  December 
20,  1868,  in  Princeville,  her  death  occurring  just 
three  days  before  that  of  her  husband,  so  that  tliey 
who  had  been  so  much  to  each  other  in  life  were 
not  long  separated.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Perry 
Sanford,  a  farmer  and  a  life-long  resident  of  Con 
necticut.  The  following  is  a  record  of  the  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  her:  pjliza  died  in  Elgin  ;Janett,  Mrs. 
Lyon,  lives  near  Beecher,  111.;  Stiles  is  a  resident 
of  Fair  Haven,  Conn. ;  Sarah  A.  died  near  Alle- 
ghany, Mich.;  Henry  is  a  resident  of  Peoria; 
Mariette  died  near  Dundee;  John  lives  in  McIIenry 
County;  Leverett,  who  was  a  teacher  in  New  Jer- 
sey, died  in  that  St.ate;  Edward  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

He,  of  whom  we  write,  passed  the  early  years  of 
his  lite  in  his  father's  hotel,  in  the  place  of  his 
birth.  He  received  excellent  common-school  ad- 
vantages and  as  soon  as  old  enough  went  to  assist 
his  father  in  his  business.  When  fourteen  years 
old  he  left  the  parental  home  and  went  to  Madison 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  engaged  on  a  farm  there 
for  three  months.  From  there  he  proceeded  to  the 
home  of  his  ancestors  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  where 
he  worked  in  a  blacksmith  shop  and  on  a  farm  for 
a  year,  and  also  had  an  opportunity  to  advance  his 
education,  by  attending  school  in  that  place.  He 
staid  there  until  the  fall,  and  in  November,  1843, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


555 


came  westward  with  a  team  and  wagon,  pursuing  a 
part  of  the  journey  on  an  old  tug  which  was  not 
safe,  and  as  he  found  it  too  slow  a  mode  of  travel 
he  left  it  at  Dunkirk  and  proceeded  ihrough  the 
mud  and  sloughs  across  the  wild  prairies  to  Chi- 
cago. This  he  found  but  an  insignificant  place 
with  one  hotel,  for  the  accomodation  of  travelers. 
He  came  on  to  Kane  County,  which  was  then 
scarcely  more  than  a  vast  stretch  of  uncultivated 
prairies,  and  among  its  pioneers  he  found  work  to 
support  himself.  In  the  fall  of  1847,  he  l)ought 
forty  acres  there  of  wild  land,  but  did  not  improve 
it,  continuing  to  work  out  for  others  and  doing 
odd  jobs  until  1849.  In  that  ever  memorable  year 
in  the  history  of  our  country  he,  like  many  others, 
was  stricken  with  the  California  fever,  and  was  one 
of  the  great  multitude  of  '49ers  who  penetrated 
the  Pacific  Coast  in  search  of  the  precious  metal. 
He  rigged  up  an  ox-team  and  wagon,  and  joined  a 
party  who  had  three  other  wagons  and  with  them 
loft  Elgin,  in  the  month  of  April,  to  perform  the 
long,  dangerous,  and  tiresome  journe3'  across  the 
plains  and  mountains  to  the  gold  regions.  They 
crossed  the  Mississipi)i  at  Burlington,  and  the  Mis- 
souri at  St.  Joseph  and  struck  the  Platte  at  Ft. 
Kearney,  following  its  route  to  Laramie,  then  going 
by  the  North  Platte  to  Lawson,  and  from  the 
Soutli  Pass  to  Red  Bluffs,  Lawson's  Kancli.  and 
finally  arrived  at  their  destination.  Tiiey  were 
seven  months  on  the  way,  and  were  fortunate 
enough  to  have  no  encounter  willi  the  Tndinns. 
Our  subject  engaged  in  mining  there  on  the 
Feather  River,  then  on  the  South  Fork  of  the 
Feather,  and  went  from  there  to  Hopkins,  and  from 
there  to  Poor  Man's  Creek  and  was  fairly  success- 
ful in  his  mining  operations.  Then  on  Trinity 
River  he  was  engaged  in  the  same  occupation  for 
four  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1853,  Mr.  Mansfiehl  returned  to 
Illinois  by  the  way  of  Panama,  New  York  City 
and  Chicago,  to  Kane  County.  Ambitious  to  be- 
come better  educated  he  went  to  (ialesl)urg  and 
entered  Knox  College.  He  was  a  student  there  for 
a  while  and  then  attended  Bell's  Commercial  Col- 
lege in  Chicago,  and  was  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution after  pursuing  an  excellent  business 
course.     He  had  purchased    one  lumdred  and  fifty 


acres  of  land  in  1854,  and  after  leaving  college  he 
located  on  it  in  a  log  house  and  entered  upon  its 
improvement.  At  that  time  the  country  around 
here  was  yet  in  a  partly  wild  condition,  and  deer 
and  wolves  still  haunted  the  groves  of  timber.  Mr. 
Mansfield  broke  prairie  with  oxen  and  horses,  and 
continued  to  extend  his  farming  operations,  buy- 
ing horses,  cattle  and  hogs,  and  driving  them  to 
Peoria  for  shipment  and  from  time  to  time  added 
to  his  farm,  until  it  now  comprises  six  hundred 
aiul  sixty-five  acres  of  a-s  well-cultivated  and  highly 
improved  land  as  is  to  be  found  anywhere  in  the 
county. 

Mr.  Mansfield  has  erected  three  dwellings  on  his 
land  including  a  large  and  handsome  residence,  oc- 
cupied by  himself  and  family,  and  there  are  four 
commodious  barns,  a  fan  and  windmill  and  all  the 
appliances  for  conducting  agriculture  to  the  best 
advantage.  It  is  located  on  the  North  branch  of 
the  Kickapoo,  and  is  adapted  to  both  stock  and 
grain  raising  purposes.  It  is  well  fenced  and  four 
miles  of  tiling  give  it  ample  drainage  and  tiiere 
are  a  good  orchard  and  fine  grove.  lie  has  twenly- 
three  finely  graded  roadsters,  Clyde  and  Norman 
horses,  and  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Belgian  stallion 
Moxman,  a  three-year-old,  which  is  considered  a 
very  valuable  piece  of  horse  ttesii.  He  lias  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  head  of  cattle,  full- 
blooded  and  high  grades  Slfort-liorns.and  feeds  be- 
sides one  liundred  and  fifty  head  of  cattle  a  year 
and  raises  hogs  ver3'  extensively,  having  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  head  of  the  Poland  China  breed  and 
three  hundred  of  another  grade.  Besides  raising  a. 
large  amount  of  grain,  he  buys  some  seven  or 
eight  thousand  bushels  a  year  to  feed.  Five  teams 
are  needed  to  carry  on  his  extensive  interests. 

To  the  lady  who  presides  over  his  home  and  has 
cheerfully  co-operated  with  him  and  encouraged 
him  in  his  work,  Mr.  Mansfield  was  married  April 
1,  1857.  Mrs.  Mansfield's  maiden  name  was  Re- 
becca Fulton,  and  she  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
born  in  Richwood  Township.  Her  lather  was  .Tosiah 
Fulton,  who  was  born  in  1800,  and  came  to  Illinois 
in  1819,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
county.  He  was  a  ranger  and  his  sketch  appears 
in  this  volume. 

Blr.   and   Mrs.  Mansfield   are  the    parents  of  six 


556 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


children:  Lcverett,  a  teacher  in  the  Princeville 
schools,  gra<iuatecl  from  the  Valparaiso  Normal; 
Albert  in  the  emplo}-  of  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad,  was 
also  educated  at  that  school;  Edward  is  living  at 
home,  and  is  a  student  of  that  institution  ;  Sanford, 
Joseph  and  Charles  are  at  liome,  Joseph  havina:  at- 
tended the  Valparaiso  Normal  one  winter. 

Mr.  Mansfield  is  a  man  of  wide  and  varied  expe- 
rience, of  keen  observation,  and  a  cultured  mind. 
He  has  an  extensive  acquaintance  Ihroughout  tiie 
county,  his  social  and  business  relations  bringing 
him  into  contact  with  man^-  people,  and  it  is  the 
universal  opinion  of  all  that  he  is  above  reproach 
in  all  respects.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  mental 
calibre,  possessing  that  firmness,  decision,  sturd3- 
self-respect  and  rectitude  of  character  that  com- 
mands the  confidence  of  all.  As  a  good  citizen 
should,  he  interests  himself  iu  politics,  was  in  early 
manhood,  in  ante-bellum  times,  an  outspoken, 
earnest  Abolitionist,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for 
James  G.  Birney.  After  the  formation  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  sympathizing  deeply  witii  the  sen- 
timents of  its  founders,  he  joined  its  ranks,  and  has 
ever  since  remained  true  to  its  principles.  He  has 
served  on  the  petit  jur}',  has  been  School  Director 
and  a  Pathmaster  for  years.  He  is  identified  with 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  as  a  member  of  Salem 
Lodge. 


ON.  CALVIN  STOWELL,  a  successful 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  living  on  section  G, 
Hallock  Township,  is  one  of  those  agricult- 
urists whose  life  exemplifies  the  old  adage 

"Honor  and  shame  from  no  condition  rise; 
Act  well  30ur  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies." 

He  has  not  only  become  the  owner  of  a  considerable 
landed  estate  b}'  the  exercise  of  diligence  and  pru- 
dence, but  he  has  at  the  same  time  gained  what  is 
hetter  than  silver  or  gold,  the  esteem  of  those  amid 
whom  his  life  has  been  p.assed.  His  title  of  Honor- 
able has  been  well  earned  b3'  his  conduct  as  a  pri- 
vate individual,  as  well  as  by  his  efforts  to  advance 
the  interest  of  his  constituents  while  serving  in  the 
legislature. 

Mr.  Stowell  was   born  in  Bainbridge,  Chenango 


County,  N.  Y.,  October  5,  1836,  being  a  son  of 
Ebenezer  .Stowoll,  whose  full  history  is  incorpor- 
ated in  the  biographj-  of  0.  B.  Stowell,  on  another 
page  in  this  volume.  He  was  a  lad  of  six  years 
when  brought  to  Peoria  County,  111,,  and  here 
grew  to  manhood,  becoming  a  full  fledged  farmer 
as  soon  as  he  became  of  age.  In  the  meantime, 
however,  he  had  developed  the  faculties  of  his 
mind  as  thoroughh'  as  the  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood gave  him  opportunit},  and  since  his  school 
days  has  added  to  his  information  b}-  means  of  the 
facilities  afforded  bj-  the  press  and  contact  with 
mankind.  He  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
after  he  was  twenty-eight  3ears  of  age  and  then  pur- 
chased his  first  land  iu  JLarshall  CountJ^  From 
that  time  he  has  been  closeli'  identified  with  the 
agricultural  development  of  both  IMarshall  and 
Peoria  Counties. 

In  1864  Mr.  Stowell  enlisted  in  the  Eleventh 
Illinois  Infantry,  which  was  commanded  bj^  Col. 
Coats,  and  was  enrolled  iu  Company  D,  under 
Capt.  Bedoe.  He  joined  his  regiment  at  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  remaining  with  it  until  the  close  of  the  war 
bearing  a  part  in  the  battles  of  Spanish  Fort,  Ft. 
Blakely  and  the  capture  of  Mobile,  Ala.  He  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge  at  Alexandria  and 
at  once  returned  to  the  North  to  resume  the  peace- 
ful occupati(m  in  which  he  has  proved  so  success- 
ful. His  home  farm  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  which  he  has  resided  five  3'ear.>!, 
and  he  also  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
another  section,  and  an  interest  in  one  hundred  and 
twent3-  acres  in  still  another  part  of  the  township. 
During  the  twenty  3-ears  of  his  residence  in  Marshall 
Couut,y  his  home  was  in  LaPrairie  Township  where 
he  improved  a  good  farm. 

In  1880  Mr.  Stowell  was  elected  to  the  legisla- 
ture b3'  the  Republicans  of  the  district  which  in- 
cludes Marshall,  Woodford  and  Putnam  Counties. 
He  was  a  member  of  four  committees  of  considera- 
ble importance,  notabl3',  that  on  agriculture  and 
buildings.  He  introduced  and  was  interested  iu 
some  local  bills,  but  failed  to  secure  their  passage, 
although  he  labored  arduousl3'  in  behalf  of  the 
welfare  of  his  constituents.  Prior  to  his  election 
to  the  legislature  he  had  served  five  terms  as  Su- 
pervisor of  LaPrairie  Township,  Marshall  Count3', 


(&M^c 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


559 


and  had  held  all  the  oilier  township  offices.  He  is  a 
stanch  Kepul)lican  who  from  the  time  he  cast  his 
first  vole  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  has  been  sound  in 
the  faith.  He  ims  been  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions and  generally  active  in  the  local  work  of  the 
party. 

When  he  set  up  his  own  home  Mr.  Stowoll  se- 
cured as  his  companion  Miss  Priscilla  Greenhalgh, 
their  marriage  rites  being-  performed  in  Ilallock 
Township,  August  27,  1864.  Mrs.  Stowell  is  a  na- 
tive of  Lancastershire,  England,  is  of  pure  English 
ancestry,  and  the  representative  of  an  excellent 
family.  Her  natal  day  was  April  30,  1837,  and  she 
was  about  eight  j'ears  of  age  when  her  parents 
emigrated  to  America,  making  their  home  in  the  city 
of  Peoria.  There  her  father,  John  Greenbalgh, 
died  in  the  i)rimc  of  life.  Her  mother,  formerly 
Miss  Mary  Mauock,  is  now  seventy-three  years  of 
age  and  is  an  inmate  of  the  home  of  our  subject. 
Mrs.  Stowell  was  reared  and  chiefly  educated  in 
Peoria,  acquiring  the  knowledge,  habits  and  virtues 
which  make  her  the  highly  honored  wife,  parent 
and  friend. 

The  family  of  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife 
consists  of  five  daughters,  several  of  whom  have 
ahead}'  received  instruction  in  Knox  College,  and 
the  elder  of  whom  is  a  skilled  musician  and  an  apt 
teacher  of  that  art.  The  eldest  daughter,  Agnc's, 
now  lives  at  Lawn  Uidge,  liaving  married  Charles 
Pickney,  a  farmer  there.  Laura,  Annie  and  Nellie, 
students  at  Knox,  and  Edith,  who  has  not  yet  left 
home,  complete  the  circle.  The  entire  band  rank 
high  in  culture  of  mind,  in  accomplishments,  and 
in  character,  all  being  consistent  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  with  which  the  parents  are 
also  identified.  Miss  Nellie  has  aleady  won  some 
laurels  as  a  school  teacher.  Mr.  Stowell  has  been 
Cluirch  Trustee  and  now  holds  the  office  of  Deacon. 


C-Hfr-^ fe 


^  ZllA  C.  WING.  The  future  [irosperity  of 
«i)  this  nation  depends  upon  our  j'oung  people, 
^  and  in  exact  proportion  to  their  enterprise, 
industry  and  principles  of  honor,  will  our  country 
tlourish.     It  is  always  a  pleasure  for  the  student  of 


human  nature  and  the  biographer,  to  record  the 
events  in  the  lives  of  those  whose  intelligence  and 
progressive  spirit  have  placed  them  in  the  front 
ranks  of  the  citizenship  of  their  communities.  The 
gentleman  of  whom  this  brief  sketch  is  written  is 
numbered  among  the  prominent  residents  of  Peo- 
ria, where  he  has  made  a  name  and  a  place  for  him- 
self in  the  financial  circles.  In  connection  with 
this  sketch  we  presei>t  his  portrait  on  another  page. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Peoria  Transfer  and  Stor- 
age Companj',  as  Treasurer  and  Manager  of  its  large 
business,  which  is  ste.adily  increasing  under  his  able 
supervision. 

Mr.  AVing  has  not  yet  reached  the  prime  of  life, 
having  been  born  February  6,  18()2,  in  Ottawa,  the 
county  seat  of  LaSalle  County,  111.  He  is  a  son  of 
Clifton  L.  and  P^liza  M.  (Tucker)  Wing,  natives 
respective!}'  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York,  and 
belonging  lo  well-known  pioneer  families,  the 
Tuckers  having  lived  in  Peoria  County  since  1834. 
C.  L.  Wing  came  hither  in  1837,  and  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Eliza  M.  Tucker  near  ISrimfield, 
April  26,  1861.  Since  then  they  have  resided  in 
various  places,  but  for  several  years  have  been 
residents  of  Elmwood,  where  they  have  a  very 
pleasant  home.  Mr.  Wing  at  one  time  was  engaged 
in  business  in  Peru,  and  is  now  actively  carrying 
on  a  profitable  grain  trade  in   Yates  City. 

Ezra  C.  Wing  was  early  introtluccd  into  business, 
and  at  the  youthful  age  of  sixteen  years  entered  the 
grain  trade  in  connection  with  his  father.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he 
was  book-keeper  for  the  Ajax  Forge  Compau}',  and 
was  employed  bj'  it  for  a  year,  ile  then  returned 
to  Brimfield  and  was  busily  engaged  in  the  grain 
trade  the  ensuing  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  established  himself  in  the  same  trade 
in  Hamburg,  Iowa.  A  3'ear  later  he  came  to  Peo- 
ria, and  1887,  connected  himself  with  the  Aver\- 
Planter  Companj',  and  kept  books  for  it  until  Au- 
gust, 1889.  In  that  month  he  accepted  his  present 
position  as  Manager  of  the  Peoria  Transfer  and 
Storage  Company,  and  during  the  year  that  he  has 
had  charge  of  its  business  he  has  proved  himself  to 
possess  exceptional  capacity  for  financial  undertak- 
ings, being  shrewd,  far-seeing  and  systematic  in 
the  conduct  of  aft'aiis.     lie  looks  zealously  after 


560 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ENRY  OERTLEY.  Oue  totally  unac- 
quainted with  the  details  of  farm  life,  the 
value  of  different  soils,  or  the  modifying 
influence  of  forests,  liills  or  prairies,  can 
still  judge  of  the  worth  of  an  estate  and  the  capa- 
bility of  its  manager  b}-  a  glance.  Fields  wherein 
weeds  fill  every  fence  corner  and  lift  their  heads 
between  the  rows  of  grain,  poor  or  inadequate  shel- 
ter for  stock  and  crops,  tumbled  down  fences  and 
a  general  air  of  disorder,  give  conclusive  evidence 
that  the  land  is  poor  or  illy  managed.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  appearance  of  neatness  and  order  pre- 
vailing throughout  every  part  of  an  estate,  is  an 
equally  conclusive  evidence  of  good  management, 
industry,  or  fertility  of  the  acres  under  considera- 
tion. The  farm  of  the  gentleman  above  named  is 
included  in  the  latter  class,  the  buildings  being 
most  excellent  and  everj'  improvement  kept  up  in 
good  shape.  It  is  located  on  section  15,  Akron 
Township,  and  comprises  two  hundred  and  fort}- 
acres. 

Mr.  Oertley,  is  a  native  of  the  beautiful  land  of 


the  interests  of  the  com  pan}',  which  is  perfectly 
satisfied  with  his  method  of  conducting  business 
and  considers  that  it  is  in  a  large  degree  indebted 
to  him  for  its  present  standing. 

;Mr.  Wing  was  wedded  to  Miss  Minnie  Furcell, 
daughter  of  ^Maggie  Purcell,  of  Elmwood,  October 
29,  1887,  and  they  have  established  an  attractive 
home  in  our  midst,  where  the  considerate  kindness 
of  the  hostess  and  the  genial  courtesy  of  the  host 
attract  numerous  friends  to  share  its  pleasant  hos- 
pitalities. Two  children  have  come  to  bless  their 
union — George  C.  and  Marjorie  Frances. 

]Mr.  Wing  possesses  in  a  rare  degree,  those  hap- 
py combinations  of  character  tliat  mark  him  .at  once 
as  a  man  who  is  prompt  and  bold  in  his  measures 
and  at  the  same  time,  prudent  and  cautious  in  car- 
rying out  his  undertakings.  He  possesses  a  frank 
and  open  manner,  is  warm-hearted  and  liberal,  and 
is  much  liked  by  his  associates.  He  has  intelli- 
gent convictions  in  regard  to  polities,  and  ranks 
among  the  active  young  Republicans  of  the  city. 


Switzerland,  wherein  his  birth  took  place  Septem- 
ber 27,  1840.  His  parents, Henry  and  Anna  (Grass) 
Oertley,  were  Swiss,  who  emigrated  from  their  own 
country  in  1848,  making  their  first  home  after 
crossing  the  ocean  in  Peoria.  After  living  there 
three  years  thej'  came  into  Akron  Township.spend- 
ing  the  remnant  of  their  days  here.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eigiit  children,  our  subject  being  the 
fourth,  upon  whom  they  bestowed  every  advantage 
which  their  means  and  affection  could  compass. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  the  township 
which  is  now  his  home  and  of  which  he  has  been  a 
continuous  resident  with  the  exception  of  three 
years,  during  which  he  was  serving  gallantly  in 
the  Union  Army.  The  intense  loyalty  and  love  of 
freedom  which  are  inherent  in  the  Swiss  character 
led  him  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  the  mutterings 
of  the  war  cloud,  and  not  long  after  the  first  gun 
was  fired  he  determined  to  give  the  strength  of  his 
right  arm  to  the  Union  cause.  June  25,  1861,  he 
became  a  member  of  Company  H,  Eighth  Missouri 
Infantry,  and  going  to  the  front  participated  in 
various  severe  skirmishes,  sanguinary  battles  and 
the  various  trying  duties  of  camp  and  campaign 
life.  When  mustered  out  of  the  service  he  returned 
to  his  father's  home  and  when  he  set  up  his  own 
household  still  remained  within  the  township. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Oertle}-  won  for  his  bride 
was  Miss  Babetta  Hartmann,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  country  as  himself,  her  natal  day  having  been 
September  17,  1846.  She  is  the  only  child  of  Jacob 
and  Babetta  (Hansenberger)  Hartmann  who  left  the 
romantic  land  of  their  birth  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  '50s  to  become  citizens  of  the  United  States. 
They  settled  in  Peoria,  but  afterward  removed  to 
Akron  Township  where  Mr.  Hartmann  died  and  his 
widow  still  lives. 

The  marriage  rites  between  our  subject  and  Miss 
Hartmann  were  celebrated  December  9.  1866.  and 
have  been  productive  to  them  of  five  children — 
Henry,  Jacob,  Amelia,  Emit  and  Babetta.  The 
older  daughter  died  when  in  her  tenth  3'ear.  She 
was  an  interesting  little  maiden,  sprightly  and  apt, 
and  like  her  brothers  and  sisters  was  being  very 
carefully  reared  by  her  parents,  whose  earnest  en- 
deavor it  is  to  have  their  children  grow  to  man- 
hood and  womanhood  in  the  possession    of   good 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


561 


educations,  fine  principles,  and  tlie  manners  of  the 
truly  I'uiirteous.  That  their  effort?  are  Iseing 
crowned  willi  success  tlie  popularity  of  the  various 
members  of  tlie  family  proves. 

Mr.  Oerlley  votes  the -Democratic  ticlcet.  He  is 
interested  in  public  affairs  to  the  extent  of  en- 
couraging every  worthy  movement  with  liis  intiu- 
CTico  and  means,  is  respected  for  his  good  character, 
while  his  wife  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  in- 
telligent and  worthy  women  in  the   neighborhood. 


RS.  PlIEBE  UINKLEY  is  a  well  known 
and  greatly  esteemed  resident  of  Brinitield 
Township.  From  her  fine  farm  on  section 
28,  she  derives  a  most  excellent  income 
ami  her  home  here  is  replete  with  comfort.  Mrs. 
Iliiilviey  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  antl  was  born 
in  Lancaster,  September  11,  1831,  coming  of  a 
sterling  New  England  ancestry.  Her  parents,  Otis 
and  Clarinda  (Severy)  Bennett,  were  also  natives 
of  the  old  Bay  State.  When  she  was  about  a  year 
old  they  took  her  to  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
they  resided  for  some  years,  and  then  took  up  their 
abode  in  Oswego  County,  the  same  State.  There 
Mrs.  Ilinkle}-  grew  to  womanhood,  receiving  her 
education  in  the  common  schools,  her  instruction 
there  being  supplemented  by  the  careful  training 
that  she  received  at  the  hands  of  her  good  parents 
in  her  childhood's  home. 

She  was  thus  amply  fitted  for  the  cares  of  a 
liousehold,  and  September  11,  1851,  by  her  marriage 
in  Oswego  County  with  William  Darby,  was  placed 
in  a  ln)me  of  her  own.  Mr.  Darby  was  of  New 
England  birth  and  antecedents,  and  was  a  son  of 
William  Darby.  Wy  her  marriage  with  him  she 
had  one  daughter,  Frances  L.,  who  is  now  deceasetl. 
In  1852,  Mr.  Darby  came  to  Peoria  County  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Brimfield  Town- 
ship, of  which  he  thus  became  a  pioneer,  and  in 
1853,  he  sent  for  his  wife,  who  joined  him,  and  she 
has  been  a  resident  here  ever  since.  Mr.  Darby's 
career  in  his  new  home  was  not  destined  to  be  a 
long  one,  as  he  died  April  29,  1850,  and  his  mem- 


ory is  still  cherished  as  one  of  the  sturdy  pioneers 
of  this  section  of  the  State.  lie  was  a  man  of  high 
principle  and  earnest  religious  character,  and  was  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Our  subject  was  married  a  second  time  Ai)ril  13, 
1860,  taking  as  her  husband  Rockwell  Ilinkley.  Mr. 
Hinkley  was  of  New  England  birtli,  born  in  the 
month  of  May,  1831,  in  Windsor  County,  Vt.,and 
he  was  a  son  of  J.  Hinkley.  By  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hinkley  became  the  parents  of  a  daughter, 
named  Alice  M.,  who  is  now  deceased. 

Mr.  Hinkley  departed  this  life  July  11,  1875, 
leaving  behind  him  an  honorable  record  of  a  life 
work  well  done.  He  was  a  true  Republican  in  his 
politics,  and  actively  co-operated  with  the  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  Brimfield  Townshi[),  in  any  en- 
terprise looking  to  its  improvement,  morally, 
socially  and  religiously,  and  in  his  death,  the  citi- 
zenship of  this  place  met  with  a  loss.  He  was  kind 
and  loving  as  a  husband,  and  was  obliging  as  a 
neighbor,  and  was  much  missed  far  beyond  the 
home  circle.  He  served  as  Townshii)  Road  Com- 
missioner, and  School  Director,  doing  good  work 
in  both  capacities. 

Mrs.  Hinkley,  our  subject,  is  a  woman  of  many 
sterling  virtues,  possesses  ability,  tact,  and  energy. 
She  has  here  a  very  pleasant  home,  and  her  farm 
comprising  one  hundred  and  two  and  one-fourth 
acres,  is  replete  with  improvements  of  substantial 
order,  and  its  fields  are  under  admirable  cultiva- 
tion. A  true  Christian,  who  is  active  in  all  good 
work,  she  is  one  of  the  most  valued  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 


^  ACOB  SELTZER.  No  more  striking  exam- 
ples of  the  result  of  the  persistent  pursuit 
of  a  purpose,  prudent  management,  and  wise 
econora}'  can  be  found  than  in  the  careers 
of  some  of  our  German-American  citizens.  The 
subject  of  this  notice  is  one  of  those  who,  begin- 
ning life's  labors  empty  handed,  has  acquired  a  fine 
property,  surrounded  his  family  with  every  com- 
fort, and  made  provision  for  ease  in  his  declining 
years.     He  owns  and  occupies  a  fine  farm   on  sec- 


562 


PORTRAIT  A^D  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tion  21,  Elm  wood  Township,  and  other  landed  es- 
tate, the  entire  acreage  being  about  four  hundred 
and  fort}--two. 

^Ir.  Seltzer  was  born  in  German},  September  15, 
1 834.  being  one  of  three  children  born  to  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  Seltzer.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and 
soldier  in  the  German  Army.  When  our  subject 
was  about  six  years  of  age,  the  parents  emigrated 
to  America,  settling  in  Trivoli  Township,  this 
county.  The  father  survived  until  1859,  and  the 
mother  until  1870.  Our  subject  and  a  brother  are 
tlie  only  members  of  the  family  circle  livTng.  Dur- 
ing liis  boyhood  and  j'outh,  the  school  privileges  of 
Mr.  Seltzer  were  somewhat  limited,  and  he  acquired 
but  a  meagre  education.  In  lieu  of  book  knowl- 
edge he  learned  habits  of  industry  and  persever- 
ance, and  became  well  versed  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. 

When  about  eighteen  j'ears  of  age,  Mr.  Seltzer 
began  his  personal  career,  w'orking  out  by  the 
month  about  two  j'ears,  after  which  he  operated 
rented  farms  in  Trivoli  and  Elmwood  Townships. 
On  February  6,  1865,  he  took  possession  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  which  he  still  occupies, 
and  for  which  he  paid  -?60  per  acre.  Prior  to  this 
time  he  had  bought  one  hundred  acres  of  unim- 
proved land,  and  after  improving,  had  sold  it  at  a 
fitting  advance.  Tlie  laud  upon  which  he  perma- 
nentl}'  located,  has  been  added  to  by  adjoining 
IH'Oiierty  and  various  improvements  have  been 
made  by  the  present  owner.  A  well  built  residence 
and  barns  have  been  erected,  and  the  usual  adorn- 
ments in  the  way  of  fruit  and  shade  trees,  a  well- 
kept  garden  and  neat  fences,  also  added. 

The  most  of  the  land  is  under  cultivation,  de- 
voted to  diversified  farming,  and  some  fine  speci- 
mens of  Short-horn  cattle  roam  over  the  p.istures. 
Another  tract  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
acres,  also  in  this  township,  has  been  supplied  with 
a  residence  and  proper  outbuildings,  and  is  mostlv 
under  cultivation.  Mr.  Seltzer  likewise  owns  a 
live-acre  tract  of  timber  land. 

In  his  efforts  to  build  up  a  home,  Mr.  Seltzer  has 
been  ably  seconded  bj'  a  wise  and  loving  wife  with 
whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  in  185G.  Prior  to 
that  time  she  was  known  as  Rebecca  J.  Bevins. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio,  August  13,  1836,  and  is  one 


of  seven  children,  three  now  living,  born  to  Rob- 
ert Bevins,  who  removed  from  the  Buckeye  State 
to  this  section  about  fifty  years  ago.  Both  her  par- 
ents are  now  deceased. 

The  famil}'  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seltzer  comprises 
six  children — Edward,  Harriet,  Amos,  Richard, 
Louis,  aud  Jacob.  Tlie  first-born  is  now  Road 
Commissioner  for  Elmwood  Township,  and  he  and 
his  joungest  brother  remain  under  the  parental 
roof.  Harriet,  wife  of  Dexter  Dikeman.  lives  in 
Fulton  County;  Amos  married  Elvira  Harding,  has 
one  child,  and  lives  in  Knox  County;  Richard  mar- 
ried Minnie  Dillon,  their  home  being  in  the  same 
township  as  our  subject;  Louis  married  Catherine 
Crabill.  has  one  child,  and  also  lives  in  Elmwood 
Township.  Mr.  Seltzer  votes  the  Democratic  ticket, 
has  served  his  fellow-citizens  as  Pathmaster,  and  is 
considered  a  reliable  and  worthy  citizen.  He  is 
justly  proud  of  his  worldly  success,  and  of  the 
standing  which  he  occupies  in  the  community. 


^1^^ 


1^  OBERT  W.  HARRISON,  deceased,  was  one  • 
'v^'  of  the  most  prominent  and  wealthy  farmers 
iks  'A\  of  Princeville  Township. who  took  a  leading 
"^^  pare  in  the  development  of  this  section 
of  the  county,  and  was  one  of  its  most  honored 
citizens.  His  father  was  an  earl\'  settler  of  this  part 
of  Illinois,  and  was  verj'  much  prospered  in  his 
various  enterprises. 

James  Harrison  was  born  in  England  in  1809, 
his  birthplace  being  Yorkshire.  He  was  a  son  of 
Robert  Harrison,  a  blacksmith  of  that  part  of  Eng- 
land. In  1822,  when  he  was  thirteen  years  old, 
his  father  emigrated  to  this  country',  and  settled  in 
Hampshire  Count}',  W.  Va.,  where  he  established  a 
home  for  his  family,  and  tliere  followed  farming, 
and  was  also  engaged  as  a  blacksmith,  aud  there  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  father  of  our 
subject  left  his  earh'  English  home  with  his  father, 
aud  accompanied  him  to  this  couutr}',  and  in  Vir- 
ginia learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  of  him,  and 
carried  it  on  there  some  years.  In  1834  he  came 
to  Illinois  with  a  wagon  drawn  by  one  horse,  and 
settling  in  Rosefield  Township,  on  the  Kickapoo,  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


563 


took  up  a  claim  there  and  erected  a  smithy  as  soon 
as  lie  couhl  get  tools  from  Springfield,  wliich  \v:is 
not  until  two  years  later.  He  carried  on  furtniiig 
in  connection  with  hlacksuiilhing.  and  in  1S3G 
bought  a  tax  title  to  some  land  near  I'rinceville. 
He  engaged  in  its  cultivation  for  one  year,  and  then 
removed  to  .Vkron  Townshii),  where  he  bought  a 
tract  of  wild  land.  He  put  up  a  smithy  There,  and 
for  some  time  was  actively  engaged  as  a  blacksmith, 
besiiies  managing  his  agricultural  interests.  He  met 
with  more  than  ordinary  success,  and  became  (piite 
wealthy.  He  added  to  his  farm  until  he  possessed 
si.K  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  farming  land  as  is  to 
bo  fonnd  in  this  county.  In  1871  he  removed  to 
Henry,  Marshall  County,  where  he  lived  retired 
until  his  death  in  1879.  He  was  in  ever}'  respect 
a  true,  noble-hearted  man,  whom  to  know  was  to 
respect.  In  politics  he  used  his  inlkicncc  in  favor 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  was  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  religious  interests  of  his  community, 
as  one  of  the  prominent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episco|)al  Chuich,  in  which  he  served  as  Class- 
Leader,  and  in  various  other  capacities ;  and  he  also 
exerted  his  influence  in  behalf  of  education,  and 
gave  4^20  toward  the  erection  of  the  old  stone  school- 
house  which  is  still  standing,  and  is  now  used  for  a 
residence.  He  was  a  man  of  great  practical  me- 
chanical genius,  and  in  early  days  used  to  make 
plows  and  manufacture  some  of  the  first  that  were 
ever  used  in  this  part  of  the  State,  and  he  made 
several  other  useful  inventions.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Akron  Township,  he  built  a  mill,  and 
oi)eiatcd  it  very  successfully  for  five  years.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Susan  M.  Evans,  and 
she  was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  Va.  Her  fa- 
ther died  in  that  count}-.  She  died  in  Henry, 
Marshall  County. 

Eleven  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of  our 
subject;  John  R.,  a  resident  of  Dunlap;  Robert  W.; 
Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Little,  of  Princeville;  Frances,  who 
is  deceased;  Absalom,  of  Radnor  Township;  Ira 
D.,  of  ISIadison  County,  Iowa;  Ruth,  who  died  in 
Iowa;  James,  of  Marshall  County;  Paul,  living 
near  Huntsville,  Ala.;  Susan,  Mrs.  Gregery,  living 
near  Henry;  Jesse,  a  resident  of  ]\[arshall  County, 
111.     Ira  served  in  the  w.ar  one  hundred  d.ays. 

Robert  Harrison  was  born   in    RoseSeld  Town- 


ship, December  13,  1834.    He  was  reared  on  a  farm 

in  Akron  Township,  and  was  early  set  to  work  driv- 
ing oxen,  teaming  wood,  |)lowing,  and  at  other 
farm  labors.  His  education  was  conducted  in  the 
primitive  log  schoolhouse  of  pioneer  times, and  when 
thirteen  years  old  he  went  into  the  mill  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  miller.  He  subsequently  began  to  oper- 
ate the  mill  on  shares  when  he  was  twenty  years 
old,  and  was  engaged  at  that  for  three  years,  when 
his  father  sold  it.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  threshing  and  corn  shelling,  and  w.as  cm- 
plojed  in  those  pursuits  two  years.  In  185('  he 
bought  eight}-  acres  of  land  on  section  35,  Prince- 
ville Township,  which  is  included  in  his  present 
farm.  He  actively  entered  ui)on  its  improvement, 
and  in  the  years  that  followed,  developed  it  from 
a  tract  of  wild  prairie  to  a  productive  and  well  cul- 
tivated farm.  In  the  spring  of  1854  he  went  to 
Boone  County,  Iowa,  and  entered  eighty  .acres  of 
land,  but  did  not  settle  on  it,  and  subsecpiently 
sold  it  at  a  good  advance.  He  located  on  his  farm 
in  185G,  and  has  since  bought  more  land  until  he 
has  increased  its  acreage  to  four  hundred  acres  ly- 
ing on  section  35,  and  he  has  besides  one  hundred 
acres  w'ith  improvements  in  Jubilee  Township,  the 
price  he  paid  for  it  varying  from  $7.50  to  ^GO  an 
acre.  He  has  two  sets  of  buildings  in  his  land  in- 
cluding ample  barns,  granaries,  etc.,  and  his  resi- 
dence is  a  substantial  and  well  fitted  up  dwelling. 
His  land  is  well  fenced,  and  is  well  watered,  hav- 
ing windmills,  tank,  etc.,  and  he  has  a  fine  orchard 
and  valuable  groves  of  trees,  and  everything  about 
the  place  shows  care  and  excellent  management  on 
the  part  of  the  owner.  Besides  this  fine  farm,  Mr. 
Harrison  owns  valuable  city  property,  is  owner  of 
the  Henry  Hotel,  and  has  town  property  in  Prince- 
ville. Our  subject  grows  large  quantities  of  grain, 
and  raises  a  good  deal  of  stock,  having  eighteen 
head  of  improved  Norman  horses,  using  four  teams 
on  his  farm,  and  he  has  high  grade<l  cattle,  feeding 
and  selling  two  car-loads  each  year,  and  raising 
two  car-loads  of  hogs,  shipping  his  own  stock  to 
market;  he  also  raises  sheep. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  married  in  I'rinceville  Town- 
ship, March  2,  1859,  to  ISIiss  Klinore  Lawrence,  a 
daughter  of  Francis  Lawrence.  She  w.-is  born  in 
Mamaroneck,  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  March 


Vf 


564 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


28,  184L  She  received  excellent  school  advan- 
tajies,  and  remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental  home 
until  her  uiarriaKC.  Her  father  was  also  a  native 
of  Westcliester  County,  and  was  a  son  of  Charles 
Lawrence,  who  was  of  English  birth.  lie  emi- 
grated to  this  country,  and  engaged  in  farming  in 
New  York,  and  there  died.  Mrs.  Harrison's  father 
was  a  stone-mason  by  trade,  but  after  coming  to 
Princeville  Townshii),  from  his  native  State  in 
1854,  he  turned  liis  attention  to  farming.  He  was 
thus  engaged  here  two  years,  and  then  bought  a 
farm  in  Juljilee  Township,  where  lie  lived  until  his 
death  in  1889,  he  having  improved  in  the  mean- 
time a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  religion  wsis 
identified  with  the  Methodist  F.piscopal  Ciiurch,  as 
one  of  its  most  faitliful  members.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Mary  S.  Rodgers,and  she  was 
born  in  New  York,  a  daughter  of  William  Rodg- 
ers,  who  was  of  English  parentage.  Slic  lives  on 
the  old  homestead  at  tlie  age  of  seventy-one  years. 
She  was  the  mother  of  the  following  six  cliildren: 
Caroline,  Mrs.  Moffatt,  of  Monica;  Charles  W.,  a 
farmer  in  Jubilee  Tovvnshiii;  Mary  F.,  now  Mrs. 
Beal,  of  Stark  County;  Rachael  S.,  now  Mrs.  Har- 
rison, of  Princeville;  Frank  II.,  living  on  the  old 
homestead. 

JMr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison's  pleasant  wedded  life  has 
blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  nine  children:  two 
died  in  infancy;  Agatha  A.,  Ilanford  J.,  Emma  J., 
IMinnie  S.,  Frank  II.,  Ada  M.,  and  Bertha  L 
Agatha  married  Theodore  Pierce,  a  farmer  of  Nod- 
away County,  Mo.;  Ilanford  is  farming  on  the 
home  farm;  Emma  married  George  Smith,  of  Ju- 
bilee Township;  Minnie  and  Ada  attended  Prince- 
ville academy,  and  the  former  has   been  a  teacher. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  a  man  of  marked  enterprise, 
and  possessed  more  than  ordinary  energy,  tact  and 
liusiness  talent,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  bad  ac- 
quired wealth  by  his  own  exertions,  and  occupied 
a  conspicuous  place  among  the  representative  citi- 
zens of  Peoria  County.  His  public  spirit  identified 
him  with  the  leaders  who  bore  an  active  part  in 
promoting  the  material,  social,  and  e<]ucational 
welfate  of  this  p.art  of  the  State,  and  he  was  actiVe 
in  public  life.  He  w.as  serving  his  third  term  as 
Commissioner  of  Highways;  had  been  School   Di- 


rector for  twenty-sis  years,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years,  and  assisted  in  building  the  academy 
and  placing  it  on  a  sound  basis,  and  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Detective  Thief  and  Mutual  Benefit  As- 
sociation, had  been  prominent  in  its  management, 
and  had  held  the  oflice  of  Lieutenant.  He  was  one 
of  the  leading  Republicans  of  the  county,  had  been 
a  delegate  to  Congregational  and  County  Conven- 
tions, and  was  serving  his  second  term  as  Central 
Committee  man.  He  had  been  member  of  the 
Grand  and  I'elit  Juries.  Mr.  Harrison  died  at  his 
home  in  Princeville  Township,  August  8,  1890. 
The  following  obituary  is  taken  from  a  local  pa- 
per: "Robert  W.  Harrison  was  born  December  13, 
1834,  and  died  August  8,  1890.  His  death  was  the 
result  of  an  accident  which  resulted  fatally  in  about 
thirty-six  hours  after  the  occurrence.  The  deceased 
often  referred  to  his  boyhood  days,  the  difficulties 
and  deprivations  of  the  first  settlers.  He  was  a 
scion  of  tlie  sturdy  stock  who  first  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois. Like  all  young  men  in  his  day,  he  started  in 
life  with  limited  means,  but  being  a  careful  man- 
ager, and  very  energetic,  he  had  at  the  time  of  his 
death  acciimuLated  a  valuable  estate.  He  was  a  man 
avowedly  in  favor  of  moral  elevation  and  intel- 
lectual advancement.  He  was  a  studious  reader, 
and  consequently  well  informed  in  the  history'  and 
cuirent  events  of  the  day.  He  was  plain  and  un- 
assuming in  his  habits,  an(i  had  no  taste  or  desire 
to  indulge  in  the  fashions  and  frivolities  of  the 
times.  In  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men,  he 
was  kind,  generous  and  obliging,  and  in  the  matter 
of  private  or  public  benefaction  he  never  failed  to 
respond  when  the  object  was  worthy.  He  had  fre- 
quently been  elected  to  ofBce  by  the  voters  of  his 
town;  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  in  an  olllcial 
position.  He  was  earnest  and  true  to  the  princi- 
ples of  the  political  party  to  which  he  belonged, 
and  was  recogTiized  as  one  of  its  local  leaders.  A 
few  weeks  before  his  demise  he  w.as  a  chosen  dele- 
gate to  a  convention  which  placed  in  nomination  a 
candidate  for  congressional  honors.  As  an  evi- 
dence of  the  resi>ect  and  esteem  in  which  he  was 
held,  there  was  a  very  large  concourse  of  people  in 
attendance  at  his  obsequies.  The  funeral  service 
was  conducted  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
by  Rev.  A.  Smith,  the  pastor,  in  a  very  appropriate 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


J65 


and  impressive  manner.  His  remains  were  laid 
awa}-  to  rest  in  the  Prince ville  cemetery— lie  is 
numbered  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  silent  cit3'. 
The  sympathies  of  the  pal)lic  are  extended  to  his 
respected  companion  and  family  in  their  bereave- 
ment." M.  W. 


ARVEY  SEYMOUR,  a  retired  farmer,  was 
for  a  long  time  engaged  in  .agrieullnre  in 
this  county,  and  by  his  superior  manage- 
ment of  his  affairs  accpiircd  a  handsome 
properly.  He  still  owns  five  acres  of  land  near  the 
southern  city  limits  of  Chillicothe,  where  he  has 
made  his  home  for  many  years.  He  has  borne  an 
honorable  pait  in  public  affairs,  and  is  highly  re- 
garded for  his  solid  worth  as  a  man  and  a  citizen. 

Mr.  Seymour  was  born  December  Ifi,  182;"),  not 
far  from  the  city  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  C(nning  of  ster- 
ling New  England  stock.  His  parents  were  Edward 
and  Elizabeth  (Foot)  Seymour,  natives  of  Ver- 
mont, where  they  were  reared  and  mairied.  Soon 
after  that  important  event  in  their  lives  they  set 
their  faces  toward  New  York,  and  in  the  wilds  of 
that  part  of  it  where  the  thriving  city  of  Aulnirn 
now  stands  established  themselves  in  a  pioneer 
home.  Mr.  Seymour  immediately  oi)ened  a  smithy, 
he  having  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  among 
the  Vermont  liills,  and  w.as  busily  engaged  in  that 
oceupatiim  in  that  [ilace  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  o'iciirred  when  he  had  scarcely  |)assed  the 
meridian  of  life,  he  being  but  little  more  than  lifty 
j'ears  of  age  when  he  died.  He  left  a  large  family, 
the  greater  part  of  which  went  with  his  widow  to 
Eairlielil  Township,  Huron  County,  and  there  the 
motln>r  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  IJoth  she 
and  hiM-  husband  were  faithful  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
sons  ;uid  two  daughters. 

( )ur  subject  is  the  youngest  but  one  of  the  family, 
and  he  and  his  youngest  brother  and  two  sisters 
are  the  survivors.  He  remained  an  inmate  of  the 
parental  home  until  he  had  attained  manhood,  and 
then  went  out  into  the  world  to  make  his  own  liv- 
ing.    He  went  to  Rochester,  N.  Y'.,  and  the  ensu- 


ing fifteen  years  worked  in  a  foundry  there.  In 
1851  he  joined  the  horde  of  emigrants  from  all 
parts  of  the  world  that  were  hastening  b}'  various 
routes  to  the  Pacific  Slope  in  search  of  gold,  and 
he  made  his  way  thither  by  the  way  of  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama,  and  entered  the  Golden  Gate  in  the 
month  of  June.  He  went  at  once  to  Greenhorn 
River,  near  Red  Dog,  and  not  far  from  the  Nevada 
mining  regions,  and  he  was  there  busily  eng.aged 
on  one  claim  for  two  years.  In  spite  of  the  enor- 
mous expense  of  living  there,  he  made  monej',  and 
finally,  wearying  of  the  rough  life  of  the  mines, 
turned  his  face  homeward,  traveling  by  the  way  of 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama  to  New  York,  and  thence 
to  his  old  abode  in  Rochester.  He  lived  there  one 
year,  and  then  made  a  new  dei)arture,  and  this 
time  came  to  Illinois,  and  has  since  been  a  resident 
of  this  State.  He  lived  in  Champaign  County  five 
years,  and  in  1862  took  up  his  ()ormanent  abode  in 
this  (»unt}'.  For  several  years  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion strictly  to  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  was 
so  prospered  in  all  that  he  undertook  that  he  was 
enabled  to  retire  with  a  comfortable  competence 
ere  yet  the  shadows  of  old  age  darkened  his  life. 

Mr.  Seymour  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
first  married  in  Champaign  County  to  Miss  .lane 
McCartj'.  She  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  who 
came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  when  she 
w.as  two  vears  old.  The  famil}'  settled  in  Oswego, 
Ivendall  County,  where  she  grew  to  womanhood, 
and  later  removed  to  Champaign  County,  and  from 
there  came  with  hei'  husl)and  to  Chillicothe.  In 
the  pleasant  home  that  she  had  aided  her  husband 
in  building  up  her  death  occurred  in  1871,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-nine  years.  She  was  young  to  die, 
and  her  death  was  a  sad  loss  to  her  family.  She 
was  a  sincere  Christian  and  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  had  borne 
her  sufferings,  caused  by  a  m.alady  that  she  knew 
to  be  incurable,  with  a  wonderful  i)atience  and 
sweet  resignation.  She  w.as  the  mother  of  four 
children,  two  of  whom,  Henry  and  Frank,  died 
when  young;  Emma  J.  and  Charles  are  at  home 
with  their  father.  Mr.  Seymour  was  married  a 
second  time  in  Chillicothe,  taking  as  his  wife  Miss 
Agnes  WilLard:  She  was  born  in  Michigan,  and 
was  young  when  siie  came  to  tliis   State  with    her 


566 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


parents,  who  setlled  in  CliiliicoUie,  where  she 
received  her  education  and  grew  to  a  noble  woman- 
hood. Her  father  died  some  years  after  his  settle- 
ment here,  but  her  motiier  is  still  living,  now  p.ast 
seventy  years  of  age,  making  her  home  with  a  son 
in  ]'rineeville.  Mrs.  Seymour  was  a  victim  of  the 
same  terrible  malad3'  that  destro3cd  the  life  of  our 
subject's  first  wife,  but  she  bravely  bore  her  suffer- 
ings with  cheerful  submission  to  the  inevitable,  and 
finally  succumbed  to  the  disease  in  September, 
188G,  dying  at  the  age  of  forty  j-ears.  S;ie  was  in 
all  respects  a  model  woman,  and  was  a  true  mother 
to  her  step-children,  who  hold  her  in  grateful  re- 
membrance. 

Mr.  Sej'mour  is  a  sagacious,  thrifty  man,  possess- 
ing keen  perceptions  and  a  mind  well  balanced, 
which  attributes  make  him  one  of  the  most  trusted 
and  respected  citizens  of  Chillicothc,  and  his  wise 
counsels  have  been  us(!f ul  in  the  guidance  of  public 
affairs.  He  lies  been  Alderman  of  the  city  two 
terms,  and  is  one  of  the  stalwarts  in  the  Democratic 
party  in  this  count}'. 


^ LIVER  WHITE  is  one  of  Peoria"s  leading 
citizens,  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been 
variousl}'  connected  with  its  interests  as  a 
journalist,  or  in  some  prominent  official  capacity, 
and  has  been  very  active  in  the  work  that  has  been 
carried  on  for  several  years  by  the  most  enlight- 
ened and  progressive  citizens  of  the  city  to  ele- 
vate its  literar}'',  scientific  and  educational   status. 

Blr.  AVhite  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
Tioga  Count}',  August  6,  1831,  a  son  of  Hewes 
and  Hannah  (Williamson)  White,  natives  of  New 
York.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith.  In  1837  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  was  an  early  pioneer  of  Stark 
Count}\  He  located  first  in  Oceola  and  afterward 
in  Toulon. 

Our  subject  was  a  small  child  when  his  parents 
brought  him  to  this  State,  and  here  he  was  care- 
fully reared  amid  its  pioneer  scenes.  His  educa- 
tion was  mainl\'  wrought  out  by  his  own  force, 
sometimes  over  the  blazing  forge  and  sometimes 
at  school,  but  alw.ays  by  the    hardest  and   in  the 


thickest  of  the  fight.  He  first  entered  the  teacher's 
profession,  but  the  calling  of  a  journalist  had  a 
great  attraction  for  him,  and,  in  1854,  he  became 
employed  in  the  printing  office  of  the  Henry 
County  Dial,  of  which  lie  subsequently  became 
editor,  and  was  afterwards  eouuecled  with  differ- 
ent papers.  He  was  Inisily  engaged  in  his  work  as 
an  editor  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  in  April, 
1862,  threw  aside  his  piofessiou  to  take  u|)  arms 
in  defense  of  his  country's  honor,  enlisting  in  the 
New  York  IMarine  Artillery.  For  a  year  he  served 
in  this  capacit3%  until  that  arm  of  the  service 
was  disbanded  bj'  the  War  Department  on  account 
of  the  fraudulent  enlistment  of  some  of  the  men. 
He  then  resumed  newspaper  work  at  Toulon. 

In  1880  Mr.  White  came  to  Peoria,  and  worked 
first  on  the  Call.  He  afterward  worked  at  differ- 
ent times  on  the  staff  of  each  of  the  city  dailies. 
Under  the  Arthur  administration  he  served  a  four 
years'  term  as  Government  storekeeper.  Then 
after  three  years  service  on  the  Journal,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Government  Gauger,  which  position  he 
now  holds.  He  attained  a  high  place  in  the  jour- 
nalistic profession,  his  clear  cut,  timely  editorials 
on  all  subjects  of  public  importance,  wielding  a 
marked  influence  on  public  sentiment;  and  his 
ready,  eloquent  pen  has  often  done  much  to  pro- 
mote the  various  entcr|)rises  for  the  common  weal 
of  the  community.  ■ 

September  16,  1857,  Mr.  White  was  married  to 
Miss  Isabella  Rumbold,  their  marriage  taking  place 
in  St.  Louis.  Their  wedded  life  though  happy  was 
of  brief  duration,  her  death  occurring  May  9,  1864. 
Mr.  White  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  form- 
erlj'  Miss  M.  Louise  Mercer,  June  27,  1865.  Mrs. 
White  is  a  native  of  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  but 
was  reared  in  Illinois,  her  i)arents  having  located 
in  Bureau  County,  among  its  pioneers  in  1839. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  one  son,  AVhitaker  Mer- 
cer, who  is  a  civil  engineer. 

Both  Mr.  White  and  his  estimable  wife  are 
prominent  people  socialh^,  and  are  held  in  high 
consideration  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. A  man  of  Mr.  White's  ability,  learn- 
ijig  and  capacity  for  affairs,  cannot  but  be  an 
important  factor  in  the  management  of  i)ublic  inter- 
ests, and,  us   we   have  seen,  our  subject  has  been 


.r: 


^^^-Z^UI.^. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


569 


conspicuous  in  the  civic  life  of  the  county.  For 
ten  years  be  was  Postmaster  of  Touhin,  and  was 
Deputy  Provost-IMarshal  of  the  congressional  dis- 
trict during  the  latter  part  of  the  war.  lie  has 
always  liecn  inlluential  in  politics,  and  has  ever 
been  true  to  the  Re|niblican  party.  These  brief 
lines  do  but  scant  justice  to  our  subject,  who  is  a 
man  of  i>rofound  intellect,  large  culture  and  a 
broad  outlook  on  life,  possessing  suflicieut  energy, 
stamina  and  resolution  to  make  him  a  marked 
force  in  the  community,  and  Peoria  finds  in  him 
one  of  her  best  and  most  useful  citizens. 


^^,  YRUS  L.  BERRY.  The  name  of  C.  L. 
fl(  Borr3-  is  well  known   far  be3'ond  the  limits 

^^l'  of  Peoria,  in  which  cit}'  lie  makes  bis  home, 
as  that  of  an  ellicient  public  servant  and  honorable 
man.  During  the  past  four  years  he  has  been  cred- 
itably filling  the  position  of  Deputy  United  States 
M.arshal  of  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois,  in  the 
.Southern  Division.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Emjiire 
State,  born  in  Ashland,  Greene  Couniy,  February 
3,  1834.  His  parents,  Abner  and  Esther  (Merwin  ) 
Berry,  natives  of  Maine  and  New  York  respect- 
ively, bad  seven  children,  of  whom  be  is  the  fourth. 
Of  the  four  survivors  of  the  household  band  all 
remain  in  the  Empire  State  except  our  subject. 
Abner  Berry  was  of  English  ancestry,  and  was  a 
carpenter  and  joiner  bj-  trade.  He  passed  to  his 
rest  September  10,  1884,  leaving  the  memory  of 
honorable  deeds  as  a  heritage  to  his  children. 

The  boyhood  and  earl3'  manhood  of  our  subject 
were  pa.«sed  in  bis  native  State,  and  until  twentj'- 
two  years  of  age  he  worked  with  his  father  in  the 
intervals  and  after  the  conclusion  of  bis  studies. 
He  then  entered  an  hotel  as  clerk,  continuing  to 
occupy  such  a  position  seven  years,  after  which  he 
rented  and  managed  a  hotel  eight  years.  In  1870 
be  removed  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  secured  land 
and  devoted  his  attention  to  tilling  the  soil  for 
about  twelve  years.  He  was  then  elected  Sheriff,  and 
moved  into  the  city.  Four  years  later,  in  188fi,  be 
was  appointed  Deputy  United  States  Marshal,  hold- 
ing that  ollicial  station  until  .\pril.  1890. 


The  important  positions  above  noted  are  not  tlie 
onl}-  public  oflices  in  which  Mr.  lierr}-  has  served. 
He  was  Town  Clerk  three  terms  in  New  York,  and 
was  filling  the  same  station  in  Peoria  County  when 
nominated  for  Sheriff,  resigning  the  minor  office 
when  elected  to  the  more  arduous  position.  Prior 
to  that  time  ho  had  also  been  serving  as  Treasurer 
of  the  township  in  which  he  resided, which  office  he 
also  resigned  on  coming  to  Peoria.  Mr.  15err3'  is  an 
ardent  Democrat,  and  has  been  from  the  time  be 
cast  bis  first  Presidential  ballot  for  James  Ilu- 
chanan  in  185G.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  K.  of  M.  and  R.  M. 

On  October  29,  18G0,  Mr.  Berry  led  to  the  hy- 
meneal altar  Miss  Mary  E.  DeNo3'ells,  who,  as  her 
maiden  name  indicates,  is  of  French  extraction. 
She  w.as  born  October.  1,  1836,  and  possesses  all 
the  vivacit3-  which  is  a  conspicuous  trait  in  those 
of  French  descent,  together  with  a  kindly  nature 
and  a  spirit  of  devotion  to  her  home  and  famil3'. 
To  INIr.  and  Mrs.  Berry  six  children  have  been 
born,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy — Clarence  D., 
born  .July  4,  1861,  died  July  28,  1884.  The  liv- 
ing are:  Birdsall  A.,  born  March  28,  1867;  Willie 
R.,  October  8,  18C8;  and  Erma  A.,  March  14, 
1878. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  the  reader  will  notice 
a  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Berry. 


^yCHARD  W.  BURT.  The  Peoria  Soap 
Works  constitutes  one  of  the  leading  in- 
dustries of  the  city  nnd  was  established 
by  the  subject  of  this  notice  in  1888.  It 
differs  in  one  important  feature  from  the  majorit3' 
of  the  enterprises  of  the  kind,  there  being  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  toilet  soap  especiall3',  a  vegeta- 
ble product  obtained  from  the  soap  tree  in  Mexico 
and  Central  America,  thus  doing  awa3' with  the  ob- 
jectionable matter  too  often  utilized  in  the  manu- 
tacture  of  this  indispensable  article  of  commerce. 

The  soap  tree  first  came  to  the  notice  of  Baron 
Von  Humboldt,  the  great  traveler,  as  the  natives 
were  using  it  in  cleansing  clothing  and  various 
other  articles  in  Central  America.     It  was  not  un- 


570 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


til  raanj^  3-ears  afterward  that  it  became  an  article 
of  commerce  and  its  valuable  qualities  adapted  to 
general  use  in  tliis  counlr}-.  The  establishment  of 
a  factory  in  Peoria  making  a  si)ecially  of  this  arti- 
cle, has  added  largely  to  the  importance  of  its  var- 
ious industries  and  Mr.  lUnt  is  given  great  credit 
for  the  part  which  he  has  played  in  thus  adding  to 
the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  city.  He  is  an 
enterprising  business-man.  popular  among  the  peo- 
ple and  occupies  no  secondary  position  in  either 
business  or  social  circles. 

A  native  of  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Burt  was 
born  April  23.  1823,  the  sod  of  Foght  and  Eliza- 
beth (Welling)  Burt,  both  of  whom  were  likewise 
natives  of  the  Empire  Stale.  The  first  representa 
tives  of  the  family  in  America  came  soon  after  the 
landing  of  the  "Mayflower"  and  were  familiarly 
known  throughout  New  England  during  the  Colo- 
nial days.  They  were  people,  lionest,  industrious 
and  enterprising  and  mostly  liecame  well-to-do. 
Tlie  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversarj'  of  the 
settlement  of  Henry  Burt,  the  ancestor  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  at 
Springfield,  ISLass.,  is  to  lie  celebrated  in  that  city 
October  3.  18;)0. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  hatter  b^-  trade 
and  remained  a  resident  of  his  native  State  until 
1834.  He  then  removed  with  his  family  to  Ohio 
where  he  changed  his  oecui)alion  and  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  settling  in  Coshocton  County. 
He  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  advancing 
yeius  warned  him  it  was  time  to  retire  from  active 
labor,  then  in  1880  joined  his  son  in  Peoria 
and  died  in  the  eighty-seventh  j'ear  of  his  .age  in 
November,  1887.  The  wife  and  mother  had  pre- 
ceded her  husband  to  the  silent  land,  her  death 
taking  place  in  Van  Wert,  Ohio,  in  1878.  The 
family  consisted  of  three  children  of  whom  R.  W., 
our  subject,  was  the  eldest ;  Thomas  H.  died  a  few 
years  since  in  Michigan;  Josephine  is  the  wife  of 
W.  O.  Brown  of  Chicago,  III. 

The  suliject  of  this  notice  was  a  lad  of  eleven 
years  when  his  parents  removed  from  New  York 
State  to  Ohio,  where  he  grew  up  on  the  farm  and 
obtained  a  ijractical  education  in  the  common 
Bohool.  He  interested  himself  in  farming  pursuits 
until  1853,  in  the  meantime  keeping  abreast  of  the 


times  by  a  course  of  reading  and  indulging  his 
tastes  for  good  books  and  periodicals.  He  was 
especially  interested  in  newspaper  work  and  finally 
became  editor  of  the  P rogressicp  Agi\-Ai  Coshocton, 
which  he  purchased  in  the  year  mentioned  and 
which  he  conducted  three  years.  The  results  of 
this  enterprise  not  being  entirelv  satisfactory.  Mr. 
Burt  abanibmed  the  newspaper  field  and  embarked 
in  the  coal  and  grocery  trade  in  which  he  continued 
until  the  outlireak  of  the  Civil  War.  He  watched 
the  conflict  a  few  months  and  then  decided  that  he 
must  have  a  hand  in  the  preservation  of  the  L^nion. 
He  accordingly  enlisted  December  3,  1861,  in  Com- 
l)any  O,  Seventj'-sixth  Ohio  Infantry,  upon  the 
organization  of  which  he  was  elected  Second 
Lieutenant.  He  went  with  his  company  to  the  seat 
of  war  and  after  the  battle  of  Arkansas  Post,  was 
promoted  to  a  First  Lieutenancy. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  first  term  of  enlistment, 
Lieut.  Burt  re-entered  the  ranks  in  March,  18G  l,as 
Captain  of  Company  H,  Seventy-sixth  Ohio  In- 
fantry, which  he  commanded  until  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  Jul}'  15,  1865.  He  par- 
ticii)ated  in  about  thirty  battles  and  skirmishes,  in- 
cluding Ft.  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Milliken's  Bend, 
Chickasaw  Ba3'ou,  Arkansas  Post,  Yicksburg,  Jack- 
son, Mission  Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain,  Ringgold, 
Resaca,  tiie  siege  of  Atlanta  and  Jonesboro.  He 
went  with  .Sherman  on  the  march  to  the  sea  and 
then  returned  up  through  the  Carolinas  to  Wash- 
ington where  he  was  present  at  the  Grand  Review. 
Mr.  Burt  is  a  poet  of  no  mean  talent  and  wrote 
many  war  songs,  a  number  of  which  were  published, 
including  '-Sherman  and  the  Boys  in  Blue,"  "(Gen- 
eral Logan  and  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps"  and 
various  others  which  served  to  while  away  many  a 
tedious  hour  in  camp  and  on  the  march.  Prior  to 
the  Civil  War  Mr.  Burt  liad  served  in  the  Mexi- 
can War  as  a  private  in  Companj'  B.  Third  Ohio 
Infantr}',  one  year. 

Upon  leaving  the  service  Mr.  Burt  estalilishcd 
himself  in  the  grocery  business  at  Peoria,  in  whicli 
he  had  had  considerable  experience,  having  been  a 
Government  store-keeper  for  ten  years.  Gradually 
lie  became  interested  in  the  manufacture  of  soap 
and  commenced  in  a  modest  mauncr,  being  re- 
markably fortunate  with  his  experiments,  and   fin- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


571 


ally  became  convinced  that  lie  coulil  turn  his  talents 
ill  this  direction  to  good  advantage.  lie  finally  de- 
cided to  make  a  business  of  this  and  established 
liiiiiscif  in  a  convenient  building  occupying  Nos. 
1 17  and  1 19  Hamilton  Street,  where  he  has  all  the 
maciiinery  and  equipments  necessary  for  prosecu- 
ting the  business  in  a  successful  manner.  He  gives 
om|ilo}Mnent  to  twenty-five  men  and  girls  and  finds 
a  market  for  his  product  all  over  the  United  States. 
Mr.  F.  E.  Leonard  became  a  partner  March  4, 
1889,  the  firm  being  known  as  K.  W.  lUirt  &  Co. 

Tiie  subject  of  this  notice  was  married  in  Ohio, 
January  26,  1848,  to  Miss  Malona  Evans,  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  who  by  her  union  with  our  subject  be- 
came the  mother  of  four  children.  The  eldest  of 
these,  a  son  Oliver  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years; 
Evelyn  is  the  wife  of  J.  S.  Starr.  Collector  of  Uni- 
ted States  Revenue  at  Peoria;  Is.aac  E.  is  a  cra3-on 
artist  of  marked  talent  and  is  a  resident  of  Minneap- 
"lis,  I\linn. ;  Lulu  M.,  is  the  wife  of  William  B. 
Cravens  of  Kansas  City.  Mrs.  Malona  Burt  de- 
jiarted  this  life  at  her  home  in  Peoria,  Jaiiiiar}-  1, 
1873. 

Mr.  Burt  contracted  a  second  marriage  July  13, 
1876, with  Miss  Betsey  Cotton.  This  lady  was  born 
in  Onondaga,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Burt,  politically,  is  a 
sound  Republican  and  religiously,  a  Universalist. 
Ho  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
at  Peoria  and  is  also  identified  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  He  was  at  one  time  the  Senior  Vice- 
Commander  of  Bryuer  Post,  No.  67,  G.  A.  R.  of 
tills  cit}'.  At  the  battle  of  Resaca,  Ga.,  he  was 
shot  through  the  cheek,  losing  all  his  teeth,  but 
rapidly  recovered  and  returned  after  thij'ty  daj's 
to  his  command. 


4^^ 


-V— 


EMUEL  T.  BARTON  came  to  Peoria 
County  in  his  childhood  in  the  early  years 
of  its  settlement,  grew  up  under  the  primi- 
tive conditions  that  obtained  here  during  his  boy- 
hood and  earl}-  manhood,  and  for  many  years  has 
exerted  a  potent  influence  in  advancing  its  great 
agricultural  interests,  and  to-daj-  is  one  of  the 
solid    men    of   his    community.     He    has    a   valu- 


able farm  in  Limestone  that  is  in  all  respects  as 
good  a  farm  as  is  to  be  found  in  the  whole  count}-. 
It  is  finely  improved  and  its  w-ell-tilled  fields  yield 
a  rich  income  aside  from  the  money  the  owner 
makes  in  tlie  stock-raising  business.  Our  subject 
is  ably  assisted  in  his  work  by  his  two  sons. 

Mr.  Barton  was  born  in  Ohio,  April  10.  18-20,  to 
Vincent  and  Mary  Barton,  who  died  here  in  1834, 
and  left  a  faniih-  of  four  boys — Simeon,  \Villiam 
C.  H.,  Lemuel  T.  and  John.  The  latter  died  in 
Arizona. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review-  w-as  but 
five  3'ears  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  county.  He  grew  to  manhood  here,  and  in 
1847  went  out  in  the  world,  wishing  to  see  more 
of  the  country  and  to  better  his  financial  condition 
if  possiiile.  He  started  on  the  long  and  tedious 
journc}-  across  the  desert  (jlains  and  mountains  to 
the  western  coast,  accompanied  by  Conrad  Bour- 
land  and  Henry  Aiken,  both  Peoria  boys,  and  they 
fitted  out  an  ox-teani  and  wagon  together,  and 
started  out  on  the  trip  bv  the  way  of  St.  Joseph, 
Mo.,  where  the  last  house  was  seen.  The}-  struck 
the  Platte  River  near  Ft.  Kearney  and  they  fol- 
lowed that  stream  to  Ft.  Laramie.  They  passed  Lar- 
amie Peak  and  crossed  a  part  of  the  Black  Hills,  and 
crossed  the  Rocky  Mountains  at  South  Pass.  They 
went  along  the  coast  to  Smoke  River  and  stopped 
at  what  was  then  F^t.  Vancouver,  on  the  Columbia 
River,  for  a  short  time  and  then  i)roceeded  to  the 
mouth  of  that  stream  and  built  a  mill,  which  was 
fur  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  lumber.  At 
about  that  time  gold  was  discovered  in  California 
and  the  rush  in  that  direction  left  them  without 
men  to  operate  the  mill.  So  our  subject  and  his 
comratles  followed  suit,  and  in  the  winter  of  1848- 
49  went  to  California  and  worked  in  the  mines. 
They  subsequently  returned  to  Oregon  and  bought 
a  sawmill  for  815,000.  which  they  managed  suc- 
cessfully for  a  short  time  and  then  sold  out  at  an 
advance,  and  shortly  after,  in  1852,  returned  to  Ill- 
inois by  the  way  of  Mexico  and  the  Gulf,  New 
York  and  Chicago. 

Mr.  Barton  staid  there  until  the  o|)ening  of  the 
war,  and  in  the  meantime  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary,  daughter  of  William  McCown,  who  had 
come    to   this   county   from    near  Johnstown,  Pa. 


572 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


After  the  birth  of  three  chiUlicii.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bartou  started  wcstvv.ard  with  their  famil^y,  going 
by  tlie  w.ay  of  ranaina,  to  San  Fr.ancisco,  and 
from  tliere  to  Portland,  Ore.  They  staid  in  that 
city  some  months  and  tlien  returned  to  this  State 
by  the  same  route.  Our  subject  tlien  took  posses- 
sion of  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  wbich  he 
bought  of  Ills  father-iu-law.  Ilis  farm  is  pleas- 
antly located  on  the  Pekin  road  about  five  miles 
from  the  court  house,  and  here  he  has  a  lovely 
home,  located  on  the  side  of  the  hill  overlooking 
the  valley  of  tlu'  Illinois,  vvhcrc  his  land  lies.  His 
homestead  com|)rises  seventy-one  acres  and  he  has 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  l)esides  in  Living- 
ston County,  which  is  among  the  finest  farming 
land  in  the  world,  lie  and  his  sons  do  quite  a 
large  business  In  stock-raising,  and  have  now  about 
one  hundred  head  of  cattle  of  choice  bree<ls  in  the 
place.  They  take  quite  an  interest  in  horses,  and 
have  some  very  fine  specimens  of  the  Belgium  and 
Henry  Clay  stock  on  hand. 

The  death  of  six  of  their  eight  cldldren  has 
shadowed  the  otherwise  bai)py  wedded  life  of  cur 
subject  and  his  wife.  Their  son,  William  J.,  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  He  was  a  j-oung  man 
of  great  promise  and  was  well  educated,  having 
been  graduated  at  Cole's  College,  Peoria.  .Tohn 
and  Ollie  died  in  childhood;  Frank,  Elmira  and 
Cole  also  died  when  quite  young.  They  have  but 
two  sons  now  living,  both  of  whom  are  fine  3'oung 
men  of  great  activity  and  business  enterprise. 
Joseph,  the  eldest,  received  the  benefits  of  a  liberal 
education,  and  is  a  very  energetic  j'oung  man. 
Miner,  the  other  son,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Peoria 
Business  College. 

As  we  have  seen,  I\lr.  Barton  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  countj'  these  many  years.  He  h.as  witnessed 
almost  its  entire  growth  and  has  been  an  able  as- 
sistant in  bringing  about  the  great  change  that 
makes  it  one  of  the  leading  counties  of  the  State. 
He  has  a  vivid  remembrance  of  the  early  days  of 
the  settlement  of  this  p.art  of  Illinois  and  of  the 
primitive  manners  and  customs  of  the  people.  The 
children  wore  buckskin  breeches  in  the  winter  and 
in  the  summer  a  shirt  of  linsey  woolsej^  completed 
their  costume.  He  can  remember  the  day  when 
money  was  a  scarce  article,  with  no  surplus  in  the 


treasury,  and  instead  of  specie  and   greenbacks  as 

mediums  of  exchange,  most  any  commodity  was 
used;  coon  skins  taking  the  place  of  silver,  bees- 
wax of  gold,  and  deer  or  buckskin  of  greenbacks. 
When  he  was  a  boy  there  were  no  schools.  The 
State  did  not  give  him  any  education  whatever, 
but  later  subscription  schools  were  established.  ]Mr. 
Barton  is  a  strong  Republican  in  his  |iolititical 
views  and  his  two  boys  follow  in  his  footste|)s  in 
that  line.  Our  subject's  honorable  and  useful  life 
has  not  only  been  productive  of  prosperity  for  him- 
self, but  has  won  him  a  high  place  in  the  estimation 
of  the  entire  community. 


-^ 


-i— 


ER^ 
ei 
)  T 


RNEST  F.  SHEPARD  is  a  successful  gen- 
eral farmer  and  dairyman  in  Chillicothe 
/I' — ^  Township,  conducting  the  latter  business  in 
partnership  with  Mr.  Whittaker,  under  the  name  of 
Shepard  &  Whittaker,  and  as  an  intelligent,  en- 
terprising and  progressive  young  man  he  is  of 
great  assistance  in  furthering  the  prosperity  of  this 
section  of  the  county. 

A  native  of  Kalamazoo  County,  Mich.,  our  sub- 
ject was  born  January  28,  1856,  and  is  the  son  of 
Francis  E.  Shepard.  His  father  was  born  in  New 
York  State,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  near  Syra- 
cuse. He  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker,  but 
subsequently  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  State  to  Miss  Hannah 
Smith,  who  was  also  born  in  that  State,  her  parents 
being  Germans.  After  the  birth  of  their  first  child 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shepard  settled  in  Kalamazoo  County, 
Mich.,  and  there  he  entered  upon  a  prosperous  ca- 
reer as  a  farmer.  He  improved  a  place  which  he 
sold  in  order  to  come  to  this  State  in  1861.  After 
his  arrival  he  located  in  Chillicothe,  and  later  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  the  country  not  far  from  (he 
citj'.  He  disposed  of  that  afterward  and  pur- 
chased one  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sec- 
tions 6  and  7,  on  which  he  still  makes  his  home, 
though  he  and  his  wife  are  now  living  retired, 
having  accumulated  an  ample  competence.  The 
farm  is  well  improved,  and  is  supplied  with  good 
buildings,  and  ever^'thing  necessary  to  carry  it  on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


575 


to  the  best  advantage.  Mr.  Shepard  is  seventy 
j-cars  old  and  his  good  wife  is  some  j'ears  j-ouuger. 
A  residence  liere  of  nearly'  thirty  3cars  has  given 
them  an  extensive  acquaintance,  and  one  and  all 
regard  Uiem  with  confidence  and  esteem  for  their 
kindly,  friendly  ways  and  benevolent  sympathy, 
and  their  many  other  excellent  qualities  of  Lead 
and  lieart. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  the  third  child 
in  a  family-  of  four  children,  three  daughters  and 
one  son,  all  of  whom  are  married  and  well  settled 
in  life.  He  was  a  small  boy  when  his  parents 
brought  him  to  this  township,  and  be  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  He  early  adopted  the  call- 
ing of  a  farmer,  and  has  been  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  his  own  account  ever  since  he 
became  of  age.  His  farm  is  located  on  sections 
5  and  6,  Chilllcothe  Township,  and  comprises- one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  exceeding  fertility, 
and  supplied  with  substantial  improvements,  in- 
cluding u  neat  set  of  farm  buildings.  Mr.  Shepard 
o|)erates  altogether  two  hundred  and  sixt3'  acres  of 
land,  and  is  meeting  with  unqualiaed  success  in  his 
work.  Besides  attending  to  the  management  of 
Ins  farm  Mr.  She[)ard  also  has  extensive  dairy  in- 
terests in  company  with  j\lr.  Whittaker,  whose  bi- 
ography appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
Tiiey  have  fifty  cows,  which  they  depend  upon  for 
tlu'ir  supply  in  catering  to  the  wants  of  all  Chilll- 
cothe, where  they  liavea  large  trade,  and  :ire  iloing 
a  fine  business,  as  they  are  found  to  be  fair  and 
square  in  liicir  dealings,  and  sell  nothing  but  the 
best  of  milk  and  cream  to  their  customers. 

Mr.  Shei)ard  was  married  in  this  county,  in  the 
city  of  Peoria,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Buller,  and  in  iier 
he  finds  one  who  is  all  that  a  good,  true  wife  can 
be.  She  is  a  true  home-maker,  and  their  dwelling 
is  the  centre  of  comfort  and  hoi)itality.  Five  chil- 
dren have  come  to  her  and  our  subject,  namely: 
Frank  15..  Arthur  R..  Ruby  S.,  (Jeorge  C,  (irace 
M.  Mrs.  Shepard  is  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Susanna  (Smith)  Buller,  natives  of  England  ;  the 
father  is  deceased,  the  mother  resides  in  McKees- 
pori.  Pa.  Mrs.  Shepard  was  born  in  McKeesporl 
September  26,  18()0,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
sister  in  September  1878. 

Dowered   with  energy  and  ambition,  seconded 


by  prudence,  thrift  and  stability,  and  with  an  ex- 
cellent capacity  for  labor,  Mr.  Shepard  is  sure  to 
make  of  life  a  success,  and  is  already  accounted 
one  of  the  solid  men  of  the  neighborhood.  Politi- 
cally ho  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 


'^'AMES  A.  TURBETT.  We  invite  the  at- 
tention of  the  reader  to  a  lithographic  por- 
trait of  this  gentleman,  presented  on  the 
opposite  page.  He  is  a  representative 
citizen  of  Peoria  County,  owning  and  operating 
a  fine  farm  in  Logan  Township.  Besides  being  a 
practical  tiller  of  the  soil  he  is  interested  in  stock- 
raising,  making  a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle 
amd  Norman  horses.  Upon  his  farm  he  has  a 
beautiful  home,  replete  with  the  comforts  and 
luxuries  of  modern  civilization. 

The  parental  history  of  Mr.  Turbett  is  fully 
given  in  the  sketch  of  John  B.  Turbett,  to  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  His  parents  were  John 
and  Nancy  (Beaty)  Turbett,  and  while  they  were 
residents  of  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  James  A.  was 
born.  May  31,  1834.  When  five  years  of  age  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  this  county,  of  which 
he  is  now  an  honored  and  enterprising  citizen.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  began  to  work  out  by  the 
month,  and  his  extensive  property  has  been  accu- 
mulated b}-  the  persistent  force  of  quiet  and  well 
directed  toil.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a  large  and 
very  valuable  farm  of  four  hunilred  and  fort}- 
acres,  and  has  erected  a  handsome  and  substantial 
residence,  a  commodious  barn  and  other  conve- 
niently arranged  outbuildings.  For  the  past  eight 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  breeding  Short- horns, 
and  for  six  3ears  has  bred  Norman  horses,  having 
a  fine  collection  of  stock  on  his  |)lace. 

March  3,  1870,  Mr.  Turbett  and  Miss  Nancy 
Parr  were  united  in  marriage.  She  was  born  in 
Ireland,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Ann 
(Parr)  Parr.  Of  their  pleasant  wedded  life  seven 
children  have  been  born,  of  whi>Mi  ihe  following 
are  living:  .lohn  G.,  Stewart,  William  and  James  H. 

As  the  most  of  his  boyhood  and  manhood  have 


576 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOURAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


been  passed  in  this  county,  out-  subject  is  well 
known,  both  socially  and  in  a  business  way,  and  is 
regarded  with  favor  and  friendship  b}^  a  numerous 
acquaintance,  his  wife  sharing  with  him  in  the 
high  estimation  in  which  lie  is  lield.  He  has  long 
been  identified  witli  the  Democratic  party,  having 
cast  his  first  vote  for  James  Buchanan. 


"JI^AMES  CriALLACOMBP:.  For  more  than 
thirty  years  this  gentleman  has  been  num- 
bered among  the  progressive,  thorough- 
going farmers  of  Radnor  Towusliip.  His 
industry  has  been  rewarded  by  the  securing  of  a 
good  farm,  his  private  worth  has  been  recognized 
1^3'  an  established  reputation,  and  the  confidence  of 
his  fellow-men  in  his  ability  to  serve  them  has 
been  manifested  b}"  lus  election  to  positions  of 
public  responsibility  and  trust.  His  well-regula- 
ted estate  is  located  on  section  30,  consisting  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  on  wiiich  good 
improvements  have  been  made,  and  where  the 
fields  present  an  appearance  which  indicates,  even 
to  one  unfamiliar  with  farm  life,  that  it  is  con- 
trolled by  one  who  understands  his  business. 

Mr.  Challacombe  is  an  Englishman,  having  been 
born  in  Devonshire  in  1836.  He  is  the  third  child 
in  a  family  consisting  of  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, born  to  AVilliam  and  Anna  (Stevens)  Challa- 
combe, who  spent  their  entire  lives  amid  the  fair 
fields  of  Devon.  Our  subject  passed  his  early 
years  in  the  mother  country,  leaving  it  only  after 
he  had  attained  his  majority,  when,  believing  that 
America  would  afford  a  broader  field  for  the  exer- 
tion of  his  energies,  he  emigrated  in  1858.  He 
selected  the  Prairie  State  as  the  scene  of  his  fu- 
ture labors,  and  in  this  count}'  secured  employ- 
ment as  a  farm  laborer,  continuing  his  work  as 
such  some  three  years.  He  then  rented  land  until 
his  accumulations  had  reached  an  amount  which 
warranted  him  in  purchasing,  when  he  became  an 
American  landowner. 

The  estimable  character  and  pleasing  manners 
of  Miss  Lucy  A.  Rogers,  a  native  of  this  county, 
won  the  regard  of  Mr.  Challacombe,  who  wooed 


and  won  the  lady  for  his  wife.  The  happy  union 
was  blest  bj-  the  birth  of  three  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  uifancy.  The  survivors  are  Charles 
and  Lncy  Bertha.  The  wife  and  mother  was  torn 
from  her  deai'  ones  by  death  in  1872,  breathing 
her  last  at  her  home  in  Radnor  Township.  Some 
time  afterward  Mr.  Challacombe  was  again  married, 
in  Peoria,  to  Sar.nh  F.  Rogers,  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife,  and  the  possessor  like  her  of  genuine  worth 
of  character,  together  with  the  domestic  knowl- 
edge and  general  intelligence  which  enables  her  to 
make  her  dwelling  a  happ}'  honie.  This  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children — Arcliie  T., 
Bruce  and  Edna.  All  of  the  children  of  our  sub- 
ject are  receiving  the  best  advantages  which  the 
section  affords  to  secure  good  educations  and  fit 
themselves  for  useful  careers  in  years  to  come. 

Mr.  Challacombe  is  now  serving  his  second  tei'ni 
as  Highway  Commissioner,  an  ofHce  to  which  he 
was  at  first  appointed  but  subsequently  elected.  For 
about  fourteen  3'ears  he  has  been  Scliooi  Director, 
his  continuance  in  this  position  giving  abundant 
evidence  that  the  residents  in  the  district  think  the 
progress  of  the  schools  is  being  advanced  at  his 
hands.  In  political  affairs  he  takes  quite  an  active 
part,  voting  the  Democratic  ticket.  Mrs.  Challa- 
combe is  a  member,  in  good  standing,  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 


II OHN  G.  SIEGEL  is  numbered  among  the 
leatiing  substantial  farmers  and  stock-raisers 
of  Roscfield  Township,  wherein  he  has  a  fine 
estate  of  four  hundred  acres.  Sixty-six 
acres  were  inherited  by  his  wife,  but  tlie  remainder 
has  been  purchased  bj-  Mr,  Siegel. 

Mr.  Siegel  is  of  German  ancestry'  in  both  lines  of 
descent.  His  paternal  grandfather,  George  Siegel, 
was  the  father  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
The  sons  emigrated  to  America,  all  settling  in  Troy, 
Ohio,  and  all  rearing  families.  Ferdinand,  the  fa- 
ther.of  our  subject,  was  the  first  to  locate  there,  the 
date  of  his  arrival  being  1838.  He  was  a  native  of 
Baden,  Germany.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  black- 
sniith  in  Troy,  where  he  livecl  nineteen  years,  then 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


577 


rcinoviiin  to  Putiiaiii  County,  piueliased  one  hun- 
(Ii'imI  and  twent\-  acres  of  land,  and  spent  the  re- 
uiaindei-  of  liis  days  in  farming.  He  i)assed  awaj' 
June  30,  1888,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  year.s,  Uis 
faitliful  companion  liaving  departed  tliis  life  some 
thirteen  years  (irevionsly. 

Tlie  wife  of  Ferdinand  Siegel  was  linowu  in  lier 
girlliood  as  Margaret.  Acer.  Her  parents  came  to 
America  in  1 83.'!,  locating  in  t'lianibersliurg.  Pa., 
whence  they  removccl  to  Ohio,  the  father  dying  in 
D.ayton  when  forty-four  years  old,  and  the  mother 
also  lircathiiig  her  last  there.  They  reared  three 
childien — Margaret,  Elizabeth,  and  John.  Eliza- 
l>eth  Acer  was  first  married  tolMr.  Colter,  and  sub- 
quently  to  ^fr.  Raschke;  John  Acer  nas  a  member 
of  the  Union  Army  during  the  Civil  War.  The 
family  was  reared  in  the  Catholic  faith.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Siegcl  afterward  became  identified  with  the 
Presbyterian  Cimrch.  Their  family  consisted  of 
seven  children,  the  subject  of  this  notice  being  the 
first-boi'n.  The  other  members  of  the  fraternal 
liauil  are  William,  whose  home  is  in  Ohio;  Jacob, 
a  resident  of  Crawford  Count}',  Nel).;  Ferdinand, 
living  in  Columbus,  Ohio;  Mary  Ann,  now  Mrs. 
Heard,  also  of  the  Buckeye  State;  F'rank,  of  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio;  and  Fdward,  who  resides  in  Brim- 
lield  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  'i'rov, 
Ohio,  .lanuarj'  1,  184.5,  lived  in  that  city  until 
twelve  years  old  and  there  obtained  his  education. 
When  twenty  years  old  he  left  the  parental  home 
to  begin  life  for  himself,  coming  to  Peoria  County, 
where  he  sojourned  but  a  short  time  ere  returning 
to  his  native  .State.  Two  years  later  he  came  again 
to  Illinois,  finding  employment  in  Rosefield  Town- 
ship, this  county,  as  a  farm  lahf)rer,  working  by  the 
month  for  a  year.  He  then  made  brick  at  F^dwards 
Station  a  twelvemonth,  after  which  he  began  farm- 
ing for  himself  wheie  he  is  still  living.  He  rented 
the  laud  eight  years,  then  purchased  with  the  re- 
sult that  he  now  has,  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
township. 

Mr.  Sicgel  is  an  honored  citi/.en,  peaceable  and 
law-abiding,  upright  and  considerate  in  all  ids  deal- 
ings with  mankind,  and  kindly  in  domestic  life. 
His  political  adherence  is  given  to  the  Democratic 
party,  liut  his  friends  are  not  confined   to  that  or- 


ganization. He  has  served  as  Tax  Collector  of  the 
township,  and  was  Highway  Commissioner  three 
terms. 

The  home  of  ]\Ir.  .Siegcl  is  presided  over  by  a 
lady  of  genuine  worth,  who  became  his  cherished 
companion  February  3,  1870.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  K|)hraini  C.  and  Keziah  (Luce)  Rynearson.  her 
parents  lieiug  natives  of  Hamilton  County,  Ohio, 
and  Indiana  respectively.  She  was  christened  liliza- 
beth  A.,  and  when  married  to  our  subject,  was  the 
widow  of  Andrew  Meeks,  who  lost  his  life  during 
the  Civil  War.  The  happy  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Siegel  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children,  of 
whom  William  and  Charles  W.  survive.  Deraini- 
cus  V.  died  when  seven  years  old,  and  Rebecca  B. 
at  the  .age  of  seven  weeks. 


<^, 


ILLIA.M  11.  BRADLEY.  Although  but 
I  Ay//  lliii'ty  years  of  age  IMr.  Bradley  is  well- 
ynd  known  in  Rosctield  Township  and  the  ad- 
joining agricultural  districts,  as  a  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  of  enterprise  and  substance.  He  was 
born  in  Marshall  County,  April  1,  1860,  his  father, 
Hugh  Bradley,  being  a  native  of  Ireland,  anil  his 
mother,  Phebe  Jane  (King)  Bradle}',  of  Peoria 
Count}',  this  .State. 

llngli  Bradle}'  came  to  the  Inited  States  when 
but  a  boy,  working  for  K.  C.  Rynearson  in  this 
county  by  tiie  month  for  several  years.  After  his 
marriage  he  located  in  Marshall  County,  purchas- 
ing two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  in  the  im- 
provement of  which  he  became  broken  down  in 
health.  Returning  to  his  native  land  in  hopes  of 
regaining  strength,  he  died  there  about  1868.  He 
left  three  children — Mary,  now  Mrs.  John  Loguc; 
F\anny.  now  the  wife  of  Alphonso  Dunn,  and  Wil- 
liam II.,  of  whom  we  write.  He  was  a  Republican 
in  politics.  His  two  brothers,  F'rancis  and  Barney, 
and  his  sister  Catherine,  now  Mrs.  Sloan,  came  to 
the  Inited  States  after  his  death,  and  the  brothers 
are  now  living  in  Iowa. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  hiis  been  twice  mar- 
ried since  the  death  of  Mr.  Bradley,  but  has  no 
children  by  the  later  unions.     She  is  a  daughter  of 


578 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


John  King,  who  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  iu 
Roseficld  Townsliip  and  the  parent  of  four  children 
— AVilliam,  Jacob,  Phebe  Jaue  and  Catherine.  The 
latter  is  now  Mrs.  Van  Arsdall.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  some  j'ears  since  and  the  father  after 
marrying  a  second  time  removed  to  Oregon. 

Since  the  death  of  his  father  our  subject  has 
shifted  for  himself,  but  has  fortunately  found 
friends  able  and  willing  to  assist  him  in  worldly 
affairs.  lie  was  reared  in  the  family  of  Henry  Hu- 
lick,  an  earh-  settler  of  this  township  where  he  had 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  Govern- 
ment land.  Eight}-  acres  of  this  was  willed  to  our 
subject,who  has  since  purchased  the  other  eight}'  and 
a  forty-acre  tract  additional.  On  this  tine  estate 
of  two  hundred  acres  he  is  carrying  on  the  work  of 
the  general  agriculturist,  successfully  prosecuting 
his  calling  and  gaining  the  respect  of  those  who 
know  him  bj'  reason  of  his  manly,  upright  char- 
acter. He  has  had  *;  1,000  from  his  father's  estate, 
which,  together  with  the  land  he  inherited,  gave  him 
an  excellent  start  in  life. 

A  most  important  member  of  the  household  on 
the  estate  of  which  we  are  writing,  is  Mrs.  Bradlej', 
formerly  Miss  Minnie  Harper.  She  is  an  intelligent 
lad}-,  possessing  much  housewifely  skill  and  a  fine 
character.  She  became  the  wife  of  our  subject 
August  12.  1880,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  two  children — Hulick  R.  and  Leon 
Forrest.  Mrs.  Bradley  is  a  daughter  of  David  and 
Christenah  (Vanover)  Harper,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mrs.  Bradley 
followed  school  teaching  for  nine  years  before  her 
marriage,  teaching  several  terms  at  one  place,  and 
was  quite  successful  in  her  labors. 


-f==i= 


^ILLIAM  JASPER  EWALT.     As  a  repre- 
sentative  of  the  pioneer  stock  of  Elmwood 
W^     Township,  no  better  person  can  be  found 
than  W.  J.  Ewalt,  who  occupies  a  farm  on  section 

28.  His    grand  fither,  John    Ewalt,  was  the  first 
settler  in  the  township,  locating  in  1831,  on  section 

29,  where  he  built  the  first  log  house,  and  with  the 
help  of  his  son  William    D..  turned   the   first   fur- 


row. In  1846  he  erected  a  brick  house  that  is  yet 
standing.  His  land  was  taken  from  the  Govern- 
ment and  at  one  time  he  owned  thirteen  hundred 
acres.  He  passed  away  April  3,  1869,  his  first 
wife,  the  grandmother  of  our  subject,  having  died 
in  1857. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  bom  in  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  August  26,  1818,  and  was  therefore 
about  thirteen  years  old  when  he  began  his  labors 
in  the  Prairie  State.  In  1845  he  married  Hannth 
Bevans.  whose  parents  had  come  hither  from  the 
Buckeye  State  in  October,  1838,  settling  on  sec 
tion  34.  The  Bevans  family  included  twelve  chil- 
dren, all  yet  living  but  two,  and  the  youngest  now 
nearly  sixty  years  old.  Mrs.  Hannah  (Bevans) 
Ewalt  is  still  hale  and  hearty,  although  seventy- 
three  yeais  of  .nge.  Her  husband,  William  D. 
Ewalt.  died  on  the  homestead  on  section  28,  to 
which  he  had  taken  his  bride,  and  on  which  they 
lived  happily  until  he  was  called  home  February 
14,  1882.  Their  children  are  George  M.  D.  of  this 
township;  Maggie,  wife  of  Levi  Okell,  of  Mis- 
souri; our  subject;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Xicke- 
son,  of  this  township;  and  Arthur,  who  died  in 
1858.  The  father  was  particularly  interested  in 
the  cause  of  education,  and  like  his  progenitors  was 
esteemed  as  a  trustworthy  and  energetic  citizen. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  on  the  farm 
he  now  operates,  December  27,  1850,  remaining 
thereon  until  of  age.  He  acquired  a  practical  edu- 
cation, completing  his  course  of  study  in  the  high 
school  at  Elmwood.  After  reaching  his  majority 
he  spent  a  short  time  in  Iowa,  then  returned  here, 
permanently  locating  at  the  old  home,  where  he  is 
carrying  on  general  farming,  breeding  standard 
grades  of  cattle  and  the  George  Sprague  stock  of 
horses.  He  owns  sixty-seven  and  one-half  acres, 
together  with  a  third  interest  in  a  forty-acre  tract, 
having  adequate  improvements  upon  his  home 
place  and  various  conveniences  for  carrying  on  his 
occupation.  His  comfortable  dwelling  was  erected 
two  years  ago  at  a  cost  of  §1,200,  taking  the  place 
of  the  old  home  which  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

In  February,  1882,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were 
celebrated  between  Mr.  Ewalt  and  Miss  Grace, 
daughter  of  James  P.  and  Cynthia  (Ferguson)  Ja- 
cobs,    The  bride's  mother  was  the  first  white  cliild 


ipm  ^-^^  V 


ft 


M^i^  S.  lKs^^tMH, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


581 


boni  ill  Orange  Township,  Knox  Countj^  to  vvliieh 
Mr.  .Jacobs  came  in  1847.  The  latter  is  still  sur- 
viving, keeping  an  hotel  at  Eureka.  JMrs.  .J.acobs 
(lied  in  1!S78.  Their  famii}-  consisted  of  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

To  Mrs.  and  Kwalt  one  daughter  and  one  son 
have  been  born.  The  natal  day  of  Forencc  was 
November  14,  1H83,  and  of  William  Fountain, 
November  IG,  188,').  Their  interesting  ways  and 
growing  intelligence  afford  great  pleasure  to  their 
parents,  more  particularly  to  the  motlier,  at  whose 
side  the}'  are  so  constantly  found,  and  who  is  al- 
ready teaciiing  tliein  courteous  manners  and  the 
kindliness  which  is  a  part  of  her  own  worth}-  char- 
acter. Jlr.  Ewalt  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  or- 
der at  Elmwood  and  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 
He  and  his  estimable  wife  are  respected  by  those 
about  them,  and  as  might  be  expected  of  re|)resen- 
tatives  of  worthy  ancestors,  both  are  much  inter- 
ested in  every  movement  which  [lertains  to  the 
good  of  the  community. 


3gHB;[g|iHfiBE 


\TJOnX  O.  KENDALL.  On  the  fourth  day  of 
the  month  of  M.ay,  in  the  year  1845,  the 
pioneers  of  tliis  county  received  a  \aluable 
acquisition  in  the  person  of  this  gentleman, 
who  has  since  been  no  unimportant  factor  in  ad- 
vancing the  material  prosperity  of  this  section  of 
Illinois,  and  has  greatly  aided  its  develo|)ment  from 
its  original  wild  slate.  During  these  forty-five 
year's  his  attention  has  been  given  to  farming  and 
stock-raising,  and  on  section  30,  of  Hallock  Town- 
ship, he  has  built  up  a  home  in  which  comfort 
reigns  supreme.  Here  he  has  a  f-um  comparing  in 
cultivation  and  improvement  willi  the  best  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  which  formerly  comprised  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  but  he  has  recently  reduced 
its  acreage  by  giving  some  of  it  to  his  children. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Columbia  County,  Pa., 
.lauuary  3,  1814,  to  Andrea  and  Cornelia  T.  (Wag- 
ner) Kindler.  The  family  name,  as  we  see,  was 
Kindler,  instead  of  Kendall,  but  in  the  case  of  our 
subject  it  was  accidentally  changed  by  the  man  who 
made  out  his  shipping  papers,  and  the  error  being 


noted  too  late  for  the  name  to  lie  altered,  from 
that  time  he  h.is  been  .John  (i.  Kendall.  Andrea 
Kindler  w.as  born  among  the  beautiful  hills  of 
.Switzerland,  of  a  worthy  Swiss  ancestiy,  and  (here 
he  w.as  reared  to  manhood,  and  married  his  wife 
who  w.as  a  native  of  the  same  part  of  Switzerland 
as  himself.  After  tin'  birth  of  two  or  three  of  their 
children,  they  emigrated  to  the  Tnited  States  in 
1809  and  settled  among  the  |)ioiieers  of  Columbia 
Count}',  Pa.,  p.assing  their  remaining  years  on  a 
farm  in  that  county.  Their  d.aths  occurred  when 
they  were  a  little  past  miildle  life.  They  had  not 
a  vei'}'  large  family  of  children,  ami  our  subject  is 
the  only  one  now  living. 

IMr.  Kendall  left  home  at  an  early  age  and  un- 
fortunately never  again  saw  his  parents,  as  he  did 
not  revisit  his  early  home  until  after  death  had  re- 
moved them.  The  early  years  of  his  life  were 
passed  in  Columbia  County,  and  at  the  earlv  age 
of  fourteen  years,  the  bright  active  lad  left  the  i)a- 
rental  home  to  carry  out  his  inordinate  desire  for 
a  seafaring  life,  he  being  of  a  roving  disposition, 
and  for  many  years  his  life  was  passed  principally 
on  the  ocean;  he  visited  many  countries  and  saw  a 
great  deal  of  the  world.  C(jmmencing  as  a  cabin 
boy  he  soon  proved  that  he  had  not  mistaken  his 
calling,  and  from  time  to  time  was  promoted  until 
he  became  first  mate;  he  served  with  great  skill  and 
credit  on  merchant  vessels,  and  for  three  years  he 
was  in  the  United  States  Navy,  entering  the  service 
of  this  Government,  in  1837.  He  circumnavigated 
the  globe  in  the  United  .States  frigate,  •'Columbia," 
Commodore  George  C.  Read  commanding.  The 
vessel  sailed  from  Hampton  Ro.ads  jNI.ay  16,  1838, 
and  arrived  at  Boston,  Mass.,  .Iiine  20,  1840,  after 
a  voyage  of  twenty-six  months.  While  in  the  navy 
our  subject  was  for  three  months  on  the  receiving 
ship  '".Tava,"  and  during  the  Iri))  he  saw  many  im- 
portant places,  touching  Africa  at  several  differcnt 
points,  and  doubled  the  Cape  of  Good  Ilojie  and 
Cape  Horn.  He  also  served  three  years  on  the 
United  States  ship  "Pennsylvania,"  the  largest 
man-of-war  in  the  world.  It  was  on  his  last  voy- 
age on  the  bark  ••Oceola,"  .sailing  from  Rio  Do  Ja- 
neiro to  New  Orleans  that  he  wrote  the  following 
beautiful  lines: 

These  lines  arc  respectfully  dedicated  to  my  dear 


582 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


devoted  children.  AViitten  at  sea.  on  lioaid  the 
bark  '"Oceola,"  of  Pliiladelpliia,  on  a  passage  from 
Kio  De  Janeiro  to  New  Orleans.  March.  1845. 

Joiix  G.  Kendall, 
Soutlianipton,  Peoria  Cuiintj-  111. 

-rilE  LAST  CRUISE. 

Along  with  pleasant  breezes  our  ship  sails  o"er   the 
main 
With  every  prospect  pleasing  our  native  shore  to 
gain, 
I  walked  the  deck  in  silence,  the  playful  clouds  did 
view: 
Beheld  the  glorious  planets,  in  their  orbits  as  they 
flew. 

My  watchmates  sleeping  stretched  upon  the  deck 
The  helmsman  keeping  the  ship  upon  her  track 
The  watch  below  reposing  in  pleasant  dreams  of 
home 
Of  sweethearts,  love,  and  duty,  and  many  joys  un- 
known. 

My  heart  involved   in  sadness,   I  walked  the  deck 
alone 
And    thought  of    days  in    childhood,  and    many 
sports  at  home 
When  all  was  joy  and  gladness,  uiy  fancy  then  would 
soar 
To  hills,  and  vales  oft'  traveled  in  happy  days  of 
yore. 

Thoughts  of  home  come  fondly,  as  friendless  now  I 
roam 
To  grieve  is  only  sadness,  the  heart  still  holds  it 
own 
The  pleasures  blighted,  the  friends  since  dead  and 
gone 
The  love  so    warmly   plighted,   but   now   I'm  left 
alone. 

As  sailing  o'er  the  ocean,  in  foreign  climes,  to  roam 
Where  all  is  new  and  pleasing,  but  find  no  place 
like  home. 
Soon  my  cruising  will  be  ended,  time  leaves  changes 
on  my  face. 
O,  ye  stars  above,  shine  oh  my  resting  place! 

Ye  winds  and  waves  around  me,  O,  waft  me  to  the 
shore. 
In  truth,  and  love  abounding,  and  friends  will  part 
no  morel 
To  sail  no  more  the  ocean,  where  storms,  and  break- 
ers roar 
And  think  no  more  of  dangers  past,  or  days  that 
are  no  more. 
September  23, 1882. 

After  bis  arrival  in  port  at  New  Orleans,  La., 
from  a  long  ocean  vojage,  Mr.  Kendall  decided  to 
try  life  on  land  and  having  heard  many  favorable 
accounts  of  the  beauties  of  the  Prairie  State  and 
its  wonderful  agricultural  resources,  he  decided  to 
locate  here  and  came  to  this  count3',  as  before  men- 
tioned, and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  farming. 


He  was  married  in  this  countj^  and  township  to 
Miss  Amelia  Merrill,  who  was  born  in  Ross  County. 
Ohio,  September  22,  1822.  She  came  AVest  ."^hen 
six  years  of  age  with  her  parents,  Samuel  and 
Nancy  (Houston)  Merrill.  They  located  on  a  farm 
two  miles  north  of  Chillicothe,  in  this  county,  and 
there  she  grew  to  womanhood.  Her  parents  were 
early  settlers,  and  being  farmers  by  occupation,  im- 
proved an  excellent  farm  and  here  rounded  out 
their  lives  at  a  good  old  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kendall  have  five  children  living, 
as  follows:  Helena  M.,  wife  of  Joe  Brown,  a  farmer 
in  Nemaha  County,  Kan.;  Kent  K.,  a  resident  of  Ne- 
maha County,  Kan.,  and  who  married  Lizzie  Har- 
rington; Reubie  K.,  who  married  Lucy  AYilcox  and 
is  a  farmer  of  this  township;  E:ugena  M.,  wife  of 
George  Cramer,  a  farmer  of  Dunlap.  this  county; 
Edward  E.,  a  farmer  of  this  township,  who  married 
Alice  M.  C'liue. 

Mr.  Kendall  possesses  a  clear  mind,  and  quick 
powers  of  observation,  and  as  we  have  seen,  has 
decided  literar}-  talent,  and  a  keen  appreciation  of 
the  beautiful.  His  wide  experience  has  given  him 
a  large  outlook  on  life,  and  an  extensive  fund  of  in- 
formation and  has  broadened  his  ideas.  Independ- 
ent, sagacious,  and  liberal  in  his  views,  political 
and  religious,  he  is  generously  high-minded  in  his 
dealings  with  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 
He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  National  Liberal 
League,  of  Philadeli)hia.  Pa. 

In  connection  with  this  review  of  the  [u-incipal 
events  in  tlic  life  of  Mr.  Kendall  we  present  a  por- 
trait of  him  on  another  page. 


^ ^ 


iMRl  ^V.  CASE.  Medina  Township  contains 
''  no  better  illustration  of  the  ample  reward 
J  which  can  be  obtained  by  determination,  steady 
habits  and  well-directed  efforts,  than  in  the  person 
of  the  gentleman  above  named,  who  by  his  own  ex- 
ertions has  accumulated  a  large  amount  of  worldly 
goods.  He  occupies  a  fine,  well-improved  farm  on 
section  30,  owning  also  several  other  estates,  all 
of  which  are  well  equipped  with  the  best  of  build- 
ings, stock  and  raachinerj-.     His   landed  estate   in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


583 


Illinois  consists  of  upward  of  fifteen  hundred  acres 
of  iiii|iroveil  land;  be  also  owns  two-thirds  nf  the 
town  site  of  Alta.  His  personal  character  is  that 
of  an  upright,  educated  and  genial  gentleman,  and 
his  reputation  is  in  keeping  witii  his  merits.  He 
has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Pe.ice,  Supervisor,  etc. 
His  political  adherence  is  given  to  the  Democratic 
part}',  and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of  a  Univer- 
salist. 

Tlie  history  of  the  Case  family  in  lliis  country 
begins  with  two  brothers  who  came  from  England 
to  Connecticut  prior  to  the  Revolution.  Through 
several  generations  tiiey  were  closely  connected 
with  the  history  of  New  England,  being  numbered 
among  the  prominent  men  of  the  coninumities  in 
which  the}'  lived.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
Imri  Case,  who  was  reared  to  th6  business  of  a 
farmer,  and  was  first  married  in  Connecticut,  the 
wife  dying  in  New  York  State  after  the  birth  of  two 
cluldren,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  both  of  vvhom  are 
now  deceased,  but  who  lived  to  rear  families.  The 
son,  Albert,  was  a  [irominent  Universalist  minister 
in  Massachusetts  and  other  New  England  States, 
and  was  likewise  prominenti}'  identified  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  The  daugh- 
ter, Phebe,  married  Lucius  Cole,  of  the  Empire 
State,  wherein  she  died. 

I'rior  to  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Imri  Case  with 
his  family  removed  to  the  Empire  State.  In  Os- 
wego County  he  was  married  the  second  time,  his 
wife  being  Mrs.  Chloe  A.  Whitesides,  iipe  Hawley. 
She  belonged  to  an  old  New  England  family,  her 
[larents  and  herself  being  natives  of  the  Green 
Mountain  State,  wherein  she  grew  to  maturity,  and 
married  Peter  Whitesides.  The  young  couple  later 
lenioved  to  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  where  Mr. 
Whitesides  died  leaving  three  cliildren,  all  of  whom 
are  now  deceased.  A  few  years  after  his  decease 
the  widow  married  Imri  Case,  and  m.ade  her  home 
on  a  farm  at  Sandy  Creek  until  the  death  of  her 
second  husband,  which  occurred  October  24,  1830. 
Mr.  Case  was  then  in  his  fifty-second  year,  having 
been  born  January  22,  1779. 

Mrs.  Chloe  Case  finally  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
children,  dying  October  it,  1853,  in  Jledina  Town- 
ship, Peoria  County.  Her  natal  day  was  April  13, 
1784.     Like  her  husband  she  was  a  firm    believer 


in  the  doctrines  promulgated  by  the  Universalist 
Church,  and  was  of  sterling  worth  of  character. 
They  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  our  subject 
being  the  eldest  son  and  second  child.  The  oldest 
daughter  is  now  deceased;  she  was  the  wife  of  N. 
Howe,  who  now  lives  in  Peoria,  and  to  whom  she 
bore  two  children.  The  other  sons  and  daughters 
are  married  and  living  in  this  county.  The  father 
responded  to  his  country's  call  in  1812,  and  fought 
bravely  to  defeat  British  tyranny.  He  won  the 
promotion  from  private  to  captain.  He  several 
times  narrowly  escai)ed  being  killed  or  captured. 

Our  subject  w,as  fourteen  years  of  age  when  his 
father  died,  after  wliich  time  he  remained  with  his 
mother  until  her  demise.  He  was  nineteen  years 
old  when  he  laiuled  in  the  Prairie  State.  AVanting 
better  schooling,  he  hoarded  his  resources,  attended 
school  and  secured  a  practical  education.  Having 
decided  that  two  heads  are  better  than  one,  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  county  in  New  York  when 
about  twenty-nine  years  old,  and  there  married 
Miss  Salina  Howe,  who,  coming  with  him  to  the 
West,  hel[)ed  him  to  make  a  good  home.  She  spent 
her  last  da3's  on  the  farm  where  Mr.  Case  now  lives, 
being  cut  down  in  the  iirinie  of  a  promising  life 
when  but  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  She  left  two 
chiklren,  who  still  live  to  honor  her  memory.  'I'lie 
first-born,  Ensley  J.,  married  Oeorgie  Edgett,  who 
died  leaving  three  children — Morris,  Willard  and 
Floss}-;  he  afterward  married  Nettie  Waugh  and 
is  now  living  in  Peoria,  engaged  in  the  vvhole- 
sale  drug  trade.  He  also  owns  the  plating  works, 
and  was  Su()ervisor  of  Medina  Township.  The 
second  son  of  our  subject  and  liis  wife  is  Clarence 
E.,  a  groceryman  in  Alta,  and  for  some  time  Post- 
master, agent  of  the  station,  telegraph  ojierator, 
and  Township  Treasurer  of  that  place.  He  married 
Julia  Schnebley,  and  they  have  two  children,  Harry 
and  Georgie. 

Mrs.  Salina  Case  was  l)orn  in  Sandy  Creek  Town- 
ship, Oswego  County,  N.  1'.,  December  4,  1827. 
She  was  the  recipient  of  good  home  and  educational 
advantages.  Her  father,  Newell  Howe,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  w;is  a  farmer  and  brickmaker;  he 
died  in  the  Empire  State  when  quite  old.  His  wife, 
formerly  Jane  Snyder,  wag  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  of  German  iiarentage.     Her  death  took  place 


584 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  Oswego  Countj^  N.  Y.,  at  a  goodly  age.  Mrs. 
Saliua  Case  died  in  October  1851,  inoiinied  by  iLe 
famil}'  and  I'ominunit}'. 

]\Ir.  Case  is  and  has  been  President  of  the  Grange 
Inturanee  Compan^v  of  this  county  for  the  past  ten 
years,  and  has  proved  a  success. 

I  p-,  A  RAN  CIS  M.  BEALL,  occupies  no  unim- 
portant place  among  the  native  born  citi- 
zens of  Peoria  County,  who  are  active  in 
advancing  its  everj-  interest.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  farming  community  of  Jubilee 
Township,  and  tliis  place  has  no  citizen  of  public 
spirit  who  takes  a  more  earnest  interest  in  its  wel- 
fare, or  would  do  more  for  its  good. 

Asa  Beall,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  boru 
and  reared  in  Kentucky,  growing  up  on  a  farm, and 
in  early  manhood  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  In 
1833,  he  left  liis  native  State,  and  came  b}'  boat  to 
this  county,  and  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing near  Mossville,  on  the  Illinois  River,  where  he 
bought  a  place.  As  he  was  among  the  early  set- 
tlers, he  found  the  county  but  little  improved,  and 
the  nearest  market  was  Ciiicago,  where  he  hauled 
his  grain  to  sell.  He  ditl  not  live  in  that  locality 
very  long  on  account  of  malaria  and  mosquitoes, 
and  consiilering  this  region  more  favorable  for  car- 
rying on  his  operations,  he  removed  touearlvicka- 
poo,  on  what  is  now  section  36,  Jubilee  Township. 
At  that  time  Ije  knew  every  man  in  tiie  countj-, 
and  w.as  well-known  himself,  and  he  took  an  active 
part  in  its  development.  He  and  his  sou  took 
wheat  to  Chicago,  and  on  their  return  trip  brought 
lumber  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  buildings  on  his 
land,  he  having  purchased  a  quarter-section  from 
the  Government.  He  had  but  little  means,  and 
had  to  work  hard  to  make  his  improvements.  He 
carried  on  that  place  until  1851,  and  then  fold  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixt3^  acres  of  raw  land, 
which  is  now  included  in  our  subject's  farm.  He 
developed  and  operated  about  sixty  acres  of  it,  and 
subsequently  retired  from  farming,  he  having  in 
the  meantime  acquired  land  until  his  farm  com- 
prised two  hundred  and  forty  acres.     At  hi§  death 


in  1876,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-one  years, 
Jubilee  Township  lost  an  honored  pioneer.  He 
was  quite  a  politician  in  his  day,  and  was  identilied 
with  the  Democratic  part^-.  He  was  a  well-read 
and  well-informed  man,  and  was  religiously  in- 
clined, leaning  toward  the  Methodist  faith.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife,  who  was  born  in  Mary- 
land, was  Mary  Coylo.  She  went  tlience  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  her  marriage  took  |)lace,  and  subse- 
quently accompanied  her  family  to  this  place,  and 
here  died.  She  was  the  mother  of  eight  children, 
as  follows:  Susan  married  James  Vanarsdale,  and 
died  in  Kickapoo  Township;  Thomas  lives  in  Alma, 
Neb.;  Maria  is  dead;  Harriet,  now  Mrs.  Rogers, 
lives  in  Wyoming,  Stark  County,  111;  John  is  de- 
ceased; William  lives  in  Essex  Township,  Stark 
County;  our  subject  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Jo- 
sephine is  the  wife  of  William  Lawrence,  of  Jubilee 
Township.  WUliam  Beall  was  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war,  a  member  of  the  Seventy -seventh  Illinois  In- 
fantry, wliich  was  afterward  consolidated  with  the 
Forty-seventh.  He  enlisted  in  180'2,  and  served 
three  years,  and  was  promoted  to  the  ranks  of  Cor- 
poral. 

Francis  M.  Beall  was  born  in  Kickapoo  Town- 
ship, one  and  one-half  miles  from  Kickapoo,  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1840.  He  was  reared  in  the  place  of  his 
birth  until  he  was  eleven  years  old,  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  education  in  the  little  log  school- 
house  of  his  district.  He  was  early  set  to  work  oh 
the  farm,  and  used  to  have  to  haul  grain  to  Peoria. 
In  1851  he  came  here,  and  he  helped  to  break  prai- 
rie with  five  yoke  of  oxen.  Wishing  to  improve 
his  education,  he  attended  school  two  winters  at 
Wyoming  and  at  this  place,  and  by  hard  studj^and 
under  excellent  tuition,  gained  a  good  fund  of 
knowledge.  Mr.  Beall  remained  an  inmate  of  the 
parental  household  until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
old.  At  that  age  he  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and 
had  the  management  of  the  whole  thing,and  contin- 
ued to  carrj-  on  the  place  until  within  a  short  time  of 
his  father's  death.  In  1868  he  bought  the  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  acres  comprising  the  farm,  and 
has  since  greatly  added  to  its  value  by  the  many 
improvements  he  has  placed  upon  it.  He  subse- 
quently purchased  forty  acres  on  section  3,  and  a 
while  after  bought  eighty  acres  more  in  Wyoming, 


POKTHAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


585 


Later  he  sold  that  and  bought  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  adjoining  his  original  purchase.  This 
is  all  uniler  fine  cultivation,  and  is  liiiel^-  improved 
with  the  exception  of  eiglit3-  acres  used  as  ]xastur- 
age.  The  farm  is  especially  well  adapted  to  stock- 
raisiTig  purposes,  as  there  are  ever  tlowing  springs 
on  the  place,  which  is  all  inclosed,  the  farm  as  a 
wIkiIc  licing  as  good  as  any  in  the  county.  In  1871) 
he  built  a  commodious  house,  and  in  188'.*,  a  con- 
veniently arranged  barn,  both  of  the  latest  modern 
style.  lie  rents  some  of  liis  land,  reserving  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  for  his  own  use,  and  here 
he  rai.ses  stock  of  a  higii  grade,  has  thirteen  head  of 
fine  draft  horses,  aud  he  has  three  teams  in  constant 
use.  He  has  full  blooded  hogs  of  the  Poland-China 
breed,  and  is  quite  successful  in  raising  them,  and 
ships  a  number  every  3-ear.  He  raises  quite  a 
quantity-  of  grain,  corn  and  oats,  a  good  deal  of 
whicii  he  feeds  to  stock. 

Mr.  BeaU  was  married  in  Jubilee  Township, 
March  17,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughtcr'of  Remem- 
brance Curl,  formerl}-  a  well-known  farmer  here. 
lie  subsequently  removed  to  Washington,  Iowa,  in 
1885.  where  lie  still  resides.  Mrs.  Beall  is  a  Penn- 
sylvaniau  b^'  birth,  and  came  here  with  her  parents. 
Her  pleasant  wedded  life  with  our  subject  has  been 
blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  seven  children: 
Charles,  Josephine,  Emma  (deceased),  (lattie,  Ol- 
ive, Thomas,  and  Francis,  Jr.  All  are  at  home, 
and  are  receiving  good  educational  advantages, 
Charles  and  Josephine  being  students  in  the  Prince- 
ville  High  School. 

Mr.  IJeall  was  born  in  this  county  while  it  was 
j'et  in  the  hands  of  the  pioneers,  and  he  can  re- 
member well  the  primitive  condition  of  the  coun- 
try during  his  early  life,  before  the  wild  animals  had 
fled  from  the  approaching  civilization,  and  he 
recollects  having  seen  deer,  as  many  as  thirty  at  a 
lime,  and  also  prairie  wolves  and  other  wild  ani- 
mals. He  grew  with  the  growth  of  the  county,  and 
has  proved  to  be  a  good  citizen.  He  is  in  every 
sense  a  steadfast  reliable  man,  one  who  never  be- 
trays a  trust,  and  who  is  at  all  times  and  on  all  oc 
casions  found  to  be  a  careful  and  ready  helper  by 
those  needing  assistance,  and  his  neighbors  who 
consult  him  in  regard  to  personal  m.atters,  find  him 
a  wise  and  safe  counselor,  as   he  is  discriminating 


and  just  in  his  judgments,  possesses  much  discern- 
ment, and  is  cool  headed.  These  attributes  have 
made  him  available  for  olTiee,  and  he  has  been  called 
upon  to  do  his  share  in  the  management  of  |)ublic 
affairs.  For  fifteen  years  he  acted  as  Constable  un- 
til he  resigned  and  would  not  accept  the  olliee 
again.  For  fourteen  years  he  was  Commissioner 
of  Highwa3's,  and  for  eighteen  years  was  .School  Di- 
rector. He  is  a  prominent  memlur  of  the  Detec- 
tive Thief  and  Jliitual  Benefit  .\ssociation,  in  which 
he  is  Third  lieutenant.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  a  sound  Democrat.  He  has  served  both  in  the 
(4rand  and  Petit  Juries. 

OBERT  WILL.  Some  one  has  said,  "It  is 
not  difficult  to  write  a  biographj';  the 
great  difficulty  is  to  live  a  life  worth  writ- 
);ing."  No  resident  in  Peoria  County  is 
more  worthy  of  representation  in  this  volume  than 
the  late  Robert  Will,  a  well-known  old  settler. 
His  life  was  spent  in  usefulness,  his  labors  not  ex- 
l)ended  for  himself  alone,  but  lor  the  benefit  of 
those  among  whom  his  lot  was  cast  and  in  whose 
welfare  he  was  ever  deeply  interested.  He  had  one 
of  those  noble  natures  which  win  respect  from 
every  acquaintance  and  retain  the  deep  esteem  of 
all  who  come  to  know  the  possessor  well. 

Mr.  Will  was  of  Scotch  lineage,  being  a  son  of 
Robert  Will,  Sr.,  and  his  good  wife  Margaret  (Law- 
son)  Will.  Both  were  born  and  reared  in  Dundee, 
Scotland,  and  resided  there  a  few  j-ears  after  their 
marriage.  When  their  oldest  child,  Ellen,  was  two 
years  of  age,  thej'  left  their  native  shores  for 
America  which  they  reached  after  a  storm}'  voyage 
of  eight  weeks.  They  sojourned  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  four  3'ears,  the  husband  following  his  trade  of 
a  stone-cutter.  During  tluat  period  two  sons — 
William  and  John — were  born  to  them.  They  then 
removed  to  Tioga  County,  where  their  famil3'  cir- 
cle was  added  to  by  the  advent  of  four  sons — Alex- 
ander, George,  Robert,  Jr.,  .and  James. 

In  18.30,  the  family  removed  to  Illinois,  making 
their  journey  from  the  Keystone  State  with  teams 
which  were  afterward  used  in  improving  a  claim  of 


586 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Government  hind.  'I'he  father  and  sons  eventually 
secured  several  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
which  they  converted  into  comfortable  homes  and 
which  became  known  as  a  settlement  of  fine  people. 
The  entire  famil}-  endured  the  usual  experiences  of 
pioneer  life,  reaping  a  reward  in  the  respect  which 
was  bestowed  upon  them  as  well  as  in  their  worldly 
prosperity.  On  the  place  where  Ihey  originally 
settled,  Robert  Will,  Sr.,  and  his  wife  passed  awaj% 
the  former  when  about  sixt^'-eight  3ears  of  age  and 
the  latter  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-two  _years.  Mr. 
Will  was  clKirister  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Dundee,  Scotland,  but  after  coming  to  America 
both  himself  and  wife  united  with  the  Baptist  So- 
ciety. They  possessed  all  tlie  sterling  integrity  of 
the  "canny  Scot"  and  their  children  were  reared 
with  firm  principles  and  useful  habits. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Tioga 
Count}',  Pa.,  April  15,  1822.  He  was  fifteen  j'ears 
old  when  his  parents  removed  to  this  county  and 
here  he  applied  himself  to  stud}'  and  work,  reading 
cxtensi\ely  and  developing  the  faculties  of  a  natur- 
ally bright  mind.  He  became  a  successful  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  in  Ilallock  Township  and  an  active 
member  of  society,  promintnt  in  social,  benevolent 
and  religious  work.  He  served  his  township  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty  years  and  had  filled 
almost  every  township  oflice  before  he  was  elected 
County  Surveyor.  He  was  discharging  the  duties 
of  the  latter  office  wdien  stricken  by  his  last  illness 
which  terminated  in  his  death  February  14,  187G. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
identified  with  lodges  at  Lawn  Ridge  and  Chilli- 
cothe,  and  a  leading  spirit  in  both.  In  politics  he 
was  a  sound  Republican.  The  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  the  religious  body  with  which  he  was 
identified  and  in  wliich  he  had  an  oftlcial  station 
many  years.  Of  the  i^arental  family  to  which  he 
belonged  but  three  members  now  survive — the 
daughter  and  two  sous. 

Mr.  Will  was  fortunate  in  his  choice  of  a  com- 
panion, winning  a  lady  of  great  intelligence  and 
nol)le  character.  This  was  Miss  Mary  Robinson, 
who  was  born  in  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  March  19, 
1823,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  when 
ten  years  old.  She  grew  to  maturity  under  the 
home  roof,  being  a  useful  member  of  the  family 


circle  until  her  marriage,  which  took  place  at  her 
home  in  Hallock  Township.  Her  parents,  Lyman 
and  Olive  (Stowell)  Robinson,  natives  of  the  Em- 
pire State,  were  married  in  Broome  County,  where 
the  father  followed  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker  a 
inimbsr  of  years.  He  finally  sold  out  all  his  inter- 
ests there  and  removed  with  his  family  overland  to 
the  Prairie  .State,  locating  on  new  land  in  Ilallock 
Township,  this  county.  He,  however,  continued 
to  follow  his  trade  but  made  the  farm  his  home  un- 
til his  death  when  seventy-six  years  old.  His  wife 
had  died  at  a  goodly  .age  some  years  prior  to  his 
own  decease.  The  worthy  couple  are  now  repre- 
sented by  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 

The  family  of  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife 
included  six  children,  two  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
William  and  Helen  died  when  quite  young;  Jtjhn 
W.,  in  the  flower  of  his  youth  when  nineteen  years 
old,  and  bidding  fair  to  have  a  useful  and  honor- 
able career;  Annie,  wife  of  S.  L.  A'an  Palton,  now 
of  Pe.abody,  Kan.,  died  a  few  years  after  her  mar- 
riage. The  snrvixors — Minnie  and  Lottie — are 
accomplished  young  ladies  and  with  their  mother 
belong  to  the  Reformed  Episcoi)al  Church.  The 
elder  is  an  expert  stenographer,  iluing  business  in 
in  ^Minneapolis,  Minn.  The  younger  remains  with 
her  mfilher  in  Chillicothe. 


,p^  OLOMON  S.  CORNWELL.  The  name  of 
^^s2,  this  gentleman  will  ever  be  associated  with 
the  history  of  Peoria  County  as  the 
founder  of  Monica.  In  1871  he  platted 
the  town  on  one  part  of  his  extensive  landed  pos- 
sessions and  gave  it  his  own  name,  but  that  is  so 
near  like  that  of  Cromwell,  a  town  on  the  other 
road,  that  it  was  changed  to  its  present  cognomen. 
Our  subject  was  an  early  settler  of  this  county  and 
has  been  foremost  among  the  intelligent,  energetic 
and  enterprising  pioneer  farmers  and  stock-raisers, 
who  have  been  so  largely  instrumental  in  develop- 
ing and  building  up  this  part  of  the  State,  mak- 
ing it  one  of  the  finest  improved  and  richest  agri- 
cultural centers  in  this  jiortion  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley.     He  is  a  man  of    wealth    and    his    money 


rORTHAlT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


has  been  so  judiciously  invested  as  to  prove  not 
onl}-  bcnelloiiil  to  himself  but  so  as  to  advance  the 
financial   ccnditiun  of  township  and  county. 

Mr.  t'ornwell  was  born  in  Dutchess  C'oi.nty,  N. 
Y.,  .luly  «,  I.SO!).  His  f.athor,  .lob  Corn  well,  was  a 
native  of  the  same  count_y,  and  was  a  son  of  .lon- 
athan  Cornwell,  also  of  that  county,  and  a  grand- 
son of  Lot  Cornwell,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolution.  The  father  of  Lot  Cornwell  came 
from  Knnland  as  an  ollicer  in  the  English  army, 
but  in  the  opening  days  of  the  struggle  between 
the  Americans  and  the  mother  country,  he  left 
the  IJritish  service  to  join  the  Colonists  and  fought 
with  them  for  their  freedom.  After  tlie  war  he 
settled  in  Dutcliess  County  among  its  |)ioneers  as 
a  tiller  of  the  soil. 

The  father  of  our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  a 
blacksmith  and  carried  it  on  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford in  Dutchess  Count}'.  He  did  a  thriving  bus- 
iness and  ein|ilo\'ed  three  men  to  assist  liiin.  In 
1830  he  removed  to  Monroe  County,  and  settled 
near  l>rocki)ort,  where  he  died  in  1850  at  the  age 
of  lifty-six  j'cars.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politicks 
and  was  vcrj'  influential  in  public  councils  and 
held  various  county  offices.  The  maiden  name 
of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  Chloe  Mayhue, 
and  she  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  born  in  New 
York.  She  survived  her  husband  several  years, 
making  her  home  with  her  daughter  at  Grand 
Rapids,  till  her  death  at  the  .age  of  seventy-five 
years.  She  w.as  a  truly  good  woman  and  in  her 
the  Free  Will  I'.aptist  Church  found  a  consistent 
memlier.  She  was  the  mother  of  eight  children, 
as  follows:  Lucinda,  who  died  in  New  York;  Fan- 
nie, who  lives  in  Michigan;  Smith,  who  died  in 
Illinois;  Morris,  who  died  in  California;  Emeline, 
who  died  in  New  York;  Ethan,  a  resident  of  Chi- 
cago, who  was  formerly  Captain  in  the  Railway 
Detective  service,  and  Charlotte,  who  died  in 
Rock   Island. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  Stanford,  and  in  his 
younger  daj-s  was  a  delicate,  sickly  lad.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  district  school  till  he 
was  seventeen  years  old  when  he  was  sent  to  the 
Nine  Partners  (Quaker  school  at  Mechanicsville,  in 
his  native  county,  ,nnd  there  completed  an  excellent 
course  of  study.     After  leaving  school  headoi)ted 


the  profession  of  teaching  and  was  engaged  at  it 
in  Dutchess  Countj'  some  twelve  years,  and  after 
that  taught  in  Long  Island  and  for  three  years 
was  principal  of  the  schools  where  he  was  sta- 
tioned. In  1837  he  went  to  Monroe  County,  N. 
Y.,  and  eighteen  months  later  in  1839,  came  to 
Illinois, traveling  liy  boat  to  Cleveland, b\'  canal  to 
the  Ohio  River  to  take  a  boat,  but  as  there  were 
none  going  down  the  river  at  that  time,  he  hired  a 
skiff,  but  after  proceeding  two  miles  decided  that 
he  could  make  better  progress  on  foot,  so  he 
walked  to  the  next  landing  and  waited  there  four 
d.ays  for  a  boat,  and  as  one  did  not  come  tried  to 
secure  a  seat  on  the  stage  to  Indiana  and  at  length 
w.as  successful,  and  finally  found  hisw.ay  to  Spring- 
field, this  State.  He  then  shouldered  his  bundle  of 
clothes  and  made  a  [ledostrian  li-ip  to  the  Missis- 
sippi River  and  back  to  Farmington  in  search  of  a 
school  to  teach.  He  was  finally  referred  to  Prince- 
ville,  and  here  was  engaged  to  teach  in  a  log 
school  with  primitive  furnishings.  He  engaged  in 
teaching  here  for  several  years,  .and  found  it  hard 
work  .as  among  his  pupils  wer?  several  large  boys 
who  could  neither  read  nor  write.  He  toiled  faith- 
fully and  made  a  success  of  teaching,  and  was  en- 
gaged at  it  some  three  years.  He  then  went  to 
Fairview,  Fulton  Count}-,  and  was  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  academy  as  its  |)rincipal,  and  occu- 
pied that  position  three  years. 

Mr.  Cornwell  had  previously  bought  this  place, 
in  1840,  or  a  part  of  it,  buying  a  patent  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  21,  and  made 
all  the  improvements  on  that  tract.  He  located  on 
it  in  1843,  and  built  a  frame  house,  drawing  the 
lumber  from  EUisville,  Fulton  County,  a  distance 
of  forty  miles  with  an  ox  team.  He  broke  jjrairie 
with  oxen  and  a  wooden  mold  j)low,  .and  got  well 
started  in  his  efforts  to  develop  a  farm,  and  in  the 
years  that  followed  was  more  than  ordinarily  suc- 
cessful in  his  work,  and  .at  one  time  owned  over 
eleven  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  fine  farming 
land.  He  still  possesses  eight  hundred  acres,  all 
of  which  is  improved  land  with  the  exception  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  .acres  devoted  to  pas- 
ture, and  it  is  well  fenced  and  watered  by  springs 
and  sloughs,  having  a  pure  spring  of  ever  flowing 
water  on    nearly    every    quarter  section.     He    has 


588 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


two  good  dwellings  and  other  substantial  buildings, 
on  his  farm,  and  in  1871.  built  here  the  largest 
liouse  in  the  lownshii>.  and  then  retired  from  active 
business  to  pass  his  declining  years  in  this  co- 
ziest and  most  comfortable  of  homes.  He  used  to 
operate  the  whole  farm  and  had  it  well  stocked. 
He  raise<l  full  blooded  Poland-china  hogs  ver}' 
extensively,  some  years  selling  enough  to  bring 
in  ^3,700.  He  has  other  valuat/le  property  besides 
his  farm.  He  built  a  house  in  Monica,  and  owns 
two  buildings  there.  He  rents  his  land,  but  re- 
tains the  pasture  and  has  one  hundred  he.ad  of  cat- 
tle grazing  upon  it  besides  other  stock. 

M.ay  21,  1842,  Mr.  Cornwell  returned  to  Mon- 
roe County,  X.  Y..  and  was  married  to  Miss  Emily 
Munson,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  a  daughter 
of  Caleb  Munson.  a  farmer  of  Monroe  Count}'.  He 
was  estensivelj'  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  and  was  well-to-do. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of 
four  children,  William  II.,  .Tulia,  (wife  of  "\V. 
E.  Elliott  of  Princeville  Townshij))  Charles,  Ade- 
line, (wife  of  II.  AV.  Crawford  an  agent  for  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad  at  Monica).  William  is  a 
farmer  in  Waldo  Townshi|),  Livingston  Count}-, 
where  he  owns  three  hundred  and  twenl}'  acres  of 
land.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  Civil  War.  en- 
listing in  18G1,  wiien  he  was  but  seventeen  jears 
old,  in  the  Eleventh  Illinois  Cavahy,  mustered  in 
at  Peoria.  He  took  pari  in  all  the  battles  in  which 
his  regiment  fought,  till  he  was  taken  prisoner 
first  in  Tennessee  and  wiis  subsequently  paroled 
and  was  a  second  time  captured  at  Essex  Station, he 
having  been  shot  through  the  hip  while  on  his 
horse,  and  taken  b}-  the  eneui}'.  His  wounds  were 
dressed  by  his  fellow  i)risoners,  and  he  was  sent 
to  Andersonville,  and  remained  there  several 
months  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  then  came 
home  nearly  de.ad  from  tlie  sufferings  and  priva- 
tions he  had  endured  in  that  terrible  experience  of 
life  in  rebel  prisons.  Charles,  an  attorney  at  law, 
practicing  in  Peoria,  was  graduated  from  Cold 
Water  Michigan  College  and  later  was  graduated 
from  the  law  department  of  the  I'niversity  at  Ann 
Arbor. 

Mr.  Cornwell  has  a  high  reputation  as  a  man  of 
honor,  truthfulness  and   unimpeachable    integrity, 


who  has  acquired  his  large  property  by  honest  and 
fair  methods  and  he  is  a  credit  to  our  citizenship. 
He  is  an  ardent  Republican  in  his  political  views  and 
is  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  liberal  support- 
ers of  his  party,  and  has  been  .active  in  its  councils, 
and  has  been  delegate  to  county  conventions.  He 
was  Supervisor  one  year  and  has  been  Director  of 
the  graded  schools,  and  a  member  of  the  Grand 
,Iur_y  several  terms  and  the  Petit  Jury  one  term, 
and  in  each  and  every  capacity  showed  marked 
ability  as  an  intelligent  and  progressive  official. 

Y  OHN  M.  PATTERSON.  A  life-long  far- 
mer, progressive  in  his  ideas  regarding  his 
calling,  anxious  to  excel,  and  energetic  in 
spirit.  Mr.  Patterson  h.as  secured  a  good 
estate,  where  he  is  enabled  to  surround  his  famih' 
with  the  comforts  and  even  some  of  the  luxuries  of 
life.  He  is  located  on  section  31,  Brim  field  Town- 
ship, bis  well-regulated  estate  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  had  nj  one  to  start 
him  in  life,  being  a  member  of  what  might  be  con- 
sidered a  i)ioneer  family  in  the  section  in  which  iiis 
youth  w-as  passed,  and  having  not  oven  the  advan- 
tages of  educational  training  which  are  secured  to 
the  j'oung  men  of  the  present  day.  In  lieu  of 
these  advantages  he  possessed  a  determined  spirit, 
was  bred  to  habits  of  industry  and  early  taught  the 
self-reliance  which  is  so  potent  a  f.actor  in  worldlj' 
prosperity. 

'Slv.  Patterson  was  born  in  Rockbridge  County, 
Va.,  .September  22.  1832.  being  a  son  of  John  and 
.Sarah  Patterson,  likewise  natives  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion. The  parents  removed  to  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  when  our  subject  w.as  about  a  year  old,  and 
there,  as  he  grew  toward  manhood,  he  took  advan- 
tage of  the  limited  sciiool  privileges,  in  the  inter- 
vals of  study  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  his  father's 
vocation.  Earl}'  in  the  '50s  the  parents  and  their 
rather  large  family  came  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  the 
father  first  locating  in  Elmwood  Townshii).  After 
a  time  he  removed  to  Knox  County,  whence  after 
several  years  he  returned  to  Peoria  County,  spend- 
ing tlie  remnant  of  his  days  with  c>ur  subject. 


/i^^-z^/s-^^:^ 


(.'^-''-^C^  c.^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


593 


In  Knox  County,  in  January,  I860,  the  subject 
of  lliis  notice  was  unitcil  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Melissa  M.  \'ifliery.  an  estimable  yonng  woman, 
who  was  well  qnalified  for  the  life  which  lay  be- 
fore her.  She  is  a  (laughter  of  Elias  and  Polly 
\'ickory,  caily  settlers  of  Peoria  County.  She  has 
borne  iier  husband  four  children,  and  they  have 
hkewise  an  adopted  daughter,  named  Edith  V. 
Their  first-born,  Charles  L.,  is  deceased;  Ida  M.. 
the  second  cluld,  is  the  wife  of  Ferdinand  E. 
Bowler,  now  living  in  Sheriibm  County,  Kan.; 
Fred,  the  only  son  living,  is  a  public  school  teacher, 
with  an  excellent  reputation  in  his  profession;  Edna 
completes  the  family  list,  altliough  the  adojited 
daughter  shares  with  them  in  the  kindly  care  and 
aft'ection.ate  oversight  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson. 

Our  subject  has  served  as  School  Director  many 
years,  and  has  borne  a  part  in  advancing  the  inter- 
ests of  his  fellow-men  in  various  ways.  He  is  a 
believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  ever  readj'  to  cast  his  vote  in  the  interest  of 
wliat  he  considers  the  best  of  political  principles. 


* 


LVIN  W.  BUSHNELL.  Few  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Peoria  are  more  widely  known  and 
!4i    none  more  highly  esteemed  than  Mr.  Bush- 

/'  nell  and  his  wife,  whose   biograi)hies   anil 

portraits  are  presented  on  these  pages.  Mr.  Bushnell 
lirst  came  to  this  county  in  1837,  and  has  made  his 
home  since  that  time  within  its  limits,  with 
the  exception  of  two  and  a-half  years,  which  he 
spent  in  Chicago.  He  is  therefore  thoroughly  ac- 
((uainted  with  the  progress  of  the  county  for  more 
than  a  half  century,  and  has  borne  no  inconsider- 
able part  in  the  development  of  its  natural  re- 
sources and  the  building  up  of  its  inrlustries.  He 
was  born  in  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  January  8. 
1815,  and  inherits  from  along  line  of  agricultural 
ancestors  many  qualifications  whicli  adapt  him  to 
carry  on  sinular  work. 

The  Bushnell  family  were  first  represented  in 
America  by  three  brothers  who  came  together  from 
England.  The  grandfathers  of  our  subject  were 
Klijah  Bushnell  and  Zephaniah  Chase,  the  latter  of 


whom  lived  in  Martha's  Vineyard  during  the  Rev- 
olutionary War  and  had  his  [lotatoes  taken  from 
him  by  British  soldiers,  except  a  few  that  he  suc- 
ceeded in  secreting.  Anson  and  Elizabeth  (Chase) 
Bushnell  were  natives  of  Connecticut  and  Massa- 
chusetts respectively.  To  them  were  born  three 
sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Alvin  W.;  Hor- 
ace, who  resides  in  St.  Paul,  Minn,;  Eunice,  de- 
ceased; Mrs.  Mary  Minor,  whose  home  is  in  York, 
Neb. ;  and  Lewis,  a  magnetic  physician  in  Chicago. 
The  gentleman  with  whose  name  this  sketch 
is  introduced  passed  his  boyhood  in  the  Empire 
State,  receiving  his  education  i\i  the  common 
schools.  His  first  venture  in  the  way  of  gain- 
ing a  livelihood,  was 'that  of  hiring  out  as  a  farm 
hand  at  -$13  per  month.  In  1835  he  went  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpen- 
ter, making  the  metropolis  his  home  two  years.  He 
then  came  to  Peoria  CouiUy,  III.,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  j'ears  carried  on  a  farm  and  also  worked  at 
his  trade.  In  1848,  he  sold  his  estate  and  removing 
to  Chicago  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade,  which  he 
abandoned  in  1851,  to  return  to  this  county  and 
become  a  resident  of  the  county  seat.  He  embarked 
in  the  lumber  business  and  afterward  became  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  building  materials — 
chiefly  of  asbestine  stone,  which  is  used  for  side- 
walks and  other  purposes. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Bushnell  has  been  an  honor- 
able and  industrious  one  and  he  is  surrounded  by 
comforts.  He  occupies  a  pleasant  residence  on 
Fourth  Street,  where  hospitality  altounds  and  re- 
fined tastes  are  indicated  by  the  neatness  and 
Ijcanty  there  to  be  seen.  He  is  numbered  among  the 
reliable  citizens  and  held  in  good  repute  bj'  neigh- 
bors and  associates.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  two  terms,  and  in  jiolitics  is  a 
Democrat  of  the  old  Jackson  type.  He  belongs  to 
the  Old  Settlers'  Society  and  the  Scientific  Associa- 
tion. His  family  now  consists  of  his  wife  and 
an  adopted  daughter.  May.  They  had  another 
adopted  daughter,  Ella,  whom  they  reared  from 
childhood,  giving  her  the  advantage  of  a  literary 
and  musical  education.  She  died  December  19, 
1889,  aged  thirty-seven  years. 

The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Bushnell  was  Jennette 
Case,  and  she  was   born  August  29,    1818,  in  the 


591 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


town  of  Sandj'  Creek,  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.  Her 
parents  were  Iiuri  aurl  Cliloe  A.  Case,  natives  of 
Connecticut  and  \'ermont  respectively.  She  became 
the  wife  of  our  subject  July  12,  1841.  and  has 
proved  her  worth  as  a  sympathizing  companion  for 
"lo!  these  many  years."  Since  1849  she  lias  beeu 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a  faitliful  fol- 
lower of  its  teachings. 


HARLEY  FASH,  the  well  known  and  popu- 
lar blacksmith    and  wagonmaker  of  Lime- 

\iJ/J  stone  Township,  is  a  representative  of  an 
old  and  honored  pioneer  family  of  this  county.  He 
was  the  third  cSiiUl  of  the  eleven  cliiidren,  six 
sons  and  five  daugliters,  born  to  Daniel  and  Phccbe 
(Campbell)  Fash,  and  is  a  native  of  New  York 
City,  where  liis  birth  occurred  .lune  19,  1830. 
His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ni'w  York,  iiis 
motlier  of  Tarrytown,  and  a  daugiiter  of  Joseph 
Campbell,  of  that  town.  His  father  vv;is  a  son  of 
D.Hniel  Fash,  whose  wife's  family'  name  was  Bogerl. 
They  were  seafaring  people,  and  were  of  fine 
pliysicnl  proportions,  strong  constitutions  and  great 
powers  of  endurance,  and  these  were  also  the 
characteristics  of  liie  F.-islis. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  and  reared 
in  New  York  City,  and  after  his  marriage  in  Tar- 
rytown, continued  to  reside  in  the  city  of  his  birth 
for  some  years,  and  there  four  of  his  cliiidren  were 
born.  AVlien  the  son  of  whom  we  write  was  three 
j'ears  old,  his  father  came  to  this  county,  in 
1833,  bringing  his  family  with  hiin,  and  though 
so  young  our  subject  can  well  remember  many  in- 
cidents connected  with  that  ever  memorable  jour- 
ney. They  packed  their  goods  in  boxes  an<l 
bundles  in  their  home  on  tlie  Nortli  River,  and 
he  recollects  the  excitement  incident  thereto,  and 
of  lying  on  a  feather  bed  wliilst  the  jxacking 
was  going  on.  Their  household  effects  were  ship- 
ped to  Peoria  by  water,  their  furniture  being  of  a 
very  fine  and  costly  character  for  those  days,  and 
ia  some  way  it  was  missent  and  they  never  got  it, 
but  heard  from  it  some   twenty-five   j'cars  later  in 


St.  Louis,  and  at  that  time  from  the  ill  care  it  had 
received  it  was  badly  decayed  and  useless.  Mr. 
Fash  rigged  out  a  one-liorse  wagon,"  in  which  he 
and  his  Wife  and  four  children  started  on  their  jour- 
ney, taking  with  them  a  large  churn,  which  held 
all  their  provisions,  which  lasted  until  they  got  to 
Pittsburg,  Pa.  On  their  arrival  in  tiiat  city,  they 
became  tired  of  that  mode  of  travel,  and  Mr.  Fash 
sold  his  horse  and  wagon,  took  the  boat  in  com- 
pany witli  old  Dr.  Rouse,  and  came  the  rest  of  the 
w.ay  by  water  to  Peoria,  where  they  landed  in  the 
fall  of  the  year.  Grandfather  Fash  had  preceded 
them,  and  met  them  on  their  arrival,  his  family 
coming  out  next  J' ear  overland  with  a  numUer  of 
wagous.  His  death,  however,  occurred  before  they 
got  here. 

When  the  Fashes  came  to  this  county  they  found 
it  in  a  very  wild,  uncivilized  condition.  There 
were  no  bridges  around  Peoria  and  the  sloughs 
were  swampy,  so  that  they  had  to  drive  around  the 
head  of  them  to  keep  from  sinking  down,  as  at 
times  the  mud  was  so  deep  in  some  places  that  a 
man  would  sink  into  the  soft  earth  up  to  his  waist. 
The  roads  being  so  bad  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  go 
to  market,  and  the  early  settlers  had  to  be  content 
wiUi  living  on  wh,at  they  could  raise  at  hand,  and 
much  of  the  time  their  food  was  grated  corn, 
which  was  made  into  what  they  called  a  ''sop." 
They  raised  ]iumpkins,  cut  them  in  slices  and  dried 
them  for  future  use,  and  the  preparation  that  they 
made  from  that,  and  \h^  prairie  chickens  they  could 
track  formed  their  chief  subsistence.  A  neighbor, 
Joe  Brown,  built  a  rail  pen  in  wiiich  he  would 
often  catch  as  many  as  two  hundred  chickens  a  day, 
from  which  he  would  pick  the  breast  feathers  and 
feed  the  meat  to  his  hogs,  and  on  Sunday  the  great 
dish  for  dinner  would  be  wheat  bread,  which  was 
also  used  on  state  occasions;  when  anyone  came 
this  bread  was  brought  out  in  the  shape  of  yellow 
biscuit.  In  cases  where  the  visitor  would  be  re- 
galed with  while  bread  and  butter,  the  little  chil- 
dren would  stand  aside  and  see  the  precious  morsels 
disappear  with  silent  envy.  The  itinerant  Metho- 
dist preachers  of  those  days  used  to  be  the  great 
and  favored  ones,  and  wdien  they  put  in  appearance 
at  a  pioneer  home  all  the  good  things  that  the 
house  afforded  were  set  before  them  and  each  grow- 


PORTRAIT  AND;BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


595 


ing  boy's  ambition  was  to  be  a  Methodist  minister. 
It  would  take  neuly  a  weeiv  to  go  and  retuni  from 
llic  mill  oven  to  gel  corn  cracked,  the  settlers  going 
to  Mackinaw,  Rushville  or  Snatchmine  for  such 
purposes.  They  finally  rigged  up  a  rough  afipara- 
tus  to  serve  as  a  mill  just  at  the  outlet  of  Peoria  Lake, 
where  they  built  a  large  round  log  across  the 
stream  in  a  frame,  and  the  water  causing  this  to  re- 
volve ground  the  corn,  as  at  one  end  a  rude  shaft 
was  fixed  and  attached  to  the  burr  in  the  mill,  and 
this  crude  affair  was  all  the  mill  Peoria  had  for 
some  years,  and  as  our  informant  very  expressly 
sa3-s  "a  man  could  eat  about  as  fast  as  it  would 
grind."  One  of  tiie  main  comforts  of  life  was 
'■prairie  scratches,"  a  species  of  itch,  which  was 
very  prevalent,  and  at  times  very  severe  and  offen- 
sive. This  constituted  the  only  ailment  in  the 
family  of  our  subject,  as  his  father  never  paid  out 
any  money  in  doctor's  bills  in  rearing  his  large 
family  of  children,  except  when  one  of  them  was 
U'iherod  into  the  world. 

Mrs.  Fash,  who  was  a  lad^'  of  refinement  and 
considerable  culture,  being  reared  among  the  best 
fMUiilies  of  New  York  City,  for  many  years  could 
not  be  reconciled  to  her  lot,  and  many  and  many 
a  time  her  hot  tears  poured  down  on  the  heads  of 
her  little  lonesome  children  as  she  would  sit  and 
think  of  the  life  before  her,  as  they  lived  in  a  lonely 
country,  theirs  being  one  of  three  houses  between 
I'eoriaand  Farmington.  In  the  course  of  years, 
however,  some  of  her  relatives  moveil  here  and  she 
liocame  more  reconciled  and  enjoyed  life. 

Daniel  Fash  moved  from  Peoria  to  Rushville 
not  long  after  coming  here.and  built  a  house,  but  did 
not  like  the  place  and  returned  to  Peoria  the  same 
year.  He  subsequently-  located  two  and  one-half 
miles  cast  of  Farmington,  in  this  countj-,  where  he 
had  a  cabin  built  by  Mr.  Campbell  and  Clem 
Kwalt.  and  also  had  twenty  acres  of  the  land 
broken.  His  home  was  in  the  tall  timber,  while 
his  farm  was  on  the  open  prairie.  After  a  few 
years  he  built  himself  another  house,  but  did  not 
occupy  it  long,  trading  off  that  place  as  soon  as 
possible,  as  he  had  no  other  but  a  tax  title  to  it. 
He  traded  his  land  for  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  where  our  subject  now  lives,  and  got  ii.^OO  to 
boot.    Here  be  and  his  wife  made  their  home  until 


their  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1882. 
Tlicy  had  lived  here  nearly  half  a  century  and  had 
witnessed  and  aided  the  growth  of  the  coun'y,  and 
their  memory  is  cherished  as  among  our  most  re- 
spected pioneers.  The  father  was  a  sturd}'  Jack- 
son Democrat  in  his  politics,  and  remained  faithful 
to  his  party  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

Onr  subject  grew  up  under  pioneer  influences 
of  the  home  that  his  parents  had  made  in  this 
county,  and  in  1850  was  married  to  Miss  Frances 
J.  Smith,  who  bore  him  five  children,  three  of 
whom  survived  and  were  all  born  in  California,  as 
our  subject  was  a  resident  of  that  State  for  many 
years.  In  1854  he  started  out  for  that  land  of 
promise  with  his  wife  and  one  child  in  an  ox 
wagon,  accomi)anying  a  train  of  emigrants  across 
the  plains.  At  Salt  Lake  City  they  abandoned  the 
train,  and  for  awhile  he  worked  at  his  trade  of 
blacksmithing  at  that  place.  Two  months  later  he 
resumed  his  journeys  to  the  Pacific  Slope,  but  when 
they  got  to  the  desert  their  team  gave  out  and  he 
took  his  child  on  his  back  and  with  his  wife 
trudged  on  their  way.  A  train  from  Iowa  over- 
took them  and  he  paid  its  captain  $20  for  the 
privilege  of  having  his  wife  ride.  The  train  sub- 
sequently broke  up  along  the  road  and  left  our 
subject,  his  wife  and  child  with  their  few  effects 
sitting  bv  the  wayside.  The  situation  was  very- 
serious,  as  he  only  had  ten  cents  in  his  pocket,  and 
scarcely  knew  where  to  turn.  His  wife  gave  way 
and  began  to  cry,  but  he  finally  got  her  "comfort- 
ably fixed  in  the  woods  with  the  baby  and  he 
went  along  to  a  wayside  town,  where  he  was  fort- 
unate enough  to  secure  employment  for  himself 
and  wife  at  the  rate  of  $3  each.  They  staid  there 
until  they  had  accumulated  some  money,  and  he 
opened  a  smithy  and  did  work  for  a  Mr.  Hall  from 
Peoria  for  a  year  at  $90  per  month,  earning  his 
employer  -SIO  a  day  for  every  day  in  the  year. 

Mr.  Fash  first  started  in  Eldor.ado  and  afterward 
was  in  man}-  places,  finally  going  to  San  Joaquin 
County,  where  he  took  up  a  farm  and  lived  there 
five  years.  He  then  had  the  misfortune  to  lose 
his  devoted  companion,  she  dj-ing  in  18G7  of  con- 
sumption, leaving  three  little  children,  aged  from 
six  years  to  ten  months.  Their  names  are:  John 
Daniel,  Phil    Sheridan   and    Sarah.     The   latter  is 


596 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  wife  of  Hugh  Hart,  an  expressman  of  Peoria, 
ami  tliey  have  three  chihh-en.  two  girls  and  a  boy. 
Phil  married  and  lives  in  Peoria,  where  he  drives 
a  team  for  a  feed  sture;  John  is  a  blacksmith  in 
Farmington. 

After  the  deatii  of  his  wife  our  subject  solil  his 
California  iiroperty  and  returned  to  Knoxville,  j 
he  having  been  on  the  Pacific  Coast  thirteen  years 
altogether,  and  returned  from  there  by  the  way  of 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  New  York.  He  built 
himself  a  home  in  Knoxville.  and  in  liS68  bought 
the  place  on  which  he  now  lives,  it  being  a  part 
of  the  old  homestead  where  his  boyhood  and  youth 
were  [lassed,  and  in  1870  lie  moved  on  to  it.  He 
was  married  a  second  time,  in  the  fall  of  18G8,  to 
Miss  jNIary  Cover,  of  Knoxville,  who  has  been  to 
him  a  true  wife  and  to  his  children  a  kind  step- 
mother. Besides  successfully  carrying  on  a  large 
and  lucrative  business  as  a  blacksmith  and  wagon- 
maker,  he  pays  much  attention  to  cultivating  his 
land,  having  fifty  acres,  the  most  of  wiiich  is  im- 
proved. 

Wr.  Fash  inheriled  in  a  full  degree  the  fine 
physique  for  which  his  ancestry  were  famous,  and 
his  stalwart  proportions  well  fit  him  for  his  call- 
ing, in  which  he  is  very  skillful,  being  a  first-class 
artisan.  He  is  well  endowed  mentally,  possessing 
a  clear  brain  and  keen  wit,  and  is  noted  in  this 
locality  for  his  quaint  and  lucid  expressions  and 
humorous  originalities.  He  is  withal  generous, 
frank  and  open-hearted,  and  is  a  general  favorite. 
Mr.  Fash  was  originally  a  Democrat,  but  later  in 
life  he  became  a  Republican,  and  is  still  a  sturdy 
advocate  of  the  policy  of  that  party. 


F^HOMA.S  J.  EDWARDS  is  one  of  the  active 
and  influential  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of 
Rosefield  Township.  lie  is  a  native  of  Mar- 
shall Count3%  this  State,  but  having  been  brought 
here  in  his  infancy,  was  reared  in  this  county  and 
has  ever  since  made  his  home  on  the  old  homestead 
on  section  24,  where  he  has  one  of  the  finest  of 
farms  in  this  section  of  the  township. 

Our  subject  was  born  December  23,  1853,  and 


is  a  son  of  Sylvester  S.  and  Mary  Jane  (Schimp) 
Edwards,  who  were  born  in  Hampshire  County, 
Va.  The  father's  parents  were  Thomas  and  Elinor 
(Scott)  P^dwards,  natives  of  Hampshire  County, 
Ya.,  where  they  had  a  large  plantation  and  owned 
a  number  of  slaves.  Thev  came  to  this  county  in 
1834,  and  settled  on  the  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  where  our  subject  now  resides;  were  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  as  such  their 
names  are  held  in  reverence  by  the  present  gener- 
ation. The  children  were:  Sylvester  S.,  Isadora, 
Sarah  Jane  (deceased),  George  W.,  and  Edward  D. 
(deceased).  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  the 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Schimp. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  nine 
ye.ars  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  Rosefield 
Township,  and  he  has  resided  on  the  old  homestead 
ever  since  with  the  exception  of  one  j'ear  in  Mar- 
shall County.  He  assisted  his  father  in  the  pio- 
neer labors  of  developing  a  farm  and  for  a  short 
time  before  the  war  was  engaged  in  the  grocerj' 
business.  After  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  offered 
his  servictes  to  his  country  and  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  Seventy-seventh  Illinois  Infantry',  and  was 
given  the  position  of  Second  Lieutenant.  He  took 
part  in  Bank's  Red  River  Expedition  and  was  cap- 
tured and  imprisoned  at  Camp  Ford,  Tyler,  Tex. 
At  the  time  of  his  capture,  Mr.  Edwards  was  act- 
ing as  Captain  of  Companj'  F.  He  was  after- 
wards promoted  to  be  First  Lieutenant,  he  having 
gained  that  responsible  position  by  his  braverj\ 
coolness,  and  efficiency  on  the  battle  field,  and  his 
whole  course  during  the  war  showed  him  to  pos- 
sess fine  soldierly  qualities  and  to  be  a  true  leader 
of  men,  and  the  military  record  that  he  gained  is 
one  of  which  his  children  may  well  be  proud.  Af- 
ter the  close  of  the  war  he  eng.aged  in  farming  for 
some  time  and  in  the  winter  of  1875-76,  en- 
tered the  mercantile  business  at  Edwaids' Station 
and  was  also  Postmaster  there. 

Mr.  Edwards,  the  father  of  our  subject,  h.as  been 
happy  in  his  domestic  relations,  securing  in  his 
wife  one  who  has  been  to  him  a  true  helpmate  and 
companion.  She  is  a  sincere  Christian  and  an 
earnest  worker  in  tlie  Methodist  P^piscopal  Church 
of  which  she  is  a  consistent  member.  They  have 
reared  five  children,  namely:   Thomas  J;  William 


PORTRAIT  AND   I'.IOGEAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


597 


II.;  Mary  S.,  wife  of  Frank  L.  Tuttle;  Isadora- J.; 
Mild  Charleg  II.,  who  is  in  tlic  .stamp  departnieiil  of 
tlie  Peoria  post-office. 

Our  sulijoet  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead 
tliat  his  triandfathfcr  liad  bought  from  the  Gov- 
ernment in  the  early  days  of  tiio  settlement  of  this 
eounty,  and  in  tlie  common  schools,  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  a  lilierul  education.  He  afterwards  i)ur- 
sued  a  thorough  course  in  the  Normal  School  at 
I'eoria,  and  learned  telegraphy  in  Oberlin,  Ohio. 
He  was  well  equipped  for  the  teacher's  profession 
and  taught  ten  or  twelve  terms.  Me  however, 
preferred  what  Horace  Greeley-  st^ded  ''tlie  noblest 
of  professions,"  and  entered  upon  his  career  as  a 
farmer  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  brings  a  steady, 
active,  well  trained  brain  to  bear  upon  the  prob- 
lems that  beset  the  practical  agriculturists,  and 
manages  his  farm  admirably  so  as  to  produce  the 
best  results.  Its  buildings  are  of  a  substantial  order 
and  it  is  well  stocked  with  horses,  cattle  and  hogs 
of  an  excellent  grade. 

Mr.  Edwards  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  J. 
Ball.  September  24,  1877,  and  to  them  have  come 
seven  children— Otis  W,,  Thomas  J.,  LeRoy  E., 
Malcolm  H.,  Ma}-,  Clarence  L.,  and  Essie  E.  Mrs. 
Edwards  was  born  March  2,  1853. at  St.  Anthony's 
Falls.  Minn.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Reuben  F.  and 
Rebecca  (Fullerton)  Ball,  natives  respectively  of 
Wilton  and  AVoolwich,  Me.  Mr.  Ball  is  a  merchant 
by  occupation,  and  in  1849  went  to  California.  In 
1851  he  located  at  St.  Anthony's  Falls,  wherfs  he 
engaged  extensively  in  the  mercantile  business, 
carrying  on  three  stores  besides  having  two  at  St. 
Cloud,  and  he  was  also  an  Indian  agent.  In  18G3 
he  removed  with  bis  family  to  A'ineland.  N.  .1. 
and  helped  to  budd  up  that  town  and  was  propric 
tor  of  the  only  store  there  at  one  time.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  came  to  Peoria  where  he  h.as 
since  been  engaged  prosperously  as  a  merchant. 
He  is  a  son  of  Levi  and  Mary  (Le  Land)  Ball,  na- 
tives of  Maine,  he  being  one  of  their  three  chil- 
dren. His  father,  who  was  a  farmer,  was  a  son  of 
.lolin  Ball,  whose  ancestors  came  from  England  to 
this  country  in  Colonial  limes.  The  LeLands  were 
also  derived  from  an  old  English  family  and  num- 
bered amongst  their  ancestors  James  LcLand.  ;Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ball   are  greatly  respected  in  their  com- 


munity and  he  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Uni- 
versalist  Church.  They  have  had  five  children, 
of  whom  four  are  living:  Blartha,  Susan  .T.,  Wil- 
liam L.  and  Abigail  F. 

Our  subject  uses  his  influence  in  favor  of  the 
Republican  party  in  whose  ranks  he  has  been  since 
h(!  cast  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Grant.  For  a  short 
time  he  lived  in  Kickapoo  Township  and  was  there 
elected  Justice  of  the  I'eace.  He  has  held  the  im- 
portant ofliee  of  Supervisor,  and  so  ably  did  he 
discharge  the  duties  of  his  position  that  he  was  re- 
elected for  a  second  term.  His  earnest  religious  na- 
ture finds  expression  in  the  faith  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  is  identified 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  as  a  member 
of  the  Sons  of  Veterans  organization,  and  he  also 
belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odtl  Fellows. 


NDREW   E.  KARR  came  to  this   county 
many  years  ago   when  in  life's  prime  and 
*'    greatly  aided  his  fellow  pioneers  in  their 
\(^J  ar(]uous  work  of  developingand  extending 

the  wonderful  agricultural  resources  of  this  region, 
and  in  the  course  of  years  acquirecl  a  handsome 
property,  and  is  now  living  in  honorable  retirement 
in  his  pleasant  country  home  on  his  large  and  finely 
im|ir()ved  f.-irm  on  section  18.  Akron  Tovvnship. 

Elisha  and  Hannah  (Debow)  Karr,  the  parents 
of  our  subject  were  natives  and  life  long  residents 
of  New  Jersey.  They  had  a  family  of  four  children, 
of  whom  Andrew  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 
He  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Septi-mlier  1.  1817. 
There  he  grew  to  man's  e>t;ite.  ;ind  IVom  his  earl\- 
home  went  out  in  the  world  lo  see  wliat  life  held 
for  him  beyond  the  bounds  of  his  nniive  State. 
He  marie  his  way  to  Illinois  and  for  one  \  e:ir  livc'l 
in  Ad:ims  County.  He  then  t<pok  up  his  ni.nde  in 
this  county,  of  which  he  has  ever  sinci-  been  a  rfsi- 
dent.  He  has  i)een  chiifly  entjagcd  in  farmini;. 
and  by  his  practical  skill,  by  steady  and  unremitting 
toil  and  superior  nianriireinent,  has  liccome  a  man 
of  WCmIIIi,  au'l  is  the  pr.  .pi  iclor  ot  a  Imil;.-  f:iiin  of 
upwards  of  livi'  hundnd  and  t«(nil\  acn  s.  1  his 
is  substantially  improved   in  every  iiarticular  and 


698 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


its  commodious  buildings,  broad  and  well  tilled 
fieliis.  and  fine  appearance  generally,  make  it  one 
of  the  most  valuable  pieces  of  propert}'  in  this 
locality. 

March  4,  1868.  Mr.  Karr  and  Mrs.  Charity  E. 
(Peet)  Nixon  were  united  in  marriage,  and  in  tliis 
good  woman  our  subject  secured  a  pleasant  com- 
panion and  a  housewife  who  knows  well  how  to 
preside  over  her  household,  and  to  make  its  in- 
mates comfortable  and  happy.  Mrs.  Karr  is  a 
daughter  of  Thompson  and  Diana  (Lafevre)  Peet, 
who  were  old  settlers  of  this  county.  Her  father 
rounded  out  an  honorable  life  in  Princeville  in 
August,  1^89.  Her  mother  is  yet  living  at  a  ven- 
erable age.  At  the  time  of  lier  marriage  with  our 
subject,  Mrs.  Karr  was  the  widow  of  Ashford 
Nixon,  who  died  iu  Rosefield  Townshi|).  By  that 
marriage  she  had  the  following  four  children: 
Gale,  Amine,  Frances,  and  Diana. 

During  the  busy  period  of  his  life  when  he  was 
accumulating  his  properly,  Mr.  Karr  displayed  far- 
reaching  forethought,  much  native  siirewdness.  and 
uncommon  energy  ia  the  conduct  of  his  affairs,  and 
in  his  dealings  with  others,  always  justice  and 
fairness.  In  politics  the  Republican  party  has  in 
him  a  devoted  adherent.  He  has  mingled  some- 
what in  the  public  life  of  the  township,  having 
held  some  of  the  minor  offices. 


^^^^" 


tHOMAS  B.  McFADDEN.     -Bread    is  the 

f  f(^\  ^^"'^  ^^  '"^^  "  ^'^''  ^^  ^^^'  supplies  a  good 
article  fills  a  great  want  and  earns  the  grati- 
tude of  many  consumers.  The  gentleman  above- 
named,  proprietor  of  the  McFadden  Bakery,  No. 
41.")  Main  Street,  Peoria,  occupies  this  place  in  tlie 
IJublic  mind,  and  also  turns  out  from  his  establish- 
ment other  appetizing  articles  of  food.  He  pos- 
sesses a  large  degree  of  inventive  genius,  and  in 
addition  to  his  bakery  business  has  charge  of  the 
patent  rights  of  several  important  inventions.  He 
has  received  one  patent  for  freezing  ice.  and  others 
for  a  baker's  oven  and  an  apparatus  foi'  putting  in 
and  taking  bread  out  of  the  oven  ra|)i(ll3-. 

After  having  traveled  through  all  the  large  cities 


of  the  East,  Mr.  McFadden  found  that  all  bakers 
used  the  old  wooden  shovel  for  putting  in  their 
bread  and  he  is  now  preparing  to  push  his  inven- 
tion in  the  great  commercial  centers.  His  patent 
consists  of  a  long  track  with  a  car  so  arranged  that 
it  will  run  into  the  oven,  and  can  be  lowered  to  the 
bottom  and  taken  out  again,  securing  even  and 
proper  baking  and  having  a  rapidity  of  action  which 
enables  him  to  put  two  thousand  loaves  into  the 
oven  per  minute. 

Mr.  McFadden  is  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  now 
living  in  Peoria,  he  having  come  here  in  July, 
1835.  He  was  boru  in  Sterling,  Ca3uga  County, 
N.  Y.,  August  2,  1830,  to  George  C.  and  Jeannette 
(Beattie)  McFadden.  His  father  removed  to  Peoria 
County-,  this  State,  and  for  two  3'ears  was  engaged 
in  farming  nenr  the  count}-  seat.  He  was  then 
elected  County  Surveyor,  holding  the  office  con- 
tinuously for  sixteen  years.  In  1862  he  waselectetl 
Sheriff,  serving  one  term.  He  was  one  of  the  earl}' 
hotel-keepers  of  Peoria,  having  in  1851  located  ou 
Water  Street  and  during  the  war  having  kept  the 
Fulton  House  on  Jefferson  Street.  He  finally  re- 
moved to  Iowa,  dying  at  Boonesboro. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  this  city  and 
here  received  his  education.  He  began  his  business 
career  b}'  engaging  in  the  confectionery  business 
and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  has  contin- 
ued in  business  here  most  of  his  life.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  the  Troy  Mills  in  Fulton  Countv,  this 
State,  until  the}'  were  washed  away,  when  he  again 
started  in  business  in  Peoria.  In  1881  he  estab- 
lished a  small  bakery  in  a  quiet  quarter  of  the  city. 
His  strict  business  piincii)les  and  careful  manage- 
ment of  affairs,  brought  up  his  tr.ade  and  obliged 
him  to  increase  his  capacities,  and  he  now  has  the 
largest  bakery  in  the  city,  no  other  aiijiroaching  it 
in  size. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride  in  Peoria,  in  1852,  Mr. 
McFadden  was  united  in  marriasfe  with  Miss  Heleu 
Loucks,  with  whom  he  lived  happily  for  thirty 
years.  She  entered  into  rest  August  2,  1882,  leav- 
ing four  daughters  to  perpetuate  her  memory  by 
following  her  good  advice  and  useful  habits.  Three 
of  the  daughters  are  married  and  iu  homes  of  their 
own.  but  Ella,  the  eldest,  is  still  with  her  father; 
Minnie  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Pinkerton,  who 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


599 


is  engaged  with  Kingman  cfe  Co.,  of  this  city:  Jean- 
nette  is  tlie  wife  of  Josepli  Densberger,  also  of 
Peoria;  Louisa  is  llie  wife  of  Headley  \V.  Waycott, 
of  Peoria.  'Sir.  McFadden  is  neither  a  piilitieian 
or  an  oflice-seeiver,  but  supports  the  [Jiineiples  of 
the  Democratic  party  by  depositing  liis  ballot  on 
election  day. 


W4LLIAM  W.  PRATZ.  an  enterprising  and 
progressive  farmer  of  Brimtield  Township, 
owns  and  occupies  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  20.  In  the  accumulation  of  prop- 
erty his  efforts  have  been  ably  seconded  by  the 
prudent  management  and  wise  counsel  of  his  wife, 
whose  loving  iieart  and  thrifty  ways  have  made 
their  dwelling-i^lace  a  true  home.  He  himself  has 
manifested  unflagging  industry,  has  pursued  wise 
methods  of  cultivation,  and  exhibited  good  judg- 
ment in  determining  what  crops  to  raise  and  what 
stock  to  use  and  breed.  He  divides  his  attention 
between  the  cultivation  of  his  fields  and  the  raising 
of  livestock,  in  both  of  which  branches  of  agricul- 
tural work  he  is  meeting  with  success. 

Mr.  Pratz  is  a  native  of  Stark  County,  where  his 
birlli  took  place  March  21,  ls41.  He  is  a  son  of 
pioneer  settlers  in  that  count}',  whence  they  re- 
moved to  Peoria  County  when  our  sul)ject  was 
about  sixteen  years  old.  In  common  with  otiier 
members  of  pioneer  families,  he  received  limited 
school  privileges  and  early  learned  the  industrious 
and  self-reliant  habits  which  i)rove  sneh  stronij 
levers  in  moving  circumstances  to  one's  financial 
good.  He  grew  to  maturity  in  this  county,  sup- 
plying to  some  extent  the  deficiencies  in  his  edu- 
cation by  attendance  at  a  private  school.  During 
the  whole  course  of  his  life  he  has  paid  great  at- 
tention to  the  news  of  the  day  and  the  topics  pre- 
sented for  consideration  in  good  books,  and  is 
therefore  well  informed  on  general  subjects. 

On  the  2yih  of  February,  1864,  the  name  of 
W.  W.  Pratz  was  placed  upon  the  muster  roll  of 
Company  I,  iSeventi'-seveuth  Illinois  Infantry, 
which  formed  part  of  the  Union  army  in  the  De- 
partment of  the  Onlf.    The  young  man  bore  a  gal- 


lant part  in  the  sieges  of  Ft.  Gaines,  Ft.  ISIorgan,  Ft. 
Blakely  and  Spanish  Fort,  in  the  liy;ht  at  Whistler's 
Station,  and  in  numerous  skirmishes  of  minor  im- 
portance. As  one  of  the  gallant  band  of  privates 
upon  whom  fell  the  brunt  of  the  struggle,  lie  served 
until  August  15,  1865,  when  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  and  returned  to  his  home  to  again 
identify  himself  with  the  .-igricultural  interests  of 
the  county  wherein  he  h.as  continued  to  reside. 

A  few  months  after  his  retuin  from  the  fields  of 
battle  Mr.  Pratz  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  C.  Dey,  a  native  of  Warren  County.  X.  J., 
born  November  20,1 842.  Her  father.  Dr.  William  B. 
Dey,  died  in  his  native  State,  New  .lersey,  when 
Marj'  was  about  seven  3'ears  of  age.  and  about  three 
years  later  the  widowed  mother  came  to  this  part 
of  Illinois  with  her  family.  She  settled  in  Mill- 
brook  Township,  Peoria  County,  and  here  Mrs. 
Pratz  grew  to  maturity.  .She  received  a  good 
practical  education,  and  for  a  time  was  engiged  in 
school  teaching.  Her  marriage  to  our  subject  was 
celebrated  Januar\'  17,  1860,  and  the  union  has 
been  productive  to  them  of  eight  children.  The 
first-born,  Edith,  is  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Sprowls  of 
Elm  wood.  The  others,  who  still  remain  with  their 
|)arents,  are  Charles  U.,  Fred  D..  Rowena  H.,  Lois 
E.  A..  Carrie  H..  Clark  A.  and  Gertie  O.  The  eld- 
est daughter  and  the  two  eldest  sons  have  taught 
school. 

In  1882  Mr.  Pratz  took  posses.sion  of  his  jiresent 
farm,  a  tract  of  land  under  excellent  cultivation 
ami  bearing  such  improvements  as  make  it  a  home 
of  comfort  and  pleasing  appearance.  He  has  ever 
endeavored  to  assist  in  the  movements  which  have 
been  made  to  advance  the  interests  of  society  and 
develop  the  material  resources  of  this  section  of 
the  fertile  Prairie  State,  while  at  the  same  time 
bestowing  upon  his  children  every  opportunity 
possible  to  gain  knowledge  and  acquire  habits 
which  will  fit  them  for  honorable  citizenship.  He  is 
now  serving  as  Township  School  Trustee.  In  com- 
memoration of  his  army  life,  he  is  identified  with 
the  Grand  Army  Postat  Brimfield.and,  it  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  say,  votes  the  Republican  ticket. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Sarah 
(Wetzel)  Pratz,  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  who 
for  a  time  itiadc  their  home  in  Ohio.  They  came  to 


600 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Stark  County.  111.,  in  1837.  securing  one  hundred 
.ind  sixty  .acres  of  Government  land,  for  which 
Ihej-  paid  the  usual  price  of  §1.25  per  acre,  and 
which  thej^  reclaimed  from  the  raw  prairie,  making 
of  it  a  productive,  well-improved  estate.  In  1857 
they  removed  with  their  f.imil3'  to  Peoria  County, 
making  their  home  in  Millbrook  Township  until 
called  hence,  the  father,  in  18G2  and  the  mother  in 
18G6.  Thej-  had  quite  a  large  family-,  of  whom  the 
deceased  members  are  Elizabeth.  Susannah.  Mary 
C,  Sarah  and  Stephen.  The  survivors  are:  .Jona- 
than and  John,  who  live  in  Stark  Count\-;  Marga- 
ret, wife  of  G.  M.  Hazen, of  Stark  County;  Isabella, 
wife  of  Josiah  .Taques.  of  ^Millbrook  Tovnship; 
Sarah  J.,  wife  of  A.  R.  Aten.  of  Round  Rock,  Tex.; 
Emeline.  wife  of  H.  S.  .Taques,  of  Millbrook  Town- 
ship, and  our  subject.  The  father  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

After  the  death  of  Dr.  Dev  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Pratz  became  the  wife  of  A.  U.  '\V\-coft',  who  died 
several  years  since.  T!ie  widow,  now  past  seventy 
years  old.  is  kindl}-  caied  for  by  her  children,  under 
whose  various  roofs  she  spends  such  time  as  she 
desires.  She  bore  her  first  husband  five  children, 
of  whom  the  onl}-  survivors  are  Sarah,  wife  of  Ezra 
G.  Webster,  of  Upper  Alton,  and  Mrs.  Pratz.  The 
deceased  are  I'heodoric,  Emma  and  William.  The 
children  of  Mr.  Wycoff  are:  Harriet  E.,  wife  of 
James  Coe.  of  Milbrook  Township,  and  L3dia  A.. 
wife  of  William  J.aques,  of  Brimfield  Township. 


DeTALLYRAND  moody  has  live.l  in 
///  i|  this  county  as  boy  and  man  for  n)ore  than 
A  half  a  century,  and  is  well  known  and  uai- 
versall}-  respected.  He  has  been  a  farmer 
all  his  life,  and  that  he  has  pursued  his  work  to 
good  advantage  is  shown  by  the  farm  that  he  has 
im[iroved  in  Pi  inceville  Township,  Ij'ing  partly  on 
section  4,  and  the  remainder  on  section  5,  which,  in 
a  locality  noted  for  its  fine  farms,  compares  with 
the  best  in  regard  to  cultivation,  and  the  excellence 
and  value  of  its  appointments  in  general. 

Ira  Moody,   the    father    of  our  subject,   was  a 


native  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  son  of  one  Ethan 
Moo<ly.  who  was  born  in  England.  He  was  a  sailor 
working  his  wa}'  up  from  a  cabin  bo}'  and  eventu- 
ally died  on  the  sea.  He  had,  however,  before 
that,  made  his  home  in  Massachusetts  for  years,  and 
there  reared  a  family. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  the  old 
Bay  State  and  followeii  farming  there  until  his  re- 
moval to  Medina  C(Hinty,  Ohio,  of  which  he  thus 
became  a  pioneer.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land  in 
the  primeval  forest,  cleared  it.  and  became  the  pos- 
sessor of  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  acres.  In 
1839,  he  brought  his  family  to  this  State,  traveling 
with  a  team  and  wagon,  and  after  a  journej-of  five 
weeks,  arriving  in  Peoria  Countv.  He  located  on 
section  4,  this  township,  on  eightj'  acres  of  raw 
land,  which  he  broke  and  improved.  He  subse- 
quently bought  one  hundred  and  sixtj^  acres  ad- 
joining and  moved  on  to  it  and  was  engaged  in 
farming  here  until  his  death.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  educational  affairs  here,  holding  some  of 
the  school  offices,  and  .as  a  pioneer  of  the  township, 
his  name  will  ever  be  held  in  remembrance.  He 
was  prominent  in  local  affairs  and  was  Township 
Trustee  for  some  3'ears.  His  wife,  a  native  of  New 
Jersev,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ann  M.  Reaves, 
also  died  on  the  homestead.  The}'  were  the  parents 
ot  the  following  ten  children:  Oliver,  a  resident 
of  Princeville;  Hcnr}-,  and  Ira  M.,  deceased; 
Julia,  Mrs.  Henry,  of  Princeville  Toivnshi[);  M. 
DeTallyrand:  Amy,  Mrs.  Davis  and  Reaves,  de- 
ceased; Mary,  Mrs.  James,  living  in  Oregon  ;  and 
Nathan  and  Charlotte,  deceased. 

M.  DeTallvrand  Moody  was  born  in  ^ledina 
County,  Ohio,  Mav  9.1835.  He  was  four  \ears 
old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  event- 
ful journej',  from  the  place  of  his  birth  to  their 
new  pioneer  home,  and  he  can  still  remember  the 
aspect  of  the  country  as  it  was  in  his  early  days. 
He  developed  into  a  manlj',  strong,  self-reliant  m.an, 
under  the  pioneer  influences.  He  was  set  to  work 
at  a  vervj'outhful  age,  and  plowed  corn  when  onl^' 
ten  years  of  age,  and  when  quite  j'oung  he  broke 
the  prairie  soil  with  five  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  wooden 
plow.  He  obtained  his  education  under  difficul- 
ties, there  being  no  schools  in  the  vieinit}'  and  he 
had  to  walk  to  a  distant  schoolhouse  through  three 


f0i^MM 


^ 


-z-^    ^,.^ 


<;^-<2_^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPIIICAL  ALBUM, 


603 


miles  of  tall  piairie  grass.  He  can  icmember  when 
wolves,  (leer  and  other  wild  game  were  [ilent}',  and 
venison  and  prairie  ciiiekens  formed  a  part  of  the 
fare  (_>f  the  early  settlers.  ^Markets  were  far  away 
and  his  fatlier  hail  to  li.aul  ins  wheat  to  Cliieago. 
lie  worked  for  his  father  until  hf  was  twenty-one 
and  then  oiicrated  the  home  farm  on  shares.  In 
1874  he  took  a  trip  with  a  team  to  Missouri  for 
pleasure.  He  operated  his  father's  farm  until  the 
hitter's  dcat!;.  He  bought  sixty  acres  of  it  to  start 
on  before  his  father's  death,  and  ho  has  sinee  added 
to  his  original  purchase  until  he  owns  two  hundred 
and  fort3'  acres,  one  hiindied  and  sixty  on  section 
4.  and  eighty  acies  on  section  ."),  all  of  which  is  very 
well  improved.  It  is  divided  into  convenient  fields 
and  is  well  fenced  and  there  is  an  ample  sup|ily  of 
water  on  it  from  three  never-failing  springs,  and  it 
is  supplied  vvitli  all  the  latest  improved  farming 
machinery.  He  has  lieen  engaged  in  raising  graded 
catUe  an<l  hogs,  and  has  some  fine  draft  horses,  ten 
head  of  Normans  and  Cleveland  bays.  For  the 
last  three  years  he  has  rented  his  land,  and  derives 
from  that  source  an  excellent  income.  As  his  land 
is  nearly-  all  in  grass  and  pasture  and  is  well  watered, 
it  is  a  fine  stock  farm. 

Mr.  Mo(vly  and  Miss  Harriet  Barr  were  married 
in  Princeville  Township,  in  18(j4,  and  their  pleasant 
wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  them  b3-  the  birth 
of  three  children:  ^Miranda.  Anna,  and  Stella. 
IMiranda  was  a  school  teacher  until  her  marriage  to 
K.  V.Graves,  of  Duncan,  who  is  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness in  that  place.  The  wife  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Penn.sylvania,  a  daughter  of  David  Barr. 
She  came  here  with  her  parents  when  thirtcon  _ycars 
old.  and  her  father  was  engaged  as  a  shoemaker  in 
Princeville. 

Our  subject  is  a  man  of  many  fine  characteris- 
tics, is  tliouglitful,  discriminating,  and  always  con- 
siderate in  his  relations  witli  others,  and  though 
quiet  and  vin.assuining,  is  a  force  for  much  good  in 
his  community,  and  is  looked  up  to  liy  all,  ,as  a 
sage  counselor  whose  honest}'  and  integrity  of  pur- 
pose hold  him  to  his  duty  without  regard  to 
personal  considerations.  These  traits,  with  his 
well-known  interest  in  all  that  ))ertains  to  the  well 
being  of  this  township,  and  his  energetic  co-opera- 
tion with  his  fellow-citizens  in  pushing  forward  any 


l)lans  devised  for  the  benefit  of  the  community, 
make  him  very  desirable  as  a  factor  in  carrying  on 
the  public  work  of  this  part  of  the  count}',  and  he 
has  tilled  various  local  otliccs  very  acce|5tabl_\'.  He 
has  been  Commissioner  of  Highways  three  years, 
and  was  School  Director  from  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  until  six  years  ago,  a  hjug  and  honorable  ser- 
vice in  behalf  of  educational  matters.  Ho  is  a 
member  of  the  Detective  Thief  and  Mutual  Benefit 
Association  at  Princeville.  Politically  he  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  county  conventions.  He  has  served  on 
the  Grand  anil  Petit  .luries. 


-5-i-|«^^=f+-J— 


^  R.  SARAH  DkLOSS  is  a  famous  physician, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  successful  members 
of  the  medical  profession  now  practicing  in 
Peoria.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Maj.  Samuel  Cooper, 
a  gallant  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  a  des- 
cendant of  an  ancient  family. 

Dr.  DeLoss  is  a  woman  of  no  ordinary  character. 
Early  in  life  she  evinced  the  [)ossession  of  peculiar 
powers  of  mind.  She  received  a  thorough  mental 
training,  and  at  an  age  when  many  girls  are  in  the 
school-room  she  began  lecturing  on  phrenology 
and  physiognomy.  She  possessed  an  accurate 
knowledge  of  those  sulijects  and  a  fine  command 
of  language,  delivering  her  views  in  an  easy  and 
interesting  manner  that  delighted  her  audiences. 
She  continued  in  the  lecture  field  man}-  years,  and 
at  the  same  time  devoted  her  leisure  to  studying 
medicine,  and  entered  upon  its  practice  after 
attending  several  courses  of  medical  lectures. 

The  Doctor  possesses  in  a  wonderful  degree  the 
occult  power  of  diagnosis  by  that  peculiar  natural 
endowment  of  mental  vision.  After  diagnosis  her 
treatment  of  disease  is  on  the  regular  plan  of  phy- 
sicians. Her  success  h,'is  been  verj'  marked,  even 
in  the  most  ditticult  cases,  and  patrons  come  to 
her  from  everj-  part  of  the  I'nited  States,  At 
forty-seven  years  of  age  her  practice  is  well  es- 
tablished and  constantly  growing,  while  she  holds 
an  assured  place  in  the  medical  world. 

The    Doctor  is   a  very   intelligent   and    pleasant 


604 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


woman,  auil  an  interesting  conversationalist,  and 
has  nianj'  warm  friends  and  admirers.  She  is  build- 
ing a  residence  and  infirmary  in  this  city,  at  'So.  217 
Fifth  .Street,  that  will  be  perfect  in  its  api)oint- 
ments  and  adaptation  to  her  profession.  She  is  mak- 
ing a  specially  of  the  treatment  of  hydrophobia, 
has  made  a  careful  study  of  that  terrible  disease, 
and  is  now  prepared  to  cope  with  it  in  its  most 
dreadful  form.  She  also  makes  a  specialty  of 
consumption,  having  cured  cases  where  half  the 
lungs  were  gone.  She  removes  cancers  and  tumors 
without  using  a  knife,  and  now  has  over  one 
thousand  patients  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
States.  Her  portrait,  presented  on  another  page, 
will  be  welcomed  by  the  many  friends  she  has  won, 
both  professiorally  and  socially. 


lOHN  W.  HANSEL,  now  United  States 
Store-keeper  in  Peoria,  is  an  honored  resi- 
dent of  the  cit}',  well  deserving  of  repre- 
sentation in  this  BioGEAiTiK.AL  Album  by 
reason  of  liis  sterling  character,  energetic  nature, 
and  painstaking  pursuit  of  wjiatsoever  vocation  he 
is  engaged  in.  He  was  born  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  March  23,  181G,  being  a  descendant  of  two 
German  families,  and  a  son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
(Zerby)  Hansel.  The  original  spelling  of  the  pa- 
ternal name  was  Hensel.  He  remained  in  the 
Buckeye  .State  until  twent3'-two  3-ears  old.  taking 
advantage  of  the  opportunities  afforded  him  to 
acquire  an  education,  and  manifesting  industry  and 
zeal  in  gaining  a  support.  In  1829  he  carried  the 
mail  on  horseback  from  Mansfield  to  Bue3'rus,  and 
he  also  took  a  route  to  Delaware,  the  latter  trip 
consuming  three  days.  The  principal  part  of  his 
education  was  obtained  while  on  these  trips,  he 
carrying  books  and  studj-ing  on  the  wa}'. 

A  short  time  after  passing  his  majority  Mr. 
Hansel  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  spent 
two  years,  then  returning  to  his  native  State,  went 
into  the  furniture  business  in  Newark.  He  became 
skilled  in  cabinet-making,  a  trade  in  which  he  has 
done  iDuch  fine  work.  In  184G  he  went  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  fiuuitiire  busi- 


ness until  the  gold  fever  broke  out  in  1849.  He 
tlien  crossed  the  plains  overland  to  California,  tlie 
trip  consuming  four  months.  He  first  engaged  in 
making  shingles  from  redwood,  sixteen  miles  from 
Benecia,  then  the  capital  of  California.  Mr.  Han- 
sel had  a  cabin  in  tliose  woods,  one  side  of  it  be- 
ing a  tree,  twelve  feet  in  diameter.  This  was  in 
October,  1819,  and  within  a  few  months  there  were 
thirty  cabins  in  the  forest.  Later  Mr.  Hansel 
wt^nt  to  .San  Francisco,  where  he  finished  the  first 
good  banking  house  office  in  the  State,  and  executed 
some  fine  wood  carving  and  veneering  for  it.  Thus 
he  was  occupied  until  the  1st  of  April,  1850,  re- 
ceiving as  compensation  -^14  per  day.  Later  after 
spending  six  weeks  in  the  mines  he  went  to  Sacra- 
mento, and  engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  meet- 
ing witli  success. 

Our  subject  recalls  one  interesting  incident  in 
illustration  of  the  |)ioneer  life  of  California.  He 
at  one  time  needed  seasoned  lumber,  and  seeing  a 
notice  in  the  paper  that  a  cargo  of  colfins  was  to  be 
sold  to  pay  freight,  concluded  that  the  boxes  in 
which  they  came  would  be  serviceable  to  him. 
Accordingly  he  made  a  bid  for  what  the  lumber  in 
the  outside  cases  was  worth,  but  as  none  of  them 
were  opened,  he  saw  no  coffins.  The  whole  cargo 
was  knocked  down  to  him,  and  amounted  to  about 
$800.  On  opening  the  boxes  he  found  three  solid 
mahogony  coffins  in  each  box,  the  inside  coffin 
being  filled  with  dried  peaches,  then  sold  at  a  high 
price.  The  coffins  seemed  of  but  little  use,  as  the 
neighborhood  was  a  health}'  one.  and  Mr.  Hansel 
stacked  them  awa^',  expecting  to  use  them  in  mak- 
ing other  furniture.  But  six  weeks  later  the  cholera 
broke  out,  and  the  death  rate  was  so  high  that  all 
the  coffins  were  disposed  of  very  soon,  and  at  less 
price  than  others  were  selling  pine  coffins.  Mr. 
Hansel  realized  out  of  that  trade  between  two  and 
three  thousand  dollars. 

In  1850  Mr.  Hansel  returned  to  the  States  via 
the  Isthmus,  which  he  walked  across.  The  vessel 
on  which  he  sailed  from  San  Francisco  was  be- 
calmed, and  was  ninety  days  in  reaching  its  port 
on  the  Isthmus.  On  this  trip  the  crew  and  p,assen- 
gers  were  almost  starved,  being  reduced  to  one 
wormy  biscuit  per  day,  and  a  pint  of  water  for  each 
person.     He  took  a  steamer   to  the  ^Vest  Indies, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


605 


llieii(;e  to  New  York,  :uul  I'liuii  there  to  St.  Louis. 
He  filially  reached  Peoria  June  G,  1851,  and  iiere 
he  eiigaucrl  in  the  hardware  business.  He  has 
visited  almost  every  city  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  and  made  manj'  trips  to  the  Pacific  Coast, 
takinn;  in  all  the  territory  betweeu  Old  Mexico  on 
the  South  and  British  Columbia  on  the  North. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  part^-, 
Mr.  Hansel  has  been  a  member  of  it,  [irior  to  which 
he  was  a  Whig.  He  is  proud  of  the  fact  that,  hav- 
ing voted  for  William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840,  he 
was  able  to  cast  his  ballot  for  another  of  the  name 
in  1888.  He  has  held  various  [jublic  ollices,  dis- 
charging their  duties  in  a  manner  which  has  won 
good  words  from  all  who  were  acquainted  with  his 
duties.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Indeiiendent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  His  religious  belief  finds  expres- 
sion through  the  E|)iscopal  Church,  his  name  being 
enrolled  among  the  members  of  St.  Paul's. 

In  looking  back  over  his  life  Mr.  Hansel  remem- 
bers with  pleasure  an  event  which  trans|)ired  June 
18,  1839,  itbeing  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ann, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Little,  of  Newark,  Ohio.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hansel  have  enjoyed  a  privilege  permitted 
to  but  few — that  of  celebrating  their  golden  wed- 
ing.  Twelve  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
five  of  whom  have  crossed  the  river  of  death. 
Those  still  living  are:  Jacob  Corwin;  Mary  C, 
wife  of  W.  Y.  Miller,  now  living  in  Eldorado,  Kan. ; 
Ellen  S.,  wife  of  William  A.  Wilkinson,  whose 
home  is  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  John  W..  Jr.,  of 
Chicago;  George  H.,  head  book-keeper  for  Kolin 
Bros., wholesale  clothing  manufacturers,  of  Chicago; 
Charles,  a  civil  engineer  in  Springfield,  formerly 
Chief  Engineer  on  the  Wabash  Railroad,  now  Con- 
sulting Engineer  of  the  Railroad  Commission;  and 
Annie  S.,  who  still  remains  under  the  parental  roof. 


-m- 


ESLIE  ROBISON.  This  name  is  well  known 
£j)  to  the  older   residents  of  I'coria  as  the  cog- 
nomen   of    one    of    her    able    lawyers,    for 


many  years  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, winning  fame  and  fortune  by  his  wisdom 
and  legal  skill.    At  a  more  recent  period  Mr.  Robi- 


son  has  become  known  for  his  interest  in  various 
enterprises  of  an  industrial  nature.  At  present  he 
is  President  of  the  tJas  Light  and  Coke  Company, 
the  Jenney  Electric  Light  and  Power  Company, the 
Nicol.  Burr  &  Co.  Foundry  and  JIachine  Works, 
and  the  Gipps  Brewing  Companj-,  all  prominent 
corporations. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Robison  were  born  in  Aber- 
deenshire, Scotland,  whence  they  came  to  America 
in  1832.  James  Robison,  the  father,  was  a  farmer, 
and  was  for  a  time  contractor  on  the  old  Pennsyl- 
vania State  Railroad  from  Johnstown,  to  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  now  the  Pennsylvania  road.  He  died  in 
Tazewell  County,  this  State,  in  .September,  1881, 
where  be  had  located  in  1837.  To  his  good  wife, 
Isabella  (Leslie)  Robison,  ten  children  were  born, 
five  of  whom  are  3'et  living:  James  W.  is  a  banker, 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  Butler  Count3%  Kan.; 
the  next  is  the  subject  of  this  notice;  Mrs.  Susan 
Woodrow  lives  in  (Jreen  A'alley,  Tazewell  Countj', 
111.;  Isabella,  wife  of  Rev.  Charles  E.  Marsh,  lives 
in  Farmington,  111.;  and  Mrs.  Mary  R.  Caldwell, 
in  Peoria. 

Leslie  Robison  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich., 
August  8,  1834,  and  being  brought  to  this  State 
when  scarcely  more  than  an  infant,  grew  to  man- 
hood amid  the  usual  surroundings  of  a  farmer's 
son  in  the  fertile  Prairie  State.  He  pursued 
his  studies  in  Knox  College,  at  Galesburg,  III., 
and  subsequently  entered  Y''ale  College,  gradu- 
ating in  the  classical  course  in  the  class  of  '58. 
His  taste  leading  him  to  choose  the  law  as  his  fu- 
ture occupation,  he  entered  the  office  of  Judge 
Powell  and  Henry  Grove,  in  Peoria,  and  under 
their  instruction  became  well  grounded  in  the 
principles  and  precedents  laid  down  by  Coke, 
Blackstone  and  other  lights  in  the  legal  firmament. 

After  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  Mr.  Robison 
built  up  an  excellent  practice,  for  twentj'-two 
years  devoting  his  attention  to  legal  affairs.  He 
gradually  became  divorced  from  professional  labors 
as  he  became  interested  in  industries  of  various 
kinds  that  require  financial  ability  to  bring  them 
to  a  successful  issue.  DLiring  the  years  1876  and 
1877  he  served  as  Mayor  of  Peoria,  gaining 
plaudits  from  those  who  approved  his  course,  and. 
as  is  always  the  case,  being  a  target  for  the  shafl.s 


60C 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  others.  His  report!  stands  as  the  true  test  of 
his  worth  in  imiuifipal  affairs.  In  politics  he  is  a 
slaiicli  Uopublican.  As  a  financier  liis  abilitj-  is 
ariinowledged  b^y  liis  associates,  and  Ids  legal  acu- 
men, individual  worth  of  character  and  social 
qualities,  are  known  to  all  with  whom  he  conies  in 
contact. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Robison  was  known  in  her 
girlhood  as  Miss  .lulia  Ballanee.  Their  marriage 
rites  were  celebrated  in  1864,  and  they  shared  life's 
cares  and  pleasures  until  1871,  when  the  wife  was 
called  iience.  She  was  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  only  survivor  is  Charles  W., 
now  engaged  in  the  electric  light  business.  In 
187:^  Mr.  Robison  contracted  a  second  matrimonial 
alliance,  his  companion  being  Miss  Elizabeth. 
daughter  of  William  Rutherford,  of  Peoria.  .She 
is  a  lady  of  charming  manners,  cultured  mind,  and 
womaiil3'  virtue,  who  has  many  friends. 


IIARLE.S  J.  BENNETT  has  been  engaged 
in  the  grain  and  commission  business  in 
^.  Peoria  for  several  j'ears.  and  his  standing 
in  tlie  financial  circles  of  the  city  is  of  the  highest, 
lie  is  a  veteran  of  the  late  war,  in  which  he  did 
noble  service  for  his  adopted  countr3-  as  a  brave 
and  ca(.able  soldier. 

A  native  of  Wiltshire,  England,  our  sul)ject  was 
born  November  1.5,  18.34.  He  is  a  son  of  Eli  and 
Elizabeth  ( Whitmarch)  Bennett,  who  crossed  the 
Atlantic  with  their  family  in  185."),  and  established 
themselves  at  Jamestown,  near  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
vhere  the  father  carried  on  farming,  a  business  he 
liad  pursued  in  England.  In  185G  the  family 
came  to  Peoria  County,  and  made  their  home  in 
Ihimfield,  and  were  lionoied  residents  of  that  place 
for  several  years.  In  1865  the  father  started  to 
revisit  his  old  English  home  and  died  on  the  way. 
lie  was  a  man  of  man}' sterling  virtues,  and  was 
well  regarded  in  his  eominunity,  and  his  death  was 
a  blow  to  its  industrial  interests.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  several  years,  her  death  not  occurring 
until    1880,     Of    their    children    Nebemiah    had 


preceded  the  family  in  their  emigration  to  this 
country,  coming  herein  1850,  and  he  died  in  1886. 
The  names  of  the  others  were:  Amelia,  wife  of 
Horace  Rider,  of  Brinifield;  Albert,  deceased,  who 
was  a  soldier  in  the  late  Civil  War,  and  ne^er 
recovered  from  injuries  sustained  on  the  battle- 
field; Edwin,  a  resident  of  Rice  County,  Kan;  and 
Charles  J. 

The  first  wc>rk  of  our  subject  was  on  a  farm.  He 
received  excellent  training  as  an  agriculturist,  and 
for  several  years  farmed  near  (ialva.  He  was  thus 
engaged  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  as  soon  as 
he  could  arrange  it  he  entered  the  army  to  defend 
the  honor  of  his  ado|)ted  country,  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany E,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois 
Infantrj'.  He  fought  all  through  the  A'icksburg 
camijaign,  and  after  that  was  chiefly  engaged  in 
Mississippi.  Eor  a  while  his  regiment  was  stationed 
at  Champion  Hills,  and  he  and  his  fellow-soldiers 
took  an  active  part  in  many  a  ski-mish  and  hard- 
won  battle.  Our  subject  was  honorably  discharged 
in  the  month  of  Se|)tember,  1865,  having  won  a 
fine  military  recortl. 

After  he  left  the  army  Mr.  Bennett  returned  to 
this  county,  and  for  several  years  was  employed  by 
Ctark  ife  Hanna  in  Peoria.  In  1877  he  invested 
his  capital  in  his  present  business  as  a  grain  and 
commission  merciiant.  He  handles  hay,  potatoes, 
grain,  etc.,  and  commands  a  large  and  lucrative 
trade,  and  takes  a  leading  place  among  the  com- 
mission merchants  of  this  city. 

Mr.  Bennett  and  Miss  Susan  Harrison  were 
united  in  niarri.age  May  4,  18G1,  and  they  have  es- 
tablishetl  here  a  very  pleasant  and  cozj'  home,  to 
which  their  numerous  friends  are  often  attracted 
b}'  the  geniality  of  the  host  and  the  genuine  kind- 
ness and  thoughtfulness  of  the  hostess.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  of  their  wedded  life:  Minnie, 
wife  of  Thomas  ^'alentine;  and  Harry  C,  who 
married  Lottie  Eishaur,  and  is  engaged  in  the  com- 
mission business  with  his  father. 

Jlr.  Bennett  is  a  thoroughl}'  wide-awake  practi- 
cal man  of  business,  who  conducts  his  affairs  me- 
thodically and  systematical!}',  and  withal  so  hon- 
orably that  his  credit  is  good  wherever  he  is  known. 
His  arm}'  life  is  commemorated  by  his  connection 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  he  also 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


609 


belongs  to  the  Masonic  order.  He  is  a  man  of 
tiiic  Christian  spirit,  a  member  of  Calvary  Mis- 
sion Ciiureh,  and  is  active  in  all  good  works  that 
tend  to  elevate  the  community.  In  politics  he 
favors  the  policy  of  the  Reimlilican   party. 


♦^-^^= 


h^^  OSE.SS.  BEECHER.  Amono- the  reputable 
business  men  of  Peoria  none  have  a  better 
*  standing  for  their  use  of  honorable  busi- 
ness methods,  their  knowledge  of  that  in 
whieii  tliej'  deal,  and  their  high  principles,  than 
the  subject  of  this  notice,  who  has  for  a  number  of 
years  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade,  and  whose 
portrait  appears  in  our  Aliujm.  ile  comes  of  the 
old  Pilgrim  stock,  the  paternal  line  being  traced 
back  to  the  days  of  the  Puritan  Fathers,  and  can 
proudly  point  to  ancestors  who  have  done  the 
country  good  service  in  her  limes  of  peril,  as  well 
as  in  the  quiet  years  when  an  honorable  life  was 
her  chief  need. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  New  Haven,  Conn., 
born  December  1,  1!S31,  to  Alexander  II.  and  Phebe 
(Weed)  Beecher.  The  parental  family  included 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living,  he  of 
whom  we  write  being  the  eldest  of  these.  Ilis 
parents  were  natives  of  the  same  State  as  himself, 
ills  father  being  originally  a  comb-maker,  but  after- 
ward a  merchant.  He  died  in  1886,  and  his  good 
wife  is  still  living.  The  son  of  whom  we  write 
was  apprenticed  to  the  carriage-making  trade, 
which  he  followed  altogether  tvveniy-niiie  years. 
Of  tiie  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  which 
was  celebrated  .lune  13,  186.5,  three  children 
have  been  born,  namely:  Mary  F.,  Cornelius  R. 
and  Kditli  .1. 

In  the  year  1860  Mr.  Beecher  came  to  Peoi'ia, 
where  he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  until  1877, 
becoming  well  known  for  thorough  and  leliable 
workmanship.  During  the  year  mentioned  he  re- 
nioveil  to  Harve}'  County,  Kan.,  wlune  he  opened 
up  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  re- 
siding there  nine  years,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Peoria  and  embarked  in  his  present  occupation. 
He  is  still  one  of  the  prominent  stockholders  in  the 


Newton  National  Bank,  at  Newton,  Kan.  lie  is  a 
member  of  the  Jlasonic  order,  having  attained  the 
Thirty-second  degree  in  Masonry.  Politicallj',  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  religiously,  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Congregational  Churcii. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sul)jtct,  Moses 
Beecher,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  became  a  sailor 
in  early  life,  and  during  the  Revolution  did  his 
country  good  service  as  Captain.of  a  privatrer.  lie 
w.as  taken  prisoner  by  Commodore  Hardy,  and 
after  spending  six  months  in  captivity,  was  released 
on  the  coast  near  Halifa.x,  placed  on  a  barge  and 
taken  out  to  where  the  water  was  up  to  his  neck, 
when  he  was  told  to  make  his  way  to  land  as  best 
he  could.  He  was  unable  to  swim,  lint  he  man.aged 
to  get  ashore,  where  he  w.as  Bred  at  by  the  enem3', 
but  escaped  fatal  injury  and  linally  reached  friends. 

On  another  occasion  while  pursuing  his  seafaring 
life  he  was  taken  prisoner,  when  the  Island  of 
Cuba  was  under  an  embargo,  and  spent  several 
months  in  the  notorious  Moro  Castle  prison,  lie 
performed  ninety-nine  long  voyages,  braving  the 
perils  of  the  deep  for  more  than  half  a  contiiry, 
sailing  on  nearly  every  sea  under  the  sun,  visiting 
many  a  foreign  land,  and  establishing  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  sea  cajjtain  and  practical  navigator. 
He  entered  into  rest  in  1847,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-nine  years,  leaving  a  large  family  of 
children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandrhililrcn  to 
cherish  his  memor}*. 


///-^EORGE  W.  BUTTS.  Akron  Township  is 
the  home  of  many  men  of  enterprise  who 
have  displayed  skill  in  the  work  to  which 
they  have  turned  their  hands,  good  judgment  in 
management,  honor  in  dealing  with  their  fellow- 
men  and  the  thoroughly  ujiright  characters  whieli 
win  respect  from  all  about  them.  One  of  this  class 
is  the  gentleman  named  above,  who  is  located  on 
section  25,  owning  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  fine  land,  upon  which  most  excellent  buildings 
have  been  erected  and  the  various  fine  improve- 
ments made  which  stamp  it  as  the  abode  of  one  who 
has  prospereil  in  worldly  affairs  and  i)osscsses  good 


610 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tnste  and  jiulgmetit.  In  addition  to  this  fine  estatt- , 
Mr.  Butts  owns  a  one-tliird  interest  in  the  West 
IIallocl\  Cheese  Facloiy,  of  which  he  has  been  man- 
ager and  salesman  for  several  years. 

Our  subject  comes  of  respectable  parentage,  his 
father  having  been  John  R.  Butts,  a  native  of 
"Washington  Countj-,  N.  Y  ,  and  his  mother,  Lo- 
raina  (Cliurch)  Butts,  a  native  of  Vermont.  After 
their  marriage  the  worth}'  couple  lived  iu  New 
York  for  a  time,  then  located  iu  Ingham  County. 
Mich.,  spending  about  five  years  there,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  that  time  changing  their  location  to 
this  county.  Their  removal  hither  took  place  in  the 
fall  of  1849,and  in  the  following  spring  they  located 
on  section  25,  Akron  Township,  where  thev  lived 
several  3-ears.  removing  thence  to  Rock  Countj', 
Wis.,  where  Mrs.  Butts  breathed  her  last.  She  was 
llie  mother  of  three  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
was  the  30ungest  and  is  now  the  only  survivor. 
The  father  returned  to  this  township  prior  to  his 
decease,  entering  into  rest  here. 

The  birthplace  of  our  subject  was  Chenango 
Count}-,  N.  Y..  and  his  natal  day  November  10, 
ls;U.  He  accom|)anied  his  parents  to  Michigan 
and  Illinois,  pursuing  his  stuiiies  in  the  various 
States  in  which  he  resided  during  his  boyhood  and 
and  youth,  and  acquiring  an  excellent  knowledge 
of  farm  work  while  still  quite  young.  To  this  oc- 
cupation he  has  devoted  his  attention,  choosing  it 
for  liis  life  labor.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
the  various  affairs  wliich  will  benefit  this  section  of 
country  and  has  been  prominent  in  the  local  offices. 
As  Supervisor  of  the  township  he  has  served  effi 
ciently  several  teims,  has  also  held  the  office  of 
Assessor  and  that  of  School  Director,  bringing  to 
each  public  station  a  determination  to  exert  all  his 
energy  in  bchalr  of  those  who  placec*  him  in  office, 
and  satisfying  them  in  his  manifold  duties.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  active  members  of  the  Seventh  D.ay  Bap- 
tist Cliurch. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  was  celebrated  in 
Peoria,  November  11,  1858,  his  bride  being  3Iiss 
Emily  Tallett.  She  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Dud- 
ley and  Anna  (Church)  Tallett,  whose  birth  and 
death  took  place  in  the  Empire  State.  Mrs.  Butts 
was  born  January  3.  1835,  and  during  her  married 


life  has  proved  her  worth  as  wife  and  mother,  and 
has  made  many  friends  among  the  neighbors  who 
appreciate  her  kindliness  and  intelligence.  .She  has 
borne  her  husband  four  children,  two  of  whom  are 
still  inmates  of  the  parental  home.  These  are  Anna 
B.  and  Frank  C.  John  C,  a  half-brother  of  Mr. 
Butts  is  also  a  member  of  the  family.  The  oldest 
member  of  the  family  is  Ella  J.,  now  the  widon*  of 
Albert  T.  Hakes;  the  second  is  IMary  L..  wife  of 
George  Potter.  All  have  been  well  reared,  given 
good  educations,  and  so  fitted  for  useful  and  hon- 
orable lives. 


,p^  AMUEL  3IARSHALL.  who  resides  on  sec- 

^^^    tion  30,  Brimfeld  Township,  has  accumu- 

\/_J))  lated   an   excellent  property  by  means  of 

unflagging  industry,  judicious  expenditure, 

and    prudent  management.     He  and  the  wife  who 

has  so  ably  assisted  him  in  every  worthy  enterprise 

wliich  he  has  undertaken,  are  numbered  among  the 

oldest  settlers  of  their  locality,  and  are  now  in  the 

prime  of  their  lives,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  years  of 

usefulness  ar.d  well  doing.     It  afl'ords  us  pleasure 

to  present  to  the  readers  of  this  volume  some  fads 

regarding  their  past  lives,  and  by  doing  so  indicate 

the  road  to  success. 

The  Marshall  family  is  of  English  lineage,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  having  emigrated 
from  the  mother  countr}  many  years  ago  and  lo- 
cated in  ^larvland.  In  Baltimore  County  of  that 
State,  Edmund  Marshall,  the  father  of  our  suliject, 
was  born.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 
His  death  took  place  in  1840.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  lier  maiden  name 
having  been  Rebecca  Richey.  The  son,  Samuel,  of 
whom  we  write,  was  horn  in  Preble  County,  Ohio, 
February  8,  1825,  reared  amid  the  surroundings 
incidental  to  life  in  a  newly-opened  country,  anjJ 
given  such  educational  privileges  as  the  public 
schools  of  that  time  and  section  would  allow.  He 
is  mainly  self-educated,  as  he  is  self-made  in  a 
financial  sense. 

Realizing  that  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  live  alone, 
Mr.  Marshall  won  as  his  bride  Miss  Eliza  A.  Austin, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Gil 


a  native  of  Preble  County,  Ohio,  born  in  1828,  and 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Beulah  Austin.  She  is  a 
sister  of  James  E.  Austin,  of  Brimfiehl  Township, 
this  county,  of  whom  a  biographical  sketch  a|)pears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Marshall  ami  his  bride 
journe^'ed  to  the  Prairie  State,  making  their  abode 
for  a  year  in  Adams  County  on  a  rented  farm. 
They  then  came  to  Peoria  County,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  now  owned  by  Squire  I).  Kemp,  living  thereon 
some  twenty-three  years.  At  tlie  expiration  of 
that  period  thej'  took  possession  of  their  present 
home,  whose  acreage  they  have  increased,  placed 
under  cultivation  and  thorougidy  well  improved. 
Their  estate  consists  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres. 

Pulilic-spirited,  interested  in  all  movements 
whicli  promise  to  add  to  tlie  prosperity  and  happi- 
ness of  all  his  fellow-citizens,  efficient  as  a  school 
officer,  and  affectionate  in  his  home  life,  ]Mr.  Mar- 
sliall  may  well  be  looked  upon  as  an  excellent  rep- 
resentative of  true  maidiood  and  good  citizenship. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  School  Director  of  his 
district.  He  supports  the  Republican  party.  He  and 
his  good  wife  have  had  live  children,  two  of  whom, 
James  A.  and  Hubert  C,  are  deceased.  Albert  W., 
the  eldest  surviving  child,  now  lives  in  Indianapo- 
lis, Tnd.;  Emily,  the  only  daughter,  is  the  wife  of 
David  M.  Snyder,  of  Knox  County;  Robert  P.,  the 
youngest  son  and  child,  still  makes  his  home  under 
the  parental  roof. 


-^ 


EDDY     BAKER     was 
County,  N.  Y.,  April 
'  a  resident  of  Peoria 


born  in  Rensselaer 
12,  181G,  and  became 
ria  County,  111.,  in  1844. 
He  is,  therefore,  well  acquainted  with  the  efforts 
which  liave  been  made  in  this  county  toward  a 
high  state  of  material  prosperity  and  civilization 
and  the  success  which  has  been  achieved.  His 
cash  capital  when  he  l)egan  his  life  in  this  county' 
w.as  82.50,  and  he  had  a  wife  and  two  children  to 
support.  He  now  owns  a  valuable  estate  of  four 
hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  all  told,  together 
with  village  property  in  Brimfield.  This  fact  is 
sufficient  to  indicate  what    manner  of   man  he  has 


shown  himself  to  be  during  his  connection  with 
the  improvement  of  the  county. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Benjamin  and 
Lucy  (Ives)  Baker,  natives  of  Connecticut.  When 
he  of  whom  we  write  was  about  twelve  ^•ears  old 
they  removed  from  the  Empire  State  to  "Williams- 
town,  Mass.,  in  and  near  which  place  our  subject 
grew  (()  manhood.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
the  district  schools  of  !New  Y'ork  and  Massachu- 
setts, wherein  he  laid  a  practical  and  solid  foun<la- 
tion  for  the  general  intelligence  which  he  has 
acquired  through  the  public  press  and  by  observa- 
tion. Farming  has  been  his  life  work,  and  it  is 
plain  to  be  seen  that  he  has  an  excellent  under- 
standing of  his  business  in  all   its  details. 

In  the  old  Bay  State,  December  28,  18:57,  Mr. 
Baker  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza 
Wooster,  who  bore  him  four  children.  The  first- 
born, Stephen,  now  lives  in  Independence  Covinty, 
Iowa;  Martha  A.  is  deceased;  Helen  is  the  wife  of 
John  McLaughlin,  of  Nemaha  Count}',  Neb.;  Eddy 
is  deceased.  A  second  matrimonial  alliance  w.as 
contracted  by  Mr.  Baker,  December  28,  1875,  his 
bride  on  this  occasion  being  Miss  Nellie  OTIara. 
Her  father.  John  OTIara,  a  native  of  London- 
derry-, Ireland,  emigrated  to  America  when  about 
fourteen  j'ears  old.  Her  mother,  Sarah  (Campbell) 
O'Hara,  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  of  Scotch  an- 
eestr}-.  She  came  to  America  with  her  parents 
when  about  twelve  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  OTIara 
lived  in  Jefferson  County,  N.Y..  when  their  daugh- 
ter, now  Mrs.  Baker,  was  tiorn,  but  came  to  Peoria 
County,  111.,  in  the  spring  of  1869.  They  settled 
in  Brimfield  Township,  where  the  widowed  mother 
is  still  living.  Of  the  eleven  children  born  to 
them  the  following  survive:  Kitty,  wife  of  J.  W. 
Griffin,  an  architect  in  Watertown,  N.  Y. ;  iSIary 
E,,  living  in  Brimfield  Township;  Nellie,  Mrs. 
Baker;  Capt.  Thomas  OTIara,  of  this  county: 
Susannah,  wife  of  A.  G.  Church,  of  Fairmount, 
Neb.:  Frances  A.,  wife  of  Eddy  Baker;  Josephine 
E.,  of  !Monica.  The  deceased  are  William,  John, 
Oliver  and  Sarah. 

Upon  coming  to  this  county,  our  subject  spent 
Sonne  four  months  working  for  his  brother,  Hiram 
Baker,  at  $15  per  month.  The  most  of  his  time 
was  spent  in  breaking  new   land.     He  next  farmed 


612 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ns  a  renter  three  years,  then  made  a  $50  payment 
on  eighty  acres  of  land,  paying  the  balance  in  in- 
stallments, the  land  costing  $3.25  per  acre.  lie 
turned  the  first  furrow  on  the  ground,  reclaiming 
it  from  its  wild  condition.  He  has  been  pre-emi- 
nently successful  in  worldl3'  affairs,  furnishing  an 
example  well  worthy  the  emulation  and  imitation 
of  future  generations.  Not  only  so,  but  he  lias 
lieen  a  useful  member  of  society,  in  vatious  ways 
aiding  in  the  advancement  of  the  community,  act- 
ing as  School  Director  and  active  in  social  circles. 
None  are  more  worthy  of  mention  in  this  Alisu.m, 
and  long  after  his  body  shall  have  been  covered 
witii  the  "clods  of  the  valley"  his  memory  will  be 
grt'en  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  and  hon- 
ored him.  Mr.  Baker  votes  with  the  Democratic 
paity.  His  good  wife  is  a  communicant  of  tlie 
Catholic  Church. 


m 


/UDGE  HENRY"  B.  HOPKINS.  This  name 
will  be  at  once  recognized  as  that  of  one  of 
Peoria's  most  eminent  lawj'ers  and  a  gentle- 
man who,  as  Judge  of  this  Circuit,  and  as  a 
practicing  lawyer  for  manj'  years,  won  a  high  repu- 
tation for  the  justice  of  his  decisions  and  his  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  principles  and  precedents 
upon  which  they  must  be  based.  For  more  than 
thirty-five  years  he  !ias  been  established  in  Peoria 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  to  which  he 
brought  a  keen  logical  mind,  and  for  which  he  was 
well  schooled  under  an  instructor  of  eminence  in 
New  England. 

He  was  an  active  worker  in  establishing  the  lirst 
Peoria  Library  Association  and  was  its  first  Secre- 
tarj'.  He  was  also  active  in  securing  the  passage 
by  the  Legislature  of  the  original  act  creating  the 
l)resent  Peoria  School  Sj'Stem,  and  was  tlie  first 
School  Superintendent  under  that  law. 

John  Turner  Hopkins,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Brookfield,  Vt.,  in  1799,  and  died  at 
Groton  in  that  State,  November  13,  187G.  He  was 
a  harness-maker  by  trade, possessed  of  all  the  energy 
inherent  in  the  natives  of  the  Green  Mountain 
State,  as  well  as  the  sturdy  principles  which  belong 


to  the  descendants  of  Puritan  ancestors.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Matilda  Hall,  who  was  born  at  Claremont, 
N.  H.,  January  19,  1804,  and  died  at  Pcachara,  Vt, 
April  13,  1885,  in  the  eightv  first  year  of  her  age. 
■The  parental  family  consists  of  nine  children,  at 
present  all  living,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
eldest.  The  others  are  Stephen  W.,  a  physician  in 
Lynn, Mass. ;  Mrs.  Samantha  McLachlin  of  Peacham, 
Vt.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Dr.  H.  S.  Colburn,  of  Athol, 
Mass. ;  John  L.,  of  Peacham,  Vt.;  George  W.  of 
Chicago,  111.;  Edward  W.,of  Northfleld,  Vt. ;  Jidius 
II.  an  atlorney-at-law  in  Princeville,  this  county, 
and  Electa,  wife  of  William  Ash  of  Peacham,  \'t. 

Judge  Hopkins  was  born  October  4,  1S2(>,  in 
Peacham,  VI.,  and  in  his  youth,  alternated  attend- 
ance at  the  district  schools  with  work  at  his  father's 
trade.  He  completed  his  literary  education  at  the 
Caledonia  County  Academy,  in  bis  native  town. 
The  last  thing  he  did  before  leaving  home  to  enter 
upon  the  study  of  the  law  was  to  perfect  himself 
in  the  trade  of  harness-making.  lie  then  read 
law  with  the  Hon.  E.  H.  Stoughton  in  Chester,  Vt., 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Windsor  County  in 
1852.  For  a  3'ear  and  a  half  he  practiced  with  his 
former  preceptor,  then,  having  formed  a  co-partner- 
shi|)  with  the  late  E.  N.  Powell,  of  Peoiia,Ill.,  came 
hither  May  1.  1854.  The  connection  between  these 
two  gentlemen  continued  until  Mr.  Powell  was 
elected  Circuit  Judge  in  1856. 

In  1861  Judge  Hopkins  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  the  late  Hon.  E.  G.  Johnson,  with  whom 
he  was  associated  until  April,  1873,  when  the 
resignation  of  Judge  Puterbaugh  caused  a  vacancy 
on  the  Circuit  Bench.  Gov.  Beveridge  appointed 
our  subject  to  flll  the  position,  which  he  did  credit- 
ably and  etBciently,  after  the  expiration  of  the 
term  returning  to  the  legal  practice  to  which  he  has 
since  devoted  himself  with  his  wonted  fervor.  The 
legal  erudition  of  Judge  Hopkins  is  well-known  to 
all  who  have  become  in  any  way  familiar  with  the 
legal  circles  of  this  section.  And  it  is  also  well- 
known  that  his  mental  culture  includes  various 
scientific  and  literary  topics  which  do  not  always 
receive  the  attention  of  professional  gentlemen.  He 
is  Vice-President  of  the  Peoria  Scientific  Society,  in 
whose  investigations  and  discussions  he  takes  a 
great  interest. 


C-'<_,'-ty< ^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


C15 


Judge  Hopkins  is  an  earnest  believer  in  the 
principles  of  Republicanism,  anil,  although  not  a 
polilicia  1  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  that  term, wields 
his  strong  personal  influence  for  their  iidvancenient, 
and  uses  the  powers  of  his  mind  to  convince  others 
of  their  soundness.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Episcopal  Church.  His  personal  character 
is  above  reproach  and  he  possesses  the  social  quali- 
ties which  give   him  popularitj'  in  the  best  circles. 

The  wife  of  Judge  Hopkins  w.as  Emily  A.  Hough, 
a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  who  became  his  bride 
October  17,  18.57.  She  died  August  15,  1873,  but 
still  lives  in  llie  influences  whicli  a  noble  life  ever 
exerts.  She  bore  her  husband  seven  children,  all 
of  whom  are  yet  living.  Tiiey  are,  Anna  M.,  now 
a  rcsiiUMit  of  Chicago;  Henrietta  A.,  wife  of  Prof. 
Edward  P..  I'erry  of  Boston,  Mass.;  Henry  S.,  book- 
keeper for  Buckley,  Pursley  &  Co.,  at  the  Board  of 
Trade  in  Peoria;  Emma  Louisa,  liousokeeper  at  the 
family  home;  (ieorgo  W.,  farming  in  Nebraska; 
May  Alice  and  Nida  Helen,  students  in  the  Peoria 
High  Scliool  junior  class. 


# 


-<-es©^*f 


,EV.  JOHN  MULLER,  A.  B..  A.  M.  The 
pleasing  office  of  the  biograiihical  writer 4s 
to  rescue  from  oblivion  the  names  and  deeds 

^  of  those"  whose  lives  are  well  spent,  whether 
on  tented  Held,  in  busy  marts  of  commerce,  amid 
pastoral  scenes  or  in  the  ranks  of  professional  life. 
The  man  who  stands  before  the  people  to  proclaim 
the  '-unsearchable  riches  of  the  gospel  of  Christ," 
and  to  teacii  humanity  how  to  live  in  order  that 
it  raaj'  lie  prepared  to  die,  is  surely  worthy  of 
remembrance,  and  deserving  of  an  honorable  place 
in  the  annals  of  the  country.  Rev.  John  Muller, 
l)astor  of  the  (tierman)  Reformed  Church  of  Peo- 
ria, has  filled  the  position  since  1871,  in  a  manner 
that  denotes  his  deep  attachment  to  the  cause  of 
Christianity,  and  his  fitness  for  the  holy  office  he 
has  assumed. 

The  church  over  which  Mr.  Muller  has  charge, 
was  estal)lis!ied  mainly  through  his  eft'crts  in  organ- 
izing a  society,  as  thai  organized  in  1869  hail  gone 


down  for  lack  of  a  pastor.  After  the  re-organiza- 
tion a  church  was  built  at  the  corner  of  Persimmon 
and  Madison  Streets,  which  still  stands,  and  with 
which  a  school  has  since  been  connected,  under  the 
supervision  of  the  officers  of  the  church.  The  mem- 
bership of  the  church  is  now  fifty  families,  and  of 
the  Sunday-school  two  hundred  and  twenty,  while 
the  day  school  is  attended  b}'  fifty-six  pupils. 

Mr.  Muller  was  born  in  Germany  June  22,  1826, 
and  under  the  wise  laws  of  his  native  land  ac- 
quired a  fair  education  in  bojiiood.  Before  he  had 
passed  through  his  teens,  he  determined  to  seek  a 
lield  of  labor  in  the  United  States,  and  so  bade 
.adieu  to  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  crossing  the  At- 
lantic, arrived  in  New  York  August  19,  1845.  He 
made  it  his  first  endeavor  to  learn  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  afterward  attended  Rutger  College  in 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  having 
the  higher  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  bestowed  upon 
him  by  his  Alma  Mater  in  later  years. 

We  next  find  Mr.  Mailer  prosecuting  the  studies 
that  were  intended  to  fit  him  for  the  ministry, 
in  the  Theological  Seminar}'  of  the  Reformed 
Church  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  During  the 
first  week  of  October,  185.4,  he  was  ordained,  his 
first  charge  being  at  Wolcott,  N.  Y.,  the  congre- 
gation American,  and  his  pastorate  continuing 
three  years.  He  then  went  to  Philadelphia  to  or- 
ganize a  church,  but  his  health  was  so  poor,  that 
he  was  obliged  to  .abandon  his  labors  and  rest  for 
a  twelyemonth.  At  the  cxiiiration  of  the  period 
of  enforced  idleness,  he  took  charge  of  a  church  in 
Burlington,  Iowa,  leaving  that  city  for  a  new  field 
of  labor  in  1861. 

At  that  time  Mr.  Muller  assuracl  the  pastorate 
of  a  large  German  Church  in  Silver  Creek,  Steph- 
enson County,  111.,  continuing  his  labors  there 
until  1871,  when  he  came  to  I'eoria.  He  is  an  ex- 
cellent speaker,  forcible  in  argument,  and  as  a  pas- 
tor so  faithful  and  conscientious  is  he,  that  his 
warmest  and  most  devoted  friends  are  his  own  peo- 
ple. His  influence  extends,  as  that  of  every  true 
man  must,  beyond  the  limits  of  his  congregation, 
and  he  is  everywhere  spoken  of  as  an  earnest  and 
capable  advocate  of  the  claims  of  Ciiristianity. 

A  young  lad_v  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  secured 


616 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  affection  of  Rev.  Mr.  Miiller,!inrt  with  her  he  was 
uuiled  in  marriage  in  January,  1855.  Slie  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Cornelia  V.  Camp,  and  was  born 
April  3,  1826.  She  entered  into  rest  December  27, 
1885,  leaving  beliind  lier  the  record  of  good  deeds 
that  is  a  source  of  loving  remembrance  in  the 
minds  of  her  friends,  and  adds  to  the  weight  of  her 
recollected  words  of  counsel.  Mrs.  Mulier  was  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  sis  of  whom  survive. 
They  are  Herman  F.,  chief  clerk  for  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  in  Peoria;  Frank  A., 
now  in  Omaha,  Neb.;  Mrs.  Bessie  Clinch,  of  Elm- 
wood,  this  count}';  John,  in  the  employ  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  (Quincy  road  in  Peoria;  Martin 
is  at  home ;  and  Emma  Augusta,  who  has  the  house- 
wifely care  of  the  house.  All  are  well  informed, 
upright,  and  useful  in  the  spheres  thej- occupy,  and 
so  are  preparing  themselves  for  greater  works  in 
the  future. 

Tlie  portrait  of  the  Rev.  John  Mulier,  which  is 
presented  in  connection  with  his  sketch,  will  be  con- 
sidered a  valuable  addition  to  the  Album,  not 
only  by  his  parishioners,  but  by  his  many  friends 
throughout  the  county. 


DWIN  S.  WOLLAND  is  a  prominent  and 
wealthy  coal  miner  of  tliis  county,  and  is 
successfuU}'^  operating  the  mine  of  E.  Wol- 
land  &  Sons  with  his  brothers — Jesse  Thomas  and 
Henrv.  Within  a  fevr  years  he  has  purchased  from 
his  fatlier,  a  former  well-known  and  honored  resi- 
dent of  this  county,  the  old  homestead,  which  is 
finely  situated  near  the  village  of  Bartonviile,  and 
here  he  and  his  family  have  ari^eautiful  home. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Richland  Count}-,  Wis., 
and  was  a  Christmas  gift  to  his  parents,  Edward 
and  Eliza  (Strickland)  Wolland.  he  having  been 
born  December  25,  1857.  When  he  was  three 
months  old,  they  settled  on  the  same  section  where 
he  now  resides,  and  his  father  engaged  in  mining 
and  has  always  been  interested  in  mines  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Peoria  on  the  Kickapoo  Creek,  and  has 
acquired  a  comfortable  fortune.  About  three  years 
ago,  he  and  his  familv  removed   to   Missouri,  our 


subject  [)urehasing  the  old  homestead  at  that  time. 
During  his  residence  here  the  father  took  a  promi- 
nent part  in  public  affairs,  and  held  many  oflBces 
of  trust  in  the  townsiup.  He  was  a  true  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  in  religion  is  a  Methodist.  He 
Is  a  man  of  upright,  noble  character,  and  has  always 
borne  himself,  both  in  public  and  in  private  life,  so 
as  to  win  and  retain  the  thorough  respect  of  all 
about  him.  He  and  his  wife  are  of  English  birth, 
were  married  in  England  and  came  from  Bristol  to 
America  many  years  ago.  Two  of  their  children 
were  born  in  Eng;land  and  eleven  were  born  iu  the 
United  States,  eight  of  whom  survive.  They  were 
all  given  fair  educational  advantages  in  the  district 
schools. 

Since  he  was  eleven  years  old,  our  subject  has 
been  iu  the  mines  of  this  count}-,  with  the  exception 
of  two  years  in  Leadville,  Colo.,  where  he  worked 
in  the  smelting  works  and  one  j'ear  in  Argentine, 
Kan.,  where  he  was  also  employed  in  smelting 
works.  He  thus  gained  a  good  practical  knowledge 
of  mining  at  an  early  age,  and  when  he  attained  his 
majority  he  commenced  in  business  for  himself, 
working  in  the  mines  and  then  operating  mines  in 
his  own  interest,  and  is  at  present  engaged  as  be- 
fore stated.  His  large  enterprise  and  talent  for 
business  have  brought  him  in  largfe  returns,  and 
though  he  has  not  yet  attained  middle  life  he  is 
already  a  man  of  considerable  wealth. 

Our  subject  has  been  very  fortu;iate  in  his  mar- 
ried life,  as  in  his  marriage,  in  1882,  to  Miss  Violet 
Johnston,  lie  secured  a  true  and  devoted  wife.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Archibald  Johnston,  who  died  when 
she  was  about  fifteen  years  old.  By  that  sad  event 
she  became  an  orphan,  her  mother  having  died  when 
she  was  nine  years  old,  but  kind  friends  provided 
for  her  a  home,  and  she  became  an  inmate  of  tiie 
household  of  Mr.  Lemuel  Barton,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears in  this  work.  .She  remained  iu  his  family 
until  within  a  year  of  her  marriage,  when  she 
went  to  live  with  Joseph  Collier.  Each  of  thise 
families  think  as  much  of  her  as  if  she  was  their 
own,  and  treated  her-like  a  daughter.  To  her  and 
our  subject  have  come  four  children,  two  of  whom 
survive,  two  having  died  in  infancy.  Harold,  a  lad 
of  six  years,  and  baby  Agnes  brighten  the  home  of 
their  parents.      Mr.   and   Mrs.  Wolland    spent  one 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


617 


year  of  their  wedded  life  in  Argentine,  Wyan- 
dotte County,  Kan.,  but  have  since  made  their 
home  here.  They  are  people  of  high  social  stand- 
ing and  are  greatly  esteemed  by  the  entire  commu- 
nity. Mr.  Wolland's  practical  business  abiliti' and 
enterprise  have  been  very  beneficial  in  their  effects 
on  the  prosperitj'  of  the  township  and  have  given 
him  a  good  name  in  financial  circles. 


KNRY  S.  BARTON,  an  extensive  farmer 
i]  and  stock-raiser  of  Limestone  Township,  is 
''  the  son  of  a  well-known  pioneer  farail3',  and 
'(^1  since  attaining  manhood  has  taken  his  place 
among  those  who  are  most  active  in  sustaining  and 
cxti'ndinu-  the  great  agricultural  interests  of  Peo- 
ria, his  native  county. 

He  is  the  eldest  son  of  William  C.  II.  Barton, 
luid  w:»s  born  in  Peoria  Township,  within  half  a 
mile  fiom  where  he  now  lives.  He  was  given  ex- 
cillont  educational  advantages,  attended  the  Tomey 
<(hi)(]l.  now  known  as  Oak  Grove,  and  the  district 
schools,  and  completed  his  studies  by  a  course  at 
Cole's  Business  College  of  Peoria.  After  marriage 
he  took  charge  of  the  old  homestead,  and  has  re- 
sided on  it  ever  since,  carrying  on  an  extensive 
farming  business,  and  paying  particular  attention 
to  stock-raising.  There  are  about  four  hundred 
ncrcs  of  land  in  the  farm,  and  much  of  it  is  finely 
adapted  to  stock-raising  purposes,  and  is  used  for 
[lasturing.  It  is  under  good  improvement,  has 
.substantial,  well-appointed  buildings,  and  is  in  all 
ri'.-p'.'cts  one  of  tlie  most  desirable  estates  in  the 
tinvMshiit.  I'liis  location  may  be  considered  his- 
tiiiical,  as  it  was  once  the  home  of  an  Indian  tribe, 
and  directly  in  front  of  the  Barton  homestead  was 
till'  old  camping  ground  of  the  noted  Shabhona,  the 
Cliicf  who  was  so  friendly  with  the  whites,  he  and 
his  braves  having  their  wigwams  in  the  mouth  of 
Shabbona  hollow  or  creek,  five  miles  south  of  Peo- 
ria. 

^Ir.  Barton  was  married  in  1879,  to  Miss  Mar3' 
.1..  daughter  dl'  Uoiny  and  Margaret  K.  Bickerton, 
and  their  plea.iMnt  liomc  circle  is  completed  liy  tlio 
presence  of  their  only  child.  Pearl  May.     Mr.  and 


Mrs.  Barton  are  exceedinglj-  hospitable,  and  render 
their  charming  home  attractive  alike  to  friend  or 
the  stranger  who  may  happen  within  their  gate. 

Mr.  Barton's  career  as  a  practical  agriculturist, 
as  a  man  and  a  citizen,  has  been  such  as  to  reflect 
credit  on  the  place  of  his  birth.  A  man  of  many 
resources,  possessing  a  clear,  well  trained  mind, and 
a  good  capacity  for  business,  he  has  been  instru- 
mental in  advancing  the  prosperity  of  Limestone, 
and  the  township  finds  in  him  a  citizen  who  takes  a 
genuine  interest  in  its  welfare,  and  never  hesitates 
to  use  his  influence  to  forward  all  schemes  that  are 
in  any  v/ay  likely  to  benefit  the  community.  In 
polities  he  is.  and  always  has  beep  a  stalwart  Re- 
publican, and  his  means  and  energy  have  always 
been  at  the  disposal  of  his  party  to  a  most  generous 
extent.  He  takes  quite  an  interest  in  political  mat- 
ters, and  during  the  war  when  as  a  boy,  he  went  to 
school  in  the  neighborhood,  he  and  his  cousin  were 
the  two  only  representatives  of  Republican  fami- 
lies, the  other  scholars  being  rebel  sympathizers  and 
Democrats.  They  would  jump  on  the  two  Bartons 
and  many  a  hard  battle  was  fought  between  them. 
But  our  subject  and  his  cousin  always  stood  bravely 
by  their  colors,  though  so  greatly  in  the  minority. 


lieving  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  the 
ti-^V  calling  of  a  minister  is  looked  upon  as 
^^@  one  of  the  utmost  responsibility,  requiring 
the  exercise  of  the  highest  faculties  of  which 
mind  and  heart  are  capable,  and  needing  for  its 
successful  prosecution  the  tact  which  will  make  a 
man  -'wise  as  a  serpent  and  harmless  as  a  dove." 
Althongh  there  have  been  worthy  men  who  have 
won  many  souls  to  Christ  by  means  only  of  their 
religious  zeal  and  natural  aptitude  for  the  presen- 
tation of  Gospel  truths,  it  is  generally  conceded 
that  a  thorough  education  is  a  weapon  that  should 
be  used  in  the  Gospel  warfare.  The  man  who  com- 
bines with  an  earnest  faith  the  knowledge  of  liter- 
ature which  will  enable  him  to  cull  illustrations 
from  many  climes  and  seasons,  and  to  connect  rev- 


618 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


elation  with  nature  and  science,  possesess  :i  lever 
with  which  to  move  some  hearts  which  might  oth- 
erwise remain  untouclied. 

The  subjpct  of  this  sketch,  a  well-known  minis- 
ter of  Elmwood.  was  prepared  in  excellent  schools, 
to  carry  on  the   work  to  which  his  natural  inclina- 
tions and   abiding   interest  in  the  cause   of  Chris- 
tianit}-  led  him.     He    is  of  English  birth,  having 
opened  his  eyes  to   the  light  September  25.   1841. 
in  a  town  in  tlie  mother   country.     His   parents, 
NVilliani  and  Sophia  A.   (Chaiipt'll;    Butcher,  like- 
wise natives  of  England,  emigrated  to   America  in 
1847.  coming  directly  to  Illinois.     They  settled  in 
McLean  County,  but  in    I  Sol   removed    to  Knox 
County    whore  tliey    are    still   living.     The    aged 
couple  Eire  the  parents  of  seven  children,   three  of 
whom  have  been  spared  to  the   present  time.     Of 
these  the  subject  of  our  notice  is  the  oldest.     The 
others  are:  L.  G..  a  resident  of  Cass  Count\\  Iowa, 
and  W.  J.,  whose  home  is  in  Galesburg.  this  State. 
After  some  fundamental  instructitin,  he  of   whom 
we    write  entered   Knox   Academy    at    Galesburg, 
whence  he  at  length  departed  to  Montreal,  Canada, 
to  become  a   student   in    McGill   University.     He 
left  the  University  at  the  close  of  his  junior  year 
and  spent  some  months  in  England.     Returning  to 
llhnois  he  engaged   in   farming,   with  the  variety 
of   school  leaching    during    two  winters,    until    a 
change  in  his  life  plans  directed  him   toward   the 
Christain    ministry   and    he   entered   the   Chicago 
Theological  Seminary,  from  which  he  was   gradu- 
ated  in    186'J.     The   American    Home   Missionary 
Society  desired  to  send  ministers  to  the  Far  AVest 
and  was  looking   about  for  such   as  possessed    the 
neccessary  qualifications  to  carrj'  on  the  work  in  a 
new  field.      While  yi-t  in  the  Theological  Seminary. 
Mr.  Butcher  was  selected  as  one  fitted   for  such  a 
position.    He  w.as  ordained  in  Galesburg.  III..  Jnne 
15.  1869.  and  went'west  the  following  August. 

For  seven  years  .Mr.  Butcher  remained  on  the 
Pacific  .Slope,  during  that  time  being  pastor  of 
a  Cougregaiinnal  Church  at  Albany.  Ore.,  and 
subsequently  of  one  at  The  Dalles  He  put  the 
whole  strength  of  his  mind  and  bod}-  into  his 
work  and  was  abundantly  blest  bj-  the  love  and 
confidence  of  his  people  and  by  the  increase  of 
the  religious  bodies  under  his  charge.     He  returned 


to  Illinois  in  1876  and  in  this  State  has  since  re- 
mained with  the  exception  of  two  and  one-half 
years,  still  laboring  in  the  Master's  vineyard  and 
garnering  sheaves  for  his  kingdom.  He  has  been 
stationed  at  Hinsdale,  Wataga  and  Elmwood,  liis 
charge  in  the  latter  place  having  been  assumed 
some  three  years  since.  Kokomo,  Ind.,  was  the 
field  of  his  labors  during  the  period  which  he  has 
passed  outside  of  Illinois  since  his  return  from  the 
West. 

The  Congregational  Church  at  Elmwood,  over 
which  our  subject  h.as  pastoral  care  and  oversight, 
has  been  in  existence  since  1854.  The  congrega- 
tion numbers  about  two  hundred,  carries  on  a 
great  deal  of  benevolent  work,  and  is  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  the  moral  education  of  the  young  .as 
well  as  the  spiritual  welfare  of  those  that  are  old 
enough  to  decide  the  great  question,  "whom  will 
j-e  serve."' 

Mr.  Butcher  is  an  able  speaker,  not  only  on  Bi- 
ble topics,  which  he  eloquently  expounds,  but 
on  other  subjects  of  both  soci.al  and  'national  im- 
port. He  frequentlj-  delivers  orations  on  Decora- 
tion Day  and  the  Fourth  of  July,  the  .announce- 
ment that  he  is  to  speak  never  failing  to  attract 
many  listeners.  He  is  well  known  as  a  strong  ad- 
vocate of  Temperance,  although  not  a  third  party 
man,  his  political  atBliation  being  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast 
for  Aliraham  Lincoln  at  his  second  candidacy. 
Thoroughly  posted  on  various  political  issues. 
^Ir.  Butcher  has  not  only  weighed  well  .and 
calmly  ilccided  upon  their  merits,  but  he  is  able  to 
clearly  express  his  convictions  to  others. 

The  household  of  our  subject  includes  a  wife 
and  five  children,  the  most  important  member  of  the 
circle  being  a  devoted  Christian  woman  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Avery.  She  became  the 
wife  of  our  subject  in  1869,  and  by  her  appreciation 
of  his  eflforts  and  entire  sympathy  with  his  aspira- 
tions,as  well  as  by  the  peace  which  she  has  secured  to 
his  home  llfe,has  been  an  efficient  aid  to  him  in  the 
work  wliich  he  has  undertaken.  Her  parents. 
George  and  S.  P.  M.  (Phelps)  Avery,  were  mem- 
bers of  the  first  colony  in  G.alesburg,  where  the 
daughter  was  born  August  13,  1844.  She  w.as  a 
I  student   at   Knox    Seminary    and    has  ever    been 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


619 


much  inlerestcd  in  the  prosjjerily  of  her  Alma 
Mater,  as  are  all  lovers  of  learning.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  New  York  and  her  mother  of 
Massachusetts. 

The  cliihiren  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butcher  are: 
Harry  K..  Mary  Zelle,  p]tha,Williara  A.,  and  Irene 
Louise.  The  older  son  has  just  entered  Knox  College 
and  the  others  are  students  still  in  the  common 
and  high  schools. 


r  lvA^'CIS  E.  SHEFARD  came  to  this  county 


in  1860  and  has  ever  since  been  an  iufluen- 
/1\  tial  and   prosiierous  member  of  its  farming 

community.  He  purchased  his  present  valuable 
farm,  located  on  section  7,  Chillicothe  Township, 
in  1864,  and  since  then  has  made  many  fine  im- 
provements and  has  placed  it  among  the  most  de- 
sirable estates  in  this  locality.  Mr.  Shepard  was 
born  in  Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  August  20,  1820. 
His  father,  Nathaniel  Shepard,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Timothy 
Shepard,  who  was  born  in  England,  and  came  of 
pure  English  ancestrj*. 

The  Rev.  Timothy  Shepard  was  only  a  small 
boy  when  his  parents  came  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  New  Y'ork.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
that  Commonwealth,  and  entered  the  ministry  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  being  a  representative  of  the 
old  school.  He  was  later  married  to  a  lady  of 
New  Y'ork  State,  Miss  Casiah  Cooper,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and 
came  of  an  old  family,  who  were  early  settlers  of 
Cooperstovvn,  N.  Y..  and  gave  that  place  its  name. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  Shepard  took  his  young 
wife  to  the  wilds  of  Broome  County,  and  there  he 
farmed  and  preached  during  the  remainder  of  his 
.active  life,  djing  when  an  old  man  past  four-score 
years  of  age.  Although  a  minister  of  the  gospel 
he  had  a  truly  martial  spirit,  and  when  the  Rev- 
olution broke  out  his  patriotism  was  aroused  and 
he  offered  his  services  as  a  foldicr.  and  did  good 
work  in  that  conflict.  'He  was  an  hdiiest  upright, 
man,  and   was  greatly   reverenced    by    the    entire 


community  where  so  many  years  of  his  life  were 
passed.  His  wife  preceded  him  in  death  some  two 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren, Nathaniel,  the  father  of  our  subject  being 
the. eldest,  and  eleven  of  the  family  were  reared  and 
married,  and  in  their  turn  reared  families  t6  good 
and  useful  citizenship. 

Nathaniel  Shepard  grew  up  on  a  farm  in  his  na- 
tive county,  and  in  early  manhood  was  married  to 
Polly  Billings,  who  was  of  fine  old  New  England 
stock  and  was  a  native  of  Vermont.  Her  parents, 
Jonas  and  Polly  (Lawrence)  Billings,  were  also 
natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  were 
there  reared,  educated  and  married,  and  later  in 
life  removed  to  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  of  which 
they  became  pioneers  and  there  reared  a  family  on 
a  farm.  After  their  children,  four  in  number — 
Sallie,  Polly,  Alvin  and  Jonas — had  grown  to 
manhood  and  womanhood,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Billings 
both  p.assed  away  at  an  advanced  age,  on  their  old 
homestead  in  Broome  County.  They  had  been  all 
their  lives  active  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  were  most  severe  and  straight  laced 
in  their  principles,  after  the  old  New  England 
faith  of  their  d.ay. 

After  his  marriage,  Nathaniel  Shepard  at  once 
took  his  bride  to  Willett  Township,  Cortland 
County",  N.  Y.,  where  he  began  life  as  a  farmer, 
and  they  made  their  home  there  the  rest  of  their 
days.  Mr.  Shepard  died  at  tte  age  of  foi-ty-seven 
j'ears.  his  death  having  been  caused  by  a  fall  from 
a  barn  that  he  was  building.  His  wife  survived 
him  some  years,  and  died  when  little  past  fifty 
years  of  age,  she,  like  her  husband,  dyiag  in  the 
faith  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  seven  children,  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living, 
with  the  exception  of  two  brothers,  whi>  sacrificed 
their  lives  on  the  altar  uf  their  country  during  the 
late  Civil  War.  All  are  married  anil  hav  reareil 
families.  Our  subject  gleaned  an  excellent  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county, 
and  gained  a  good  |uacfical  knowlediie  of  farming 
on  his  father's  h(>iiiestea<l.  Since  cuiiiin  :  t"  Illi- 
nois. Ills  di  voti.iiitii  hi?  -viirk.  mpI  hi-  >  -i  d  ji 
nieni  n  legard  !•■  ^dl  inntlers  per'aiiiini;  l>.iliebe 
means  of  carrying  on   farming  ami   slock  raising. 


620 


PORTRAIT  AND  KIOaRAPIlICAL  ALBUM. 


liave  biouglit  liim  their  sine  renanl,  and  have 
phiced  him  among  the  substantial  farmers  of  Chilli- 
eothc.  Here  lie  lias  a  farm  of  one  liundred  and 
sixty  acres,  which  is  first  class  in  its  appointments, 
and  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Shepard  was  married  in  his  native  county, 
to  Miss  Hannah  Smith,  and  had  the  good  fortune 
to  secure  one  who  has  been  to  him  a  true  help- 
mate indeed.  She  was  born  and  reared  in  Broome 
County,  her  birth  occurring  April  12,  1823.  Her 
parents.  Nicholas  and  Elizabeth  (Cornell)  Smith, 
were  also  natives  of  New  York,  and  lived  and  died 
in  Broome  Count>-.  They  were  ftirmers  b}'  occu- 
pation, and  rounded  out  their  useful  lives  at  an 
advanced  age.  Jlr?.  Shepard  was  the  youngest 
but  one  of  a  family  of  thii teen  children,  but  few 
of  whom  are  now  living.  She  is  an  intelligent 
lady  and  is  nell  considered  ))y  her  neighbors  for 
her  (jleasant  social  qualities  and  kindh'  helpfulness. 
She  is  the  mother  of  four  children,  as  follows: 
Mary,  wife  of  Frank  Wilson,  a  farmer  in  Howell 
County,  iMo.;  Ellen,  wife  of  S.  Neil,  of  Chillico- 
the,  who  is  connected  with  the  Sante  Fe  Raihxiad 
Company  as  a  mechanic;  E."  F.,  whose  biography 
appears  in  this  volume;  and  Ada,  wife  of  William 
Whittaker,  a  farmer  and  dair3'man  in  this  town- 
ship. 

A  man  of  Mr.  Shepard's  common  sense,  good 
cripacitj-  and  sterling  principle  is  necessarily  a  per- 
son of  weight  and  infiuence  in  any  community, 
and  he  is  found  to  be  one  of  our  most  useful  citi- 
zens. He  has  filled  several  of  the  local  oftices  with 
ability,  and  has  always  interested  himself  in  what- 
ever concerned  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  town- 
ship. In  politics  he  is  a  true  Republican,  though 
not  offensively  partisan. 


-^^ 


FREDERICK   SCHLOTS,  a   pioneer    though 
not  an  early  settler  of  Brimfield  Township, 
11^  has  borne  an  honorable  part  in  its  develop- 

ment, and  is  to-day  accounted  one  of  its  substantial 
and  most  worthy  citizens.     He'is  a  native  of  Ger- 
•  many,  Wurtembcrg  being  the    place   of   his  birth, 
and   December    20,   1833,  the  date    thereof.     His 


parents,  Frederick  and  Catherine  Schlots,  were  also 
of  German  birth,  and  he  was  carefull3'  reared  by 
them  to  industrious  hal)its,and  when  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age., started  for  this  country,  with  his 
heallh  and  good  principles  and  excellent  capacity 
for  labor  as  his  only  capital,  to  seek  on  a  foreign 
soil  a  home  for  himself.  It  was  in  the  fall  of 
18.i3  that  he  took  passage  at  Hamburg  on  a  sailing 
vessel,  and  after  an  ocean  voyage  of  fifty-six  da3's, 
landed  in  New  York  and  went  directl}'  from  there 
to  I'ennsylvania.  He  lived  in  that  State  some  nine 
months,  working  at  whatever  his  hands  could  find 
to  do  to  make  an  honest  penny,  and  he  then  made 
his  way  to  Kentucky-  and  for  eighteen  months  was 
em|)lo3ed  by  a  gar<iener  near  Louisville.  In  1850, 
he  came  to  this  county,  and  for  some  five  years 
worked  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand,  receiving 
from  ^15  to  §18  per  month  and  his  board.  He  also 
farmed  as  a  renter  for  about  four  years.  He  was 
careful  in  saving  up  his  money  and  finally  was  en- 
abled to  buy  his  present  farm  on  which  he  settled 
in  186C,  and  since  that  time  has  been  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  Brimfield  Township.  His  farm, 
comprising  two  hundred  and  Ihirtj'-five  acres, is  one 
of  the  most  desirable  in  its  locality  on  account  of 
its  excellent  cultivation,  and  the  many  good  im- 
provements that  are  the  work  of  his  own  hand. 
Thus  we  see  his  industry  and  perseverance,seconded 
by  careful  and  thrifty  management  and  sagacious 
judgment  have  been  well  rewarded. 

Our  subject  h.as  not  worked  alone  all  these  years 
but  has  had  the  cheerful  .assistance  of  an  active  and 
cai)able  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  January  23, 
18G2.  Mrs.  Schlots'  maiden  name  was  Catherine 
Eslinger,  and  she  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  To  her  and 
our  subject  have  been  born  eight  children,  of  wdiom 
the  following  four  are  living:  Charles,  Samuel. 
Sadie  and  Alice. 

Our  subject  is  a  fine  type  of  the  German-Amer- 
ican, than  wdiom  Peoria  Count}'  has  no  better  or 
more  desirable  class  of  citizens.  He  possesses  a 
good  mind,  well  trained  by  the  excellent  education 
that  he  received  in  his  native  land,  to  which  he  has 
added  since  he  became  a  citizen  of  this  country, 
early  acquiring  a  good  knowledge  of  the  English 
language,  which  he  speaks  and  writes  with  facility, 
using  it  in  tihe  transaction  of   all  his  business.     He 


I'OiriKAlT  AMJ   BlOUKAl'lIICAL  AI.IU  M. 


621 


is  a  sincere  Christian,  anil  tiie  United  Brethren 
Cluirc'h  finds  in  him  one  of  its  most  zealous  meiu- 
bois  and  trusted  officials,  he  being  Trustee  of  the 
cluireh.  He  is  a  firm  Demofu-at  in  his  politics,  and 
in  regard  to  advancing  all  schemes  for  *;he  improve- 
nientof  iiis  adoiiled  township  is  pulilic  spirited  and 
liberal. 


^^HARLES  B.  HOFFMAN.  In  noting-  the 
(l(  business  establishments  of  Peoria,  the  cigar 

^^i'  and  tobacco  house  of  C.  B.  Hofifman  should 
not  be  passed  by,  although  the  number  of  men  em- 
ployed is  not  large — only  nine  being  at  present  en- 
gaged. The  trade  is  a  flourishing  one  and  the  lovers 
of  the  weed  in  its  various  forms  bestow  their  aji- 
proval  upon  the  goods  made  here. 

Tiie  proi)rietor  of  this  business  establishment  is 
a  native  of  Peoria,  in  which  he  was  born  December 
18,  1852.  After  pursuing  the  usual  studies  he  weut 
into  a  cigar  and  tobacco  house  as  a  stripper  boy, 
afterward  being  apprenticed  to  Hurton  Bros,  with 
whom  he  thoroughly  learned  the  business.  After  a 
period  spent  on  the  road  as  a  journeyman,  he,  in 
1878,  establisiied  a  business  of  his  own,  devoting 
himself  to  supi)lying  the  home  market.  He  lias  at, 
limes  had  as  man}-  as  fourteen  or  fifteen  hands  em- 
ployed. 

The  marriage  of  IMr.  Hoffman  was  celebrated  at 
the  home  of  the  bride  December  21,  1873,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Luella  Sights,  a  native  of 
tiiis  city  and  a  woman  of  intelligence  and  many 
virtues.  The  family  comprises  three  living  chil- 
dren named  respectively,  Clemens,  Hamie  and 
Burt.  Mr.  Hoffman  belongs  to  the  social  societies 
of  the'Ancieut  Order  of  United  \Vorknien  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Red  Men.  In  his  political 
views  he  concurs  with  the  Republican  [larty,  voting 
with  it  on  all  national  issues,  but  in  the  minor 
local  elections  giving  bis  suffrage  to  the  best  man 
irresijcetive  of  jjart}-. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Ciiarles  and 
Louisa  (Tzacka)  Hoffman,  natives  of  Prussia, 
whence  the}'  came  to  America  in  18k"i-46.  In 
1849,  the  father  joined  the  gold  seekers    in   Cali- 


fornia ami  for  two  years  engaged  in  mining  with 
considerable  success.  Returning  to  Peoria  he  took 
up  work  at  the  trade  of  a  tailor  and  was  also  for 
some  time  occupie<l  as  an  hotel-keeper.  For  a  time 
he  \vas  pioprietor  of  the  Illinois  House  on  Wash- 
ington .Street,  likewise  keeping  an  hotel  called  the 
(ilobe  Exchange,  on  .South  Water  Street.  He  was 
also  the  owner  and  operator  of  a  soa|)  and  candle 
factory.  During  the  late  Civil  War  he  spent  three 
j-ears,  three  mouths  and  ten  days  in  the  Union 
army  as  a  private  in  Corai)any  F,  Forty  seventh 
Illinois  Infantry.  The  familj'  comi)rises  four  sons 
and  five  daughters,  all  still  living  and  the  brothers 
of  our  subject  occu[)ied  as  follows:  Frank  is  a 
l)ainter  in  Omaha,  Neb.;  Otto  G.,  a  sickle  maker  in 
Canton,  Ohio;  Anthony  is  assistant  bookkeeper  at 
Barker's  distillery. 


\f'A"MES  GELLING,  a  resident  of  Millbrook 
Townshii),  where  he  is  busily  engaged  in 
farming,  owning  and  occupying  a  desirable 
farm  on  section  34,  is  a  pioneer  of  this 
county,  and  has  been  variously  identified  with  its 
industries  for  many  years.  Mr.  Gelling  is  a  native 
of  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  was  born  in  1826,  to  John 
and  Mary  Gelling,  w'ho  were  also  natives  of  that 
island.  His  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  the 
place  of  his  l)irtli,  and  he  gleaned  his  education  in 
the  local  schools.  At  the  age  of  about  seventeen 
years  he  began  to  lenrn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter, 
and  followed  that  calling  some  thirty  years,  becom- 
ing very  skillful  in  the  prosecution  of  his  work.  A 
part  of  the  time  he  was  emploj-ed  as  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  on  his  native  isle,  and  was  also  thus  en- 
gaged in  Englan<l,  and  later  still  after  coming  to 
America  carried  it  on  very  profitably.  Shrewdly 
thinking  that  in  this  country  he  should  have  a  bet- 
ter chance  of  ac(iuiring  property  and  securing  an 
assured  income,  he  determined  to  migrate  to  these 
shores,  and  in  1850  took  passage  on  a  sail  vessel  at 
Liverpool,  and  eleven  weeks  later  landed  in  New 
Orleans.  Thence  he  came  up  the  river  to  St.  Louis, 
and  thence  to  Peoria,  whence  he  proceeded  to 
Brinifield.     He  remained  there  for  a  time  working 


622 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


at  carpentering,  or  at  anything  whereby  be  could 
earn  monc}',  and  subsequentl}-  located  on  a  farm  in 
Brimfield  Township.  He  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  there  until  he  came  in  possession  of  his 
present  farm.  This  comprises  eighty  acres  of  choice 
land,  pleasantly'  located,  under  excellent  cultiva- 
tion, and  supplied  with  every  needed  improvement, 
everything  about  the  place  betokening  tiirift,  en- 
terprise, and  skillful  management  on  the  part  of 
the  owner. 

After  our  subject  had  been'in^this  countrj' nearly 
twenty  years,  he  returned  to  the  home  of  iiis  birth, 
to  secure  on  that  little  island  the  chiefesl^Messing 
of  man,  a  good  wife, 'and  was  tliere  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Jane  Sliinner,  who  was  likewise  a  na- 
tive of  tiie  Isle  of  Man.  He  immediately  brought 
his  bride  to  this  country  and  established  her  in  his 
home  in  Brimfield,  where  thej'  lived  until  they  took 
up  their  abode  in  this  township. 

Mr.  Gelling  is  classed  among  the  representative 
and  intelligent  citizens  of  Millbrook  Township,  and 
does  credit  to  the  snug  little  island  which  gave  liira 
birth.  The  sturdy  principles  of  a  well  ordered  life 
have  guided  onr  subject  in  all  iiis  undertakings, 
and  all  who  have  dealings  with  him,  place  impli- 
cit confidence  in  his  word.  He  is  a  consistent 
Christian,  and  .in  active  member  of  the  Church  of 
England.  Politically  he  stanehly  adheres  to  the 
Republican  party. 

'MAN  SCHEELLERisa  fine  representative 
of  the  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Peoria 
Count}',  who  have  been  influential  in  de- 
veloping its  agricultural  resources  and 
raising  its  financial  status,  until  to-day  it  is  one  of 
the  finest  farming  regions  in  tlie  world,  and  is  one 
of  the  wealthiest  and  best  improved  counties  in 
the  State  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Scheeller  is  a  large 
lindowner,  and  has  converted  many  acres  in  this 
:iiid  adjoining  counties  into  a  farm  which,  in  re- 
gard to  productiveness,  value  and  appointments, 
compare  favorably  with  the  most  highly  improved 
in  this  section  of  the  country.  It  is  known  as  the 
"Yankee  Street  Stock  Farm,"  and  comprises  four 


hundred  and  eighty  acres  on  sections  5  and  6,  Chil- 
licothe  Township,where  he  makes  his  home,and  three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  lying  just  across  the  line 
in  Steuben, Township,  Marshall  County.  The  land 
possesses  every  facility  for  raising  stock,  and  Mr. 
Scheeller  devotes  much  of  it  to  that  purpose,  hav- 
ing it  well  stocked  with  cattle  and  horses  of  a  higli 
grade;  he  makes  a  specialt}'  of  raising  horses,  hav- 
ing about  one  hundred  of  the  Norman  breed,  and 
has  the  credit  of  introducing  the  draft  Normans 
into  tills  part  of  the  count}'.  Arid  at  the  head  of 
his  valuable  stud  are  the  well-known  stallions, 
Pamphile  and  Begot,  aged  respectively  six  and 
seven  years,  and  each  weighing  about  two  thousand 
pounds,  of  good  build  and  action,  and  tine  speci- 
mens of  their  kind. 

Mr.  Scheeller  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was 
born  in  the  Province  of  Saxon}',  April  24.  1832, 
coming  of  ancient  Saxon  stock,  and  of  Saxon-Ger- 
man parentage.  His  father,  Joseph  Scheeller,  was 
a  farmer,  and  a  life-long  resident  of  Saxony,  where 
he  rounded  out  a  busy  and  honorable  life  at  the 
age  of  seventy  yenrs.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Maria  Schafer,  was  a  Saxon  lady,  and  at 
the  time  of  her  death  was  seventy-one  years  old. 
Both  were  bred  in  the  Catholic  Church,  and  were 
steadfast  followers  of  the  faith,  leading  consistent 
•Christian  lives. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  five  sons 
and^two  daughters,  and  is  the  only  one  of  them 
who  ever  came  to  America.  His  brothers  and  sis- 
ters are  all  living,  so  far  as  known,  and  still  make 
Uieir  home  in  the  Fatherland.  He  grew  to  man's 
estate  in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  and  received  the 
benefit  of  a  good  practical  education  in  its  excel- 
lent scliools.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  the  ambitious 
youth  boldly  took  his  life  in  his  own  hands  and 
traveled  across  unknown  seas  to  make  a  homo  and 
a  name  for  himself  in  a  strange  country.  .Tuly  10, 
1S52,  he  embarked  at  Bremenhaven  on  the  good 
ship  "Augusta,"  in  which  he  sailed  across  the  At- 
lantic, and  after  a  jjrolongcd  voyage  of  sixty-three 
days,  landed  in  New  York  City.  Thence  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Rocliester  N.  Y.,  and  the  ensuing  three 
years  worked  for  the  farmers  in  that  vicinity.  In 
1855,  he  came  to  Peoria  County,  wisely  thinking 
that,   in  this  region  so  marvellously  fruitful,    his 


^^»^. 


*"* 


^WiS^:;'^^!^ 


.r 


lif 


CD 


CO 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


625 


|)rospects  of  piir.-uinjj;  agriculture  successfully 
would  1)0  much  irrcater  tlum  iu  loss  favored  locali- 
ties, lie  1ms  been  prospered  far  beyond  Ins  hopes, 
and  in  his  mngniflcent  farm,  with  its  luindrtds  of 
weil-lilled  acre,s.  its  fine  cattle  and  horses,  and  its 
many  valuable  improvements,  we  witness  the  result 
of  his  uureuiitting  toil  and  practical  ahility  .as  an 
intelligent,   wide-awake   farmer  and    stock  grower. 

When  Mr.  Seheeller  came  to  this  county  be  was  a 
single  man  but  lice  lie  found  that  best  of  all  bless- 
ings ever  vouchsafed  to  man.  namely,  a  good  wife. 
Mrs.  Scheeller's  maiden  name  was  .Sarah  Dixon. 
She  was  l>orn  in  Ross  County.  Ohio,  dul}-  4,  1834, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Jehu  and  Frances  (Ray) 
Dixon,  who  came  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  about  1840. 
They  became  i)ioneers  of  Stark  County,  locating 
thereon  a  farm.  A  few  3ears  later  they  came  to 
Peoria  Count}',  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Cliilli- 
cothe  Township,  and  there  both  dieil.  Mr.  Dixon 
at  tlie  advanced  age  of  eight^'-onc  years,  and  his 
wife  when  seventy  one  years  old.  Sirs.  Seheeller 
is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom 
came  to  Illinois,  and  she  now  has  two  sisters  and  one 
brother  living.  She  was  only  a  child  when  she 
came  here  \vith  her  [larents,  and  was  reared  to  a  use- 
ful womanhood,  receiving  a  caref\d  training  in  all 
domestic  matters,  so  that  when  she  become  the  head 
of  a  household  she  was  competent  to  take  charge  of 
its  affairs. 

Five  children  have  blessed  the  happ}'  wedded 
life  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  of  whom  one  is 
deceased,  Alice,  who  died  at  the  .age  of  three  years. 
The  following  is  tfie  recorded  of  the  others:  Ma- 
tilda is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Stapp.  and  they  have  a 
home  near  her  parents,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming;  Frances  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Kellenbeck, 
of  Steuben  Townshij);  Arthur,  who  resides  on  his 
fiitiier's  farm,  married  Martha  Hart;  Carrie  is  the 
wife  of  William  Tayloi.who  lives  on  Mr.  Scheeller's 
farm  in  this  county. 

Our  subject  is  n  noble  type  of  our  self-made 
men.  He  started  on'  in  life  with  no  .adventitious 
aids  of  a  name  and  furtuncto  insure  success.  But  he 
had  what  is  better,  a  clear  brain  and  steady  nerve, 
anil  plenty  of  courage  to  do  and  to  dare,  a  high 
ambitidu  and  tenacity  of  purpose  to  enable  him  to 
carry  out  whatever  he  undertook,  and  aright  royal 


capacity  to  do  it  well;  these  have  been  the  open 
sesame  to  mnke  fortune's  doors  swing  wide  for  him, 
and  he  has  entered  into  iier  domain  and  taken  what 
rightlv  belonastohim  wliocan  persevere  to  the  end 
in  spite  of  all  obstacles.  The  success  that  he  has 
achieved  has  not  spoiled  him.  as  he  is  the  same 
kind  hearted,  friendly  man  as  in  days  of  yore,  and 
the  generous  use  that  he  makes  of  his  we.-dlh  shows 
his  aim  to  become  rich  was  not  entiiely  a  selfish 
one.  His  j)ublic  sjiirit  is  seen  in  his  lilier.al  use  of 
money  to  push  :ihead  all  plans  ilevised  for  the  ben- 
efit of  Chillicothe  in  jiarticular.  and  the  county  in 
general.  Air.  Seheeller  has  shrewd  opinions  on  all 
questions  of  the  d.aj-,  and  has  his  own  views  as  to 
politics,  being  independent  of  party  ties. 

In  connection  with  this  personal  sketch  of  Mr. 
.Seheeller,  we  are  pleased  to  present  a  view  of  his 
elegant  residence,  with  its  pleasant  rural  surround- 
ings. 


ooc> 


APT.  JOHN  H.  HALL.   No  more  enti 


'apt.  Hall,  the  cfliclent  President  and  Gen- 
er.'il  Manager  of  the  Ft.  Clark  Horse  Railro.ad.  He 
has  had  charge  of  this  car  line  about  eighteen  years. 
It  has  five  miles  of  double  track,  is  well  equipped, 
and  financially  successful.  The  life  of  Capt.  Hall 
has  not  been  devoid  of  adventure  and  hazard,  nor 
unmarked  b\'  gallantry  in  trying  scenes.  lie  won 
an  excellent  record  as  a  plucky  soldier  during  the 
Civil  War,  and  in  business  affairs  has  ever  been 
known  as  zealous,  energetic  and  honorable. 

The  [)arents  of  our  subject  were  Capt.  William 
A.  and  Prudence  T.  (Si)alding)  Hall,  and  were  n.a- 
tives  of  Connecticut,  from  which  State  thej'  emi- 
grated to  the  present  site  of  Chicago  in  the  spring 
of  1822.  At  the  little  trading  post  called  Ft.  Dear- 
born they  landed  June  l,and  about  a  year  Later, 
June  12,  1823,  their  first  child  was  born.  This  was 
a  daughter,  Madorah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Au- 
ren  Garret,  now  of  Peoria,  and  is  claimed  to  have 
been  the  first  white  child  born  in  Chicago.  In  the 
spring  of  1824  the  parents  removed  to  Chagrin 
Falls,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  a  year,  thence 
removing  to  Pittslnirg,  Pa.,  which  was  their  home 


626 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


iiutil  late  in  the  fall  of  1829.  They  then  changed 
their  place  of  abode  to  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  leaving 
that  city  in  June.  1833,  to  Ijecome  residents  of 
Peoria.  111.,  where  Ihey  arrived  the  1st  of  Septem- 
ber. The\-  were,  therefore,  among  the  very  first 
settlers  in  this  now  flourishing  city.  Mrs.  Prudence 
Hall  died  in  1852.  and  the  widower  subsequently 
marrte d  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Thoman,  iwc  Hepperl}',  who 
still  survives.  In  1875  Capt.  Hall  removed  to 
Oregon,  returning  to  Peoria  in  1879  and  making 
this  his  home  until  his  death,  August  11,  1881,  in 
his  eighty-fourth  year.  He  was  a  gun-smith  and 
in  Government  employ  both  in  Pittsburg  and  Chi- 
cago. For  man\"  years  he  followed  engineering  on 
the  river.  He  ow-ned  and  ran  the  steamboat  "Joe 
Davis"  in  the  St.  Louis  and  Illinois  River  trade. 
Either  as  engineer  or  captain  be  followed  river  life 
about  thirt3'-four  years.  To  him  were  born  nine 
children  of  whom  the  present  survivors  are:  J.  H., 
of  whom  we  write;  Mrs.  Caroline  Hudson,  of  Colo- 
rado Springs,  Colo.;  Willis  A.,  whose  home  is  in 
Adelaide,  AVash.,  and  Mary  W.,  wife  of  W.  E.  S. 
Bunn,  of  this  city. 

Capt.  John  H.  Hall  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
Jlay  12,  1828,  but  passed  his  early  life  chieflj-  in 
Peoria.  He  obtained  a  common-school  education 
during  the  winters  preceding  his  fourteenth  j-ear. 
He  then  entered  the  employ  of  Tucker  &  Mansfield, 
druggists,  with  whom  he  remained  about  four3-ears, 
when  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and  entered  the  drug 
establishment  of  Charless  <fc  Blow.  After  working 
for  that  firm  a  little  more  than  a  year  he  became  a 
clerk  on  a  boat  plying  between  St.  Louis  and  New 
Orleans,  and  on  that  route  and  the  Illinois  River  he 
followed  that  occupation  until  May,  1849. 

At  that  date  the  young  man  crossed  the  plains 
for  the  land  of  gold,  making  one  of  sixteen  who 
started  from  Salt  Lake  City  via  Los  Angeles,  on  a 
trail  a  wagon  had  never  traveled.  Thej'  left  the 
Mormon  capital  with  forty  daj's'  rations  and  were 
one  hundred  and  twent3--five  days  en  route.  Two 
days  before  their  arrival  at  the  Great  Desert  five 
of  them,  Capt.  Hall  among  the  number,  were  sent 
as  a  forlorn  hope  to  secure  aid  for  their  part3\ 
They  came  near  starving,  to  avoid  which  they  were 
obliged  to  resort  to  eating  a  crow  and  also  a  dog 
that  attended  them.     While  dressinir  the    latter  a 


party  of  three  overtook  them  and  it  was  found  that 
the  new  comers  had  ten  pounds  of  rice.  Exchange 
was  made  of  dog  meat  for  rice,  and  the  two  parties 
continued  in  companj-  two  days.  The  third  tlay 
they  saw  deer  tracks  and  two  of  the  party.  Antoine 
and  George  S.  Harding,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  started 
off  to  get  a  deer,  if  possible,  carrying  the  only  rifle 
left  to  the  comijany.  Hall,  YanBlack,  and  Robert 
Rohrbottom,  an  Englishman,  had  been  left  in  the 
camp,  and  just  at  sunset  rejoiced  to  see  their  com- 
rades returning.  In  addition  to  the  scarcitj-  of 
food,  from  which  thej-  suffered,  danger  was  immi- 
nent from  savage  foes  and  wild  animals.  Their 
hunger  was  relieved  bj'  a  deer,  which  had  been  shot 
bj-  Antoine,  and  which,  although  served  without 
salt  or  [jepper.  proved  verj-  gi-ateful  to  the  almost 
famishing  part}-.  They  survived  the  terrible  hard- 
ships which  the}'  encountered,  and  arriving  at  the 
mission  at  San  Bernadino  sent  back  supplies  to  the 
camp  they  had  left  and  all  the  party  reached  the 
coast  in  safet}'. 

Mr.  Hall  engaged  in  mining  but  with  ill  success, 
and  in  1851  returned  to  the  States  via  Central 
America  and  the  Nicarauga  route.  At  Gra3town 
an  incident  occurred  worth}'  of  note.  The}'  were 
obliged  to  wait  two  weeks,  and  were  there  sub- 
jected to  a  search  made  by  English  soldiers.  An 
English  man-of-war,  the  "Devastation,"  was  har- 
bored there  and  upon  it  Mr.  Hall  secured  pass.age 
to  New  Orleans.  After  reaching  his  former  home 
he  turned  his  attention  to  agriculture,  but  after  two 
years  spent  in  farming  became  a  clerk.  In  1856  he 
took  charge  of  Springdale  Cemetery,  retaining  his 
position  until  August  1,  1862,  when  'he  opened  a 
recruiting  office  on  Adams  Street.  On  the  27tb  he 
was  mustered  into  the  Union  army  .as  Captain  of 
Company  H,  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  in 
October  accompanied  his  regiment  to  Louisville.Ky. 

The  first  heavy  engagement  in  which  Capt.  Hall 
participated  was  the  bloody  battle  of  Perrysville, 
October  8.  He  then  followed  Bragg  to  Cr.ab 
Orchard,  after  which  his  command  was  sent  to  the 
relief  of  Nashville,  arriving  in  that  city  in  Decem- 
ber. They  remained  there  doing  camp  duty  until 
the  movement  culminating  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
raauga.in  which  our  subject  took  part  .'September  19, 
20.  and  21,  1863.     The  next  noted  engagements  in 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


627 


wliifli  ho  iiartiL-ipated  were  Lookout  Mountain  and 
Mission  Kidgo,  and  in  May,  18G4,  he  went  to  Ring- 
gultl,  afterward  participating  in  tlie  entire  series  of 
of  liattles  t)efore  Atlanta.  Capt.  Hall  accompanied 
Shern)an  to  the  sea  au<l  through  the  Carolinas,  the 
battles  of  Averj-sboro  and  Bentonsville  being  the 
last  in  which  he  participated.  lie  was  mustered 
out  of  service  after  the  Grand  Review  at  Washing- 
ton, in  which  he  participated  Juue  C,  1865. 

After  his  return  from  the  seat  of  war  Capt.  Hall 
resumed  his  position  as  Superintendent  of  the 
Springdale  Cemetery,  retaining  it  until  the  fall  of 
1873,  since  which  time  he  has  been  in  charge  of  the 
Ft.  Clark  Street  Railway.  lie  belongs  to  the  lude- 
Ijcndent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  of  the 
most  uncompromising  character.  Capt.  Hall  took 
a  companion  in  life  March  16.  185  1,  wedding  Janet 
G.  Coventry-,  a  native  of  Scotland  and  a  lady  of 
great  worth  of  character.  To  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Hall 
.  four  children  have  been  born,  and  they  mourn  the 
loss  of  one.  The  survivors  are:  Willis,  Secretary 
of  the  Ft.  Clark  Horse  Railwaj'  Company;  John  I)., 
who  is  engaged  with  the  same  company,  and  is 
iJeutenant  Colonel  of  a  Division  of  the  Sons  of 
^■eterans,  and  Benoui.  who  is  learning  photography. 


^€ 


i^^^ 


j^REDERICK  WINKELMEYER.  The  story 
(gS'  of  the  freedom  prevailing  in  the  United 
States  and  of  the  opi)ortunities  for  advance- 
ment existing  here,  is  told  again  and  again  around 
the  hearthstones  in  foreign  lands.  Its  recitation 
often  leads  to  a  determination  to  seek  a  new  home, 
and  Illinois  has  received  a  full  complement  of 
these  home-seekers  from  abroad.  The  German 
Revolution  of  1818  furnished  an  added  incentive 
to  many  to  leave  their  native  land  and  avoid  the 
consequences  resuliing  therefrom.  Among  these 
were  Frederick  and  Christina  Winkelnieyer,  whose 
household  was  gladdened  by  the  presence  of  seven 
children — five  sons  and  two  daugiiters.  After  land- 
ing in  New  York,  in  1840.  they  made  their  way  up 
the  glorious  Hudson  to  Albany.  thenc(!  by  canal  to 
Buffalo,  where  they  embarked  on   a  lake  steamer 


for  Milwaukee,  Wis.  On  Lake  Michigan  a  heavy 
fog  enveloped  their  vessel,  necessitating  a  h.alt,  and 
at  Shebo3gan,  Wis.,  the  family  remained.  There 
the  father  fell  a  victim  to  the  cholera  in  1851. 

The  son,  who  first  came  to  Feoria  in  1851,  and 
wiiose  career  is  the  subject  of  these  brief  notes, 
w.as  born  in  Saxony,  July  1,  1835,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  cabinet-maker  in  Peoria,  working  for 
Fritley  &  Lingle  two  and  one- half  years.  He  then 
went  to  Chicago,  only  to  return  to  Sheboygan 
after  a  year  had  passed  and  continue  his  labors  in 
that  city.  On  Sc|)tember  24,  1857,  he  led  to  the 
hymeneal  altar  Mi's  Emolia  Illig.  a  native  of  Sax- 
ony, Germany,  whose  training  had  well  fitted  her 
for  the  duties  of  a  home-keeper  and  mother.  She 
came  to  Sheboygan,  Wis.,  in  1848.  In  1861  Mr. 
Winkelmeyer  returned  to  Peoria,  bringing  with 
him  his  family,  .and  bectjuiing  proprietor  of  the 
Union  House,  on  Fulton  Street,  as  host  of  which 
he  continued  two  years.  He  then  opened  the 
grocery  store  which  has  brought  him  gain,  and 
comfort,  and  in  which  he  has  established  a  fine 
business.  He  keeps  a  full  line  of  the  best  goods, 
and  through  his  business  tact  and  personal  popu- 
larity has  enjoyed  a  large  trade  for  many  years. 

Love  for  the  land  he  had  chosen  for  his  home 
led  Mr.  Winkelmeyer  to  become  a  soldier  during 
the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  War,  and  as  a  member 
of  Company  C,  Forty-seventh  Illinois  Infantr}-,  he 
displayed  the  bravery  and  undaunted  courage  so 
characteristic  of  the  German.  His  enlistment  dated 
from  March  15,  1865,  and  he  was  discharge  1  Janu- 
uari^  21,  1865.  His  musical  knowledge  was  known 
anil  led  to  his  being  detailed  as  a  musician,  but  this 
fact  did  not  prevent  his  manifesting  soldierl}- qual- 
ities when  occasion  demanded.  On  the  contrary', 
his  position  was  often  one  of  even  greater  danoer 
than  that  of  a  jirivate  in  the  ranks. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  IVIrs.  Winkelmej'er  has 
been  made  more  ha[)py  by  the  birth  of  seven  chil- 
dren, several  of  whom  yet  remain  under  the  pa- 
rental roof.  The  filial  band  consists  of  Emma, 
Julius,  Clara.  Bertha,  Lena,  Edward  and  Josephine. 
The  oldest  daughter  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Fried- 
man, Clara  the  wife  of  Jacob  Baker,  and  Bertha 
the  wife  of  Theodore  Goldstein.  The  two  sons 
assist  their  father  in  the  business   which   he  con- 


628 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ducts,  and,  inheriting  financial  ability  from  Mm, 
give  promise  of  adding  to  the  mercantile  laurels  of 
the  family.  Mr.  Wiukelmeyer  is  a  member  of 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor.  Polilicall}'  he  is  a 
strong  Democrat,  and  religiously  is  identified  with 
the  Grace  Presbj-terian  Church.  His  excellence  of 
character,  good  citizenship  and  genial  qualities  se- 
cure for  him  the  high  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  three  senior  members  of  the 
original  brass  band  of  Peoria,  which  was  organized 
i.n  1851. 


ATTEY  JOHNSON,  a  respected  citizen  of 
Limestone  Township, where  he  has  a  pleasant 
home  and  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the 
oeighborhood,  is  a  fine  type  of  the  German 
element  that  has  done  and  is  doing  much  for  Peoria 
County.  He  has  assisted  in  the  development  of  its 
agricultural  resources  and  while  doing  his  share  of 
the  work  necessary,  has  acquired  a  competency. 

Our  subject  was  born  December  2,  1816,  and  was 
roared  in  East  Friesland,  Kingdom  of  Hanover, Ger- 
many, and  iu  its  excellent  schools  obtained  a  fair 
education  to  which  he  added  after  coming  to  this 
country  by  learning  to  read  and  write  the  Eng- 
lish hinguage.  April  G,  1848,  in  the  prime  of  a 
vigorous  manly  manhood  he  left  the  Fatherland  to 
seek  in  the  United  States  of  America  tlie  fortune 
that  he  felt  assured  awaited  him  who  was  willing  to 
labor  hard  at  any  honorable  calling.  He  landed  in 
New  York  City  the  24th  of  !May.  after  a  voyage  of 
forty-nine  dajs  and  making  his  way  to  Albany  on 
the  Hudson,  and  from  there  to  Buffalo,  worked  hard 
for  a  while  in  the  brick^-ard  for  $9  a  month,  wages 
were  not  being  high  then  as  they  are  now.  He 
then  prQceeded  to  Chicago  and  from  there  came  to 
Peoria  in  the  month  of  Juh'  of  the  same  j'ear.  He 
was  empt}-  handed  liutlie  enjoyed  fine  health  as  he 
alwa3-s  has  done  since  he  came  here,  having  been 
endowed  with  a  strong  constitution  and  great  pow- 
ers of  endurance.  He  was  not  long  in  finding  some- 
thina  to  employ  his  time  and  hired  to  a  German 
farmer  for  $12  a  month,  and  as  early  as  1852,  was 
enabled  to  establish  a  home,  he  being  married  on 
the  8th  of  September  of  that  year  to  Miss  Gal§na 


Siebolds.  Her  father.  Otto  Siebolds,  was  a  miller, 
and  lived  and  died  in  the  old  countr3'. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  lived  in  Peoria 
until  1856,  working  industriously  at  whatever  he 
could  find  to  do  and  in  the  meantime  wisely  saved 
his  earnings  until  he  had  §1,000  at  his  disposal.  He 
worked  in  the  lumber  yard  or  carried  the  hod  for 
the  masons  or  turned  his  hand  at  auvthing  b}' 
which  he  could  make  money.  He  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  18,  Limestone  Township, 
and  came  to  it  in  1856,  and  built  a  cow  shed  which 
he  and  his  family  used  as  a  dwelling  and  as  it  was 
covered  by  boards,  the^^  lived  in  it  comfortably 
until  he  could  replace  it  by  a  better  one.  He  de- 
veloped his  land  from  its  wild  condition,  brought 
it  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  made  on  it 
man^'  valuable  improvements  and  then  sold  it  to 
his  son  and  iu  1871  bought  a  fine  home  on  the 
Farmington  road,  about  nine  miles  from  town. 

The  married  life  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  has 
been  one  of  hai)piness  and  has  been  greatl}-  blest  to 
them  in  the  birth  of  their  six  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Of  the  remainder  the  following  is 
recorded:  Lina,  the  eldest,  is  now  Mrs.  Brants 
iind  has  five  children;  Annie  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
McGluggage,  the  son  of  an  Irish  family,  and  tliey 
have  two  chihJren,  boys;  Onteo  married  a  Miss 
McGluggage,  sister  of  8.  JIcGluggage,  and  the}' 
have  one  child:  John  L.  is  a  resident  of  Logan 
Township  where  he  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  purchased  from  his  father.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  McElroy,  Februar^-S,  1888,  and  they 
have  one  child. 

Mr.  Johnson's  honorable  and  upright  course  in 
all  the  affairs  of  life  since  he  became  a  resident  of 
this  country,  and  his  loyal  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  citizenship  in  his  adopted  home,  have  won  him 
universal  respect.  He  has  been  identified  with 
some  of  the  movements  to  elevate  the  social,  moral 
aud  material  status  of  the  community  and  is  liber.al 
in  his  support  of  all  things  that  will  in  any  way 
enhance  the  welfare  of  the  township.  He  is  prom- 
inent in  religious  affairs  aud  when  the  Presbyterian 
Church  was  built,  he  took  quite  a  prominent  |)art 
in  its  erection  and  has  since  been  one  of  its  most 
devoted  members  aud  his  wife  and  children  are 
also  connected  with  the  church.     He  is  Democratic 


^ 


-■''^1^*^'' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


631 


in  his  political  beliefs  and  has  lield  the  office  of 
Patlimaster  and  School  Director  of  his  township, 
lie  is  now  talking-  life  easy  as,  having  neai'I_v  rc!;f;lic(l 
his  seventy-fourth  year,  lie  has  wisely  conclmled 
to  rest  from  his  labors  and  enjoy  the  comforts  so 
well  earned. 


OBKRT  GARRLSON.  One  of  the  largest 
andliolders  in  all  Peoria  Connl^-  is  this 
gentleman,  who  has  met  with  more  success 
k'2^  in  the  prosecution  of  his  calling  as  farmer 
and  stock  man  than  usually  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  countr}'.  He  is  one 
of  the  wealthy  and  influential  citizens  of  Millbrook 
Townsliip,  and  has  borne  a  prominent  part  in 
bringing  it  to  its  present  condition  as  one  of  the 
finest  agricultural  regions  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
On  the  pages  of  this  volume  his  portrait  is  pre- 
sented, and  the  principal  events  of  his  life  are 
recorded. 

Oliio  is  the  native  State  of  our  subject,  the  place 
of  his  birth  being  in  Clinton  Conntj^  and  the  date 
thereof  February  2,  1H16.  Lemuel  and  Mar^- Garri- 
son, tiio  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  the  latter 
of  Kentucky,  were  his  parents.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Lemuel  Garrison,  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
1788,  anfl  emigrated  to  Ohio  about  1807.  That 
part  of  the  country  was  then  almost  entirely  in  a 
wild  condition,  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
having  ela[)se(l  since  it  was  opened  to  settlement; 
the  Indians  still  had  hunting  grounds  there,  and 
pitched  their  wigwams  along  its  streams  in  its 
primeval  forests.  Mr.  Garrison  was  for  a  short 
time  a  resident  of  Warren  County,  and  then  be- 
came an  early  pioneer  of  Clinton  County,  where  he 
lived  for  over  half  a  centurj',  and  reared  his  fam- 
ily; he  finally  died  in  this  county  in  February, 
1872,  at  a  ripe  old  age. 

Robert  Garrison,  of  whom  we  write,  grew  up 
amid  the  pioneer  surroundings  of  his  early  home, 
was  reared  to  farming,  and  has  all  his  life  been  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  When  he  was  but 
four  years  old   he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his 


mother,  and  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed 
with  his  brothers  and  sisters  in  his  father's  home. 
He  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  a  farm,  and  has 
done  much  [)ioneer  work  both  in  Ohio  and  Illinois. 
He  gleaned  his  education  in  the  subscription  schools 
of  Ohio,  and  has  extended  it  by  reading  good 
literature,  so  that  he  keeps  well  informed  on  topics 
of  general  interest. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1837,  our  subject 
was  married  to  Rebecca  Batsoii.  She  is  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  July,  1816, *to 
Nathaniel  and  Mar}'  Batson,  earl}'  settlers  of  Clin- 
ton County,  Ohio.  By  their  union  have  been 
born  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  survive,  as 
follows :  Jane,  wife  of  James  Shockley,  of  Stark 
County,  111.;  Mana,  wife  of  W.  L.  Barnes,  of  ftlill- 
brook  Township;  Lucinda,  wife  of  Tobias  Moats, 
who  lives  near  Grafton,  Neb.;  Thomas  B.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Peoria,  is  Deputy  Sheriff  in  the  Sheriff's 
office;  Susan,  wife  of  Milton  Hart,  of  Millbrook 
Township. 

In  the  fall  of  1852  Mr.  Garrison  made  a  new 
departure  in  life,  and  determined  to  do  as  his 
father  had  done,  and  seek  a  new  location  in  a  more 
recently  settled  part  of  the  country,  where  land 
was  cheap  and  the  virgin  soil  yielded  large  har- 
vests to  those  who  persevered  in  their  labors. 
After  his  arrival  in  this  State  he  remained  in  Knox 
Count}'  until  the  following  spring,  when  he  came 
to  this  county,  and  for  one  }'ear  resided  on  a  farm 
at  French  Grove,  and  finally  in  18.55  settled  on  the 
farm  which  he  now  owns  on  section  15,  Millbrook 
Township.  There  were  but  few  improvements 
made  on  the  place  either  as  to  cultivation  or  in 
point  of  buildings.  He  toiled  early  and  late  to  de- 
velop his  land,  and  has  met  with  remarkable  suc- 
cess in  his  calling.  He  has  a  commodious  residence 
on  section  15,  and  is  to-da}'  one  of  i.he  most  exten- 
sive landowners  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  and 
his  children  together  own  about  two  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  the  most  of 
it  in  Illinois,  though  some  of  it  is  in  Missouri  and 
Nebraska.  Mr.  Garrison,  personally,  owns  and 
operates  one  thousand  and  eighty  acres  of  land, 
which  is  highl}^  improved  and  under  the  best  of 
cultivation. 

This  county  is  greatly  indebted    for  its  wonder- 


632 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ful  growth  and  present  high  financial  standing  to 
the  men  of  intelligence,  far-reaching  enterprise  and 
action  who  came  here  in  pioneer  times,  and  have 
in  various  waj-s  sought  to  push  forward  its  inter- 
ests. Robert  Garrison  is  a  fine  representative  of 
this  class  of  men,  is  a  time  honored  resident  of 
this  part  of  the  State,  and  is  widely  known  and 
revered.  Many  warm  friends  have  been  drawn  to 
him  by  his  honorable  conduct  in  all  the  affairs  of 
life,  as  well  as  bj'  his  frankness  and  genuine  cour- 
tesy. He  is  strongly  interested  in  politics,  and  ac- 
tivel}'  uses  his  influence  in  favor  of  the  Democratic 
part3'.  His  public  spirit  is  an  important  factor  in 
carrying  out  all  schemes  for  the  benefit  of  township 
or  count3',  toward  which  he  gives  with  a  liberal 
hand.  He  and  his  venerable  wife  are  now  past  the 
age  of  tliree-seore  years  and  ten,  and  are  enjoj-ing 
the  fruits  of  their  earl}'  labors  in  a  home  where 
comfort  and  hospitality  abound. 


THEODORE  DAWSON;  This  gentleman, 
who  is  numbered  among  the  younger  farm- 
S^i^'  ers  of  Rosefield  Township,  was  reared  to 
the  pursuit  which  he  is  now^  following  with  a 
degreee  of  success  highly  satisfactor}-.  He  was 
born  near  Oak  Hill,  August  30,  1853,  being  a  sou 
of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Stahl)  Dawson.  He 
acquired  a  good  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  keeps  himself  well  informed  regarding  current 
events  and  general  topics  of  interest.  He  was 
married  August  20,  1882,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Ry near- 
son,  who  has  borne  him  two  bright  children — 
Reuben  and  Minnie  Belle.  The  estate  upon  which 
Mr.  Dawson  lives  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty-tliree  acres  belonging  to  his  wife,  being  her 
portion  of  the  estate  of  her  deceased  father. 

Mrs.  Dawson  was  born  April  1,  1865,  to 
F-pliraira  C.  and  Keziah  (Luse)  Rynear.son,  by 
whom  she  was  carefully  reared,  acquiring  a  good 
education,  much  useful  domestic  knowledge,  and 
the  habits  and  traits  of  character  which  fit  h<r  to 
discharge  the  duties  devolving  upon  her  as  wife, 
mother  and  member  of  society.  She  is  one  of  a 
family  of  twelve  diildreu,  of   whom  we  note  the 


following:  Mary  J.  is  now  Mrs.  Keys,  of  El  Paso; 
Harriet  Ann  died  when  five  years  old;  Sarah  is 
now, Mrs.  Shut,  of  Ford  County;  Mrs.  EHzabeth 
Seigel  lives  in  this  township;  Robert  J.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Elmwood;  Maria  died  when  seventeen 
years  old;  Deminicus  lives  in  Clay  County,  Neb.; 
Alice  is  the  wife  of  Lafayette  Smith,  of  this  town- 
ship; Keziah  died  when  five  years  old;  Charles 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  months;  Isabella,  Mrs. 
Holt,  lives  in  this  township;  Rebecca  is  the  wife 
of  Theodore  Dawson,  our  subject. 

Tiie  father  of  Mrs.  Dawson  was  born  in  Hamil- 
ton County,  Ohio,  March  2,  1814.  reared  ou  a  farm 
and  received  a  common-school  education.  He 
came  to  Peoria  Count}',  111.,  settling  on  section  28. 
Rosefield  Township,  then  going  to  Franklin 
Count}',  Ind.,  was  married  December  5,  1836.  to  a 
native  of  that  countj-,  and  bringing  his  bride  to 
the  Prairie  State  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
here.  In  1862  he  raised  a  company,  of  which  he 
was  appointed  Captain,  but  after  serving  three 
months  in  the  Union  Army,  sickness  compelled  his 
resignation.  He  serveil  as  Township  Supervisor 
ten  years  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  twent^'-two 
j-ears.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  November  29. 
1877,  he  owned  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land, 
and  was  occupying  the  homestead  on  whicli  his 
father  had  settled  in  1833. 

The  parents  of  Ephraim  C.  Rynearson  were  Min- 
ney  and  Sarah  (Carl)  Rynearson,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey  respectivel}'.  The  father 
was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  On  removiuo- 
from  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  to  Peoria  Count}-, 
III.,  Mr.  Rynearson  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land 
and  built  a  brick  residence,  which  was  one  of  the 
first  erected  in  this  section  and  one  of  the  finest 
of  the  period.  He  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
many  years,  being  gathered  to  his  fathers  in  April. 
1865,  his  wife  dying  some  two  years  later.  Of 
tlie  fourteen  children  born  to  them,  Maria. 
Ephraim,  John,  Elizabeth,  Sarah.Thomas,  Martha  J. 
and  Rebecca  A.  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  all  roar- 
ing families  except  Maria,  Jane  and  Thomas. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Dawson  was  born  January 
9,  1817,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Roltert  and  Mary 
(Jones)  Lufe.  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania.    They  removed  to   Indiana  at  an  early 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


633 


day,  spending  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
P'ranklin  County-,  wliere  Mr.  Liise  died  about  1825, 
his  widow  surviving  him  fort3'  3'ears  and  reaching 
the  age  of  eigiit3--four  years.  Ten  children  were 
born  to  them,  two  of  whom  died  young  and  five 
in  later  life.  Those  now  living  are:  Dr.  Alexan- 
der Luse,  of  Ohio;  Ilirani,  in  Indiana;  and  Mrs. 
Keziah  Rynearson.  Tlie  hitter  holds  two  iumdred 
and  ten  acres  of  the  Rynearson  homestead,  upon 
it  being  a  briciv  house  which  was  built  in 
18.51.  The  Luse  family  is  of  Dutch  origin,  and  its 
members  have  long  been  identified  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 


■M 


LFRED  G.  MILES  is  of  tiie  third  genera- 
tion of  tlie  family  in  Elmwood  Township, 
I  i  and  an  excellent  representative  of  tlie  pio- 
neer stock  to  wdiose  efforts  the  present 
high  civilization  and  development  of  this  section 
of  the  Mississippi  Valle}'  is  due.  The  surround- 
ings of  his  early  j-ears  and  tlie  manner  of  life  of 
his  progenitors,  will  acquaint  the  reader  with  the 
school  in  which  his  sturdy  virtues  were  developed 
and  physical  hardihood  acquired. 

Josepli  ;Miles,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  walking  all  the  w.ay  from 
Connecticut,  and  carrying  with  him  a  set  of  car- 
penter's tools.  He  put  up  the  first  mill  in  this 
township,  which  was  located  on  section  15,  where 
a  part  of  the  old  frame  is  yet  to  be  seen.  He  died 
in  1851,  leaving  to  liis  descendants  tlie  heritage  of 
a  good  reputation.  His  son,  Freeman,  who  was 
born  in  Litchfield  Count}',  Conn.,  and  married 
Ruth  Emma  Woodward,  of  the  same  count}-,  lived 
in  the  Empire  State  for  a  time,  working  at  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter.  In  1838  he  came  to  Illinois, 
his  first  home  being  in  the  upper  floor  of  the  mill 
which  hi.s  father  had  built,  and  which  he  afterward 
operated. 

The  country  was  tlien  but  very  thinly  settled, 
Brimfleld  was  a  hamlet  of  three  log  houses,  South- 
port  contained  two,  and  Elmwood  was  not  even 
dreamed  of.  Of  the  settlers  here  at  that  time 
none  survive  except  Avery    Dalton,  .Tolin   T.aylor 


and  II.  S.  Harkness.  The  country  was  timbered  open- 
ings, wherein  wild  aiiimals.-and  snakes  abounded. 
Freeman  Jliles  helped  to  organize  the  township  of 
Elmwood,  of  wliicli  he  acted  as  Clerk  for  several 
years,  and  was  elected  .Tustice  of  tlie  Peace,  al- 
though he  did  not  serve.  He  was  a  strong  Aboli- 
tionist and  before  the  issuance  of  tlie  Emancipation 
Proclamation  was  interested  in  the  work  of  the 
underground  railroad.  He  was  a  believer  in  wo- 
man suffrage.  He  became  prominent  in  this  sec- 
tion, well  rc.-^pected  for  the  vigor,  hospitality  and 
kindliness  which  marked  his  life.  He  died  March 
8,  1890.  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living  in  Elm- 
wood, suffering  from  some  of  the  infirmities  of  age, 
being  now  eightj'-three  3-ears  old.  She  and  her 
husband  belonged  to  the  Congregational  Church 
during  the  earlier  years  of  their  lives,  but  after- 
ward became  identified  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  faith  of  which  cliecis  lier  declining 
\ears. 

The  parental  familv  consisted  of  five  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living.  Tliev  arc:  Amelia  .1. 
wife  of  Cyrus  H.  Brooks,  of  Galva;  Alfred  G.,  of 
whom  we  write;  and  Rosa  V.,  wife  of  Joseph 
AVheeler,  of  Elmwood. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, June  25,  1834,  and  was  a  child  of  about  four 
years  when  brought  to  Illinois.  His  education 
was  inainl3'  acquired  in  the  district  schools,  al- 
though he  had  the  advantage  of  instruction  in  the 
academy  at  Brimfleld  one  season.  He  resided  with 
his  parents  until  twenty-four  3'ears  of  age,  engaged 
in  various  occupations.  He  operated  the  mill,  ran 
an  engine,  did  carpenter  work  for  about  six  3'ears, 
and  also  did  house  painting.  In  1860  he  set  up 
his  own  home,  having  won  as  his  companion  Miss 
Angeline  Lawrence.  This  lad3'  was  born  in  Co- 
shocton County,  Ohio,  March  21,  1838,  her  parents, 
George  P.  .and  Phebc  (Butler)  Lawrence,  remov- 
ing to  Illinois  in  1855.  She  is  a  sister  of  Erastus 
M.  Lawrence,  of  Elmwood  Township.  Both  her 
parents  are  deceased. 

The  famil}'  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miles  consists  of  si.x; 
living  cluldren  and  the}'  mourn  the  loss  of  two. 
The  oldest  of  those  who  survive  is  Frank,  whose 
home  is  in  the  same  township  as  Ids  parents,  and 


634 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


who  married  Emma  Parsely,  and  is  the  father  of 
one  child.  The  other  members  of  the  household 
band  are  George,  Edward,  William,  Earl  and  Archie, 
all  still  single.  The  entire  family  have  received 
good  educations  in  the  common  schools,  are  well 
bred  and  of  good  character.  No  finer  family  of 
boj's  can  be  found  in  aday's  journej'.  The  mother 
might  well  be  taken  as  a  type  of  a  perfect  house- 
wife and  devoted  mother,  as  she  looks  well  to  the 
waj's  of  her  household,  making  home  a  place  of  the 
most  perfect  order  and  watching  carefully  over  the 
welfare  of  lier  loved  ones. 

The  land  owned  and  occupied  bj'  Mr.  Miles 
comjjrises  two  hundred  and  ninety  .acres  on  section 
10.  and  is  devoted  to  general  farming  and  the 
raising  of  standard  grades  of  stock.  The  comfort- 
al)le  dwelling,  full  line  of  farm  buildings  which  ac- 
coaipanies  it,  and  other  improvements  have  been 
made  by  himself,  and  together  with  the  thoroughl}' 
cultivated  fields,  make  up  a  splendid  looking  estate. 
Mr.  Miles  has  been  a  School  Director  for  severaj 
years,  and  has  also  sery^ed  as  Road  Commissioner  in 
the  township  six  years.  He  keeps  well  informed 
regarding  political  matters,  voting  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  does  not  neglect  other  topics  of  inter- 
est. Success  has  crowned  his  labors  and  left  him 
free  from  anxiety  regarding  the  future.  He  is 
liberal  in  the  use  of  the  means  which  he  has  ac- 
quired, honest  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men, 
anil  in  social  and  domestic  relations  a  man  among 
men.  • 


^.  ATRICK  HARMON,  a  native  of  the  Emer- 
11'  aid  Isle,  is  numbered  among  the  pioneer 
citizens  of  Peoria,  in  which  he  made  his  ad- 
vent November  15,  1837.  He  was  born  in 
Count}-  Louth,  Ireland.  M.ay  12.  1812.  his  parents 
being  Dennis  and  Mary  (Callan)  Harmon.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  harness-maker,  following  the 
same  until  1837,  when  he  bade  adieu  to  his  native 
land,  believing  that  better  opportunities  for  per- 
sonal preferment  were  to  be  found  in  America. 
He  landed  in  New  York,  -lune  7,  but  found  it  im- 
possible  to   find  employment   in  the  citj',   where, 


owing  to  the  failure  of  the  United  States  Bank,  a 
financial  crisis  was  at  hand. 

Mr.  Harmon  obtained  employment  at  Newburg 
for  a  short  time,  then  going  into  the  countrj'  en- 
gaged with  a  farmer  to  reap,  which  he  did  with  a 
sickle.  He  next  set  up  a  shop  in  Newburg  for 
the  manufacture  of  horse  collars,  but  in  the  fall 
turned  his  footsteps  westward.  Finding  nothing 
to  do  at  his  trade  in  Peoria,  he  turned  his  hand  to 
other  emploj'uient,  being  willing  to  do  any  honest 
labor  by  wiiicli  he  could  gain  a  sustenance.  The 
story  of  his  early  experiences  is  an  interesting  one, 
particularh'  when  he  tells  of  his  efforts  to  split 
rails  and  chop  cord  wood,  a  business  in  which- he 
engaged  during  the  fall,  and  which  he  learned  by 
hard  kuocks.  His  first  attempt  at  rail-making  was 
to  sjjlit  them  out  one  by  one  with  wedges.  A 
passing  farmer  came  to  his  aid  and  gave  him  a  les- 
son from  which  he  profited. 

During  the  winter  following  his  airival  in  the 
Prairie  State,  Mr.  Harmon  went  with  others  to 
Iowa  to  look  for  Government  land,  but  finding 
none  to  suit  him  returned  to  Peoria,  read}'  as  be 
fore  to  adopt  any  employment  he  could  find.  He 
broke  prairie  for  Mr.  Underbill,  at  5*2. 50  per  .acre, 
breaking  in  all  about  five  hundred  acres.  The 
pioneers  well  understand  what  an  arduous  task 
this  was,  although  those  unacquainted  with  farm 
life  or  accustomed  only  to  seeing  plowing  done 
on  old  ground,  will  have  little  comprehension  of 
it. 

The  next  enterprise  of  Jlr.  Harmon  was  to  begin 
farming  for  himself,  which  he  continued  three 
years,  after  which  he  again  came  to  the  city.  For 
seven  years  he  was  occupied  in  hauling,  after 
which  he  opened  a  grocery  store,  and  began  a  bus- 
iness life  which  has  been  prosecuted  for  over 
thirty  years.  Having  met  his  early  reverses 
bravely,  he  has  received  prosperity  in  an  apprecia- 
tive spirit,  using  it  .as  a  means  of  additional  com- 
fort in  the  home  life,  better  advantages  for  his 
family  and  an  opportunity  of  assisting  those  in 
need.  He  is  a  communicant  •  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  as  are  the  various  members  of  his  family, 
and  is  respected  by  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances 
in  business  and  social  life. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Harmon  bore  the  maiden  name 


/^^m 


:^^cj^/;u^2^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


037 


of  Mary  Boyle.  Their  maniago  rites  were  cele- 
brated February  'il,  1841,  and  liie  union  lias  been 
productive  lo  tlieni  of  lliirteen  children.  Of  this 
large  family  six  are  now  living.  The^-  are:  Ann, 
widow  of  Augustus  Myliins;  Peter,  a  cigar  manu- 
facturer and  dealer,  of  Peoria;  Kate;  Agnes,  a  pub- 
lie  school  teacher;  Dennis  lives  in  Peoria;  and 
John,  a  resident  of  Providence,  R.  I.  Peter  is  do- 
voting  his  attention  thoroughly'  to  a  business  in 
which  he  gives  emploj'ment  to  eight  hands,  his 
transactions  covering  about  $20,000  per  annum. 
Politifally  Mr.  Harmon  is  a  Democrat. 


,^f=!C| EOIIG E  W.  .SCHNEBLY,  Jr.  The  general 
intelligence,  high  moral  character  and  busi- 
ness ability  of  the  local  freight  agent  in 
Peori.i,  of  the  Terre  Haute  &  Peoria  Railroad,  are 
such  as  to  entitle  him  to  the  respect  of  tlie  entire 
community  and  the  deeper  esteem  of  those  who 
know  him  well.  Mr.  Schnebly  hai  been  a  freight 
agent  here  for  several  years,  having  begun  his  la- 
bors during-  the  days  of  the  old  Illinois  Midland 
1111°  and  retained  his  position  after  the  change  in 
the  road.  For  seven  years  he  has  had  entire  charge 
of  the  local  business,  having  secured  the  confidence 
of  ins  superiors  in  his  honor  and  efficiency. 

Mr.  Schnebly  is  a  native  of  Spring  Ba^-,  Wood- 
fold  Count}',  111.,  where  his  eyes  opened  to  the  light 
January  16,  1855.  His  parents,  George  \V.  and 
Margaret  M.  (Cox)  Schnebly,  were  formerly  resi- 
dents of  Peoria.  They  removed  to  Mossville  when 
our  subject  was  a  babe, and  when  he  was  about  eight- 
een years  old  to  Alta.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  tiiis  count}',  after  whicli  he  turned 
his  attention  to  pedagogy  for  some  time.  At  length, 
however,  he  abandoned  that  honorable  field  of  la- 
bor for  one  in  which  he  thought  the  opportunities 
for  personal  aggrandizement  were  more  favorable, 
and  which  would  afford  a  field  for  the  exercise  of 
the  business  qualities  of  his  mind. 

Mr.  Schnebly  therefore  connected  himself  w^Ui 
railroad  work  on  the  line  of  the  Missouri  Pacific 
Road,  Gccui)ying  positions  at  Kansas  City  and  In- 
dependence, Mo.,  two  years.     He  then  returned  to 


his  native  State,  and  at  Peoria  resumed  the  duties 
of  clerk  for  the  Peoria  &  Pekin  Union  and  Illinois 
Midland  jointly.  His  later  career  has  already  been 
noted.  He  manifests  a  considerable  degree  of  in- 
terest in  the  social  and  benevolent  orders  and  has 
become  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  Uni- 
formed Rank  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  as  does  his  estimable 
w  i  f  e. 

Our  subject  has  built  for  himself  a  fine  residence 
on  East  Bluff  Street,  whose  general  adornments 
and  air  of  refinement  prove  tliat  it  is  presided  over 
by  a  lady  whose  aim  is  to  make  her  home  the  most 
attractive  spot  on  earth  to  husband  and  children. 
This  lady  was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss 
Lillie  S.  Saul,  and  is  a  native  of  Peoria,  in  whose 
schools  she  obtained  a  good  education.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Wesley  H.  Saul,  an  early  resident  and 
commission  produce  man  who  removed  hither  from 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  Her  mother,  former!}'  Harriett 
Secor,  is  now  deceased. 

The  union  of  Mr.  Schnebly  and  his  amiable  wife 
was  celebrated  November  25,  1880,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  five  children  named,  respectively, 
Ervvin  J.,  Lillie  M.,  Robert  S.,  William  G.  and  Hat- 
tie  B.  They  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  their  son, 
William  G.,  a  briglit  child  of  four  years,  with  that 
dread  disease,  scarlet  fever.  The  children  form  a 
bright  and  interesting  group,  and  are  receiving  the 
benefit  of  a  good  education.  The  family  are  highly 
respected  socially,  and  heartily  endorse  every 
measure  calculated  to  advance  the  interests  of  the 
community. 

On  another  page  of  this  volume  we  present  a 
lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Schnebly. 

■yf  EROME  C.  HAWLEY  is  the  owner  and 
occupant  of  a  good  farm  on  section  2,  Akron 
Township,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  productive  land,  which  lias 
been  placed  under  good  improvement  in  every 
part,  is  supplied  with  a  complete  line  of  necessary 
buildings,  sufficiently   commodious   for  their  vari- 


638 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


oils  purposes  and  convtmienlly  located.  The  owner 
of  the  estate  is  a  man  of  intelligence,  who,  having 
received  a  good  practical  education,  has  regarded 
the  same  as  a  foundation  upon  which  to  huild 
greater  knowledge  through  reading  and  ohserva- 
tion.  He  is  courteous  in  his  dealings  with  his  fel- 
low-men, has  a  reputable  character,  and  while 
devoting  his  chief  attention  to  his  private  affairs, 
has  been  useful  in  several  of  the  local  offices. 

Mr.  Hawley  is  the  younger  of  the  two  children 
born  to  Nathan  and  C'hloe  A.  (Whiteside)  Haw- 
ley, whose  (irst  home  after  their  marriage  was  in 
Sandy  Creek,  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.  The  mother 
was  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  but  the  father 
was  born  in  ^'ermont.  In  the  fall  of  18.3.)  tliey 
came  West,  and  in  LaSalle  County,  this  State,  the 
father  breathed  his  last  October  24,  1836.  The 
widow  removed  to  this  county,  settling  in  Medina 
Township,  but  subsequently'  locating  in  Radnor 
Township.  She  died  at  the  residence  of  our  sub- 
ject in  Akron  Township,  October  20,  1879. 

The  birthplace  of  him  of  whom  we  write  was 
Sandy  Creek,  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  and  his  na- 
tal day  .June  9,  1832.  He  w.as  in  his  fourth  year 
when  he  came  to  the  Prairie  .State  with  his  parents, 
and  .^till  but  a  little  lad  when  he  accompanied  his 
mother  to  this  county.  For  eighteen  years  his 
home  was  in  ^Medina  Township,  after  which  he  lived 
in  Radnor  Township  until  1866.  He  then  settled 
on  section  2,  Akron  Township,  continuing  the 
farm  work,  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  from  his 
youth,  prospering  in  his  occupation,  and  attaining 
a  position  among  the  solid  men  of  this  section. 

Mr.  Hawley  was  fortunate  in  securing  for  his 
companion  a  lady  of  genuine  worth  of  character, 
cultured  mind  ancl  thrift3'  w.ays.  This  was  Miss 
Sarah  Wilkinson,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  July  15,  1840,  and  whom  he  led  to  the  li\'- 
meneal  altar  in  Peoria,  .Tune  11,  1863.  The  liap|)y 
union  has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of  four  children 
— Alvin  J.,  Clarence  E.,  Nettie  and  Charles  N., 
who  have  been  as  thoroughl3f  equipped  for  useful 
careers  as  the  comfortable  circumstances  and  ardent 
desires  of  their  parents  would  permit. 

The  parents  of  ]Mrs.  Hawley  were  Jolm  and 
Soiihia  (Barden)  Wilkinson,  the  former  a  native 
ol  England  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey.     They 


settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  the  wife  died  Octo- 
ber 12,  1850.  In  the  spring  of  1853  Mr.  Wilkin- 
son came  to  Peoria  County  with  his  children, 
locating  in  the  county  seat,  where  they  lived 
three  years.  He  then  removed  to  Woodford  County, 
where  he  departed  this  life  May  30,  1861.  The 
family  consisted  of  five  sons  and  two  daughters, 
Mrs.  Hawley  being  the  third  child  and  eldest 
daughter. 

The  politic. d  adherence  of  Mr.  Hawley  is  given 
to  the  Democratic  party,  in  the  principles  of  which 
he  firmly-  believes.  Among  the  oflices  which  he 
has  held  in  the  township  are  that  of  llighwa3-  Com- 
missioner and  various  positions  relating  to  the  con- 
duct of  the  schools.  He  and  his  wife  are  lilicral 
in  their  religious  views. 


■<ci»  •t^  • 


^H 


lUSTAVE  DAMMANN.  We  would  fail 
of  our  object  of  representing  a  complete 
^^^iAj  bistoiy  of  the  county  were  we  to  omit  from 
this  Album  the  sketch  of  the  late  Gustave  Dam- 
mann,  who  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  centuiy  was 
engaged  in  busine.'^s  in  Peoria.  He  was  an  excel- 
lent examiile  of  the  zealous,  industrious,  law-abid- 
ing German-American  citizen,  who,  steadfastly 
pursuing  his  business  career,  thriftily  managing  his 
income,  secured  a  good  standing  in  business  circles 
and  was  enabled  to  supply  his  family  with  all  of 
the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  Frederick 
and  Johanna  (Gebser)  Dammann,  natives  of  Prus- 
sia, in  which  kingdom  the  sou  Gustave  was  also 
born,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  October  22,  1832. 
He  remained  in  his  native  land  until  after  he  had 
become  of  age.  acquiring  the  education  which  the 
Fatherland  provides  for  all  her  sons  and  daugh- 
ters. Having  been  drawn  to  America  by  the  re- 
ports which  had  reached  him  of  the  better  ojjpor- 
tunities  for  financial  adv.aneement  and  personal 
advantage' which  would  be  found  here,  he  emigrated 
in  1854,  making  his  first  settlement  in  Burlington, 
Iowa.  There  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness about  four  years,  after  which  he  removed  to 
Galesburg,  111.,  resuming  his  former  occupation  in 


PORTRAIT  A:SD  BlOCiRArHICAL  ALBUM. 


639 


that  place.  In  1862  he  took  up  Lis  abode  in 
Peoria,  embarking  in  the  toy  l)usiness,  which  lie 
successfully  prosecuted  as  long  as  his  health  woidd 
permit.  After  a  long  sickness  he  breathed  his  last, 
November  11,  1886. 

Mr.  Daninianii  was  a  man  of  inlegrily  in  busi- 
ness relations,  kind  and  considerate  in  social  and 
domestic  life,  meriting  the  esteem  of  his  associates 
and  receiving  from  them  a  due  measure  of  the 
same.  Appreciating  the  oi)portunities  which  this 
country  affords,  he  gave  his  children  every  advan- 
tage possible,  assisting  them  to  secure  good  edu- 
cations, and  encouraging  all  their  efforts  toward 
personal  advancement.  lie  was  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Driuds.  Before  coming  to  this  country 
Mr.  Dammann  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  but  never  identilied  himself  with  any 
church   here. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Dammann  and  Miss  Jose- 
phine Sleft'ens  was  celebrated  April  20,  18o6.  ^Mrs. 
D-immann  is  a  native  of  Oermany,  but  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  was  living  in  Burlington, 
Iowa.  She  is  a  notable  housewife,  a  devoted  mother 
and  a  devout  member  of  the  Sacred  Heart  Church. 
Air.  and  Mrs.  Dammann  became  the  jiarents  of 
seven  children,  but  three  of  whom  are  now  living. 
The  son,  P'rederick  Joseph,  is  now  in  business; 
Jenny,  a  graduate  of  the  Normal  School,  is  en- 
gaged in  leaching;  Ernestine  is  her  mother's  com- 
panion in  the  home,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the 
millinery  business. 


!fj  DWARD  F.  WILDER  has  been  engaged  in 
Y^  farming  and  stock-raising  in  Radnor  Tovvn- 
iLi^/  ship  since  pioneer  times,  and  by  his  skill  and 
ability  as  an  .agriculturist  he  h.as  contributed  not  a 
little  to  its  growth  and  material  prosperity.  His 
farm  on  section  12,  compares  favorably  in  all  re- 
spects with  the  many  choice  farms  for  which  this 
county  is  so  celebrated.  lie  comes  of  a  sterling 
New  England  ancestr}'.  His  father,  Lindal  Wilder, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  his  mother,  Bet- 
sey lladley,  was  also  of  New  England  birth.    Thcv 


spent  their  married  life  in  Oswego  County,  N.  Y., 
where  they  were  industriously  engaged  in  farming, 
and  there  rounded  out  lives  of  worth  and  useful- 
ness. The3'  had  a  famil}-  of  three  children,  of 
whom  our[subjcct  was  the  second  in  order  of  l)irih. 

lie  was  bom  in  the  town  of  Sandy  Creek,  Os- 
wego County.  N.  Y.,  Februar\-  14,  1824,  and  on  his 
father's  farm  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer.  He 
resided  in  his  native  place  until  1845,  and  then  in 
the  opening  years  of  an  active,  noble  manhood, 
came  to  Peoria  Count}',  seeking  on  these  western 
prairies  to  establish  a  home  for  himself.  He  had 
come  here  without  capital,  and  in  order  to  secure 
means  of  independence,  worked  out  by  the  month 
as  a  farm  laborer  until  about  1856.  He  then  set- 
tled on  his  farm  on  section  12,  Radnor  Township, 
which  is  still  his  home,  and  which  he  had  purchased 
as  earl_v  as  1847.  He  has  here  one  hundred  and 
eight}-  acres  of  land,  which  by  unceasing  activity 
and  hard  pioneer  labor,  he  has  developed  into  a 
line  piece  of  property.  It  is  under  good  tillage,  and 
he  has  erected  commodious  buildings  of  a  substan- 
tial order  for  every  needed  purpose,  has  .provided 
good  machinery  for  carrying  on  farming,  and  con- 
duets  his  interests  after  the  most  approved  meth- 
ods. 

When  our  subject  first  located  on  bis  farm,  he 
was  unmarried,  but  he  was  not  obliged  to  toil  alone 
for  a  great  length  of  time,  as  by  his  marriage,  April 
30,  1857,  with  Miss  Eliza  J.,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Margaret  Hanson,  n.atives  of  Ireland,  he  se- 
cured the  active  co-operation  of  a  wife,  who  has 
been  all  in  all  to  him.  Mrs.  Wilder's  parents  came 
to  America  in  1839,  and  were  pioneers  of  this 
county,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
days.  She  was  the  third  of  their  four  children,  and 
was  born  in  County  Kerr\-,  Ireland,  December  16, 
1826.  She  and  her  husband  have  one  daughter, 
Rosella  M.,  who  was  born  in  Radnor  Township, 
March  13,  1H58.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles 
R.  Cline,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Oscar 
E.  and  Nellie  R.  She  remained  at  home  with  her 
parents  until  her  marriage,  and  was  carefully  reared 
and  educated. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilder  are  very  pleasantly  situated 
and  their  attractive  home  is  the  center  of  a  charm- 
ing hospitality.     By  his  fellow-citizens  Mr.  Wilder 


640 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


is  regarded  with  feelings  of  friendship  and  confi- 
dence, as  he  is  Icind,  considerate,  and  conscientious 
in  all  his  dealings  with  them,  and  when  an^y  of  his 
neighbors  are  in  sorrow  or  in  need,  they  look  to 
him,  and  also  to  his  good  wife,  who  is  held  in  like 
esteem,  sure  of  their  sj'mpathy  and  help.  Mr. 
Wilder  has  been  School  Director  for  three  years, 
although  he  has  not  sought  office,  but  has  attended 
strictl}-  to  his  business.  Mrs.  Wilder  and  daugh- 
ter are  among  the  most  valued  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


-^ 


^/OHN  P0RTP:R.  deceased,  formerly  lield  an 
import'int  place  among  the  leading  farmers 
and  stock-growers  of  this  county,  of  which 
he  was  an  honored  pioneer.  He  was  an 
earl}'  fetller  of  Millbrook  Township,  and  his  death 
w.as  a  serious  loss  to  its  citizenship,  as  he  had  al- 
ways taken  a  deep  interest  in  its  welfare,  and  his 
name  was  associated  with  all  plans  for  the  moral, 
social  and  educational  advancement  of  the  com- 
munit}". 

He  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  coming  of  a  good 
faniil}-,  and  was  born  in  Gallowaj'shire,  March  6, 
1812.  He  was  a  son  of  James  and  Grace  (Tail) 
Porter,  who  were  also  natives  of  Scotland,  and  his 
father  was  a  phj-sician  by  profession.  The  early 
years  of  the  life  of  our  subject  were  passed  upon 
his  native  heath,  but  when  about  eighteen  3'ears 
old  he  went  from  his  old  home  to  Blackburn.  Eng- 
land, and  there  served  an  apprenticeship  in  the 
mercantile  business  as  a  grocer  and  dry-goods 
clerk  for  some  seven  jears.  He  continued  clerk- 
ing for  some  years  and  gained  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  business,  he  having  a  quick  mind, 
which  had  been  developed  by  a  good  education. 
In  1848  he  threw  up  bis  position  as  clerk  in  Eng- 
land and  came  to  America.  He  landed  in  New 
Orleans  and  from  there  came  to  this  count}',  and 
for  a  time  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  mercantile 
business  in  Peoria. 

Our  subject  finally  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing, and  in  1852  located  on  section  12,  Millbrook 
Township,  whence  he  removed  with  his  family  in 


1856  to  the  home  now  occupied  by  his  widow. 
His  success  as  an  agriculturist  was  complete,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  August  21.  1878,  ne  had 
here  a  large  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
that  was  under  fine  improvement,  with  well-tilled 
fields  and  substantial  buildings  for  every  purpose. 
It  was  originally  a  tract  of  wild  land,  on  which  a 
furrow  had  never  been  turned,  and  it  was  only  by 
the  quiet  force  of  persistent  and  unremitting  toil 
that  he  made  it  what  it  is.  to-day. 

Mr.  Porter  was  fiist  married  in  November,  1848, 
to  Jane  Anderson.  His  marriage  with  Jeanetle 
Smith,  who  survives  him,  was  solemnized  Febru- 
ary 24,  1852.  Mrs.  Porter  was  born  in  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  April  20,  1830.  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Bethial'ry  Smith,  who  were  also  of  Scottish  birth 
and  antecedents.  When  she  was  about  twelve 
years  old  they  emigrated  to  America,  crossing  the 
Atlantic  in  a  sail  vessel  and  landing  in  New 
Orleans,  and  thence  proceeding  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  where  they  remained  about  two  years.  In 
1844  they  came  to  Princeville  Township,  where 
they  spent  their  remaining  years,  the  father  dying 
in  1852,  and  the  mother  October  24,  1876.  They 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Princeville 
Township,  where  Mr.  Smith  purchased  forty  acres 
of  land  from  the  Government,  at  $1.25  an  acre, 
and  did  much  pioneer  labor  in  developing  it. 
While  a  resident  of  the  old  country,  when  he  was 
a  young  man,  he  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  British 
army  arid  bad  served  in  the  Peninsular  campaign 
under  the  famous  AVcUington;  he  also  fought  in 
many  battles  in  .Spain  against  the  French.  He  was 
a  regular  and  served  nine  years.  He  was  a  sincere 
Christian  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Mrs.  Porter  and  her  brother,  Archibald,  of  Prince- 
ville Township,  are  the  only  survivors  of  a  family 
of  eiglit  children.  She  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  always  t.aking  part  in  any  of 
its  good  works,  and  she  is  a  very  intelligent,  capa- 
ble woman,  of  many  pleasant  social  qualities,  and 
is  highly  regarded  by  the  entire  community.  She 
has  witnessed  the  gradual  growth  of  the  county, 
and  can  recall  many  a  pioneer  scene,  and  converses 
interestingly  of  the  primitive  life  and  the  condition 
of  the  country  in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement. 

To  our  subject  and  bis  wife  were  born  ten  chil- 


PORTIiAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


641 


dren,  of  whom  six  are  living:  Bethia,  now  Mrs. 
Dcbord,  of  Princeville  Township;  Grace,  Clara, 
David,  John  P.,  and  James. 

Mr.  Porter  was  a  man  of  marked  intelligence, 
and  of  a  firm  and  dignifled  character,  whicli,  with 
his  higli  moral  integrity,  won  him  tlie  absolute 
trust  and  full  esteem  of  iiis  fellow-citizens  when  he 
came  here  to  cast  his  lot  with  the  resolute  pioneers 
of  Peoria  County,  witli  nianj'  of  whom  he  lived  in 
close  friendsiiip  for  many  years.  He  conducted 
his  affairs  with  excellent  business  tact  and  wise 
cconomj',  and  his  honesty  in  all  his  transactions  was 
proverbial.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  had  officiated  in  the  Sunday-school 
as  Superintendent.  He  served  as  School  Director, 
and  was  frequently  solicited  to  take  other  important 
offices  of  trust  by  his  fellow-citizens,  but  would  not 
accept,  preferring  the  quietness  and  comfort  of  his 
happy  fireside  to  the  turmoil  of  public  life.  Since 
tlie  death  of  Mr.  Porter  his  widow  has  added  eighty 
acres  to  the  original  homestead,  and  she  now  has 
tliree  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 


V/li  ICHAEL  PFEIFER.  This  gentleman  is 
one  of  the  leading  German-Americans  of 
Peoria,  in  which  cit^'  he  has  pursued  a  suc- 
cessful business  career  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  centurj-.  He  has  been  the  organizer 
of  many  important  beneficiar}'  corporations  and  to 
his  business  ability  much  of  their  success  has  been 
due.  A  detailed  account  of  his  labors  from  the 
time  when  he  was  engaged  in  chopping  wood  on 
the  Mississippi  River  to  tlic  present,  would  afford 
the  strongest  possible  proof  of  his  energy  and  capa- 
bility, and  add  another  striking  example  to  the  list 
of  prominent  and  influential  men  who  have  risen  by 
their  own  exertions. 

In  Bavaria,  German}-,  .lanuary  17.  1  829,  tliee3'es 
of  our  subject  first  opened  to  the  light  of  day.  He 
was  reared  in  his  native  land  until  near  man's 
estate,  when  he  determined  to  seek  liis  fortune  in 
America,  arriving  in  this  country  in  August,  1849. 
Coming  west  as  far  as  the  Mississippi  River,  he 
spent  four  or  five  months  in  wood  chopping   and 


then  found  employment  as  a  teamster  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.  After  a  time  he  entered  a  furniture  store 
where  he  remained  until  1855,  when  he  came  to 
Peoria  to  engage  as  a  clerk  for  Albert  Pottlioff  & 
Co.,  hardware  dealers.  He  remained  with  them 
and  their  successors  until  18C1,  when  he  embarked 
in  business  for  himself,  opening  a  grocery  store  on 
the  corner  of  Bridge  and  Washington  Streets.  Two 
years  later  he  added  hardware  to  his  stock,  after- 
ward abandoning  tlie  trade  in  groceries  and  devo- 
ting his  attention  entirely  to  dealing  in  hardware 
and  agricultural  implements.  In  this  he  still  con- 
tinues, having  added  farm  seeds  to  his  stock,  and  is 
doing  an  excellent  retail  business  under  the  style 
of  M.  Pfeifer  A:  Co. 

Mr.  Pfeifer  is  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Work- 
ingmen's  Loan  and  Homestead  Association,  which 
was  the  first  society  of  the  kind  started  here  and  in 
which  he  has  been  a  Director  since  its  organiza- 
tion, with  the  exception  of  four  years  when  he  was 
representing  the  First  Ward  in  the  City  Council 
having  resigned  his  directorship  when  elected 
Alderman.  He  also  assisted  in  organizing  the  Ger- 
man Workingmen's  Association,  which  is  still  in 
existence,  and  the  Inheritance  Association  wnich 
has  been  disorganized.  He  was  one  of  the  origi- 
nal stockholders  in  the  Central  City  Street  Car 
lines,  in  which  he  is  still  interested  and  in  which 
he  has  been  a  Director  thirteen  years.  He  was  in- 
terested in  the  organization  of  the  German  Bank- 
ing Company,  of  which  he  was  President  about  six 
years;  it  was  then  merged  into  the  German-Ameri- 
can National  Bank  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  of 
whicii  Mr.  Pfeifer  was  President  six  years. 

Another  institution  with  the  organization  of 
which  Mr.  Pfeifer  was  connected,  is  the  German 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  which  w.as  incorporated 
in  1878,  wilb  a  capital  of  $100,000  and  now  has  a 
capital  of  8300,000  and  a  record  of  thirteen  years 
of  successful  business.  Mr.  Pfeifer  has  been  the 
Director  and  the  Treasurer  of  this  society  since  its 
organization. 

Mr.  Pfeifer  has  belonged  to  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd-Fellows  since  1852,  and  is  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  the  society  in  wbich  lie  has 
filled  all  of  the  Chairs.  In  1858  he  joined  the  Ger. 
man  Fire  Company,  of  which  he  was  an  active  mem- 


612 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ber  for  twelve  jeai-^,  flaring  tliat  time  filling  the 
positions  of  Secretary,  Treasurer  and  foreman.  He 
ovns  quite  a  large  amount  of  real  estate  in  the 
cit_v.  He  married  Miss  Barbara  Goeliring  of  St. 
Louis  who  w.as  born  in  Bavaria  in  1827.  She  is 
still  living,  hale  and  heaity.  and  capable  of  enjoy- 
ing as  in  earlier  j-ears  the  society  of  her  man\-  friends 
and  the  comforts  b}'  which  she  is  surrounded. 


LAIR  K.  MOLIL  is  a  practical  wide-awake, 
energetic  member  of  the  farming  commu- 
■^■J)))!  nity  of  Peoria  County,  and  since  he  located 
on  his  present  farm  on  section  7.  Brim  field 
Township,  he  has  greatly  developed  and  improved 
it  until  it  now  stands  among  the  most  valuable  in 
this  locality.  Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Perry 
Count}-,  Pa.,  and  was  there  born  February  15.  1854, 
to  Joseph  and  Margaret  ( Lyons)  Moul.  His  par- 
ents were  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  and 
there  our  subject  spent  the  early  j-ears  of  his  life, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  local  schools.  He 
did  not  have  many  advantages  in  the  way  of  ac- 
quiring book  learning,  but  being  fond  of  reading 
and  possessing  good  powers  of  observation,  he  has 
since  become  well  informed,  and  keei)s  abreast  of 
the  times  concerning  all  subjects  of  general  inter- 
est. When  he  was  a  l.id  of  ten  j'ears.  he  had 
the  misfortune  to  lose  his  father,  and  his  mother  be- 
ing poor,  he  was  earh- thrown  on  his  own  resources. 
He.  however,  possessed  a  sturdy,  self-reliance,  and 
was  active  and  capable,  and  found  no  difficulty  in 
finding  work,  being  employed  as  a  farm  hand  at 
fourteen  jears  of  age,  anil  for  some  five  years  was 
thus  engaged  iai  his  native  State,  receiving  as  pa}-- 
ment  for  his  services  about  §12  |)er  mouth.  In 
1874  he  started  out  in  the  world,  ambitious  to  do 
still  better  than  he  was  doing,  and  made  his  wa}'  to 
the  Prairie  State,  and  for  five  years  worked  out  b}- 
the  month.  He  lived  in  Bureau  Count}-  one  year, 
and  then  came  to  this  county.  He  prudently  saved 
his  earnings,  and  finall}-  was  enabled  to  become  in- 
dependent, and  after  farming  as  a  renter  for  a  short 
time,  purchased  his  present  farm  in  1880.  This 
comprises  eight\-  acres   of  choice  land    of  excep- 


tional fertility,  which  is  under  the  best  cultivation, 
and  for  which  he  paid  -^50  an  acre. 

^Ir.  Moul  has  wrought  a  great  change  on  this 
farm  during  the  decade  that  it  has  been  in  his  pos- 
session. He  has  put  in  seven  hundred  rods  of  tile, 
and  h.as  it  under  excellent  drainage.  He  has  erected 
a  neat  dwelling  house,  and  other  necessary  build- 
ings, and  the  land  he  has  placed  under  fine  tillage, 
so  that  it  yields  to  him  the  great  amount  of  sev- 
enty-five bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre. 

February  4,  1878,  was  the  date  of  r.n  important 
event  in  the  life  of  our  subject,  as  he  was  then  mar- 
ried to  Mar}'  L.  Kohlcr,  who  has  been  to  him  a 
true  wife  and  an  inviluable  assistant  in  his  work. 
She  is  likewise  of  Pennsylvania  birth,  her  native 
[liace  in  Juniata  County,  and  was  born  on  the  5th 
of  May.  1855.  She  is  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Susan  (Motz)  Kohler.  By  their  union  our  subject 
and  his  wife  have  become  the  parents  of  seven 
children — Charles  R.,  William  T.,  Harry  L.,  Edgar 
B..  Susan  B.,  Maggie,  and  an  iiifimt  daughter. 

Mr.  Moul  and  his  wife  are  among  our  most  es- 
timable citizens.  They  are  sociable  people,  harmo- 
!iious  in  their  relations  with  their  fellow-citizens, 
showing  neighborly  kindness  and  helpfulness  where- 
ever  it  is  needed.  Mrs.  Moul  is  afaithfid  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  or  chapel,  at 
Bethel.  Knox  County.  Sir.  Moul  is  always  found 
among  those  who  favor  public  improvement.  He 
is  a  stalwart  among  the  Republicans,  giving  his 
party  stanch  support. 


-i^^. 


!5DWARD  ]).  ]-:DWARDS.  Among  the  young 
^  farmers  of  Rosefiild  Township,  none  beais  a 
better  i"i-,-'-tion  for  activity  and  progres- 
sive ideas  than  t  .  gentleman  above  named,  who 
I  owns  and  occui)ies  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  22.  He  located  there  in  the  spring  of  1884, 
since  which  time  he  has  cleared  and  improved  this 
farm,  bringing  it  to  a  condition  that  attracts  the 
attention  of  passers-by.  and  indicates  clearly  the 
(lualities  of  ilic  ''w.  er.  With  the  exception  of  one 
year,  which  wr;-  spent  by  hira  in  McLean  County. 
I   and  one   '.■-.:   qicnt  in  the  West,  on   the   Pacific 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


643 


Slope,  the  entire  life  of  Mr.  Edwards  has  beeu 
been  passed  iu  the  township  wlicein  hu  is  so  well 
and  favorably  known. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write,  opened  his 
eyes  to  the  light.  Maj-  23,  1853,  on  section  21,  Rose- 
6eld  Township.  He  was  reared  on  the  parental 
farm,  early  learning  the  art  of  agriculture  from  ob- 
servation, and  such  a  participation  as  his  strength 
would  permit  in  the  cultivation  of  the  estate.  His 
home  duties  were  alternated  by  attendance  at  the 
district  school  wiierein  he  acquired  a  practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  more  important  branches  of  study. 
When  twenty  j'ears  old  he  began  his  personal  career 
in  life,  busying  himself  at  various  employments 
until  he  was  able  to  bu}'  the  land  which  he  is  now 
tilling.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  his  first 
Presidential  ballot  having  been  cast  for  Rutherford 
B.  Hayes. 

Realizing  that  it  was  not  good  for  man  to  live 
alone.  Jlr.  Kdwards  won  a  companion  in  the  per- 
son of  Miss  Liiella  O.  jMcVicker,  with  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriage  August  7,  1877.  Mrs.  Edwards 
is  a  daughter  of  .ioliii  W.  and  Melissa  (Shepliard) 
McVicker.  and  with  good  educational  privileges  and 
iiome  training  became  intelligent  in  mind  and  skilled 
in  domestic  accomplishments.  She  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  E|)iscopal  Church,  and  endeavors  to 
make  her  jiractice  correspond  with  her  profession. 
She  and  her  husband  have  two  children.  Charles 
Ellis  and  Edna  Mamie. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
Thomas  and  Eleanor  Edwards,  who  removed  witli 
their  family  from  Hampshire  Count\-.  Va.,  to  Peo- 
ria County,  111.,  in  an  eail}'  da}'.  Their  son  Ed- 
ward 1),  Sr.,  located  on  section  24,  Rosolield  Town- 
ship, where  Frank  Edwards  is  now  living.  There 
he  died  about  18.j6,  leaving  six  children.  He  had 
entered  several  liunilrcd  acres  of  land,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  his  successful  agricultural  work,  had  built 
eight  or  ten  miles  of  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  Rail- 
road, now  tiie  Chicago,  Burlington  &  (Juincv,  ex- 
tending east  from  Oak  Hill.  His  wife  was  Susie  E. 
Schnebley,  a  native  of  Maryland.  The  record  of 
the  brothers  and  sisters  of  our  subject  is  as  follows: 
Thomas  II.,  who  is  now  living  in  Livingston 
County,  aided  the  Union  cause  as  a  soldier  during 
the  late  war;  Ellen  .1.  is  tlie  wife  of  Uavid  Gigley, 


of  McLean  County:  John  S.  died  in  inf;u]cy;  Mary 
A  ,  died  when  quite  young;  Francis  A.  noiv  lives  on 
the  old  homestead;  George  AV.  died  when  twenty 
years  old;  Susan  is  the  wife  of  Frank  A'an  Arsdall, 
of  Galesbnrg. 

Vl]OHN  C.  E.  MEYER  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer  in  his  native  Germany,  and  has  al- 
ways devoted  himself  to  that  vocation.  For 
the  success  that  has  followed  his  labors  since 
coming  to  this  county,  which  [ilaces  him  among  its 
men  of  wealth,  he  is  indebted  solely  to  his  own 
ability  and  skill.  For  many  3'ears  he  has  been 
iilentitied  with  the  growth  of  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  this  part  of  the  State,  and  more  especially 
of  Akron  Township,  where  he  lias  one  of  the  largest 
and  best  eqHip|)cd  farms  in  this  vicinity. 

Mr.  Meyer  was  born  in  Germany,  August  5, 
I80O.  ami  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  left  the  Fa- 
therland to  seek  a  new  home  in  America  in  com- 
pany with  his  parents,  John  C.  and  Sophia  (Pahl) 
Meyer.  They  landccl  in  New  York,  and  came  di- 
rectly to  Peoria,  and  soon  after  settled  in  Radnor 
Township. 

Mr.  Meyer  after  his  marriage,  first  lived  in  Rad- 
nor Township,  whence  he  removed  to  ^Medina,  and 
finally  took  up  his  abode  in  Akron  Township, where 
he  still  makes  his  home.  He  has  toiled  hard  and 
with  untiring  perseverance  and  as  a  result  has  a 
farm  of  five  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on  which 
he  luas  erected  a  fine  set  of  buildings  and  everj'- 
thing  about  the  place  is  neat  and  well  ordered.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  Meyer  with  Miss  Anna  Schnoor 
was  solemnized  in  Radnor  Township.  Mrs.  Meyer 
is,  like  himself,  a  n.ative  of  German}-.  She  is  a  most 
excellent  housewife,  is  a  good  manager  and  to 
her  co-operation  Mr.  Meyer  attributes  not  a  little 
of  his  prosperity.  They  have  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, named — \Villiam,  Lena,  Henry,  Louisa,  Anna, 
John,  Fred,  George  and  Sophia. 

In  his  practical  work  as  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
Mr.  iSIeycr  has  displayed  prudence  and  frugality, 
so  combined  with  far  reaching  enterprise  and 
tenacity ^of  purpose,  as  to  place  him  on    a  solid 


G41 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


financial  basis  and  bring  him  a  handsome  com- 
petency ere  yet  old  age  had  dimmed  his  energies,  or 
his  power  of  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  labors.  Al- 
thougli  a  busy  man  be  has  given  some  of  his  lime 
to  the  demands  of  pulilic  life,  and  has  held  wilii 
honor  some  of  the  school  offices  and  other  minor 
positions  in  the  township.  In  his  political  belief  he 
is  a  Republican  and  gives  strong  support  to  his 
party.  He  and  his  wife  are  Lutherans  in  religious 
faith  and  are  among  the  leading  members  of  the 
church  of  that  denomination. 


OREN    WILDER,    now    deceased,    entered 
into  rest  at  his  home  on  section  19,  Medina 
^  Township.  September    11,   1889.     He  had 


resided  in  the  county  more  than  half  a  century, 
had  prospered  in  his  worldly  affairs,  possessed  the 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  and  left  a  record 
for  public  spirit,  honor  and  uprightness  which  is 
contemplated  with  pleasure  b\-  his  bereaved  fam- 
ily and  friends.  He  took  a  i)rominent  part  in  local 
political  affairs,  althougli  in  no  sense  an  office- 
seeker.  Office  sought  him.  however,  and  for 
eighteen  consecutive  years,  except  one,  he  held 
the  office  of  Supervisor.  He  also  held  all  the  other 
local  offices  at  various  periods,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  County  Poor  Committee.  He  was  a  sound 
Democrat.  Although  he  iiad  never  united  with 
with  any  religious  body,  his  belief  accorded  with 
that  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Wilder  upon  first  coming  to  this  counts- 
purchased  unbroken  lands  in  Medina  Township, 
improved  them  to  some  extent  and  then  sold,  buy- 
ing others.  About  1846  he  purchased  one  hun- 
ared  and  sixty  acres,  which  became  his  permanent 
home,  making  upon  it  such  improvements  that  at 
the  time  of  his  death  it  was  considered  one  of  the 
liest  farms  in  the  township.  Realizing  the  value 
of  the  land  in  this  section,  he  had  secured  about 
five  hundred  acres,  which  was  improved  by  him- 
self, and,  wilii  the  exception  of  eight}-  acres,  pcr- 
sonalh-  managed  by  him.  He  also  helped  to  I.iy 
out  the  village  of  Alta.  which  consists  of  eightj- 
acres,  owning  a  one  third  interest  in  the  same  at  the 


time  of  his  decease.  His  energy  and  good  judg- 
ment were  recognized  by  his  acquaintances,  and  no 
one  reposed  confidence  in  him  in  vain. 

The  family  of  which  Mr.  Wilder  was  a  worth}' 
member  has  an  extended  history  in  Vermont,  and 
an  illustrious  name  in  Xew  England  annals.  His 
father.  Nathaniel  Wilder,  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  becoming  a  farmer. 
He  married  Polly  Warner,  who  was  of  English 
ancestry  and  a  native  of  Vermont.  They  contin- 
ued to  reside  in  that  State  until  after  the  birth  of 
several  children,  when  thev  removed  to  Oswego 
Count}',  N.  Y.,  settling  on  a  farm  at  Sandy  Creek. 
There  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  natur.d 
lives,  the  husband  dying  in  middle  life  and  the 
wife  surviving  until  quite  old.  They  were  Pres- 
byterians in  religious  faitii.  Tliey  had  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  the  on!}-  survivors  being  a  son. 
Edson.  a  well-to-do  farmer  in  Waldo  Towufhip. 
Livingston  County,  III.,  and  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
Rufus  Salisbury,  of  Sandy  Creek,  N.  Y. 

Loren  Wilder  was  born  in  Windham  County, 
Vt.,  November  11,  1813,  and  was  but  three  s'ears 
old  when  his  parents  removed  to  the  Empire  State. 
There  he  grew  to  manhood,  learning  and  follow- 
ing the  tanner's  trade  in  Oswego  County  until  he. 
came  to  Illinois  in  1836.  He  sojourned  for  a  time 
in  Peoria,  there  marrying  Miss  Mary  Hanson,  who 
was  born  in  County  Derr}-,  Ireland.  .July  17,  1823. 
She  is  of  pure  Irish  blood,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Margarette  (Hanson)  Hanson,  natives  of  tiie 
same  county  as  herself,  who  emigrated  to  America 
after  the  birth  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanson  left  the  Emerald  Isle  in 
the  spring  of  1839,  crossing  the  ciiannel  to  Liver- 
pool, there  taking  passage  for  America  on  a  sailing- 
vessel,  which  landed  at  New  York  City  in  due 
time.  They  then  crossed  the  Alleghany  Mountains 
to  Pittsburg,  thence  journeyed  down  the  Ohio  and 
up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers  to  Peoria, 
which  the}'  reached  three  months  after  leaving 
their  old  home.  They  subsequently  settled  in 
.Medina  Township  on  an  almost  unbroken  farm, 
which  they  improved  and  made  their  home  during 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Hanson  died 
I  when  eighty  six  years  old,  and  his  wife  when  sev- 
I   enty-five.     They  were  identified  with  the  Presby- 


M 


PORTKAI  r  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


6i: 


teriiiii  Cliuirh.  'I'liu  only  surviving  inembers  of 
tlie  funiil^'  are:  Mrs.  Wilder,  of  this  notice;  and 
Mis.  Edvviiid  AViider,  of  Radnor  Township. 

Mrs.  WiMcr  wps  seventeen  years  old  whoii  her 
parents  came  to  this  country.  She  is  a  smart,  in- 
tellisenl  woman,  having  been  carefully  roared  by 
her  parents,  and  having  had  her  edue.-ilioi'  wisely' 
looKed  after  by  her  father,  ivho  was  a  merchant  in 
his  native  land.  She  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  her  name  being  enrolled  at 
Dunla|).  She  has  had  three  children,  but  one  of 
whom  is  now  living.  iNIargaret  became  the  wife  of 
Alexander  Keady,  a  farmer  in  Medina  Township, 
to  whom  she  bore  three  daughters — Marion,  Kiea- 
nor  and  Maggie.  She  departed  tliis  life  in  Medina, 
April  1),  1883.  The  only  .■^on  of  Blr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilder  was  Thomas,  who  died  when  ten  years  old. 
The  surviving  child — Polly  F. — an  educated,  rclined 
woman,  married  D.  M.  Waite,  a  native  of  the  Em- 
pire State,  whoT^arae  West  after  having  served  his 
country  as  a  private  soldier  three  years  in  the 
Third  New  York  Cavalrj^  and  returned  from  the 
war  fairly  sound,  lie  now  has  the  management  of 
the  Wilder  farm.  He  and  his  wife  have  two  living 
children — Linnie  and  Edward  F. — and  have  lost 
two — Nellie  and  Loren  W. 

Mv.  Wilder  took  a  boy  when  seven  years  old,  who 
has  ever  since  made  his  home  here.  He  has  been 
carefully  reared  and  educated  b^-  Jlr.  and  .Mrs. 
Wilder.      His  name  is  Fred  E.  Koyer. 


— -#>E^ ^ 

r  OHN  MOSS.  No  resident  of  Jubilee  Town- 
Townshi[(  is  better  known  or  more  highly 
respected  than  this  gentleman,  whose  biog- 
raphy and  portrait  we  present  on  these 
p.ages.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  the 
township  and  has  been  an  important  factor  in  de- 
veloping its  agricultural  interests. 

During  the  four-score  years  of  the  life  of  Mr. 
Moss  he  has  been  a  witness  of  the  many  startling 
changes  in  the  history  of  this  county  and  the 
development  of  its  resources.  He  was  born  in 
Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  August  18,  1810.  His 
father,  bearing  the  same  name  as  himself,  was  of 
English    descent  and   was   born     in    New    Haven, 


Conn.  He  was  reared  to  farming  pur.siiiis,  and  in 
1799,  when  a  30ung  man,  removed  to  the  primeval 
forests  of  Onondaga  County,  locating  live  miles 
from  Sjn-acuse.  He  cleared  a  farm  on  which  he 
lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1816,  when 
he  was  scarcely  p.ast  the  prime  of  life,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years.  He  furnished  a  substitute  during 
the  War  of  1812,  thinking  it  dangerous  to  leave  his 
famil}'  alone  in  that  wild  country,  where  Indians 
still  remained.  He  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  and  was  in  every  way  a 
thoroughly  good  man. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Marj-  Esther  C.  INFoss,  bearing  the  name,  al- 
though not  being  a  relative  of  her  husband.  She 
was  born  in  New  Haven  and  at  the  time  of  her 
husband's  death  was  left  with  several  small  chil- 
dren. She  bravely  took  up  the  burden  of  rearing 
them  to  years  of  usefulness,  and  was  an  inmate  of 
our  subject's  home  until  her  death  in  1852.  Two 
of  her  children  died  in  infancy,  and  five  grew  to 
maturity,  as  follows:  Mury,  who  died  in  Jubilee 
Township;  Caroline,  Mrs.  White,  who  died  in  Mo- 
line;  Narcissa  lives  in  Jubilee  Township;  Jose|)h 
resides  in  Coldwater,  Mich.;  ,Iohn,  our  subject; 
William  and  Jessie  died  in  1816. 

He,  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  was  early  put  to  work.  He  received  the  pre- 
liminaries of  his  education  in  the  district  school 
which  was  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan  and 
completed  it  in  the  Onondaga  Hollow  Academ}^ 
which  he  attended  for  a  year  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  old,  besides  being  a  pupil  there  at  different 
times  for  four  years.  He  remained  at  home  with 
his  mother  until  twenty-one  years  of  .ige  and  then 
began  to  utilize  his  excellent  education  b^'  teach- 
ing in  the  district  schools,  and  was  thus  engaged  at 
various  times  for  four  years.  Of  a  studious  turn 
of  mind  and  very  amliitious  to  obtain  more  learn- 
ing, he  studied  Greek  and  Latin,  and  look  several 
academic  tern<s  in  matlie.matics  under  Profs.  Wool- 
worth,  Fairchild  and  Hendricks.  During  the  four 
years  in  which  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  he 
taught  in  onlj'  two  schools.  In  1833  he  attended  the 
Episcopal  Academy  at  Cheshire,  Conn.,  where  his 
studies  were  directed  by  the  celebrated  Rev.  Vv. 
Judd. 


648 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Our  subject  returned  home  when  he  had  com- 
jileted  his  course  in  that  instilution.  and  attended 
the  academy  at  Onondaga  HoUuw.  In  1835  lie 
resumed  farmin.s;,  Init  for  three  years  in  succession 
there  was  a  general  failure  in  ciops.and  he  had  but 
little  in  return  for  his  labors.  He  paid  crsh  for 
everytliiug,  and  as  he  did  not  make  money,  his 
finances  were  at  a  low  ebb,  and  becoming  discour- 
aged at  the  prospects  in  his  native  State,  he  deter- 
mined to  come  West.  Accordingly,  in  the  spring 
of  1838,  be  began  his  long  journey,  bringing  his 
household  with  1iim,  traveling  by  canal-  to  Buffalo, 
then  by  steamboat  on  the  lakes;  severe  storms 
arising,  obliged  the  boat  to  stop  at  Cleveland,  and 
our  subject  went  by  stage  to  Toledo,  and  thence 
by  canal  fifty  miles,  where  his  travels  were  stopped 
on  account  of  a  breakage  in  the  canal.  Ho  then 
took  the  boat  to  .Steuben ville,  on  the  Ohio  River, 
and  from  there  embarked  on  a  steamboat  for  Cin- 
cinnati, and  thence  went  down  the  Ohio  and  up 
the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  and  from  there  came 
to  Peoria  b_v  water,  landing  here  Ma}^  12,  1838, 
itftcr  passing  a  month  on  the  way. 

At  the  time  of  his  arrival  Mr.  Moss  found  Peo- 
ria a  small  place  of  about  fifteen  hundred  inhabi- 
tants, and  giving  few  indications  of  its  pve.sent 
culture  and  prosperity.  He  proceeded  into  the 
country  as  far  as  Mt.  Holly,  on  a  prospecting  tour 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  White.  Three  weeks 
later  he  selected  his  present  quarter-section,  com- 
prising the  northwest  part  of  section  14.  He 
"jumped"  the  claim,  that  awaited  the  claimant's 
return,  and  in  the  fall  entered  it  at  $1.25  per  acre. 
It  was  wild  prairie  land  with  oak  openings,  and 
was  a  tract  of  military  land.  He  located  on  it  in 
a  log  house  that  had  no  cover;  this  he  roofed  at 
first  with  split  boards,  living  in  it  nine  years.  He 
split  three  thousand  rails  and  built  a  Virginia  rail 
fence  the  first  winter,  and  enclosed  thirty  acres  of 
his  land,  having  broken  and  worked  three  acres  the 
first  summer.  He  worked  out  on  the  Kickapoo  for 
a  man,  breaking  three  acres  of  land  for  him  and 
raising  buckwheat,  on  which  he  lived.  He  worked 
out  that  summer  and  winter,  and  the  next  year  pro- 
cured a  team,  with  which  he  farmed  and  raised  a 
crop.  Peoria  was  the  nearest  market,  and  he  made 
O'ie  trip  to  Chicago  wjth  a  load  of  pork,  in  1844, 


Mr.  Moss  was  ver3-  fond  of  hunting,  for  which 
h(  had  plenty  of  opportunities  when  the  countrv 
was  wild  and  unsettled;  at  one  time  he  trapped 
forty-eight  prairie  chickens,  and  killed  other  wilil 
game.  He  continued  to  break  piairie,  but  being 
troubled  witii  the  ague  the  second  year  he  was 
iiere.  he  could  not  work  so  much.  In  1838  he  en- 
tered eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  22,  and  a 
short  time  afterward  sold  it  at  a  good  advance. 
In  1847  he  built  his  present  substantial  residence, 
the  brick  being  made  in  this  township.  His  farm 
is  supposed  to  have  been  bunting  grounds  of  Black 
Hawk  and  his  tribe,  and  to  this  da}'  arrow  heads 
and  other  relics  are  found  here.  Mrs.  Moss,  while 
at  her  home  in  the  East,  saw  the  noted  Black  Hawk, 
who  was  on  his  wa}-  to  Washington. 

The  main  object  of  Mr.  Moss  in  coming  here  was 
to  build  up  a  home,  and  not  to  enrich  himself,  and 
he  has  succeeded  in  acquiring  the  modest  compe- 
tence that  he  desired.  He  has  been  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  has  his 
farm  well  stocked  with  cattle  and  hogs  of  good 
grades.  His  estate  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
is  all  improved  and  is  supplied  with  the  necessary 
buildings.  He  has  but  fifty-six  acres  now  under 
his  control,  having  divided  the  rest  between  two 
sons.  Possessing  a  good  physique,  keen  intellect 
and  a  well-trained  mind,  he  is  remarkably  well  pre- 
served for  his  age.  His  face  shows  benevolence  in 
every  line,  and  he  is  revered  and  beloved  bj'  all 
who  know  him.  His  name  will  always  be  indisso- 
lublj'  linked  with  that  of  Jubilee  Township,  .as  one 
its  earliest  settlers,  and  his  valuable  work  as  a  pio- 
neer will  never  be  forgotten.  In  all  enterprises 
that  pertain  to  the  social,  religious,  political 
and  civic  life  of  township  and  county,  he  has 
been  preeminent.  He  represented  the  town- 
ship on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  for 
three  j'ears,  was  Collector  for  one  \ear,  and  has 
been  Commissioner  of  Higliways.  Politicallj-,  he 
has  alw,ays  been  a  Democrat,  though  by  no  means 
offensively  partisan;  during  the  Rebellion  he  sided 
with  the  Government  as  a  War  Democrat,  and  was  a 
recruiting  officer.  The  money  that  was  collected 
to  provide  for  the  widows  and  orphans  of  the  sol- 
diers was  pl.aced  in  his  care  for  disbursement,  and 
could  have  been  put  in  no  better  hands.     He  hag 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


649 


been  delegate  to  county  and  State  conventions. 
Religiouslj-,  lie  is  idenlifieil  witli  ihe  Episcopal 
Cliiircli,  having  been  connected  with  it  from  in- 
f:inc3'  and  holding  nunnbershij)  in  .Jubilee  Chapel, 
of  wliich  he  is  a  Vestij man.  He  assisted  in  quar- 
rying some  of  the  stone  for  the  chapel,  and  was 
present  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  Jubilee 
College  in  1839.  He  has  been  Superintendent  of 
Sunday-school  for  years,  and  though  his  advanced 
age  will  not  permit  of  his  taking  as  active  part  in 
it  as  he  would  like,  he  is  always  ready  to  assist  in 
any  way  that  he  can. 

To  the  faithful  and  devoted  companion  vvho  has 
walked  by  his  side  for  more  than  fifty  years,  who 
has  shared  his  work  and  strengthened  and  cheered 
him  in  his  labors,  our  subject  was  united  in  mar- 
riage May  4,  1837.  I'hey  are  now  the  oldest  cou- 
ple in  the  vicinity.  Mrs.  Moss'  maiden  name  was 
Julia  A.  Warner,  and  she  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Skaneateles,  Onondaga  County,  July  24,  1813.  Her 
father,  Mark  Warner,  a  native  of  ^Massachusetts, 
was  of  Welsh-English  descent,  and  received  a  good 
education  in  the  old  Bay  State.  In  early  manhood 
he  became  a  pioneer  of  Onondaga  County,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  where  lie  died  in  the 
'40s.  He  was  a  stalwart  Whig  in  politics.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Anna  Bolles,  who  was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  and  reared  in  Coldbrook, 
Conn.  She  went  from  there  to  New  York,  and 
after  her  husband's  death  came  to  Illinois  to  live 
with  her  daughter  and  our  subject,  and  her  death 
occurred  at  their  home  February  20,  1862.  She 
was  a  truly  religious  woman,  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  was  the  mother 
of  four  children:  one  who  died  in  infancy;  Morris, 
who  died  in  1876,  in  Detroit,  Mich.;  Julia  A.; 
lUimina,  Mrs.  Rev.  Parker,  was  in  the  Treasury 
Department  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  died  in 
1859. 

Mrs.  Moss  had  very  good  educational  advant- 
ages in  select  schools,  and  at  the  early  age  of  six- 
teen years  engaged  in  teaching,  and  followed  that 
vocation  until  her  marriage.  Of  her  wedded  life 
with  our  subject  six  children  have  come:  Julia  N. 
married  the  Rev.  James  S.  MuOowan,  an  Episco- 
palian missionary  residing  in  Monterey  County, 
Cal,,  on  a  farm;  Cecil    C,  who  is  farming  on  the 


home  farm ;  John  M.  died  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years;  Joseph  C.  is  a  Ph.  G.  of  Ann  Arbor,  and 
has  practiced  the  profession  some,  but  is  now  in 
Washington;  Francis  E.  assists  in  the  management 
of  tiie  home  farm.  One  child  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Mc(TOwan  is  a  practicing  physician  in  Cali- 
fornia. She  was  graduated  from  the  Chicago 
Women's  Medical  College,  and  inaeticed  in  that 
city  very  successfully  until  her  marriage;  Cecil  C. 
attended  the  aciideniy  at  PrinceviUe,  and  completed 
his  education  in  Jubilee  College.  He  is  prominent 
in  public  affairs,  is  and  has  been  Assessor  for  ten 
years.  John  was  educated  for  the  profession  of 
teacher  at  the  Normal  School,  and  was  engaged  in 
that  vocation  for  several  years.  He  was  a  natural 
artist,  and  acquiring  the  art  of  photogiai)  ly,  [irac- 
ticjd  it  for  some  time.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
great  [iromise.  Francis  is  a  graduate  of  the  In- 
dianapolis Commercial  College,  was  a  teacher  here 
at  one  time,  and  has  traveled  quite  extensively  in 
Kansas  and  Texas. 


-*— 4i-l%*- 


EV.  SAMFEL  S.  KEMP  is  the  son  of  an 
ti  honored  pioneer  family  of  Brimfield 
^^  \V  Township,  and  since  attaining  manhood  he 
has  been  classed  among  the  leading  farm- 
ers and  stock-raisers,  having  on  section  31,  one  of 
the  choicest  and  best  improved  farms  in  this  sec- 
tion. He  has  not  only  been  active  in  the  promo- 
tion of  the  material  welfare  of  the  township,  but  he 
has  been  very  prominent  in  all  that  pertains  to  its 
religious,  educational  and  social  prosperity.  He 
has  recently  been  licensed  to  preach  in  the  United 
Brethren  ministry,  is  a  power  in  the  church,  and  is 
an  influence  for  much  good  in  the  community. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Butler 
County,  December  31,  1843,  and  a  son  of  the  late 
David  and  Sarah  (Snyder)  Kemp.  They  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio,  and  came  from  the  Buckeye  Slate  to 
Illinois  in  1853,  and  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Brimfield  Township,  the  father  selecting  a  tnict 
of  land  that  had  been  partly  cultivated,  lying  on 
section   29.     He    was   a  man  of  singularly  Indus- 


650 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


trious  and  persevering  habits,  and  in  the  years  of 
labor  that  followed,  despite  the  struggles  and  sacri- 
fices of  a  [)ioneor  life,  improved  a  farm  that  is  to- 
day one  of  the  most  valuable  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  He  becpme  a  man  of  promiueute  in  local, 
public  and  religious  affairs,  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  served  wisel3'  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  man}'  3-cars,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  known  as  Paradise 
Chapel,  in  BrimSeld  Township,  and  was  ever  after 
active  in  its  interests,  being  a  local  preacher  for 
about  fifteen  years.  He  was  liberal  not  onl}'  in  the 
support  of  the  church,  but  in  forwarding  all  things 
that  would  in  any  way  enhance  the  welfare  of  the 
cororaunity.  June  26.  1880,  this  Christian  man 
entered  into  his  reward,  leaving  behind  the  mem- 
orj'  of  an  upright  life  that  is  cherished  in  the  hearts 
of  his  family  and  many  friends  that  he  had  gath- 
ered about  him.  In  his  death  the  count}'  lost  one 
of  its  best  citizens,  who  had  been  a  public  spirited 
pioneer.  His  wife,  who  was  in  ever}'  way  worthy 
of  him,  now  lives  in  Elm  wood,  and  is  quite  an 
aged  lady.  They  were  the  parent*  of  three  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Maria  C.  married  Henry  Schenck, 
and  is  now  deceased;  Samuel  .S.  and  Squire  D. 

Samuel  S.  Kemp  was  but  a  boy  when  his  parents 
brought  him  to  their  home  on  the  wild  prairies  of 
this  county,  and  here  he  was  reared  under  the  in- 
fluences of  pioneer  life,  receiving  good  instruction 
in  the  best  modes  of  farming,  and  in  the  home  was 
carefully  trained  in  the  highest  moral  principles. 
He  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Brirafield  Township,  and  for  a 
time  attended  Elmwood  High  School.  In  his 
twenty-first  year  he  entered  Lombard  University 
at  Galesburg,  and  was  a  diligent  student  there  for 
one  year,  making  rapid  progress  in  his  studies  and 
pursuing  an  excellent  course.  Thus  equipped  for 
the  battle  of  life,  he  entered  upon  the  work  of  a 
farmer,  in  which  he  has  met  with  excellent  success, 
and  has  here  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
whose  finely  cultivated  fields  yield  him  large  har- 
vcstS;  and  here  he  has  one  of  the  loveliest  homes  in 
the  township. 

May  21,  1867,  Mr.  Kemp  and  iMiss  Nellie  Barca- 
l(iw  were  united  in  a  marriage  that  has  prove!  one 
(if  singular  felicity,     Mrs.  Kemp  is,  like  her  hus- 


band, a  native  of  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Derrick 
and  Temperance  Barcalow.  She  is  the  mother  of 
three  children,  of  whom  the  following  is  the  rec- 
ord: Clarence  H.  was  born  January  27.  1870; 
William  B.,  March  16,  1877;  and  Dav=d  E..  Jan- 
uary 10,  1881. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Kemp  is  a  thoroughly  good  man, 
and  holds  a  high  place  in  the  estimation  of  his  fel- 
low-citizens. His  is  a  true  Christian  nature,  deeply 
religious,  and  he  has  an  earnest,  pleasant  manner 
in  expressing  his  views  that  gains  him  a  favorable 
hearing,  and  often  carries  conviction  to  the  minds 
of  his  hearers,  and  that  augers  happy  results  in  his 
ministry.  He  has  long  been  an  active  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  in  February. 
1890,  was  licensed  to  preach.  For  several  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
United  Brethren  College  at  Weslfield.  He  has 
served  efficiently  as  School  Director.  He  interests 
himself  in  politics,  and  uses  his  influence  in  favor 
of  the  Democratic  party. 


HAUJS'CEY  GALLUP  is  the  owner  and  oc- 
cupant of  a  farm  on  section  18,  Ilallock 
Township,  at  which  place  he  has  lived  since 
1865.  He  has  made  considerable  improvement  upon 
the  estate  since  taking  possession  of  it,  and  everj-- 
where  upon  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
good  land  one  sees  the  evidence  of  New  England 
thrift  and  enterprise. 

ilr.  Gallup  came  to  this  county  from  Connecti- 
cut, having  been  born  in  that  State,  in  Windham 
County,  October  4,  1838.  He  comes  of  an  old  New 
England  family,  his  father,  Nathaniel  Gallup,  hav- 
ing been  a  native  and  life-long  resident  of  Windham 
County,  Conn.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  three-score 
and  ten  years,  leaving  behind  him  the  record  of  a 
prominent  local  politician  in  the  Democratic  party 
and  a  citizen  of  unimpeachable  integrity.  His 
wife,  formerly  Miss  Sally  Barber,  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island  and  died  in  AVindham  County,  Conn., 
when  past  three  score  and  ten  years  of  age.  Our 
subject  is  the  youngest  son  of  a  large  family  born 
to  his  parents.     He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 


'^yiyic/\\  K^^Jlxrv 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


653 


county  amid  the  scenes  of  a  farm  life  and  has  al- 
ways devoted  himself  to  the  cuUivation  of  the  soil. 

At  the  home  of  tlie  bride's  father,  K/.ekiel  Sher- 
man, in  18G0,  in  Windham  County,  Conn.,  he  of 
whom  we  write,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
A  hi  lie  Sherman.  She  conies  of  a  good  family,  of 
whk-h  numerous  representatives  have  held  high 
standing  in  Rhode  Island  and  in  other  .States,  to 
which  later  generations  have  scattered.  She  was 
born  in  South  Kingstown  in  1  ."<  l.J,in"Little  Rhody," 
but  was  quite  young  when  he)'  parents  removed  to 
Connecticut.  There  she  grew  to  maturity,  joined 
her  fortunes  to  those  of  our  subject,  and  began  tlie 
wedded  life  which  is  passing  so  prosperously  and 
happily.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  a  son 
and  a  daughter.  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  William 
R3'on,  their  home  being  in  North  Chillicothe, 
where  thej-  carrj'  on  the  Midland  Hotel;  Frank,  who 
operates  a  part  of  his  father's  farm,  married  Daisy 
Sweetman  and  has  two  children — Frankie  and  Ma- 
bel. 

.Mr.  anil  Mrs.  (iallupare  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church  at  Lawn  Ridge.  Mr.  Gallup  votes 
the  straight  Democratic  ticket.  Asa  peaceable  and 
law-abiding  citizen,  an  intelligent  and  frugal  farmer 
and  a  man  of  social  nature,  he  finds  many  friends 
throughout  tlie  section  which  he  is  aiding  to  de- 
velop. 

' — f3— ?^^^^^— "• 

f/OMN  L.  OSWALT.  On  the  opposite  page 
is  presented  a  portrait  of  this  gentleman, 
who  has  been  a  member  of  the  revenue  force 
of  Peoria  for  several  years,  holding  the  po- 
sition of  storekeeper,  and  such  has  been  his  record 
as  an  honest  and  capable  official,  that  though  the 
Government  has  ])assed  from  the  hands  of  the  Re- 
publicans to  the  Democrats  and  from  the  Demo- 
crats has  again  come  under  Republican  rule,  he  has 
held  his  place  through  all  the  changes  during  three 
administrations. 

Our  subject  was  born  January  23,  1847,  in  Wet- 
zel County,  W.  Va.,  which  then  formed  a  part  of 
the  Old  Dominion.  His  parents,  Tobias  and  Sarah 
(Archer)  Oswalt,  were  natives  of  Virginia.  The 
father,  a  mechanical  engineer  by  occupation,  moved 


from  his  native  State  to  Ohio  in  1852,  and  estab- 
lished his  home  ir\  the  town  of  Akron,  Snnnnit 
Count}',  and  there  both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  the 
fall  of  1865.  The}'  were  the  i)arenls  of  ten  chil- 
dren, the  two  eldest  of  whom  were  patriotic  soldiers 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  late  war. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  only  five  3'ears  old 
when  his  parents  took  him  to  Ohio,  and  there  his 
boyhood  was  passed  in  attendance  at  the  public 
schools  where  he  laid  the  foundation  of  a  liberal 
education.  He  was  of  a  studious,  thoughtful  char- 
acter, and  gladly  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity 
to  attend  college.  For  one  3'ear  he  was  a  student 
at  Alliance  College  in  Alliance,  Ohio,  and  subse- 
q-uently  pursued  a  fine  course  of  study  in  Parkman 
College  for  one  year. 

Our  subject  watched  with  intense  interest  the 
course  of  events  that  led  to  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Rebellion  and  earnestl}'  longed  to  take  part  in  the 
great  conflict.  On  the  12th  of  August,  18fi3,  al- 
though he  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted 
in  Compan}'  F,  Fifth  Ohio  Infantr}',  which  formed 
a  part  of  Hancock's  Corps.  He  accompanied  Sher- 
man on  his  famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  was  in 
every  battle  that  was  fought  on  that  momentous 
campaign.  Though  so  young,  he  was  called  ui)on 
to  endure  and  suffer  nuicli,  as  at  North  Edislo 
River  he  lost  an  arm  while  bravely  fighting  with 
the  enemy.  He  still  continued,  however,  with  his 
command  until  the  regiment  arrived  at  Fayette- 
ville,  N.  C,  and  from  there  he  was  taken  to  Wil- 
mington, in  the  same  State,  thence  to  New  York, 
where  he  was  placed  in  the  hospital  at  Willets 
Point.  Later  he  was  sent  to  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  honorably  discharged,  June  29, 1865, 
having  shown  true  soldierly  qualities  during  his 
long  period  of  service  and  behaving  under  all  cir- 
cumstances with  the  valor  and  coolness  of  a  vet- 
eran. 

Mr.  Oswalt  had  left  his  education  incomplete 
when  he  went  forth  to  his  country's  call  to  aid  in 
saving  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and  after  his  return 
to  his  home  in  Ohio  he  endeavored  to  make  up  for 
lost  time.  The  season  of  1868-61)  he  went  to  Ot- 
tawa, Canada,  where  he  studied  telegraphy,  and  in 
1870  he  accepted  an  agenc}'  on  the  Pittsburg  <& 
Ft.  Wayne  Railroad,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the 


654 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Big  Four  Railroad  C'oin|jany  for  fourteen  years, 
lie  at  length  resigned  his  position  as  agent  at 
Smithfield  in  18S4  to  accept  the  ottice  of  a  store- 
keeper under  tiie  Government,  and  was  assigned  to 
dut3'  in  Peoria,  where  he  has  since  been  in  contin- 
uous service. 

Mr.  Oswalt  and  Miss  ^Nlary  A.  Mitrliell.  a  native 
of  Indiana,  were  wedded  September  1,  1872,  and  to 
them  have  come  six  children.  They  have  a  happy 
home  where  hospitality  and  comfort  abound.  Mr. 
Oswalt  is  a  methodical,  scrupulous,  fair-minded 
man.  exercising  excellent  judgment  in  business 
affairs,  and  has  kept  his  life  record  unblemished. 
He  is  prominent  in  Grand  Army  circles,  a  member 
of  Bryner  Post,  and  no  one  is  more  thoroughly 
inteiested  in  the  organization  than  he.  He  insti- 
tuted the  first  Grand  Army  Post  in  .Smithfield,  this 
State,  and  his  fellow  eomrides  find  in  him  a  warm 
and  true  friend.  He  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Rail- 
way Telegraphers,  and  is  connected  wtth  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a  Methodist 
in  his  reliiiious  faith.* 


-•^^*>^'» 


a^LEXANDER  T.  McDONNELL  is  a  native 
of  Peoria  Count}-,  and  his  career  as  an  in- 
_^  ji  dependent,  progressive  and  energetic  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  has  been  such  as  to  reflect  great 
credit  on  the  place  of  his  birth.  His  position  among 
the  enlightened  agriculturists  of  Millbrook  Town- 
ship is  a  high  one,  and  he  is  influential  in  its  public, 
religious  and  social  life. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  this  count}-,  December 
12,  1854,  and  is  the  son  of  one  of  the  foremost 
pioneers  of  Millbrook  Township,  who  was  very 
active  in  laying  the  foundation  of  its  prosperity. 
Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (MeCabe)  McDonnell, 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  were  both  natives  of 
Ireland.  His  father  settled  in  this  county  sometime 
iii  the '40s  and  immediately  entered  a  tract  of  land 
from  the  Goverumcut,  comprising  eighty  acres, 
which  now  forms  a  part  of  our  subject's  homestead, 
lie  paid  §1.25  an  acre  for  it  and  subsequently  pur- 
chased another  eighty  acres  at  ^2.50  an  acre,  and 
still  a  thiid  eighty-acre  tract  for  which  he  paid  ¥5 


an  acre.  He  and  his  wife  were  among  the  first  to 
settle  in  Millbrook  Township,  and  for  a  time  lived 
in  a  sod  house  and  he  broke  the  first  furrow  or.  his 
land,  which  was  in  its  natural  state  when  he  pur- 
chased it.  He  used  to  go  to  Chicago  to  sell  his 
hogs  after  they  were  killed  and  dressed,  and  he  had 
to  go  to  Lacon  to  get  his  grist  ground.  There 
were  practically  no  roads  and  when  he  first  came 
here  deer  were  still  numerous.  He  was  diligent  and 
persevering  in  the  prosecution  of  his  work  and 
achieved  complete  success  as  a  pioneer  farmer  of 
the  Prairie  State.  He  was  well  educated,  a  man  of 
clear,  cool  intellect  and  was  full  of  enterprise,  these 
characteristics  making  him  invaluable  as  a  citizen. 
He  took  an  active  interest  in  the  political  matters 
of  his  time  and  was  a  true  Democrat.  He  was  an 
earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  and  was  a  man  of  unquestioned 
integrity  in  whom  all  reposed  complete  confidence. 
He  died  in  February,  1864,  his  beloved  wife  hav- 
ing shortly  before  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  her 
death  occurring  in  August,  1863. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  living:  .Tane.  wife  of 
Daniel  Jones,  of  Caldwell.  Kan.;  Alice,  wife  of 
John  Higgins,  of  Peoria:  Lizzie,  wife  of  William 
Haulon,  of  Canton;  Catherine,  wife  of  Thomas 
Kelley,  of  Lexington,  Mo. ;  Alexander;  Ignatius  L. 
a  resident  of  Kearney,  Neb.,  and  Agues,  wife  of 
John  Day,  of  this  county.  Henry  is  the  name  of 
the  son  who  died. 

Alexander  T.  McDonnell  li.is  been  a  life-long 
resident  of  this  county,  and  for  several  years  has 
been  intimately  associated  with  one  of  its  leading 
industries.  He  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  the  county,  and  as  he  was  early  left  an  orphan 
had  to  begin  the  struggle  of  life  when  nothing 
more  than  a  mere  boy.  He  began  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years  to  work  on  the  farm  which  was  his 
birthplace,  and  has  ever  since  carried  on  his  farm- 
ing ojjerations  here.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  well-cultivated  land, 
and  many  of  the  substantial  improvements  which 
make  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  estates  in  this 
part  of  the  tow-nship  are  the  work  of  his  own  hands, 
and  here  he  has  a  neat  and  commodious  home  re- 
plete with  comfort. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUJI. 


655 


January  22,  1879,  Mr.  McDonnell  and  Miss  Alice 
McArdle  were  united  in  marriage,  and  theirs  has 
been  a  pleasant  wedded  life.  Mrs.  McDonnell  is  a 
(laughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Kearns)  McArdle, 
of  jMillbrook  Township.  Mrs.  McArdle  is  def^eased. 
To  her  and  our  snbject  have  come  two  children — 
Saraii,  born  July  13,  1881,  and  Alexander  T..l)orn 
September  3,  1883. 

Mr.  McDonnell  is  a  man  of  good  natural  ahilit}-, 
which  is  reinforced  b3'  strong  common  sense,  so  that 
he  manages  his  affairs  sagaciousl}^  and  well.  He  is 
shrewd  in  his  dealings,  though  never  taking  unfair 
advantage  in  a  bargain,  and  is  well  wortiiy  of  the 
success  that  has  followed  his  efforts.  His  desire  to 
promote  the  proeperity  of  his  township  is  strong, 
and  when  serving  it  in  a  public  capacity'  he  has 
been  zealous  and  efticient  in  tlie  discharge  of  his 
duties.  He  served  one  term  as  Township  Collector 
and  in  1888  and  1SS9  represented  Millbrook  Town- 
on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors.  He  is  intluon- 
tial  in  politics  and  works  with  the  Democratic 
part}'.  He  is  a  R(^man  Catholic  in  religion  and  is 
true  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers. 


EV.  SMITH  KETCHUM.  Peoria  County 
may  well  be  pleased  to  number  among  her 
\\\  citizens  a  man  so  intelligent,  upright  and 
public  spirited  as  the  gentleman  above 
named,  wiio  devotes  much  of  his  time  and  talent 
to  the  work  of  agriculture,  to  vvhich  he  was  bred. 
An  ordained  minister  of  the  Old  School  Baptist 
Church,  he  formerly  paid  much  attention  to  minis- 
terial work,  and  still  pre.aches  occasional Iv  in 
churches  located  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  owns 
a  splendid  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixtj-  acres  on 
section  30,  I'>rimfield  Township,  which  being  well 
improved  and  controlled  by  a  progressive  man, 
affords  a  comfortable  income. 

In  the  paternal  line  Mr.  Ketchum  is  undoubtedly' 
of  Welsh  descent,  while  his  maternal  ancestors  are 
probably  English.  Members  of  the  Ketchum  fam- 
ily settled  on  Long  Island  in  an  early  day.  a  num- 
l)er  of  them  taking  up  arms  against  tlie  British  in 
the  first  great  struggle  for  American  hnh'ijendence. 


The  father  of  our  subject,  Eddy  Ketchum,  was 
born  in  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  his  mother, 
Harriet  (Smith)  Ketchum,  in  Tioga  County,  Pa. 
They  were  living  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  when, 
January  7,  1840,  the  son  vvas  born  who  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  brief  notice. 

In  1852  the  Ketchum  family  locateil  in  Peoria 
County,  III.,  but  after  a  short  sojourn  removed  to 
Marshall  County,  where  our  subject  ivas  reared  to 
manhood  on  a  farm.  He  received  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  early  schools  of  Ohio  and  Marshall 
Count}',  III.,  not  having  the  .advantages  afforded 
young  men  of  the  present  day.  An  active  mind, 
a  love  for  knowledge,  and  an  amljition  to  keep 
abreast  of  the  times,  »Mi)plicd  the  deliciences  of 
school  privileges,  and  he  became  well  informed, 
mainly  by  personal  efforts.  In  Henry  County, 
where  he  resided  for  a  period  of  about  twenty 
3'ears,  Mr.  Ketchum  was  ordained  to  the  ministry 
in  June,  1873.  For  years  he  gave  himself  almost 
exclusivelj'  to  the  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel. 
In  1883  he  settled  on  the  farm  which  is  now  his 
home,  and  the  possession  of  which  he  owes  to  his 
individual  efforts. 

Mr.  Ketchum  possesses  a  considerable  amount  of 
inventive  genius,  which  has  recently' been  displayed 
in  the  modeling  of  a  check-row  corn  planter,  a 
combination  machine  which  he  h,as  patented,  and 
which  promises  to  be  a  success.  He  takes  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  political  issues,  especially  in  the 
affairs  of  his  township  and  county,  and,  approving 
the  policy  of  the  Democratic  part\-,  gives  it  his 
support.  Although  he  has  not  been  a  resident  of 
this  county  m.any  years,  he  was  known  by  reputa- 
tion, at  least,  to  many  of  the  citizens  prior  to  com- 
ing hither,  and  his  personal  contact  with  the  com- 
munity in  wliicli  he  lives  has  deepened  their 
regard  for  him. 

Tlie  estimable  Lad}'  who  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
turj'  has  had  charge  of  the  household  affairs  at  the 
home  of  our  subject  wiis  formerly  Miss  Martha  A. 
Clement.  .She  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Canada,  to 
Margaret  and  Robert  (Jones)  Clement,  both  of 
wiiom  are  now  deceased.  Her  marriage  riles  were 
celebrated  October  12,  1865,  since  which  time  she 
has  conscientiously  discharged  her  duties  as  a  wise 
and   affectionate  wife  and    mother.      Mr.  and   Mrs. 


G5G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Ketcbum  have  seven  children,  one  of  whom,  their 
first-born  son.  .iwaits  Ibeni  beyond  tlie  river  of 
death.  The  survivors  are:  Mar}'  S.,  Milo  S.,  Dan- 
iel C,  George  S.,  Chauncey  C.  and  Harold  V.  The 
deceased  bore  the  name  of  Robert  E. 


-^: 


Ui_ 


^  IfclLLIAM  SCHROEDER.  This  gentleman  is 
\&J/'  ^'^^  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  William 
W^  Sehroeder  &  Co..  contractors  and  builders, 
and  is  the  oldest  prominent  contractor  in  the  city 
of  Peoria.  For  thirt3-three  years  he  has  been  car- 
rying- on  business  here  as  William  Schroeder  it  Co., 
for  the  past  nine  j-ears  having  the  same  i)artners. 
These  are  his  son,  Frederick  Sciiroeder,  and  Mr. 
Henry  Wichman.  The  abundant  means  of  Mr. 
Schroeder  have  been  accumulated  b)'  bis  own  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  the  beautiful  home  on  Seventh 
Street,  in  which  he  has  lived  for  many  years,  is  a 
standing  monument  to  the  results  of  persistent  ap- 
plication and  good  workmanship. 

Until  he  was  sixteen  years  old  Mr.  Schroeoer 
lived  in  Hanover,  Germany,  where  he  was  born 
March  12.  1S26.  His  parents  then  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  settling  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio, 
where  our  subject  grew  to  manhood  and  learned 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  During  the  second  year 
of  the  Mexican  "War  he  enlisted  and  served  under 
Gen.  Scott  a  year.  He  escaped  wounds  and  capture 
and  was  able  to  render  efficient  service,  being  al- 
ways on  duty.  He  is  now  one  of  the  few  residents 
of  Peoria  drawing  a  pension  as  a  soldier  of  that 
war. 

For  a  short  time  after  his  apprenticeship,  Mr. 
.Schroeder  followed  bis  trade  in  Cincinnati,  but  in 
May,  1852,  removed  to  Peoria,  where  he  was  occu- 
pied in  the  same  manner  for  three  or  four  years. 
He  then  began  contracting,  among  the  early  jobs 
which  he  undertook  being  the  erection  of  the  King- 
man warehouse,  the  Calvary  Presbyterian  Cbnich, 
and  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
now  has  the  contract  for  the  new  Young  Men's 
Christian  .Association  building,  which  when  com- 
pleted will  cost  «12.').000.  During  the  long  years 
of  his  labors  here  his  reputation   has   become   thor- 


oughly established  for  reliability  and  strictly  hon- 
orable dealing.  At  an  early  period  in  its  existence 
be  was  connected  with  the  People's  Loan  &  Home- 
stead Association,  of  which  he  was  a  Director,  but 
be  vvas  more  particularly  engaged  in  real-estate 
transactions. 

For  half  a  century  Mr.  Schroeder  b.as  been  iden- 
tified with  a  religious  bod3\  his  name  now  being 
included  in  the  list  of  members  of  the  Plymouth 
Congregational  Church,  in  which  be  holds  the  of- 
fice of  Deacon.  His  wife,  formerly  Miss  Margaret 
Tbielbar,  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  and  when  a  child  came  to  Cincinnati. 
Ohio,  in  which  she  developed  the  character  which 
gained  the  regard  of  our  subject  and  led  him  to 
desire  her  companionship  in  life.  Tliey  were  mar- 
j  rii'd  in  the  Buckej'e  metropolis  and  have  lived 
I  happil\'  together  for  many  years.  To  them  came 
j  two  cbildien,  one  of  whom,  a  son,  Fred,  is  still 
living.  He  has  for  sever.al  years  been  associated 
with  bis  father  in  business.  He  married  Miss 
I^ouisa  Vonbehren  and  has  eight  children. 


TON'ATHAN  K.  COOPER  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland County,  Pa.,  November  9,  1814.  and 
died  in  Peoria,  November  22,  1884,  carry- 
ing with  him  to  bis  grave  as  nearly  univer- 
sal respect  as  it  is  possible  for  man  to  secure.  He 
was  a  son  of  John  Cooper,  who  was  a  famous  classi- 
cal scholar  of  his  d.ay,  and  grandson  of  the  Rev. 
Robert  Cooper,  an  eminent  divine  and  Revolution- 
ary patriot.  Our  sal)jeet  inherited  the  fine  mental 
trails  of  his  ancestors,  and  early  gave  promise  of 
great  ability-.  He  was  educated  by  his  father,  who 
conducted  a  classical  school,  and  was  graduated 
from  Jefferson  College  in  1835,  being  the  young- 
est member  of  a  class  of  fortj--tbree,  and  sharing 
the  second  honors. 

After  his  graduation,  Mr.  Cooi)er  taught  the 
classics  for  a  brief  term,  then  turned  bis  attention 
to  tiie  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1839. 
Coming  to  Peoria  the  same  year,  he  at  once  began 
ibe  brilliant  career  which  continued  fortv-five  }'ears, 
bj'  whirb  he  reaclu'(l  liie  eminence  of  professional 


V'y'VERs 


iVy 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


G59 


lionor.  He  brought  to  the  law  the  kenn  acumen 
and  trainetl  capabilities  that  b\-  heritage  and  culti- 
vation cnabletl  him  to  grasp  its  intricate  questions 
with  ease  and  readiness.  His  chief  legal  triumphs 
were  in  the  higher  courts,  and  many  keen  battles 
proved  his  title  to  greatness  in  his  profession.  The 
only  office  of  political  nature  that  he  ever  held  was 
tliat  of  Mayor  of  Peoria. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  an  intensely  religious  man,  be- 
lieving in  the  Bible  literall}'.  For  eighteen  years 
he  was  an  Elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Chureli. 
A  persistent  and  systematic  Bible  reader,  he  for 
twenty  }'ears  taught  a  Bible  class.  Amid  the  du- 
ties of  his  profession  he  found  time  to  read  his 
favorite  authors  thoroughly-,  and  so  became  a  man 
of  wide  and  varied  culture.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
members  of  the  bar  after  his  decease.  Judges  Hop- 
kins, Pnterbaugh,  and  others,  pronounced  eulogies 
u|)on  him,  not  only  as  a  lawj-er,  but  as  a  citizen,  a 
companion,  and  a  Christian  friend. 


Vi/  OHN  W.  ROBBINS  is  an  old  settler  of  this 
I  county,  and  an  earh'  pioneer  of  Timber 
Township,  witli  whose  interests  he  has  been 
^y'  variously  and  prominently  connected  fo'" 
man}-  j-ears.  lie  is  now  one  of  its  leading  farmers 
and  has  here  a  large  and  valuable  farm.  His 
portrait  will  be  noticed  on  the  opposite  page. 

Our  subject  comes  of  sturdj-  New  England  an- 
cestry, and  is  himself  a  native  of  that  section  of 
the  country,  born  October  9,  1818,  in  the  town  of 
Acton,  county  of  Middlesex,  Mass. ;  his  parents, 
Bennah  and  Mary  (Lampson)  Robbins,  were  also 
natives  of  that  town.  His  father  was  a  son  of 
Donsmore  Robbins,  who  w.as  killed  while  teaming 
lumber  from  New  Hampshire;  he  left  a  widow  and 
the  following  children:  Densmore,  Joseph,  Albe, 
John,  Bennah,  2d.,  Lucy  and  Eunice,  all  of  whom 
married  and  reared  families.  The  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject  came  from  England  and  the  Lamp- 
son  family  came  from  Scotland.  To  Bennah  and 
Mary  Robbins  were  born  eight  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  tlie  others  grew  to  maturity, 
and  of   them    the  fullowing  is  recorded  :   Francis  is 


a  resident  of  Massachusetts;  Hannah,  Mrs.  Hill, 
lives  in  Peoria;  Marj'  is  deceased;  Friah  died  in 
or  near  Pella,  Iowa,  leaving  a  family  of  two  sons 
and  three  daughters;  Lucy  died  in  infancy;  John 
W.  is  the  subject  of  this  notice;  Joseph  was  killed 
in  a  cotton  factory  in  Lowell,  Mass.;  Horace,  a 
resident  of  Quincy  Point,  Mass.,  is  an  inventor. 
Their  parents,  who  were  people  of  exceedingly 
great  worth  and  higli  character,  died  in  tiieir  New 
England  home  in  Massachusetts.  They  were  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

He  of  whom  we  write  passed  the  early  j'ears  of 
his  life  on  a  farm  in  his  native  place  and  was  thor- 
oughly drilled  in  the  best  methods  of  carrying  on 
agriculture  and  gained  an  excellent  education  in 
the  common  schools.  He  was  ambitious  to  try  life 
in  the  West  and  in  the  month  of  Maj',  1838,  started 
on  the  eventful  journej-  from  Boston,  coming  by 
the  way  of  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  thence 
b}'  river  to  Alton,  111.  For  eighteen  months  he 
worked  at  the  trade  of  a  cooper  in  that  city,  and 
on  the  2'2d  of  June  came  to  Lancaster,  Timber 
Township,  from  Pekin.  He  worked  as  a  cooper 
there  for  several  years  and  then  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  for  some  eighteen  3'ears.  In 
the  meantime  he  prudently  saved  his  money  and 
invested  it  judiciously  and  had  acfjuired  considera- 
ble property,  when  in  the  mouth  of  November, 
1865,  he  located  on  the  farm  in  Timber  Township, 
which  he  had  purchased  before,  and  where  he  now 
resides.  It  comprises  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  very  fertile  land,  which  he  has  placed  under  ex- 
cellent improvement;  he  owns  besides  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  in  Fulton  C'ounty;  and  a  forty- 
acre  tract  in  Timber  Township,  all  of  which  is 
cleared  and  under  first-class  cultivation,  with  the 
exception  of  about  twenty-seven  acres.  Our  sub- 
ject has  experienced  manj-  n|is  and  downs  in  the 
acquirement  of  his  propertj-.  When  in  Peoria  he 
lost  814,000  in  the  hay  business  In  1865,  and  lost 
all  of  his  possessions  excepting  the  place  on  which 
he  now  lives.  When  he  first  came  to  the  State  he 
landed  at  Alton  with  but  $5  in  his  pocket.  He  has 
increased  that  until  he  is  now  numbered  amongst  the 
raone3'ed  men  of  Timber  Township,  by  the  exercise 
of  those  faculties  that  mark  him  as  a  shrewd,  keen 
sighted,  capable  man  of  business. 


660 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Robbins"  and  Miss  Charlotte  A.  Fahenstock 
were  united  in  the  happy  bonds  of  wedlock,  Septem- 
ber 3.  1846.  and  in  her  our  subject  has  found  one 
who  fills  the  perfect  measure  of  wife,  motiior  and 
friend.  Mrs.  Robbins  is  a  iiative]of  Adams  County. 
Pa.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  ami  Maria  (Har- 
mon) Falienstock.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rolibins  have 
had  six  children  born  to  them,  namely:  Bennah, 
who  served  in  the  Eleventh  Illinois  Cavalry  during 
the  late  war:  Louis  A..  Clarence  A.;  Abbie  L..  wife 
of  Lcinan  Kice:  JIaria.  wife  of  Orra  Charaberlin : 
and  .lohn  \\ .,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Robbins  holds  a  high  place  in  the  estimation 
of  his  felkiw-citizens.  as  he  possesses  those  attri- 
butes of  char.icter  that  command  the  confidence 
and  regard  of  all  who  come  in  contact  with  him 
either  in  a  business  or  social  way.  Those  traits  of 
character  that  have  lirought  him  prosperity  also 
make  him  useful  as  a  public  official  and  he  has 
served  w  itli  distinction  as  a  member  of  the  Countj- 
Board  of  Suiicrvisors  and  as  Justice  of  the  Town- 
ship. For  several  years  he  was  Postm.ister  of  Lan- 
caster, and  was  very  popular  in  that  capacity.  He 
is  a  sturdy  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party  and 
possesses  shrewd  and  intelligent  opinions  on  all 
political  questions. 


e ASTER  PATTERSON,  ex-Mayor  of  Elm- 
wood  City,  and  one  of  its  leading  citizens, 
is  a  well-to-do  retired  farmer,  living  in  one 
of  the  many  pleasant  homes  of  this  place.  He  has 
a  well-improved  farm  in  l*;iba  Township,  Knox 
County,  and  its  rental  is  a  source  of  a  good  income. 
He  is  a  veteran  of  the  late  Civil  AVar,  in  which  he 
did  noble  service,  sacrificing  much  for  his  countrj-, 
and  won  an  honorable  military  record,  of  which 
he  and  his  may  well  lie  proud. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio, 
January  1,  184L  His  father,  John  Patterson, 
belonged  to  an  old  Virginia  family,  and  he  was  him- 
self a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  his  birthplace  be- 
ing in  Rockbridge  Countj-.  His  wife,  whose  mai<leu 
name  was  Sarah  McCorkle,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  county  as  himself.     The}-  were  there  married, 


and  afterward  moved  to  Ohio. in  the  early  daj's  of 
the  settlement  of  that  State.  Many  years  of  their 
life  were  passed  there,  and  they  then  took  up  their 
abode  in  Indiana,  whence  they  came,  three  years 
later,  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  this  vicinity.  The}' 
were  people  of  genuine  goodness  of  character,  and 
were  thought  very  highh-  of  by  their  neighbors. 
They  were  for  many  j-ears  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  but  he  finally  became  a 
Presbyterian  and  died  in  that  faith.  Thirty-five 
j-ears  ago  the  good  mother  passed  away,  and  in  a 
few  years  the  father  folded  his  busy  hands  in 
death,  his  life-record  being  closed  twenty-nine 
3€ars  ago. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  but  six  are  now  living.  He  came  to  Illi- 
nois about  forty  years  ago,  when  he  was  a  jouno- 
lad,  and  received  his  education  in  the  local  common 
schools.  At  the  early  age  of  sixteen  years  he  be- 
came entirel}-  self-supporting,  going  out  to  labor 
as  a  farm-hand,  and  was  thus  employed  until  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age.  He  had  not  attained  his 
majority  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  he  watched 
its  course  with  intense,  patriotic  interest,  and  at  his 
earliest  opportunity  offered  his  services  to  the 
Government  to  fight  or  die  for  the  old  flag.  In 
August,  1861,  his  name  was  enrolled  among  the 
brave  volunteers  that  composed  the  rank  and  file  of 
Com|)any  C,  Forty-seventh  Illinois  Infantr}-.  which 
was  recruited  in  a  Peoria  camp,  and  the  regiment 
was  also  organized  at  that  place,  and  from  there 
was  dispatched  to  St.  Louis,  where  they  received 
their  uniforms  and  other  equipments.  Our  subject 
and  his  comrades  were  then  sent  to  Jefferson  City, 
Mo.,  and  thence  to  Ottersville,  Mo.,  where  they 
wintered.  In  tiie  spring  of  1862  they  marched 
back  to  St.  Louis,  fr<ini  there  to  New  Madrid,  on 
to  Cairo  and  to  Pittsl)urgh  Landing.  They  ope- 
rated around  Corinth  and  through  Alabama,  and 
skirmished  all  over  that  section  of  the  couutrj'. 
October  3.  1862,  Mr.  Patterson  was  severely 
injured  by  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  right  leg,  be- 
low the  knee,  while  he  was  bravely  fighting  at  the 
front  in  the  battle  of  Corinth.  The  bullet  struck 
the  small  bone  of  the  leg  and  was  nearly  split 
against  it,  shattering  the  bone  in  two  places  and 
cutting  the  cords  and  sinews  in  two  places.     In  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


661 


subsequent  operation  performed  at  the  general 
hospital  in  Corinth  a  piece  of  the  bouc  nearly  four 
inches  in  length  was  removed  from  his  leg,  and 
our  subject  still  retains  possession  of  it  and  of  the 
split  ballet  as  memorials  of  what  he  did  and  suf- 
fered for  the  Union  cause.  This  serious  injurj-  put 
an  end  to  Mr.  Patterson's  career  as  a  soldier.  He 
remained  but  a  few  days  in  the  hospital,  howcvci', 
and  was  then  discharged  from  the  armj*  on  account 
of  disability,  and  arrived  at  home  weak  and  suffer- 
ing from  his  injured  limb.  He  remained  almost 
helpless  until  May,  1863,  and  was  then  able  to  get 
around  a  little  and  do  some  work.  After  that  his 
health  greatly  improved  until  about  1881,  when 
the  old  wound  began  to  trouble  him,  and  in  1883 
he  was  obliged  to  have  his  leg  amputated  six  inches 
above  the  knee,  the  operation  being  performed  by 
Dr.  Concoran,  of  Brirafleld,  novv  deceased,  assisted 
b}-  Dr.  Stewart,  of  Peoria,  and  now  an  artificial  leg 
does  duty  in  place  of  the  original  limb,  and  enables 
him  to  walk. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  married  in  August,  1866,  to 
Kesiah  Esslinger,  and  they  removed  from  the  old 
homestead  in  Elba  Township  to  their  present  resi- 
dence, in  Elmwood  City,  four  years  ago.  Jlrs. 
Patterson  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  Au- 
gust 11,  1847,  to  Alexander  and  Salome  (Snyder) 
Esslinger,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  Ohio,  and 
there  were  engaged  in  farming.  Tlie  father  died 
in  1851,  leaving  a  widow  and  seven  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Patterson  is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth, 
and  all  are  still  living.  The  mother  married  again, 
becoming  the  vvife  of  John  Maher,  and  they  live  in 
Briiiifield  T'ownship. 

ai  r.  and  Mrs.  Patterson  have  two  children — Harry 
and  Zella,  both  of  whom  have  been  well  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  Harry  has  taught  school, 
licginning  at  the  youthful  age  of  seventeen  years. 
He  married  Miss  Jennie  Clingan,  and  resides  in 
Elmwood  City,  and  is  successfully  managing  a 
bakery  which  he  has  established  here. 

Mr.  Patterson  is  held  in  high  personal  consider- 
ation, as  he  is  in  every  sense  a  manly,  straightfor- 
ward man,  in  whom  his  fellow-citizens  can  place 
implicit  trust,  and  that  they  do  so  was  denoted  by 
iheir  electing  liim  to  the  highest  municipal  office 
within  their  gift— that  of   Mayor — and  during  his 


incumbency  of  that  position,  in  1889,  local  public 
interests  did  not  suffer  from  neglect,  but  were 
carefully  guarded  bv  him,  and  were  promoted 
wiierever  opportunity  offered.  He  has  been  a 
prominent  figure  in  local  politics,  giving  strong 
support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  inter- 
ested himself  greatly  in  educational  matters.  He 
i  and  his  entire  family  are  members  in  high  standing 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  all  are  active 
workers  in  the  Sunday-school,  of  which  he  is  As- 
sistant Superintendent;  his  children  are  both  teach- 
ers in  the  school,  and  he  has  served  tlie  church 
as  Elder  for  the  past  seven  years. 


E 


^NOCH  PASSMORE  SLOAN,  Clerk  of  the 
United  States  Courts  at  Peoria,  was  ap- 
pointed to  this  office  at  the  establishment  of 
the  courts  by  act  of  Congress,  March  28,  1887,  and 
has  held  it  continuously  since  that  time.  The  pre- 
siding officer  is  Judge  W.  Q.  Gresham,  Judge  of  the 
United  States  Circuit  Court,  and  Judge  Henry  W. 
Blodgett,  of  the  District  Court,  for  the  Northern 
District  of  Illinois. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Cambridge, 
Dorchester  County,  Md.,  January  27,  1822,  and  is 
a  son  of  Enoch  and  Mary  (Sulner)  Sloan.  When 
eighteen  years  old  he  came  with  his  sister  to  Peo- 
ria, having  lost  both  parents  before  he  was  five 
years  old,  when  he  went  to  live  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  and  at  eleven  years  of  age,  began  learning  the 
trade  of  a  printer,  in  the  employ  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  John  S.  Zeiber,  who,  upon  removal  here,  es- 
tablished the  Peoria  Democratic  Press,  the  first 
number  of  which  was  issued  February  22,  1840. 
This  was  tlie  third  paper  successfully  established  in 
Illinois,  and  in  1846,  Mr.  Sloan  became  one  of  the 
proprietors,  having  worked  his  way  up  from  office 
boy  to  that  position. 

Mr.  Sloan  remained  witli  this  paper  until  1848, 
when  it  was  bought  by  Thomas  Phillips,  for  whom 
Mr.  Sloan  worked  until  1850,  when  it  was  sold  to 
Washington  Cockle.  The  latter  conducted  the  pa- 
per one  year,  then  sold  it  to  Mr.  Sloan,  who  issued 
it  as  a  weekly   until    1853.     He   then   instituted  a 


662 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


semi-weekly  edition,  and  after  twelve  months  en- 
larged it  and  began  publishing  a  daily.  He  con- 
ducted the  weekly  and  daily  until  December  185G, 
when  the  Democracy  whom  he  had  faithful!}- 
served,  m.ade  him  the  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court 
of  Peoria  County. 

The  above-mentioned  office  was  held  bj^  Mr.  Sloan 
for  eight  years.  During  the  progress  of  the  Civil 
War.  he  became  convinced  that  his  party  was  in  er- 
ror, and  he  accordingly  bravel}'  wheeled  into  the 
Republican  ranks.  The  county,  however,  remained 
intensely  Democratic,  and  he  was  defeated  during 
the  third  election  to  the  office.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  went  to  Springfield  and  applied  for  ad- 
mission to  the  bar,  passing  a  successful  examina- 
tion, and  being  regularly  license<l  to  practice  law, 
which  profession  he  followed  for  two  years.  Find- 
ing, however,  that  the  labor  involved  exceeded  his 
power  of  endunmce.  mentally  and  physically,  he  re- 
tired from  the  profession,  and  turned  his  attention 
to  the  abstract  business.  For  this  he  was  amply 
prepared,  having  written  in  his  own  hand  sixty  vol- 
umes of  abstract  of  titles,  wliicli  comprises  a  com- 
plete iiistory  of  real-estate  transfers  for  the  city 
and  township  of  Peoria,  and  is  invaluable. 

Following  this  business  until  1887,  Mr.  Sloan  was 
then  appointed  to  his  present  office,  he  still  follow- 
ing the  abstract  and  conve\-ancing  business.  He  li:is 
twice  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  and 
served  on  the  School  Board  two  terms.  He  occu- 
pies a  good  position  in  social  and  business  circles, 
and  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  a 
reader  and  a  thinker,  keeping  himself  posted  upon 
the  leading  events  of  tlie  day. 

The  15tli  of  April,  1845,  witnessed  the  marriage 
of  our  subject  with  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Banvard,  at 
Peoria.  Mrs.  Sloan  is  a  native  of  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
and  was  born  April  1.5,  1825,  being  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Maria  (Hunt)  Banvard,  who  came  to 
Illinois  as  early  as  1834.  Daniel  Banvard,  an  un- 
cle of  Mrs.  Sloau,  was  a  prominent  minister  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  the  citj-  of  Boston.  John  Ban- 
yard  was  the  man  who  first  produced  a  panorama 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  traveled  with  it  largely 
throughout  this  and  foreign  countries. 

There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sloan, 
eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Charles 


Passmore,  who  is  connected  with  the  Police  Depart- 
ment of  Peoria;  Eliza  Z.;  Maria,  the  wife  of  H.  M. 
Rogers ;  Wesley,  who  is  a  dentist  bj*  profession ; 
Louisa;  and  Harrj^  E.,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Sloan  &  Nelson.  The  parents  and  all  the  cliildren 
are  membe.s  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  C'huych.  The  family-  residence  is  pleas- 
antly situated  at  No.  508  Fayette  Street,  and  is  the 
frequent  resort  of  its  most  cultured  people. 


ENRY  GILFILLAN.  Among  the  prac- 
Ji  tical  farmers  of  Hallock  Township,  none 
.are  more  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
l,(^  growth  and  development  of  this  county 
than  the  gentleman  above  named.  He  has  seen  the 
country  converted  from  its  wild  state  into  one  of 
great  beauty  and  productiveness,  where  well-tilled 
acres  and  thriving  towns  take  the  place  of  the  un- 
broken prairie  or  the  infrequent  log  house  of  the 
frontiersman.  His  own  farm  came  into  his  pos- 
session in  an  unbroken  state  and  is  now  numbered 
among  the  well-improved  and  thoroughh^  culti- 
vated tracts  of  the  county.  It  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  on  section  8. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Ross 
County ,Ohio,  November  7,  1832,and  he  was  but  two 
j'ears  old  when  his  parents  came  overland  to  Central 
Illinois.  They  located  in  Limestone  Township,  this 
countj%  near  the  cit}'  of  Peoria,  living  there  until 
1846,  when  they  removed  to  Hallock  Township. 
Amid  the  frontier  scenes  j'oung  Gilfillan  grew  to 
manhood,  bearing  such  a  part  as  his  strength  would 
permit  in  the  work  of  development  and  acquiring 
as  good  an  education  as  the  time  and  circumstances 
would  allow.  He  studied  law  and  practiced  the 
profession  for  a  short  time.  He  also  learned  the 
trade  of  a  brick-mason  and  plasterer  and  by  its 
pui'suit  earned  the  wherewithal  to  purchase  his 
farm.  He  was  a  skilled  workman,  but  having 
chosen  an  agricultural  life  he  has  devoted  himself 
unremitingly  to  a  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  his  latter  occupation,  proving  his  skill  also  in 
this  line  of  labor. 

The  pleasing  qualities  and  fine  character  of  Miss 


-^^''V'' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BI0C4RAPII1CAL  ALBUM. 


665 


Jemima  Newell,of  Marshall  Count}', won  the  regard 
of  our  subject,  whicli  being  reciprocated,  tliey  be 
came  man  and  wife  Novemlier  20,  1861.  Mrs.  Gil- 
fillan  was  born  in  Coles  County,  May  5,  1839,  and 
was  tlie  tentii  in  the  large  family  of  Benjamin  and 
Phebc  (^Horton)  Newell.  Her  parents  were  born 
and  reared  in  Bradford  County,  Pa.,  and  after 
their  marriage  came  west.  For  some  years  the)' 
lived  in  Coles  County,  111.,  later  settling  in  Madi- 
son County,  where  Mr.  Newell  dieil  when  about 
tiftv  years  old.  Ilis  widow  subsequently  removed 
to  Marshall  County,  and  after  some  years  came 
to  live  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Gilfillan,  at  whose 
home  she  died  in  187G  at  the  age  of  seventj'-five 
years.  Both  jMr.  and  Mrs.  Newell  were  of  the 
Methodist  faith. 

The  family  of  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Gilfillan  is  com- 
prised of  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  now 
married  and  settled  in  homes  of  their  own.  Lucy 
is  the  wife  of  William  Kettle;  their  home  is  on  a 
farm  belonging  to  our  subject,  not  far  from  liis 
own  residence.  Charles  also  occupies  a  farui  in 
the  same  township,  his  wife  having  formerly  been 
Miss  Martha  Clawsou.  Olive  M.,  a  well  educated 
young  lady  who  intends  to  follow  the  profession  of 
teaching,  is  yet  at  home.  t)ur  subject  and  his  wife 
occui)y  a  prominent  position  in  society  and  are 
highly  esteemed  b)-  those  to  whom  they  aie  known. 
Mr.  Gilfillan  has  held  some  of  the  local  offices  and 
is  an  ardent  advocate  of  Republican  principles. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Adam  Gilfillan, 
who  was  born  near  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  was  the  son 
of  Mathcw  Gilfdlan,  one  of  six  brothers  who  had 
come  from  the  North  of  Ireland  to  America  when 
young  men  and  located  in  or  about  the  Smoky 
City.  The  family  has  since  spread  out  until  it  is 
now  re|)resented  in  many  of  the  States.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  while  living  in  Pittsburg,  was 
Postmaster  for  many  3'ears,  and  was  prominent 
and  influential.  He  had  married  a  lady  of  this 
countrv  and  was  the  father  of  a  small  family. 

Adam  Gilfillan  grew  to  manhood  in  the  Key- 
stone State  whence  he  removed  to  Ohio.  There  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  War  of  1812,  finally  ad- 
vancing to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant, in  the  Brig, 
ade  of  Gen.  McCarthj-.  He  passed  through  the 
dangerous  scenes  of  the  war  unhurt  and   returned 


to  Ross  County,  Ohio,  where  in  181.5  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Jliss  Sarah  Motz.  That  lady  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  accompanied  her  parents  to  Ohio 
during  her  girlhood.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adam  (Tilfil- 
lan  resided  in  Ohio  until  1834,  when  they  removed 
to  Illinois,  in  1846,  becoming  residents  of  Hallock 
Township,  Peoria  County,  as  before  noted.  Here 
they  s|)ent  their  last  days,  the  husband  dying  when 
about  forty-five  years  old  and  the  wife  surviving 
him  many  years,  passing  away  in  1S7G  when  more 
than  four-score  years  old.  Mv.  (iilfillan  was  a 
thorough-going  AVhig  and  bore  an  active  part  in  lo- 
cal politics.  His  wife  was  a  memlicr  of  the  Metliod- 
ist  Episcopal  Church,  honored  for  her  noble 
Christian  life  and  character.  Our  subject  and  two 
sisters  are  the  only  surviving  members  of  a  family 
of  ten  sons  and  three  daughters. 


"_^  IRAM  JACKSON  departed  to  the  bourne 
whence  no  traveler  returns,  iVIarch  25,1883, 
leaving  to  his  family  and  friends  a  record 
i§^  of  manly,  upright  conduct  that  goes  far  to- 
ward alleviating  the  sorrow  thatcan  never  be  wholly 
healed  on  earth.  He  breathed  his  last  at  his  home  at 
Jackson's  Corners, where  he  had  for  some  time  been 
engaged  in  farming,  after  having  spent  several 
years  in  merchandising  there.  The  jjlace  was 
named  in  his  honor.  Prior  to  his  turning  his  at- 
tention to  a  mercantile  career  and  taking  up  bis 
residence  in  Richwood  Township,  he  had  lived  in 
Peoria  several  jears.  following  his  trade  of  a 
cooper.  In  that  city  he  had  settled  immediately 
after  his  marriage  which  took  place  in  Moline,  111., 
April  21,  1849.  At  the  time  of  his  demise  Mr. 
Jackson  was  in  his  sixtieth  year,  having  been  born 
in  Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  February  24,  1821. 

The  estimable  woman  whom  Mr.  Jackson  won 
for  his  companion  was  formerly  known  as  Miss 
Mary  Smith.  She  was  born  in  Allegheny  County, 
Pa.,  February  J  4,  1826,  being  the  fifth  in  a  family 
of  six  children  belonging  to  William  and  Barbara 
(Fink)  Smith,  who  died  in  that  county.  Since  the 
death  of  her  husband  she  has  operated  the  fine  es 
tate  he  left  in   Richwood  Township,  assisted  in  her 


GG6 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


raanagemeiil  of  the  same  by  her  daughter,  Miss 
Phebe.  Tlie  farm  consists  of  two  hiimlred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  19,  bearing  such  improve- 
ments in  the  way  of  buildings,  fences,  trees,  etc.,  as 
betoken  it  the  home  of  a  familj'  of  industry,  judg- 
ment and  good  taste,  who,  without  malting  any 
pretensions  to  elegance,  surround  themselves  with 
comfort  and  enjoy  those  recreations  and  employ- 
ment that  makes  life  worth  living. 

The  family  of  our  subject  and  his  good  wife 
comprised  six  sons  and  daughters,  several  of  whom 
are  now  located  in  homes  of  their  own.  Kllen  is 
the  first-born;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Julius  Moblo; 
Mary,  who  was  the  wife  of  William  K.  Wild,  died 
in  March,  1889;  Phebe,  her  mother's  helper  and 
chief  friend,  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Ada  is 
the  wife  of  Alfred  A.  Burr;  Hiram  J.  died  in  in- 
fiincy.  All  are  well  informed,  capable  and  well- 
respected. 

Elsewhere  in  the  Album  tlie  reader  will  notice  a 
portrait  of  the  late  Hiram  Jackson,  who,  during 
the  long  period  of  his  residence  here,  made  many 
warm  friends  and  built  up  a  fine  estate. 


^ ^^^ ^^ 


/^^  ONRAD  BONTZ  came  to  this  county  in 
ill  n  pio'i^^r  times,  and  has  been  a  potent  factor 
*^^^'  in  bringing  about  the  wonderful  change 
that  makes  it  one  of  the  richest  and  best  developed 
counties  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  from  a  foreign  shore,  and  found  him- 
self a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  unable  to  speak 
its  language  or  understand  its  customs,  but  after 
many  vicissitudes  and  a  life  of  toil  and  sacrifices 
he  has  placed  himself  among  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  his  adoi)ted  coimtry,  and  is  to-day  a  man 
of  wealtli  and  inlluence  in  his  community.  He  is 
the  proprietor  of  a  large  and  valuable  farm  in  Lime- 
stone Township,  and  here  he  has  erected  a  hand- 
some, commodious  and  well  appointed  residence, 
and  has  a  lieautiful  home. 

Mr.  Bontz  was  born  in  Bavaria,  M.ay  1,  1819, 
lived  there  until  he  was  twenty-one,  and  then  came 
to  America.  After  landing  in  this  country,  he  staid 
in   Pittsburg,  awhile,  and  was  engaged  to  work  for 


a  gardener.  He  had  no  money,  and  could  not  under- 
stand the  English  language,  and  when  he  was  called 
to  breakfast,  didn't  know  enough  to  go.  There 
were  but  few  Germans  there  at  that  time,  whicli 
fia.s  unfortunate  for  him,  as  he  seemed  all  the  more 
friendless.  He  had  left  the  old  country  to  avoid  go- 
ing into  the  army,  as  he  had  no  taste  for  a  military 
life.  He  was  glad  to  get  anything  to  do  by  which 
he  could  turn  an  honest  penny,  and  when  the  gar- 
dener for  whom  he  first  worked  paid  him  off,  he  gave 
liiin  $9  in  paper  inonej*,  and  as  our  subject  had 
never  seen  any  of  it  before,  he  thought  it  was  use- 
less. However,  lie  presented  it  to  the  agent  of 
whom  he  purchased  a  ticket  for  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
offering  liim  a  $5  bill  for  the  fare,  which  was  a  dol- 
lar or  so,  and  as  he  handed  it  to  the  man  as  if  afraid 
of  it,  the  agent  gave  him  change  in  silver,  which 
much  relieved  him. 

Our  subject  h.ad  some  acquaintances  in  Chilli- 
cothe, and  after  seeing  them  he  secured  work  on  a 
farm  in  that  vicinity,  find  afterward  went  from 
there  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  the  misfortune  to 
learn  that  the  bank  in  which  he  had  placed  his 
money  to  the  extent  of  -$100,  had  become  insolvent 
and  he  lost  his  savings.  lie  had  a  hard  time  to  get 
work  in  th.at  city,  and  he  tramped  to  St.  Charles, 
often  stopping  on  the  waj',  and  asked  for  employ- 
ment, but  failed  to  get  it.  He  finally  managed  to 
get  a  job  in  St.  Louis  carrying  a  hod,  at  which  he 
was  engaged  until  he  secured  n\oney  enough  to 
bring  him  to  Peoria.  When  he  arrived  in  t'.iat 
city  ho  started  out  in  search  of  work,  and  found 
there  w.as  |)lei)ty  of  it,  but  no  money  to  paj'  with. 
He  flnall}'  went  to  live  in  a  tavern  on  tlie  river 
bank  kept  by  old  Mother  Slough,  his  employment 
being  as  hostler.  He  worked  there  until  1844,  when 
lie  rigged  up  a  team  of  tluee  yoke  of  oxen  and  a 
breaking  jilow.  nr.d  started  out  to  break  the  prairie. 
Most  of  the  wi!  1  land  in  the  vicinity  of  where 
he  now  lives  was  broken  b\'  him,  among  the  farms 
where  he  turned  the  wild  prairie, being  the  Alva  Mof- 
fatt  place, and  the  land  lying  along  the  bluff  bounded 
by  that  and  the  plank  road.  In  the  winter  he  used 
to  haul  logs  to  Monroe's  sawmill,  and  continued  in 
that  some  years.  .\t  one  time,  at  an  early  daj'  he 
was  in  the  emplo}'  of  a  man  who  sent  him  with 
some  cattle  to  L.  L.  Guyer,  in  Brimfield  Township. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


GG7 


He  staid  there  over  nig^ht,  and  the  nest  morning 
waliced  to  Peoria,  a  distance  of  twenty-two  niilos, 
for  iiis  breakfast.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  journe}- 
he  was  nearly'  exhausted  witli  the  i)angsof  hunger, 
and  linding  an  onion  on  the  way,  a  delicacy  of 
whicli  lie  was  not  fond,  he  picked  it  up  and  ate  it 
with  avidity. 

When  Mr.  Bontz  was  married,  he  built  a  log 
sh.anty  under  the  bluff,  near  the  intersection  of  the 
plank  road,  the  land  there  all  being  covered  with 
tinil)er,  which  extended  along  the  creek  and  bluffs. 
In  the  liuilding  of  this  dwelling  he  had  the  assist- 
ance of  Ernest  Lee,  and  they  put  up  a  structure 
16x16  feet  in  dimensions,  whose  clapboards  were 
held  on  by  long  poles  that  were  tied  down,  and  a 
inud  and  stick  eiiininey  served  to  carry  avvay  the 
smoke  from  the  rude  fireplace  tliat  was  then  used  in 
place  of  a  stove.  Mr.  Bontz  jilaced  a  barrel  of 
water  on  a  sled  in  front  of  the  door,  and  when  ids 
bride  asked  him  if  the  water  was  liandy  in  their 
new  home,  he  saiil  "it  is  just  in  front  of  the  door,'' 
and  tiiore  she  found  it  when  she  came.  Thej'  lived 
there  two  3'ears,  when  he  bought  a  (liece  of  land 
where  Collier's  coal  iiank  is,  for  which  he  paid  in 
dril)lets  of  ^HO  a  3'ear,  until  he  had  paid  up  tlie 
^'MW  which  was  the  price  of  the  eigiity  acres.  He 
cleared  the  laml,  put  it  under  cultivation,  fenced  it 
all,  and  made  money  by  chopping  wood  which  he 
sold  in  town.  He  then  built  a  good  log  liouse,  get- 
ting the  water  in  front  of  tlie  door,  sure  enough  tliis 
time,  and  ever  since  tliero  has  been  an  unfailing 
supply  of  pure  cold  water. 

Our  subject  subsequently  bought  ten  acres  of 
land  beautifully'  located  on  tlie  l)luff,  and  biult  a 
neat  dwelling.  One  day  Alva  Moffatt  came  along 
and  said:  "Coon,  there  must  be  coal  here,"  and  he 
went  to  work  and  found  it,  and  then  gave  our  sub- 
ject $4,000  for  the  eighly  acres.  i\Ir.  Hont/,  then 
located  on  his  present  farm,  liuying  at  that  time 
one  hundred  and  tw(!nty  acres  which  were  partly 
broken.  He  built  a  good  house,  and  in  a  few  years 
bouglit  the  i)iece  of  land  adjoining,  on  which  he 
now  lives,  and  built  his  present  large  and  comfort- 
able residence. 

Mr.  Bontz  has  become  wealthy  by  his  operations 
in  his  various  judicious  investments  of  money,  and 
the   good   business    management   that   he    has   dis- 


pkiyed  in  the  conduct  of  his  affairs.  He  owns  four 
hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  where  he  lives;  has 
a  large  interest  in  a  herd  of  three  thousand  cattle 
in  New  Mexico,  has  given  his  son,  A.  N.  Bontz, 
$3,000  to  use  for  speculation  in  the  bank  business, 
and  has  $17,000  deposited  in  the  bank  with  which 
his  son  is  connected. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1845,  to  Miss  Mary 
Magdalena  Bettelon,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary 
Bettelon.  They  came  to  Woodford  County  in 
1835,  and  her  mother  died  shortly  after,  and  the 
children  were  all  put  out  to  live  with  others,  three 
of  them  being  reared  by  John  Armstrong  on  the 
bluff.  The  father  lived  among  his  children  until 
his  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bontz  have  nine  children: 
Julia,  Mary,  Amelia.  Philip  Jacob,  William  C, 
I^izzie,  John  D.,  George  Isaac,  and  Antoine  N. 
Julia  is  the  wife  of  Fred  G.  Kru.se,  proprietor  of  a 
meat  market  in  Peoria,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Alma;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  William  Henry  Bishop, 
a  farmer  of  Kickapoo,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren; Amelia  E,,  is  the  widow  of  William  Stromer, 
of  Washington,  III.,  where  her  husband  was  en- 
gaged as  a  merchant  until  his  death,  which  left  her 
with  two  children,  one  of  whom — Ada — survives; 
I'hilii),  who  lii'cs  on  his  father's  farm,  married  Miss 
Wehner,  of  Washington,  and  tliey  have  one  child, 
Mabel;  William  is  in  New  Mexico,  where  he  owns 
a  large  cattle  ranch  ;  Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  V^an 
Arsdale,  President  of  a  bank  in  Burton,  Kan.,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Harry:  John,  who  lives  on  his 
father's  place,  is  married,  and  has  two  daughters; 
George  is  a  young  man  at  home;  lie  has  interests 
in  New  Mexico  with  his  brother,  and  spent  several 
years  there;  Antoine.  cashier  of  a  bank,  lives  in 
Sylva,  Kan.;  he  married  Miss  Elsie  Davis,  of  Bur- 
ton, Kau. 

A  man  of  gooil  mental  calibre,  energetic  and 
callable,  our  subject's  [icrspicacity  and  far  reaching 
enteriu'ise  in  business  matters  have  gained  him  a 
conspicuous  place  in  tin;  liiiancial  circles  of  this 
county.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  and  enlightened 
views,  possesses  a  re.ady  wit,  and  is  well  informed 
on  many  subjects.  He  is  an  independent  Demo- 
crat, but  takes  no  [lart  in  politics.  He  was  reareil 
in  the  lyiitheran  fold,  but  is  not  now  a  follower  of 
tliat  faith,  his  religion  being  to  do  good  and   help 


668 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


other.*,  and  in  him  the  suffering,  sorrowful  and 
need}'  find  a  sympathizing  and  generous  friend. 
He  does  what  he  can  to  elevate  the  moral  status  of 
the  community  by  contributing  liberally  Uj  build 
churches  of  the  various  denominations  that  are  rep- 
resented here. 


--*»- 


-^yX^*"*"" 


EV.  ALBERT  Z.  McGOGNEY.  Calvary 
1,^..  Presbyterian  Churcli  of  Peoria,  of  wliich 
•^\^  the  gentleman  above  named  is  pastor,  was 
founded  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Reynolds 
in  1867.  being  organized  with  a  membership  of 
thirt3'-six.  Tlie  first  services  were  held  in  a  frame 
structure  on  Walnut  Street,  where  the  body  of  be- 
lievers worshipped  until  187G,  when  the  present 
church  was  built  at  the  corner  of  First  and  Fisher 
Streets.  The  handsome  edifice  is  the  most  com- 
plete in  the  city  arid  has  the  largest  seating  capacity 
of  an\'  Protestant  church  here.  The  audience  room 
and  Sunday-school  room  each  have  a  seating  capac- 
ity of  twelve  hundred,  and  the  building  also  con- 
tains church  parlors,  pastor's  study  and  the  usual 
conveniences  for  carrying  out  the  purposes  for 
which  it  was  designed.  Its  total  cost  was  §66,000. 
which  indicates  the  manner  in  which  the  people 
took  hold  of  the  work,  as  it  has  been,  during  its 
entire  history,  a  religious  home  for  working  people. 
The  church  membership  is  now  five  hundred  and 
fifty,  while  the  Sunda3' -school  numbers  six  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  latter  is  under  the  superiutendencv 
of  William  Reynolds,  who  has  been  continued  in 
the  ofBce  year  after  year  since  tiie  organization  was 
made. 

The  first  pastor  of  Calvarj'  was  the  Rev.  Joiiu 
Weston,  now  of  Chicago,  who  held  the  charge 
nineteen  3'cars.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  A. 
Z.  McGogney,  a  native  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  man  of 
deep  thought,  broad  culture  and  unbounded  zeal 
:u  the  work  of  the  ministry.  His'  natal  day  was 
Februarj'  6,  1852,  and  his  parents  David  and  Mar- 
garet (Bradshaw)  McGogney.  His  father  was  en- 
gaged to  some  extent  in  contracting  and  farming, 
but  had  retired  from  a  very  active  participation  in 
the  labors  of  life.     Our  subject  grew  to  maturity 


in  the  old  iiome  in  the  Smok}-  Citj-  where  lie  pur- 
sued his  elementary  studies.  In  the  University  at 
Wooster,  Ohio,  he  pursued  a  literary  course,  being 
graduated  in  the  class  of  187.'),  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.,  and  having  the  degree  of  A.  M.  conferred 
upon  him  in  187.s  by  liis  Alma  Mater. 

Having  determined  to  devote  himself  to  the 
ministry,  Jlr.  McGogney  entered  the  Western 
Theological  Seminarv  at  Alleghen3%  Pa.,  complet- 
ing his  course  of  study  there  in  1878  and  being 
ordained  by  the  Erie  Presb3'ter3'  June  -5,  of  that 
year.  His  first  charge  was  Cochrantou,  Pa.,  with 
which  church  he  remained  four  vears,  departing 
thence  to  labor  at  Connellsville.  In  that  city  he 
remained  until  he  assumed  his  [iresont  pastorate 
and  began  the  labors  which  have  resulted  in  a  rapid 
growth  of  the  Calvarv-  Church. 

In  each  of  the  presbyteries  to  which  he  has  be- 
longed our  subject  has  held  the  various  offices. 
This  fact  speaks  well  for  his  general  intelligence, 
his  understanding  of  the  needs  of  the  church  and 
his  zealous  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  her  good. 
He  has  been  fortunate  in  his  home  life,  having  won 
as  his  companion  a  most  estimalile  and  refined  lad3', 
who  has  been  his  cherislied  ctmipanion  since  May 
1,  1877.  She  is  a  native  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and 
was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Maggie 
Lyons. 


'S^.ETER  E.  SPURCK.  This  enterprising  and 
)})  efficient  business  man  of  Peoria  is  President 
f^'  of  the  Spurck  Street  Paving  Brick  Com- 
l\  pan3%  which  was  incorporated  in  1890  with 
a  capital  of  §36,000,  and  in  which  George  T. 
Spurck,  eldest  son  of  our  subject,  holds  the  office 
of  Secretar3'  and  Treasurer.  He  of  whom  we  write 
is  also  interested  in  the  Peoria  Paving  Block  Com- 
p;in3'  which  was  organized  about  a  year  ago,  being 
the  first  firm  to  manufacture  large  brick  for  the 
pavements  of  Peoria.  In  the  latter  company  his 
son,  Edward  L.,  is  Treasurer. 

Mr.  Spurck  is  a  native  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  born 
February  17,  1831.  but  grew  to  manhood  in  Peoria 
to  which  place  liis  parents,  George  and  Ann  M. 
Spurck,  removed  in  1846.     After   completing  his 


*'  ".VL?Z 


^S^a;).'    -|; 


^2y^'t£^ 


7'I/2^Jdi/^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


671 


etiucation  he  engaged  in  the  distillery  business  with 
Ills  ffither,  continuing  in  \\w  management  of  it 
after  tlie  deatli  of  his  parent  until  the  Trust  was 
funned,  when  he  became  a  slockliolder  therein. 
After  the  formation  of  the  Trust  he  embarked  in 
the  brick  business,  having  a  yard  in  I.iniestone 
Township,  this  county,  and  anolht'r  in  I'azewell 
County.  Extensive  works  run  by  steam  power 
liave  been  erected  at  each  (ilace,  botli  j'ards  em- 
ploying about  one  hundred  men. 

The  Limestone  Township  yard  is  devoted  to  the 
manufacture  of  Peoria  Paving  Block,  and  the  Taze- 
well County  yard  to  that  of  the  Spurck  Street 
Paving  Brick.  These  articles  of  manufacture  have 
been  adopted  bj-  the  citj'  government  of  Peoria 
for  all  its  new  pavements.  Competent  workmen 
are  engaged  in  the  manufacture,  and  the  employ- 
ment of  a  considerable  force  of  men  distributes  a 
large  amount  of  monej',  thus  adding  to  the  pros- 
perity of  various  business  establishments  and  aid- 
ing in  building  up  the  homes  of  this  part  of  the 
Prairie  State. 

The  competent  housekeeper  and  agreeable  com- 
panion who  presided  over  the  home  of  Mr. 
Spurck,  was  a  native  of  Zanesville,  Oiiio,  where 
slie  was  formerly  known  as  Miss  Ellen  B.  Hughes; 
her  death  occurred  in  June,  1889.  The  faniilj^ 
consists  of  four  children,  the  two  sons  before 
mentioned,  and  two  daughters,  Anna  and  Charlotte. 
Mr.  Spurck  has  not  been  engaged  in  i)olitics,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  per- 
sonal atfairs  and  the  enjo\-ment  of  social  life. 


^TJAMES  McALISTEU.  Among  tiie  biog- 
raphies and  ;)ortraits  of  influential  citizens 
of  Peoria  County,  we  jjresent  that  of  Mr. 
McAlister,  the  son  of  one  of  tiie  earl}'  pio- 
neers of  this  county,  and  himself  a  pioneer  here. 
He  was  an  early  settler  of  Logan  Township,  and  is 
now  one  of  its  substantial  farmers  and  most  res- 
pected citizens.  May  U,  1817,  he  was  born  in  the 
hunjble  pioneer  home  of  his  parents,  Hector  and 
Mar\  (Kimzey)  McAlister,  who  were  natives  res- 
pectively of   South  and   North  Carolina.      In  liie 


very  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  Livingston 
County,  Kj'.,  thej'  went  with  their  parents  to  that 
countj'.  It  is  not  known  whether  they  were  mar- 
ried in  Kentucky  or  Illinois,  but  they  were  "squat- 
ters" in  Saline  County,  this  State,  when  the  pioneers 
first  settled  there.  They  lived  on  a  farm  until 
their  first  child  was  born,  and  then  returned  to 
Livingston  Countj',  Ky.,  where  he  engaged  in 
agricultural  operations  on  a  farm  which  he  owned. 

Nine  years  later  they  again  came  to  Illinois,  and 
were  in  Hamilton  County  until  1834,  then  in 
Sangamon  County,  and  from  there  in  the  fall  of 
1835  came  to  Timber  Township.  Mr.  McAlister 
lived  for  two  j'ears  on  a  "squatter's"  claim,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1837  came  to  where  our  subject  resides 
on  section  16,  and  purchased  forty  acres  of  land, 
which  he  improved  and  made  his  home  until  his 
death.  May  24,  18.52,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 
His  widow  lived  with  our  subject  until  her  death, 
in  186G,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.'  They 
were  among  the  members  of  the  first  class  organized 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Ho  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  did  good  service. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Enos 
MoAlister,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  came  to 
America  after  his  marriage.  He  settled  in  South 
Carolina,  where  he  carried  on  the  occupation  of  a 
blacksmith  prior  to  his  removal  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  They  had  children,  as  follows:  Hector, 
John,  Archibald,  Enos,  Grace,  Flora,  Jane,  Cathe- 
rine and  Patience,  all  of  whom  married  and  reared 
children,  excepting  Archibald.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  a  daughter  of  David  Kimzej',  and 
four  children  were  born  of  her  marriage,  whom  she 
named  James,  Archibald,  Enos  and  Elijah.  Archi- 
bald died  in  Iowa. 

Reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  our  subject  early 
gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  tiie  calling  that 
was  to  be  liis  life  work.  He  was  given  such  an 
education  as  the  country  afforded  in  those  pioneer 
times,  having  to  go  a  distance  of  three  miles  to 
school.  He  has  lived  in  his  present  place  of  resi- 
dence since  1838,  a  period  of  more  than  fifty 
years.  The  half  century  and  more  that  he  has 
been  engaged  in  developing  this  farm,  and  placing 
it  under  its  present   fine  cultivation  and  excellent 


673 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


improvement,  has  been  productive  of  good  finan- 
cial results,  and  he  is  now  a  man  of  property.  His 
farm  comprises  one  hundred  and  thirt3'-eight  acres 
of  verv  fertile  and  productive  land.  When  he 
Drst  started  out  in  life  he  worked  by  the  day  or 
month  until  he  acquired  money  enough  to  become 
more  independent. 

Twice  has  Mr.  McAlister  been  married.  First  he 
was  wedded  December  15.  1838,  to  Elizabeth  M., 
daugliter  of  Joseph  and  Jane  (Mathews)  Proctor, 
who  came  from  Kentucky  to  Hamilton  County, 
111.,  and  thence  to  Logan  Township,  in  1835.  He 
died  here,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  Iowa. 
Mrs.  McAlister  was  a  native  of  Hamilton  County, 
and  bore  our  subject  ten  children:  George  H., 
who. died  at  the  age  of  seventeen;  Mary,  who  died 
young;  Rachael,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John 
Williamson,  of  Trivoli  Township;  Thomas,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  t went}'  four;  John  Martin,  at 
the  age  of  nineteen;  William,  at  the  .ige  of  twenty- 
one;  Joseph  Enos,  at  the  age  of  thirteen:  Sarah; 
Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  DuMars; 
James  Franklin;  Eliza  Ellen,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  John  Moyer,  and  left  a  son  and  daughter, 
of  whom  the  latter  only  is  living.  Januarj-  9, 
1863,  the  shadow  of  death  crossed  the  threshold  of 
our  subject,  and  removed  his  wife  at  the  age  of 
fortv-two  years.  She  was  a  woman  of  high  princi- 
ple, and  was  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  McAlister  was  married  to  his  present  most 
estimable  wife  October  29,  1875.  She  is  a  native 
of  this  township,  and  her  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
J.  Proctor,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Reuben  and 
Sarah  (MathewS)  Proctor. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  experienced  man}"  of 
the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life,  and  were  obliged 
to  live  in  the  most  primitive  style.  When  his 
mother  was  a  girl  there  was  a  severe  earthquake, 
whose  effects  were  felt  in  man}-  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. She  was  preparing  cornmeal  to  bake,  when 
the  tray,  which  was  made  of  sassafras  wood  and 
was  about  two  feet  long,  began  to  rock  very  vio- 
lently, and  she  became  greatly  terrified,  thinking 
the  day  of  judgment  was  come. 

Our  subject  has  been  going  in  and  out  among 
the  people  of  this  community  for  more  than  half  a 


century,  and  in  all  that  long  period  of  time  he  has 
so  conducted  himself  in  all  the  relations  of  life  and 
in  the  management  of  his  business  affairs,  as  to  win 
the  thorough  respect  of  all  who  know  him.  He 
and  his  wife  are  among  the  leading  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  their  kindness 
and  benevolence  are  well  Known.  In  politics.  Mr. 
McAlister  was  a  Democrat  prior  to  1860,  and  being 
then  more  in  sympathy  with  the  course  of  the 
Republican  party,  he  joined  its  ranks,  casting  his 
first  Presidential  vote  after  he  became  a  Republican 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1 864,  and  has  ever  since 
firmly  stood  by  the  party. 


-*- 


'^OHN  HARDY  is  managing  his  faiming  in- 
terests in  Millbrook  Township  with  the 
^_^  j  I  sound  discretion,  energy  and  ability  that 
(^J  has  characterized  his  whole  course  as  an  ag- 
riculturist, and  his  practical  skill  has  placed  him 
among  the  substantial,  well-to-do  citizens  in  this 
vicinity. 

Mr.  Hardy  is  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  was  there  born  in  the  month  of  October,  1823. 
His  parents  were  William  and  Dinah  Hardy,  and 
they  were  also  of  English  birth.  His  boyhood  and 
3^outh  were  passed  in  his  native  shire,  where  he  had 
practically  no  school  advantages,  as  there  were  no 
public  schools  and  his  father  having  a  large  family 
of  children  w.is  unable  to  p.a}-  for  his  tuition.  At 
the  unusually  early  age  of  eight  years  ho  had  to 
start  out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  and  until  he 
was  nearly  ten  years  old  worked  for  his  board. 
After  tiiat  time  he  was  paid  so  much  a  year  and 
was  thus  employed  until  he  emigrated  to  America. 
He  was  very  desirous  of  improving  his  financial 
condition  and  determined  to  come  to  this  country 
where  he  would  be  enabled  to  build  up  a  home  for 
himself.  Accordingly  in  the  spring  of  1852.  with 
his  wife  and  three  children,  he  took  passage  on  a 
vessel  at  Liverpool  and  in  six  weeks  landed  in 
New  Orleans.  Two  weeks  later  he  arrived  at  St. 
Louis,  and  from  there  crossed  the  river  and  went 
into  Scott  County,  this  Slate.  He  found  employ- 
ment there,  was  engaged  principall}' as  a  farm  hand 


POUrUAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


673 


some  six  years,  and  then  for  a  number  of  j-ears  he 
farmed  as  a  renter  in  Morgan  County,  and  finally 
bought  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  there 
near  the  Suott  County  line.  He  lived  thereon  sev- 
eral j'ears,  actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  came  to  this  county 
and  has  ever  since  made  his  home  in  Millbrook 
Township.  His  diligent  a])plication  to  his  work 
and  his  business  like  manner  of  carr^'ing  it  on  have 
been  productive  of  good  results.  When  he  first 
came  to  Illinois  and  began  life  in  Scott  County,  he 
had  but  *1  left  and  novv  lie  has  a  valuable  piece  of 
properly  in  the  finely  improved  farm  on  section 
16.  of  which  he  is  the  proprietor.  It  comprises 
two  hur.dred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  that  is  mostly 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  build- 
ings on  it  are  of  a  substantial  order  and  everything 
about  tlie  place  lietokens  the  presence  of  one  who 
understands  well  how'  to  carry  on  agriculture  to  the 
best  advantage. 

Mr.  Hard}-  was  married  in  England  in  the  month 
of  June,  184C,  to  Miss  Ellon  Woodall,  a  native  of 
England.  Their  wedded  life  was  brought  to  a  close 
by  lier  death  February  16,  1882.  She  was  a  wo- 
man of  many  excellent  qualities,  of  a  kind  and  gen- 
erous nature,  and  left  behiiul  her  a  wealth  of  love 
and  affection  and  man}'  warm  friends,  who  united 
with  her  husband  and  children  in  mourning  her 
death. 

By  this  marriage  our  subject  became  the  father 
of  twelve  children,  of  wliom  the  following  six  are 
living:  Hannah,  wife  of  Nathan  Henderson,  of 
Millbrook  Township;  ,lohn.  in  Laura,  III.;  George 
II.,  a  resident  of  Millbrook  Township;  Robert,  of 
Millbrook  Townshii);  .lames,  a  graduate  of  the 
Val|)araiso  (Ind.)  Normal  School;  KUa,  wife  of 
David  Porter,  of  Millbrook  Township.  Mr.  Hardy 
has  also  reared  one  grandchild — Myrtle — a  daugh- 
ter of  his  son  George  II.  Hardy.  The  names  of  his 
children  who  are  deceased  are:  William,  Sarah, 
.lomith.-ui,  VA\:i  and  .lohn.  and  one  child  who  died  in 
infancy  unnamed. 

Mr.  Hardy  is  endowed  with  the  persistence, 
steadiness,  discretion,  and  natural  ability,  so  char- 
acteristic of  the  English  people,  and  since  coming 
here  has  manageil  not  only  to  hold  liis  own,  but  to 
get  ahe:id  in  the  world,  and   is  a  credit  to  the  cit- 


izenship of  his  adopted  country.  He  has  served  six 
years  as  School  Director  of  District  No.  5,  and  h.as 
done  what  he  could  to  better  the  schools  of  the 
township.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  serves 
his  party  faithfully  whenever  opportunity  olTers. 


x^OL.  ISAAC  TAYLOR.  In  tiie  desperate 
(iv  JTl  *''''""§'''  ^^'•■'^  threatened  the  life  of  our  na- 
^^■^  tion,  many,  who  li.ad  before  led  the  quiet 
lives  of  private  citizens,  devehjped  the  qualities  of 
heroism  and  even  martyrdom,  and  offered  llieir 
services  in  behalf  of  their  country.  Among  these 
who  responded  to  the  country's  call,  was  Col.  Tay- 
lor, who,  in  those  times  that  tried  men's  souls„ was 
one  of  the  foremost  in  the  field  of  battle,  and 
whose  standard  of  duty,  zeal,  and  personal  eftort 
was  of  the  highest.  His  patient  performance  of 
duty  inspired  the  soldiers  with  him.  and  by  his  per- 
sonal character  and  individual  energy,  he  was  an 
important  factor  in  the  success  of  his  army.  He 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  H, Third  Rei^iment, 
Minnesota  Infantry,  October  2.  1861 — was  com- 
missioned Second  Lieutenant  Octoijer  28,  1861 
commissioned  First  Lieutenant  February  18,1864 
and  Captain  April  15,   186-4. 

Coming  of  worthy  ancestors,  Col.  Taylor  was 
born  inSaiatoga,  N.  Y.,  April  22,  1836.  His  |)ar- 
ents,  Isaac  P.  and  Martha  C.  (Schidmore)  Taylor, 
were  natives  of  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  and  the  father 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  In  1836, 
thty  came  west,  locating  in  Canton,  III. .where  they 
resided  two  years.  Thence  they  removed  toTrivoli, 
Peoria  County,  111.,  and  there  the  father  died  in 
1853.  The  mother  survived  many  years,  and 
passed  away  in  1886  in  Yates  City,  Knox  County, 
111.  They  were  honored  among  the  pioneers  of 
Peoria  County,  and  were  highl}-  esteemed  amono- 
a  large  circle  of  acquaintances.  In  the  develop- 
ment of  the  resources  of  the  country  the  father 
bore  a  conspicuous  part,  and  w,as  one  of  the  fore- 
most men  in  his  section  of  the  county. 

In  Trivoli  our  subject  grew  to  a  stalwart  man- 
hood, attending  the  public  schools  of  the  district 
and  assisting  in   the  farm    work.     At    the   ave  of 


674 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


twenty-one  years  he  went  to  the  Jonesville  (New 
York)  Academy,  and  there  completed  a  good  ed- 
ucation. ReturnLrig  to  Illinois  he  engaged  in  farm 
ing  until  18G1,  when  for  a  short  time  he  sojourned 
to  Minnesota,  where  he  went  on  account  of  his 
health.  Soon  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War 
he  enlisted  at  Ft.  Suelling,  Minnesota,  ami  his 
regiment  was  immediately'  ordered  to  Kentucky. 
After  the  fall  of  Ft.  Henry  his  regiment  was  sent 
to  Ft.  Heiman.  He  was  placed  in  command  of 
Ft.  Henry,  and  with  his  companj'  engaged  in 
scouting  and  had  many  skirmishes  with  the  enemy. 

Later  his  regiment  was  ordered  toNashville.Tenn., 
where  they  were  on  duty  about  four  months. 
Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  was  their  next  camping 
ground,  and  tiiere  on  the  23rd  of  July,  1862,  they 
engaged  in  a  skirmish  with  Gen.  Forrest.  The  reg- 
iment was  captured  by  the  Forrest  Brigade,  and  all 
taken  prisoners.  However,  Lieut.  Taylor  and 
Lieut.  Eustrum  of  the  Third  Minnesota,  escaped 
and  returned  to  Nashville,  where  Lieut.  Taylor  was 
put  in  command  of  the  Convalescent  Camp  of  six 
hundred  soldiers.  He  continued  in  command 
through  the  first  siege  and  engaged  in  a  number 
of  skirmishes  with  the  enemy  during  the  siege. 
The  regiment  was  paroled  and  sent  to  Minnesota, 
where  they  were  detailed  to  fight  the  Indians.  The 
Colonel,  however,  remained  in  Tennessee  on  duty 
and  the  regiment  being  exchanged  came  to  Co- 
lumbus, Ky.,  where  he  joined  them  in  1863  and 
was  assigned  to  the  Sixteenth  Arra^-  Corps. 

The  Third  Minnesota  Regiment  was  assigned  to 
Col.  Wood's  Brigade  and  was  ordered  to  Vicks- 
burg,  and  tiie  regiment  took  an  active  part  in  re- 
ducing that  stronghold.  After  the  surrender  of 
Vieksbiirg  Col.  Ta3'lor  was  ordered  with  his  regi- 
ment to  Helena,  Ark.,  where  an  expedition  was 
formed  under  Gen.  Steele  to  move  on  to  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  then  held  by  the  rebel  General  Price. 
The  Third  Minnesota  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
capture  of  Little  Rock,  under  Gen.  .Steele. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war  our  subject  was  kept 
ill  Arkansas,  eng.aging  in  several  battles,  the  most 
important  of  which  was  at  Cash  River.  During 
their  sojourn  in  Arkansas  the  army  suffered  much 
from  the  climate.  While  at  Pine  Bluff  in  October 
1864,  the  Colonel's  term  of  enlistment  expired,  but 


he  immediately  re-enlisted  with  a  veteran  fur- 
lough of  thirty  days.  He  was  so  debilitated  by 
constant  exposure  that  he  was  carried  on  a 
stretcher,  unconscious,  to  the  steamer  and  thence 
taken  home. 

At  the  expiration  of  thirty  days  Col.  Taylor, 
jjarliall}-  recovered,  returned  to  Pine  Bluff,  and 
his  regiment  was  then  ordered  to  Duvall's  Bluff  on 
the  White  River.  T'here  a  raid  was  organized  to 
go  to  Cash  River  and  other  posts.  Until  the  close 
of  the  war  he  continued  in  raid  service,  but  upon 
reeeiving  an  honorable  discharge  April  18.  186.5, 
at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  he  returned  to  Trivoli, 
and  t.iking  his  famil}-,  who  had  remained  there 
during  his  army  service,  removed  to  Minnesota, 
thinking  that  his  health  might  be  improved.  How- 
ever, finding  that  he  grew  worse  instead  of  better, 
he  returned  to  his  former  home  in  Illinois,  and 
for  three  years  was  unable  to  do  an^-thing.  His 
home  was  then  in  Trivoli.  In  1869  he  was  ap- 
pointed Assistant  United  States  Internal  Revenue 
Assessor,  for  Peoria  County,  outside  of  city,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  until  the  fall  of  1871. 

To  show  the  esteem  in  which  Col.  Tajior  is 
held  it  is  onl^-  necessary  to  state  that  he  has  been 
elected  five  times  County  Treasurer  of  Peoria 
Count}',  with  a  majority  of  from  three  hundred  to 
twenty-one  hundred,  altliough  the  county  usually 
gives  a  Democrat  majority-  of  seven  hundred, 
while  he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  His  first  election 
to  this  office  was  in  1871  and  he  held  it  continu- 
ously for  eleven  years.  After  retiring  therefrom 
he  w'ent  into  the  real  estate  business  and  for  four 
years  served  as  Canal  Commissioner  having  been 
appointed  to  that  oflice  by  Governor  Oglesby.  He 
look  a  leading  part  in  the  great  Waterway  Con- 
vention, being  chairman  of  the  local  committee 
which  called  the  convention.  This  convention 
was  held  in  Peoria  October  11,  1887,  and  was  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  important  of  the  kind 
ever  held  in  the  West. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
Col.  Taj'lor  has  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  its 
principles,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. He  was  a  charter  member  of  Brvner  Post  G. 
A.  R.  and  has  been  Post  Commander.  Religiously, 
he  and   his  family  worship  at  the    Congregational 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


675 


C'huicli,  of  wbich  they  are  active  members.  After 
the  war  the  Colonel  was  Captain  of  the  "National 
Blues"  from  1875  until  1878.  He  was  also  Colo- 
nel of  the  Seventh  Illinois  National  Guards,  being 
commissioned  by  Gov.  CuUora.  His  poor  health 
coni|)elled  him  to  resign  the  latter  office,  and  he 
still  suffers  from  the  effects  of  his  army  life.  He 
enjoys  a  wide  acquaintance,  not  only  among  the 
best  people  of  Peoria  County,  but  also  among  the 
leading  men  of  the  Nation. 

On  the  15th  of  October.  1860,  a  very  impor- 
tant event  took  place  in  the  life  of  our  subject  took 
place.  He  was  then  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  B.,  daughter  of  Melatiah  T.  and  Mary  L. 
Bourne,  of  Trivoli.  To  them  three  children,  daugh- 
ters, have  been  born:  The  eldest  is  Alice  Lee,  the 
wife  of  Charles  E.  Bunn,  of  Peoria;  Laura  B.  and 
Isa  D.  remain  at  home.  The  family  residence  is  a 
pleasant  and  comfortable  one,  located  on  Sixth 
Street,  and  there  they  have  lived  for  seventeen 
years.  Mrs.  Taylor  is  a  descendant  of  good  old 
I'uiitan  stock,  her  mother  bearing  the  maiden 
name  of  Bartlett,  being  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Bart- 
lett,of  Boston,  and  cousin  of  .Sidney  and  George 
Bartlett,  of  the  same  place. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sul)jeet  was 
Isaac  Taylor,  of  Connecticut,  who  moved  into  the 
Empire  State  during  the  earl}*  days  of  its  history. 
The  maternal  grandfather  was  Mr.  Putnam,  a  di- 
rect descendant  of  Isarel  Putnam,  ftynous  in  the 
nals  of  the  Revolutionary  War  as  a  Colonial   hero. 


-♦'•£-— 


^I^ENRY  S.  HARKNESS.  Elmwood  Town- 
ship has  no  more  worthy  representative  of 
its  flourishing  agricultural  interests  than 
this  gentleman,  who  was  born  within  the 
borders  of  the  count}-,  educated  in  its  schools  and 
in  the  opening  years  of  a  vigorous  manhood,  took 
his  place  among  its  busy  farmers.  While  actively 
engaged  in  laying  up  a  competence  he  has  also 
aided  in  promoting  the  material  welfare  of  his  na- 
tive county.  He  is  the  son  of  a  pioneer  of  this 
region   who  assisted  in  the  devciopuient  of   its  re- 


sources and  reclaimed  a  fertile  farm  from  the  pri- 
meval wilds.  He  h,as  now  retired  from  the  active 
labors  of  life,  although  still  occupying  his  home- 
stead, which  is  under  the  efficient  management  of 
his  son. 

The  immediate  progenitors  of  our  subject  were 
Isaac  and  Sarah  (Wilson)  Ilarkness,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pelham,  Mass.,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  were  married  in  the  Keystone  State, 
residing  there  until  1830,  when  the  husband  walked 
to  Illinois  with  the  intention  of  selecting  a  location 
on  which  to  make  his  future  home.  In  Trivoli 
Township,  Peoria  County,  he  chose  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  which  he  broke  a  few  acres  of  sod  and 
planted  corn.  He  then  returned  to  Pennsylvania 
where  he  remained  during  tlie  winter.  It  proved 
an  extremely  hard  season  in  this  section  and  a  great 
manj'  Indian  ponies  died  from  want,  but  the  corn 
which  Mr.  Ilarkness  had  left  growing  was  un- 
touched by  the  savages,  whose  honesty  in  this  in- 
stance, affords  a  striking  example  to  more  civilized 
people. 

In  the  fall  of  1831  Isaac  Ilarkness  removed  with 
his  famil}-  to  his  claim,  where  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life,  accumulating  worldly  goods  and 
assisting  in  various  frontier  labors.  He  helped  to 
organize  the  township  and  afterward  held  the  office 
of  Constable.  He  eventually  secured  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,  built  an  excellent  stone  house  and 
barn,  and  otlierwise  made  of  his  estate  a  home  of 
comfort.  It  is  worthy  of  record  th.at  he  never 
killed  but  one  thing  with  a  gun,  that  being  a  crow. 
He  died  in  1879,  on  the  forty-ninth  anniversary  of 
his  arrival  in  this  section.  His  faithful  companion 
survived  until  February  3,  1885,  when  she  too  en- 
tered into  rest.  Both  were  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of 
thirteen  children,  eight  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  said  to  be  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Trivoli  Township,  and  is  cer- 
tainly the  first  native  of  Harkness  Grove.  His 
natal  day  was  January  21, 1832.  He  attended  one 
of  the  first  schools  organized  in  this  section,  con- 
tinuing to  pursue  his  studies  during  the  winter  and 
assisting  on  the  farm  during  the  summer.  He  re- 
mained an  inmate  of  the  parental  iionie  until  about 
twent3--three  years  old  when,  on  Ai)ril  30,  1851,  he 


676 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  united  in  marri-ge  with  Miss  Sarali  C.  Parker, 
witli  whom  lie  set  up  his  own  homo. 

Mrs.  Harkness  is  the  third  child  born  to  Samuel 
A.  and  Harriet  (Potter)  Parker  and  was  born  in 
Ooean  County,  N.  J.,  May  24,  1836.  Her  mother 
was  born  in  the  same  county,  December  15,  1800, 
and  her  father  in  Monmouth  County  of  the  same 
State,  July  30,  1800.  Their  home  was  in  New 
.Tersej'  until  1844,  when  they  removed  to  Indiana, 
residing  there  seven  years.  They  then  changed 
their  location  to  Peoria  County,  III.,  living  in  Tri- 
voli  Township  until  1876,  when  Ihe^-  came  to  make 
their  home  with  our  subject.  Mr.  Parker  died 
March  7,  1886,  at  the  age  of  eightj'-five  years, 
seven  months  and  seven  da3S.  The  widow  still 
survives  and  although  she  has  reached  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety  years,  still  enjoj'S  fairl}-  good  health 
and  an  unusual  degree  of  brightness  of  mind. 
John  Parker,  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Harkness,  was  a 
member  of  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
died  from  disease  in  1863  in  a  hospital  near  Mur- 
freesboro,  Tenn.  Another  brother,  William,  who 
belonged  to  the  same  company  and  regiment,  suf- 
fered from  sunstroke  there. 

The  farm  of  ]Mr.  Harkness  now  comprises  one 
hundred  acres  on  sections  29  and  32,  all  the  build- 
ings upon  which  and  all  the  improvements  have 
been  added  by  himself.  Fine  specimens  of  Here- 
ford cattle,  which  Mr.  Harkness  believes  best  for 
the  market,  arc  raised  there,  while  the  other  stock 
is  of  good  grades.  A  noticeable  feature  on  the 
estate  is  the  large  assortment  of  small  fruit.  Taken 
all  in  all  the  farm  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  in 
this  section  and  affords  a  \ery  pleasant  iiome  in 
which  to  spend  the  peaceful  years  of  declining  life. 
Mrs.  Harkness  is  very  intelligent,  with  a  thoroughly 
womanlj-  nature,  and  presents  a  fine  example  of 
the  model  wife  and  mother.  'J'he  family  consists 
(jf  two  children,  Hattie  and  Charles.  The  former, 
who  was  born  July  9, 18.55,  is  living  in  Montgomerj- 
County,  Iowa,  being  the  wife  of  Daniel  Hovenden, 
and  the  mother  of  four  children.  The  latter,  who 
was  born  June  5, 1863,  is  unmarried.  He  is  a  young 
man  of  line  mental  ability,  well  educated,  and  has 
had  a  successful  experience  of  two  j'cars  as  a  teacher 
in  this  county,  being  now  Principal  of  the  graded 
school  at  (Jiasford. 


m 


From  his  youth  Mr.  Harkness  has  been  deeply 
interested  in  political  questions  and  since  he  was 
entitled  to  the  right  of  suffrage  has  missed  but  two 
elections,  either  general  or  local.  He  belongs  to 
the  Republican  part}'  and  is  well  known  as  one  of 
its  stanchest  members.  For  fourteen  years  he  has 
been  Director  of  his  school  district  and  he  has  also 
served  as  Pathmaster.  His  excellent  character, 
general  intelligence  and  industrious  life  have  se- 
cured to  him  the  hearty  respect  of  an  extended 
acquaintance,  in  whose  esteem  his  wife  and  children 
share.  His  brother,  Kelton  W.  Harkness,  now  of 
Linn  County,  Kan.,  served  in  the  Union  Army  three 
years  during  the  late  war. 

^— I- m ^— 

l7  OHN  TAYLOR.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  one  of  the  few  remaining  pioneers  of  Elm- 
wood  Township,  and  has  passed  through  all 
the  hardships  inuideutal  to  the  career  of  him 
who  begins  upon  the  lowest  round  of  the  ladder  of 
poverty  in  an  undeveloped  country  and  climbs  la- 
boriously' until  he  reaches  the  platform  of  affluence. 
He  was  born  in  Highland  Count3',  Ohio,  in  1823. 
and  came  to  the  Prairie  State  with  his  parents  in 
November,  1833,  stoi>ping  at  a  fort  which  had  been 
built  by  the  few  settlers  for  protection  against  the 
Indians,  near  the  present  site  of  Farmington,  Ful- 
ton County. 

After  remaining  at  the  Block  House  a  short  time 
the  parents  removed  to  Middle  Grove,  where  for 
two  weeks  the}'  lived  in  a  log  house  containing  but 
one  room,  in  company'  with  a  family  of  eight, 
which,  added  to  their  own  family  of  nine,  made  it 
necessary  to  utilize  every  inch  of  space.  In  the 
meantime  thej-  were  constructing  a  house  for  them- 
selves, the  material  for  which  was  furnished  by  the 
neigiiboring  forests.  Shortly  after  moving  into 
this  house  John  witnessed  the  strange  phenomenon 
known  as  "falling  stars,"  which  he  looked  upon 
with  awe,  wondering  if  it  was  one  of  the  character- 
istics of  the  frontier.  Ere  man}'  months  a  removal 
was  made  to  Knox  County,  near  Summit,  which 
was  the  parental  home  during  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.     The  father,  Alexander  Tayloi',  died  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


677 


January,  1857.  His  native  plaeu  was  Bedford 
County,  Ky.  His  wife  Nellie  (Dalton)  Taylor,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  passed  away  May  15,  1847.  Of 
tliis  marriage  six  cliildren  are  now  living,  our  sub- 
ject being  the  eldest.  Tlie  father  had  six  children 
by  a  former  marriage. 

The  |)ioneer  labors  of  John  Taylor  began  at  an 
early  ago.im  mod  lately  after  the  removal  to  this  .State. 
He  broke  the  first  ground  in  Elba  I'ownshlp,  Knox 
County,  the  work  being  done  with  oxen,  in  accord- 
ance with  tiie  pioneer  custom.  Canton,  which  con- 
tained about  twenty  liouses,  was  the  nearest  town, 
the  few  people  who  were  cultivating  tlie  land  be- 
ing located  in  what  was  termed  "settlements,"  com- 
posed of  three  or  four  families  living  within  a 
radius  of  a  mile  or  two.  There  being  no  roads  or 
bridges,  grain  was  carried  on  horseback  to  the  mill. 
The  clothing  of  the  frontiersmen  consisted  of  home- 
spun cloth  and  liuckskin,  and  their  food  of  corn 
bread,  hominy,  and  honey  which  could  be  had  in 
abundance  in  the  woods,  together  with  meat  i)ro- 
cured  by  luinting  the  wihl  hog,  deer,  turkeys,  etc. 
In  the  fall  of  1834  John  Taylor  and  a  brother  killed 
over  three  thousand  pounds  of  pork,  sui)[ilied  by 
the  wild  liogs  of  that  region. 

The  spring  following  the  removal  of  the  family 
to  this  State,  our  subject  made  sugar  in  a  camp 
which  had  been  used  by  Indians  the  previous  sea- 
son, catching  sap  in  troughs  made  by  the  Indians' 
tomahawks.  While  thus  engaged  he  often  saw  sus- 
pended in  the  trees  the  remains  of  pappooses,  which 
had  been  placed  in  a  section  of  a  hollow  tree  and 
made  fast  to  the  branches  above  by  means  of  a  piece 
of  bark.  Many  scenes  and  incidents  of  those  early 
days  are  related  by  Mr.  Taylor,  who  proves  a  most 
entertaining  companion  when  called  upon  to  relate 
his  experiences. 

October  14,  1847,  Mr.  Tayloi  and  Miss  Emily 
J.ane  Doyle  were  joined  in  wedlock,  the  ceremonj' 
taking  place  in  the  Peoria  House,  from  which  the 
young  couple  departed  the  next  daj-.  Mr.  Taylor 
had  paid  his  wedding  expenses  from  a  $5  bill  and 
liad  twentj'-seven  cents  left  as  a  casii  capital  on 
which  to  begin  his  new  life.  He  had  forty  acres  of 
unimproved  land  and  his  father  gave  him  a  horse. 
He  built  a  log  house,  which  is  still  standing,  and  in 
it  he  and  his  devoted   companion    began   tlic  toil- 


some career  which  has  resulted  in  worldly  prosper- 
ity and  deep  respect  from  those  towhom  thc}'  are 
known. 

Mr.  Taylor  bought  eleven  siioats  of  Daniel  Hark- 
ness  on  a  year's  time,  and  having,7attened  them, 
drove  them  to  Peoria,  vvhere  he  received  §124  in 
cash.  Returning,  he  paid  his  purchase  money,  $1  I, 
leaving  him  what  he  considered  a  goodly  sum  of 
money.  The  first  wheat  lie  ever  hauled  to  Peoria, 
although  as  good  as  he  has  ever  seen,  sold  for  thirty 
cents  per  bushel,  his  cash  jiayment  for  the  entire 
lo.id  being  $2  and  the  balance  having  to  be  traded 
out.  Two  ,acres  of  timber  land,  price  -I^IO,  whicii 
he  purchased  from  Isaac  Doyle,  was  paid  for  l)y 
liauling  to  Peoria,  at  §3  [ler  trip,  with  a  load  each 
way. 

Mr.  Taylor  remained  on  his  little  farm  until  after 
the  death  of  his  wife,  since  which  time  he  has  pur- 
chased additional  land,  now  having  one  hundred 
and  ten  acres  on  section  17.  His  first  additional 
purchase  was  of  eightj-  acres  at  $5  per  acre  on  four 
year's  time.  The  residence  which  lie  now  occu|)ies 
waserected  in  1889  at  a  cost  of  §1,500.  Although 
he  has  been  troubled  with  rheumatism  for  the  last 
thirteen  years,  he  still  actively  carries  on  the  farm, 
dividing  his  attention  between  crops  and  stock. 
He  has  always  been  interested  in  political  issues  and 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  his  first  ballot  having 
been  cast  for  James  K.  Polk.  He  has  been  a 
School  Director  for  six  years  and  has  frequently 
served  on  the  juries  in  Peoria. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  five  children  have  lieen 
born,  viz:  Irene,  Eliza,  Amanda,  Marj'  and  Edwin. 
The  firstborn  is  deceased;  Amanda  is  the  wife  of 
David  E.  Speriy,  of  Bedford,  Iowa,  and  h.as  two 
children;  Edwin  learned  t'ue  trade  of  a  jeweler  at 
Galesburg,  finished  at  Parson's  Horological  Insti- 
tute at  LaPorte,  Ind.,  and  during  the  last  year  has 
been  following  his  trade  at  Omaha,  Neb.  For  the 
past  ten  j'cars  he  has  done  considerable  correspond- 
ing for  the  local  press  and  has  written  a  series  of 
excellent  biographical  sketches  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  locality,  to  one  of  which  we  are  indebted  for 
interesting  items.  All  of  the  children  have  re- 
ceived good  common-school  educations. 

The  wife  of  our  subject,  breathed  her  last  April 
11,  1878,  after  twenty  years   of   invalidism.     She 


078 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  born  within  four  miles  of  the  Mammotli  Cave, 
Ky.,  and  her  father  Isaac  Doyle,  having  been  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  part  of  Peoria  County, 
slie  had  a  vivid  experience  of  pioneer  life  and 
scenes.  Indians  were  numerous  and  hostile  when 
she  was  brought  hither  and  the  family  was  fre- 
■quently  obliged  to  seek  shelter  in  the  thickets. 
They  lived  in  a  tent  for  some  time.  She  drove  the 
team  wliich  turned  the  first  furrow  in  Elba  Town- 
ship, Knox  County,  be  who  became  lier  husband 
n-uiding  the  breaking  plow.  Slie  was  a  woman  of 
noble  character,  a  consistent  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  her  memory  is  revered 
by  her  family. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Taylor  was  the  first  Justice 
of  the  Peace  in  Elrawood  Township  and  one  of  its 
most  prominent  citizens.  His  residence  in  the  Prai- 
rie State  began  in  1831,  and  his  death  occurred 
March  21),  1879.  His  first  wife,  Mary  Copeland, 
passed  away  January  10,  1859,  leaving  four  sons 
and  five  dauglitors.     His  second  wife  is  yet  living. 

Sy/U^ENRY  TRUITT.  deceased,  was  during  his 
""^  life  one  of  the  best-known  citizens  of  this 
count}',  and  one  of  its  leading  financiers 
and  business  men.  He  was  a  pioneer  mer- 
chant of  Chillicolhe,  and  wljile  he  lived  no  enter- 
prise was  evolved  for  the  advancement  of  the 
business  and  social  interests  of  the  city  with  wliich 
he  was  not  prominently  connected.  He  came  here 
in  llie  early  '50s,  wlien  Chiliicothe  was  bat  a  ham- 
let, and  opened  a  warehouse  on  Water  Street,  and 
from  that  small  beginning  accumulated  a  large  and 
valuable  property,  his  business  growing  with  the 
growth  of  the  city.  Later  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  lumber  and  grain  trade  and  did  a  large  business 
in  buying  and  selling  both  grain  and  lumber.  In 
1  8(58  he  helped  organize  a  private  bank  at  this  place, 
the  bank  being  known  as  Truitt,  Mathews  &  Co.'s 
Bank  which  has  since  held  a  leading  place  among 
the  financial  institutions  of  the  county.  He  was 
a  large  stockholder  in  the  concern  and  was  its 
President. 

yir.  Truitt    was  a  native    of    Indiana,    l)orn   at 


Rising  Sun,  January  1,  1 81 9.  He  grew  to  maturity 
in  his  native  State  and  was  first  married  there  to 
Frances  M.  Goddard.  who  was  also  a  native  of  In- 
diana. After  the  birth  of  their  two  elder  children, 
they  came  to  Illinois  and  established  a  homo  in 
Chiliicothe,  and  here  their  third  and  last  child  was 
born,  Henry,  who  died  when  ten  months  old.  While 
yet  in  life's  prime  Mrs.  Truitt  was  taken  from  her 
husband  and  family,  her  death  occurring  December 
27.  18G3.  The  only  living  child  of  that  marriage 
is  Frances  M.,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Cutright.  a  lum- 
berman of  Chiliicothe.  The  daughter  who  died 
was  Mrs.  John  AV.  Fuller,  of  Peoria,  who  departed 
tliis  life  when  she  was  a  j-oung  woman. 

Our  subject  was  a  second  time  married  near  Chil- 
iicothe taking  as  his  wife  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Moffitt,  nee 
Dennis,  who  survives  him.  Mrs.  Truitt  was  born 
in  Clermont  County.  Ohio,  March  9,  1829, a  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Kachael  (McClelland)  Dennis. 
They  were  early  settlers  of  Illinois,  having  come 
to  Peoria  County,  in  1833,  and  locating  on  a  farm, 
and  here  BIrs.  Dennis  died  less  than  two  3'ears  after- 
ward. Mr.  Dennis  later  went  to  Galesburg,  and 
lived  tliere  for  some  time  and  then  came  back  to 
Peoria  County,  to  his  old  home,  where  he  passed 
away  from  the  scenes  of  earth  at  sixt^- j-ears  of  age. 
He  had  been  a  .second  time  married  and  his  widow 
is  now  living  in  Galesliurg.  Mrs.  Truitt  was  only 
six  years  old  when  her  mother  dieil,  and  she  was 
afterwards  reared  by  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Aaron  Read, 
with  whom  she  made  her  home  until  her  first  mar- 
riage to  Alonzo  MofHtt,  wiio  was  an  old  settler  of 
this  county.  His  father  was  a  merchant,  and  in 
his  store  he  spent  his  active  life  until  his  death  in 
1850,  while  yet  in  life's  prime,  Mrs.  Truitt  was 
thus  left  a  widow  with  one  child,  Olive  E.,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  Linas  S.  Hoyt,  a  grain  dealer  of 
Chiliicothe.  By  her  marriage  with  our  subject 
Mrs.  Truitt  has  one  child,  RoUin  H.  Truitt,  born 
March  13.  18(50,  who  now  manages  his  motlier's  in- 
terest in  the  bank  of  which  he  is  cashier.  He 
married  Effie  Johnston,  of  this  county.  Jlrs. 
Truitt  is  a  woman  of  great  worth,  and  in  her  the 
Baptist  Church  has  one  of  its  most  consistent  mem- 
bers and  liberal  supporters. 

Mr.  Truitt's  life-career  distinguished  him  as  a 
man  of  exceptional  character,  of   i)ionipt  and  s^'s- 


c,-. 


•'VEBSIT;' 


cJ^u>-^U^  (yl^ii. 


d/ru- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


681 


lematic  husiuess  habits,  combined  with  honorable 
and  conscientious  dealings,  and  too  much  cannot 
be  said  of  him  as  a  man  of  unswerving:  integril>' 
and  truthfulness,  whose  clear  head  and  large  foie- 
siglit  and  sagacious  judgment  gave  his  opinion 
great  value  and  his  counsel  was  often  sought  by  his 
fellow  citizens  who  thought  ver}'  highly  of  iiim. 
In  him  all  worthy  reforms  found  a  champion,  and 
he  was  esDecially  interested  in  the  temperance 
movement,  and  was  influential  in  llie  Prohibition 
party  during  the  last  years  of  his  life.  A  sincerely 
religious  man.  he  was  a  valued  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  At  his  death,  September  17, 
1881,  there  passed  away  a  truly  good  man  and  one 
of  our  most  venerated  citizens. 


»r^=(K'--.  — 


za 


«^;f»^^- 


DWARD  ALLEN  has  for  many  years 
been  extensively  connected  with  the  mining 
interests  of  Peoria  County,  and  still  owns 
valuable  mines  in  the  vicinit}'  of  the  city  of  Peoria, 
lie  is  also  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests 
of  the  county,  owning  and  occupying  a  well- 
impruved  farm  in  Limestone  Township,  and  re- 
siding in  an  attractive  home,  beautifully'  located  on 
section  13,  about  three  miles  southwest  of  the 
cmirt-house. 

Mr.  Allen,  whose  portrait  is  shown  on  another 
page,  is  a  native  of  Burlingham,  Warwickshire, 
iMigland,  his  birth  taking  place  April  IG,  1827. 
His  parents  were  .lames  and  Mary  (Graham)  Allen, 
nnd  after  he  came  to  this  countr}-  and  was  well 
settled  he  sent  them  monty  to  pay  their  passage 
across  the  water,  so  that  their  last  years  were  spent 
in  comfort  in  this  country.  When  our  subject  was 
a  small  boy  the  family  removed  to  the  county  of 
Durham.  England,  where  he  was  reared.  He  had 
to  work  in  the  mines  in  the  day  time,  and  his  only 
chaiice  for  obtaining  an  education  was  in  attending 
an  evening  school,  but  since  then  he  has  .advanced 
his  education  by  reading  ami  otherwise,  and  is  a 
n]an  (if  some  Ic.irning. 

At  the  age  of   twenty-one    .Mr.    .Mien    and    his 


brother  James  came  to  America  to  seek  their  for- 
tunes. They  settled  iu  Pittsburg,  where  our  sub- 
ject soon  became  interested  in  the  coal  works.  He 
was  there  six  years,  and  then,  in  tiie  fall  of  1854.' 
(^ame  to  Peoria,  attracted  thither  by  the  splendid 
opportunity  offered  men  of  enterprise  in  these  rich 
coal  fields.  He  settled  on  section  13,  Limestone 
Township,  adjoining  the  city  of  Peoria,  and  at  once 
entered  the  business  of  coal  mining,  and  h.as  bought 
and  operated  some  of  Peori.a's  largest  mines.  He 
still  owns  large  mines  near  the  town,  but  at  present 
is  not  operating  them.  He  has  also  eng.aged  in 
farming  to  some  extent,  having  a  farm  of  lift3-two 
acres  of  exceedingly  fertile  land,  which  he  has 
placed  under  the  best  of  cultivation,  and  has  sup- 
plied it  with  good  modern  improvements.  His 
ventures  have  brought  him  wealth  and  made  him 
one  of  the  most  substantial  men  of  the  township. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  wife  who  presides  over 
the  pleasant  home  of  Mr.  Allen  and  so  cheerfully 
assists  him  in  extending  its  hospitalities  to  their 
numerous  friends,  was  Sarah  Pattou.  She  was  of 
Pennsylvania  birth,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Yoc)  Patton.  Of  tlicir  liai)py  wedded 
life  ten  children  have  been  born,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  'I'he  others  are  Mary,  wife  of  Joe 
Day;  James,  Catheriau,  Edward,  Sarah,  Elizabeth, 
Josephine  and  William  Albert.  The  children  are 
all  well  educated,  Pllizabeth  having  taken  a  course 
at  Brown's  College,  in  Peoria,  and  Josephine  fin- 
ishing her  education  at  the  High  School. 

Mr.  Allen  is  a  man  of  sturd}',  self-respecting 
character,  endowed  with  firmness  and  activity 
and  a  well-balanced  mind.  He  has  always  con- 
ducted his  Inisiness  by  honorable  methods,  and  his 
standing  in  financial  circles  is  of  the  highest,  while 
he  and  his  family  are  people  of  social  distinction. 
He  possesses  decided  opinions  of  his  own,  .and  is 
independent  in  his  religious  views.  A  man  of  his 
mental  make-up  could  not  do  otherwise  than  take 
sides  against  slavery  when  becoming  the  citizen  of 
a  country  where  slave-holding  was  a  recognized  in- 
stitution; he  naturally  drifted  into  the  Republican 
party,  and  is  yet  a  stalwart  supporter  of  its  polic}-. 
He  has  had  the  nomination  for  Sui)ervisor  in  the 
townshii),  but  as  it  is  so  strongly  Deraocr.atic,  of 
course  <lid  not  expect  to  be  elected.     He  has  been 


682 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


a  member  of  the  School  Board,  ami  has  served  as 
Road  Commissioner,  discharging  the  duties  of  both 
offices  with  characteristic  energ}-  and  abilit\'. 


=le?i. 


EDWARD  BALL,  now  Government  Store- 
keeper in  Limestone  Towushi)).  is  a  native 
'  of  Mercer  County.  Pa.,  having  been  born  in 
West  Greenville,  August  8,  1850.  He  is  the  on]3' 
living  son  in  a  famil3'  of  six  children,  three  of  whom 
were  born  in  Wales.  Of  that  land  his  motlier,  Sarah, 
dauo-hter  of  Mathew  Kaer,  was  a  native,  while  bis 
father,  Samuel  Ball,  was  born  in  Bristol,  England. 
The  parents  were  joined  in  wedlock  in  AVales, 
whence  they  finally  emigrated  to  America,  coming 
to  Peoria  County.  111.,  in  1852.  Here  they  settled 
on  a  farm  near  Bartonville,  where  the  father 
bre.athed  his  last  in  1878,  the  widowed  mother  sur- 
viving until  .Tune  21.  1890.  Samuel  Ball  was  an 
old-time  Whig  and  AbolilionLst  and  an  earl3-  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party  to  which  he  gave 
his  stanch  adherence  until  death. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  notice  having  been  but 
two  yesys  of  age  when  his  parents  came  West,  was 
reared  on  the  farm  in  Limestone  Township,  whicli 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  heirs  of  the  estate — 
Mr.  Ball  and  his  two  sisters.  He  has  worked  in  the 
mines,  whose  development  is  so  important  an  inter- 
est in  the  township,  and  he  has  likewise  m.ade  a 
business  of  gardening  and  fruit-raising.  To  the 
otBce  which  he  now  holds  he  was  appointed  by  the 
present  administration,  his  fitness  being  recognized 
by  those  who  are  best  acquainted  with  the  qualities 
of  his  mind  and  the  enterprise  of  his  nature.  He  is 
quite  interested  in  the  progress  of  Republicanism 
and  ready  at  all  limes  to  give  his  vote  and  other- 
wise assist  toward  that  end.  He  has  been  Chair- 
man of  the  Township  Committee,  and  for  four 
years  a  member  of  the  Count\'  Central  Committee. 
His  party  friends  gave  him  the  nomination  to  the 
otflce  of  Township  Supervisor. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents  in  Limestone 
Township,  January  21,  1874,  the  interesting  eere- 
nionv  took  place  which  transformed  Miss  Colona 
Anderson  into  Mrs.  Edward  Ball.  The  happy  union 


lias  been  blessed  b}-  the  birth  of  six  children,  who 
bear  the  respective  names  of  Isola,  Sarah  L.,  Samuel 
E.,  Colbert,  AYesley  and  Claire.  Under  the  careful 
instruction  of  an  estimable  mother,  the}'  are  becom- 
ing courteous  and  pleasing  in  manner,  upright  in 
character,  and  with  the  educational  advantages 
which  the}-  receive  are  developing  their  intellects 
as  rapidly  as  their  years  will  permit.  Mrs.  Ball  is 
a  daughter  of  Colbert  and  Juliet  (Trial)  Anderson. 


ON.  BERNARD  CREMER.  This  wide- 
awake, progressive  gentlem.an  enjoys  the 
confidence  and  trust  of  the  people  of  Peo- 
ria to  a  degree  not  exceeded  by  that  be- 
stowed upon  any  other  of  her  German  citizens.  He 
has  been  connected  with  many  of  her  most  import- 
ant public  enterprises  during  the  past  twentj^-five 
j^ears,  and  as  the  manager  of  the  ^•Demokraf  a 
sheet  reputed  to  be  the  best  and  most  prosperous 
German  newspaper  in  the  State,  has  become  known, 
by  reputation  at  least,  to  many  citizens  of  the  great 
commonwealth.  He  is  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  B.  Cremer  &  Bros.,  publishers  and  proprie- 
tors of  the  Daily  and  Weekly  Demokrat,m\\i  which 
is  connected  an  English  and  German  book  and  job 
printing  office.  The  firm  includes  the  brothers, 
Bernard.  Adolph,  Mathias,  and  Charles.  Reinhold 
was  also  one  of  the  firm,  wlio  died  December  14, 
1876. 

The  Cremer  family  came  to  America  from  Col- 
ogne, German}-,  in  1854,  settling  in  Wisconsin. 
Our  subject  removed  to  Peoria  in  1864,  taking 
charge  of  the  Dvmokrat,  which  he  has  since  suc- 
cessfully managed.  Thd' paper  was  established  by 
Alois  Zotz  in  1860,  its  publisher  having  also  estab- 
lished the  first  German  paper  in  Peoria  in  the  year 
1852.  He  is  still  connected  with  the  Demokrat  as 
one  of  its  editors. 

Bernard  Cremer  was  the  originator  of  the  first 
German  Bank  in  Peoria,  the  institution  now  being 
known  as  the  German-American  National  Bank. 
In  1876  be  organized  the  German  Fire  Insurance 
Company  of  Peoria,  of  which  he  is  now  President. 
In  1886  he  was  a  Director  of  the  Merchant's  Na- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


683 


lional  Bank,  and  was  one  of  the  chief  instruments 
in  saving  this  now  flourishing  institution  from 
wreck.  He  was  also  a  Director  of  the  National  Hotel 
Compan}-  at  the  time  the  house  was  built,  and  was 
likewise  interested  in  the  Grand  Opera  House,  in 
whicli  the  office  of  the  Demokrat  is  located. 

In  1878  Mr.  Cremer  was  elected  member  of  tlic 
State  Legislature,  where  he  displayed  the  same  zeal, 
intelligence,  and  desire  for  advancement  which 
have  led  to  his  personal  success,  and  won  him  the 
esteem  of  his  fellovv-mcn.  Having  accepted  the 
position  tendered  him,  he  endeavored  to  promote 
the  interests  of  his  constituents,  wielding  his  best 
efforts  in  their  behalf,  and  adding  to  his  already 
excellent  reputation. 


JOSEPH  P.  WATROUS  owns  and  occupies  a 
pleasant  farm,  in  Hollis  Township,  of  which 
he  is  a  native.  He  was  born  Februarj^  8, 
1849,  a  half  mile  below  where  Mapleton  now 
stands,  his  parents,  Samuel  and  Julia  (Palmer) 
Watrous,  having  set  up  the  third  household  in  the 
township.  They  came  hither  from  Ohio  in  1829, 
long  before  the  Indians  left  the  country,  and  to  the 
door  of  their  cabin,  which  was  built  on  the  bluff 
overlooking  the  valley  of  the  Illinois  River,  sav- 
agi  s  often  came  to  beg  for  something  to  eat.  Sam- 
uel ;ind  Julia  Watrous,  after  enduring  many  of  the 
loils  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer  life,  and  re- 
joicing in  the  growing  prosperity  of  the  section  to 
which  they  had  come,  were  gathered  to  their  fathers 
lluir  mortal  remains  being  deposited  in  the  La 
Marsh  burjing  ground. 

The  parental  family  comprised  eight  children, 
the  eldest  of  whom  was  born  in  the  Buckej'e  State. 
They  were  named  respectively:  James,  Louisa. 
Elnora,  Marion,  Philancj-,  Jasper,  Nathan,  and  Jo- 
seph P.  Those  who  now  survive  are  Marion,  Phil- 
ancy,  and  our  subject.  The  latter  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  the  county,  beginning  his  own  career 
in  life  when  about  twenty  years  of  age.  The  farm 
which  he  now  occupies  has  been  his  home  for  six- 
teen years,  and  the  ninely-seven  acres  which   com- 


prise it  have  been  thoroughly  improved  bj'  him, 
and  made  the  scene  of  a  good  general  farming  busi- 
ness. 

The  gentlaman  of  whom  we  write  was] fortunate 
in  his  choice  of  a  life  companion,  winning  Miss  Mar}' 
Jane  Powell,  a  lady  of  intelligence  and  Christian 
character.  She  is  the  eldest  of  eight  children  born 
to  Michael  M.  and  Catherine  (Hamer)  Powell,  na- 
tive of  Wales,  subsequently  residents  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  finally  of  Peoria.  The  mother  is  now  de- 
ceased. The  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  Watrous 
were  Edward,  Elizabeth,  John,  Emma,  Maude, 
Benjamin,  and  an  infant,  all  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing except  two. 

The  happy  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watrous  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  eight  children,  with 
four  of  whom  thev  have  been  called  upon  to  part. 
Those  who  survive  are  Edward,  Herbert,  Ralph, 
and  Katie,  the  baby  of  the  family.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  LaMarsh  Baptist  Church,  and  are 
earnestly  endeavoring  to  carry  the  principles  of 
their  faith  into  the  conduct  of  their  dail}'  life.  Mr. 
Watrous  is  a  stanch  Republican,  following  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father,  whose'political  belief  gave  him 
the  name  of  a  '-black  Abolitionist." 


-♦^^^ 


HILIP  SMITH.  The  firm  of  Smith  &  Ga- 
ll) ble,  insurance  agents,  of  which  our  sub- 
ject is  the  senior  member,  represents  five 
leading  companies  and  does  an  excellent 
business.  So  also  does  the  real-estate  firm  of  Smith, 
Gable  &  Rej'nolds  which  vvas  established  but  a  short 
time  since  and  has  already  worked  up  a  large  trade. 
A  pleasantly  located  office  in  the  Masonic  Temple 
on  .South  Adams  Street,  I'eoria,  is  the  seat  of  tiic 
operations  of  the  two  firms. 

Although  foreign  boru,  Mr.  Smith  has  spent  all 
but  a  few  months  of  his  life  in  America.  He 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  Prussia,  May  5, 
hS41,  and  was  but  a  year  old  when  his  parents, 
Paul  and  Mary  (Rupprecht)  Smith  crossed  the  At- 
lantic. They  located  first  at  New  Orleans,  but  soon 
passed  up  to  St.  Louis,  then  on  to  Wisconsin,  and 
finally  in    1845.  made   a    permanent  settlement   in 


684 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Peoria.  Here  onr  subject  grew  to  manhood,  re- 
ceiving a  good  practical  education  in  the  citj- 
school?.  After  completing  his  studies  he  engaged 
as  a  grocery  clerk  until  his  peaceful  occupation  was 
interrupted  by  the  mutterings  of  the  wfir  cry. 

Bred  to  love  the  country  to  which  he  had  been 
brought  in  infancj',  Mr.  Smith  enlisted  June  19, 
1861,  in  Company  H,  Eighth  ^lissouri  Infantr}', 
and  being  mustered  into  the  service  July  7,  be- 
came an  integral  part  of  the  Western  Arm}-.  The 
regiment  afterward  belonged  to  the  Fifteenth 
Corps,  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  Mr.  Smith  took  part 
in  all  the  engagements  and  manoeuvres  of  bis  regi- 
ment, displacing  the  sturdy  valor  which  seems  in- 
se|)arable  from  the  nature  of  a  Prussian,  until  the 
battle  of  Big  Shanty,  when  his  time  expired  and 
he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  was  .at  that  time 
Color  Sergeant  of  his  regiment.  After  his  return 
to  the  North  he  again  engaged  in  the  service  of  his 
countr}-,  doing  provost  duty  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  much  of  the  time  being  spent  in  Chicago, 
Springfield  and  other  large  cities,  as  far  South  as 
Chai,tanooga. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865,  Mr.  Smith 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  two  years,  then 
entered  the  United  St.ates  Postal  service  of  Peoria, 
in  which  he  continued  ten  years  and  until  after  the 
inauguration  of  President  Cleveland.  Engaging 
then  in  the  insurance  business,  lie  has  continued  in 
that  line,  working  alone  until  1889  when  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  A.  T.  Gable.  He  had  se- 
cured a  fine  patronage  bj-  his  pleasing  manners  and 
honorable  conduct.  He  has  been  quite  interested 
in  fancy  poultrj',  is  a  charter  member  of  the  State 
Poultr}-  Association,  of  which  he  is  Treasurer,  and 
prominent  among  poultry  breeders. 

Mr.  .Smith  w.as  fortunate  in  his  choice  of  a  life 
companion. winning  Miss  Marj-  C.  Vanscoj'k.daunh- 
ter  of  Aaron  and  Rebecca  Vanscoj'k,  who  are 
numbered  among  the  early  .settlers  of  this  countv. 
Miss  Vanscoj-k  was  born,  reared  and  educated 
in  this  count}',  where  she  has  made  many  friends 
by  her  estimable  character,  intelligence  and  uses 
fulness.  She  became  the  wife  of  our  subject 
October  1,  1864,  and  has  borne  him  one  child — 
Frank  H. — now  in  the  railroad  employ  in  this  citv. 

Mr.  Smith  is  identified  with  the  social  bodies  of 


the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  An- 
cient Order  of  United  AVorkmen,  and  Bryner  Post 
No.  67,  G.  A.  R.  He  belongs  to  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church.  He  is  highly  spoken  of  by  all 
who  know  him,  as  a  man  of  strict  integrity  in  all 
transactions  .and  one  who  can  be  relied  upon  at  all 
times  to  act  as  becometh  a  man. 


ai^a^jG 


Crt 


.  OSEPH  W.  COYNER,  M.  D.  The  medical 
profession  of  Peoria  County  recognizes  a 
worthy  representative  in  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  who  is  a  disciple  of  the  Homeopathic 
school,  and  during  his  j^ractice  of  twelve  years  in 
the  city  has  fully  established  himself  as  a  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  of  no  mean  talents.  He  has  bis 
office  at  the  beautiful  home  of  his  own  building  on 
Perry  Street,  No.  109,  which,  with  its  surround- 
ings, invariably  attracts  the  attention  of  the 
passer-by  as  indicating  the  abiding  place  of  cul- 
tured tastes  and  ample  means. 

The  subject  of  this  notice,  a  n.ative  of  Colfax, 
Ind.,  was  born  September  18,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of 
J.acob  and  Hannah  (Little)  Coyner,  with  whom  he 
lived  until  a  youth  of  eighteen  years.  He  then  for 
a  time  occupied  himself  as  a  te.acher,  then  spent 
two  years  in  the  Norm.a!  School  at  Lebanon,  Ohio. 
Becoming  thoroughly  interested  in  educational 
matters,  he  continued  connected  therewith,  finally 
going  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  became  Prin- 
cipal of  a  ward  school,  and  at  the  same  time  prose- 
cuted his  studies  in  Yanderbilt  University. 

Later  Dr.  Coyner  spent  a  year  in  the  Homeo- 
pathic College  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  the  cl.ass  of  1878,  and  was  subse- 
quently located  for  a  short  time  in  the  Queen  City. 
Thence  he  came  in  1878  to  Peoria,  and  established 
an  office  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Perry  Streets, 
a  half  block  from  his  present  elegant  mansion, 
which  he  built  in  the  summer  of  1889.  Within  it 
he  has  the  finest  suite  of  offices  of  any  physician  in 
the  city  of  Peoria,  and  fully  equipped  with  all  the 
books  and  apparatus  pertaining  to  the  profession 
or  required  by  the  pltysician  and  surgeon. 

The  residence  of  Dr.  (  oyner  is  a  model  of  archi- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


685 


teclural  beaut^',  aside  from  its  location,  wliicli  is 
one  of  tlie  finest  in  the  city,  and  adjacent  to  wliicli 
are  many  otlier  of  the  beantiful  Iiomes  tlieiein. 
The  presiding  genius  of  this  liome,  to  whom  Ur. 
Coyner  w.is  wedded  Februaiy  10,  lfS82,  was  for- 
merly INIiss  Lucia  8.  Hoteliiiiss,  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  a  daughter  of  Carver  and  Sarah 
(Gillette)  Hotchkiss  of  that  State.  The  Doctor  is 
prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  and  both  he  and  his 
estimable  lady  are  members  in  good  standing  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  Politics  possess  little  interest 
for  Dr.  Coyner,  although  lie  usually  votes  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  stands  well  socially  and 
professionall3',  and  is  highly  spoken  of  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  community  more  than  ordinarily  intel- 
ligent. 

■ — i^sm- — - 

fSs;  ANIEL  IIIGGINS.  It  affords  the  bio- 
I  j)]  graphical  writer  pleasure  to  note  the  sue- 
(-^JJtr  cess  which  attends  persevering  industry 
"  and   prudent  management,  resulting,  as  in 

the  case  of  our  subject,  in  securing  to  him  who  has 
pursued  such  a  course  a  sufficient  amount  of 
worldly  goods  to  allow  him  to  abandon  hard  labor 
and  siiend  his  declining  years  in  case  and  enjoy- 
ment. After  having  been  connected  as  a  trades- 
man and  dealer  with  the  business  life  of  Peoria  for 
man}'  a  year,  Mr.  Iliggins  has  reached  a  position 
which  entitles  hiui  to  be  classed  among  the  retired 
men  of  the  city.  He  owns  a  number  of  dwellings 
in  the  city,  from  which  he  derives  an  income  suffi- 
cient to  procure  the  comforts  and  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life. 

Mr.  Iliggins  is  a  native  of  County  Limerick, 
Ireland,  born  in  June,  1819,  to  John  and  Ann 
(Riordon)  Iliggins.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  but 
when  of  suitable  age  began  to  work  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  In  Juh'.  1843,  the  rites  of  wedlock 
were  celel)rated  between  him  and  Miss  JaneGleason 
of  his  own  county.  Owing  to  the  difficult}'  of 
meeting  the  requirements  of  the  landlords,  Daniel 
Higgins,  together  with  thi'  other  members  of  the  pa- 
rental family,  determined  to  seek  a  home  in  tlie 
New  World,  and  in  1849  bade  adieu  to  the  land  of 
their  birth.     The  parental  family  comprised  seven 


sons  and  one  daughter.  All  who  now  survive  are: 
our  subject;  Patrick,  a  marble  cutter  in  Peoria; 
and  Mrs.  Mary  McMahon,  of  Canton,  P\ilton 
County. 

The  Higgins  familj'  sailed  to  (Quebec  on  the 
''  Victoria,"  the  passage  consuming  about  a  month, 
and  came  direct  to  Peoria  by  way  of  the  lakes  and 
canal.  Our  subject  began  work  in  a  carriage  and 
wagon  shop,  conducted  by  James  Speers,  continu- 
ing in  the  establishment  a  short  time  after  his  first 
employer  sold  out.  This  was  five  years  after  Mr. 
Iliggins  arrived  in  Peoria,  and  upon  leaving  the 
shoi)  he  entered  the  employ  of  .1.  \V.  Smith  &  Son, 
for  whom  he  worked  fourteen  years.  His  length 
of  .service  for  one  employer  is  indicative  of  the 
trust  reposed  in  him  as  a  reliable  workman.  At 
the  expiration  of  the  period  mentioned,  Mr.  Hig- 
gins 0[>ened  a  grocery  store,  continuing  to  conduct 
it  until  he  was  able  to  retire.  The  establishment 
is  at  present  occupied  by  his  oldest  son,  John  G. 

Besides  the  son  above  mentioned.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Iliggins  have  two  others  living.  Timothy  is  a 
machinist  and  James  S.  a  book-kee|)er  for  James 
Deal,  contractor.  The  last  named  still  resides  un- 
der the  parental  roof,  but  John  and  Timothy  are 
established  in  homes  of  their  own.  In  a  financial 
sense  Mr.  Iliggins  has  done  well  in  America,  and 
for  this,  as  well  as  for  the  belter  opportunities 
which  his  children  have  had,  rejoices  that  his  --own 
native  isle  of  the  ocean  "  is  no  longer  his  home. 
He  is  a  thoroughbred  Democrat,  and  a  communi- 
cant of  the  Catholic  Church.  Both  his  parents 
died  soon  after  coming  to  America. 


ACOB  GALK.  Among  the  old  residents  of 
I  Peoria  now  retireit  from  .active  life  with  a 
well-earned  reputation  for  usefulness.  Judge 
Gale  occui)ies  the  front  rank.  He  has  cred- 
itably filled  several  (niblic  offices,  and  was  finally 
elected  Circuit  Judge,  the  district  in  which  he  liatl 
jurisdiction  comprising  Peoria  and  Stark  Counties. 
He  served  until  the  duties  of  the  office  became  dis- 
tasteful to  him,  when  he  resigned.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  county  since  M.ay,  1834,  and  during 


686 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


many  of  llic  years  was  well  known  as  a  member  of 
of  llie  legal  fraternity,  eminent  in  his  profession, 
cultured  in  mind  and  well  bred  in  manner. 

Judge  Gale  was  born  in  Salisbur}',  N.  H  .Febru- 
ary 22,  1814,  being  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Aclisab 
(Bailey)  Gale.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  the 
Granite  State,  and  liis  education  comi)leled  at  Dart- 
mouth College,  Hanover,  from  which  he  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  1833.  The  following 
spring  he  came  to  Peoria,  and  for  a  time  was  in  tlie 
hardware  busin(  ss  with  Moses  Pettengill  who  was 
originally  from  his  own  native  place.  Subsequently 
he  read  law  in  the  ottice  of  Cyri:s  Loland,  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Stale  of  Illinois  in  1837. 

When  beginning  his  practice,  Mr.  Gale  opened 
an  office  with  Horace  P.  .Johnson,  their  connection 
continuing  about  .one  and  one-half  years,  when 
our  subject  became  a  partner  of  Onslow  Peters, 
from  Massachusetts.  The  firm  of  Peters  <fc  Gale 
survived  a  number  of  years,  and  after  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  partnership  Mr.  Gale  continued  his 
legal  labors  alone  until  his  appointment  as  Clerk 
of  the  Circuit  Court.  This  was  received  from 
Judge  John  D.  Caton.  being  prior  to  the  period 
when  the  ofliee  became  an  elective  one.  After  that 
change  was  made  ilr.  Gale  was  elected  to  the  office 
for  two  terms  of  four  years  each,  and  from  that 
position  was  elected  Circuit  Judge.  He  is  now  the 
oldest  attorn e)'  living  in  the  citj''. 

Judge  Gale  has  ever  mauifested  a  deep  interest 
in  the  cause  of  education,  and  his  fellow-citizens 
have  called  for  his  services  as  Superintendent  of 
the  city  schools  and  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  He  has  twice  been  Mayor  of  this  city, 
his  last  term  having  been  during  the  war,  when  he 
was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  He  is  one 
of  the  persons  first  interested  in  the  gas  compan}', 
of  which  he  was  Secietar3'  more  than  twentj'  years. 
One  of  the  first  fine  homes  on  the  west  bluff  was 
erected  b}-  him — where  he  and  his  family  now  re- 
side— at  No.  1 15  North  .Street. 

Judge  Gale  was  united  in  marriage,  in  June,  1838, 
with  Miss  Charlotte  P.  Bartlett,  of  .Salisbury,  N.  H., 
who  shared  his  joys  and  sorrows,  sympathizing  in 
his  aspirations  and  plans,  until  November  28,  1868, 
when  she  entered  into  rest.  Of  their  children. 
Edward  survives.     He  married  Mary  E.  Maxwell, 


who  died,  leaving  two  children.  He  afterward 
married  Miss  Eva  L.  Allison,  who  h.as  borne  him 
two  children  also.  .Tudge  Gale  makes  his  home 
with  this  son. 


0'  ORRIS  PITT.  In  a  city  as  large  as  Peoria 
there  will  of  necessity  be  numerous  busi- 
ness    establishments    of    the    same    nature, 

and  merchant  tailors  are  well  represented  here. 
One  of  the  oldest  merchant  tailoring  establish- 
ments in  the  city  is  now  located  at  No.  423 
JIain  .'Street,  its  proprietor  being  Norris  Pitt,  who 
has  been  continuously  in  business  here  since  1867. 
He  is  therefore  one  of  the  oldest  merchant  tailors 
in  this  vicinity,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  record  that 
his  labors  have  resulted  in  a  thoroughly-established 
reputation  and  a  fair  share  of  worldly  goods.  His 
store  is  favorably  located,  and  is  one  of  the  finest 
establishments  in  the  citj',  with  a  well-selected 
stock,  well  displa3ed. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Pitt  took  place  in  England, 
November  28,  1827.  and  there  he  grew  to  maturity, 
received  his  education  and  learned  his  trade.  He 
followed  his  calling  for  some  years  in  his  own 
land,  princiiially  in  London,  but  also  in  Birming- 
ham. In  1867  he  determined  to  seek  a  home  in 
America,  and  crossing  the  Atlantic  came  direct  to 
Peoria,  111.,  at  once  establishing  a  merchant  tailor- 
ing house  on  Main  Street,  where  be  has  conducted 
a  successful  business  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury. 

Mr.  Pitt  is  at  present  an  Alderman,  representing 
the  Fifth  Ward,  and  elected  on  the  Republican 
ticket.  He  has  never  sought  public  honors,  but 
was  willing  to  accept  this  position  when  it  was 
urged  upon  him.  B3'  virtue  of  it  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Police  and  Judiclarj'  Committee,  and  also 
that  on  Public  Grounds  and  City  Property,  two 
verj'  important  committees.  The  enterprise  and 
good  judgment  which  have  made  of  his  business 
career  a  success  are  exhibited  in  his  actions  as  a 
member  of  the  Common  Council,  and  the  expecta- 
tions of  his  constituents  are  being  fulfilled.  James 
Pitt,  the  father  of  our  subject,  is  still  living,  hav- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


687 


ing  passed  the  age  of  f'nii--scoie  years  and  ten,  in 
Bristol,  England. 

T'he  lady  who  presides  over  the  home  of  ISIr. 
Pitt,  and  to  whose  womanly  nature  be  owes 
much  of  the  enjoyment  of  his  life,  was  known  in 
her  girlhood  as  Miss  Elizabeth  Granger.  She  is  a 
native  of  the  mother  country,  in  which  their  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  March  14,  1854.  To  them 
were  born,  in  England,  three  sons  :  C'rescens 
Granger,  whose  home  is  in  Chicago;  Kred,  at  Can- 
ton; Harry  N.,  a  dentist  in  Chicago.  After  the 
removal  to  America  there  were  added  to  their 
household  band  two  sous,  now  living:  William  A., 
who  is  employed  in  the  post-office  in  Peoria,  and 
Albert  E.,  who  is  still  pursuing  his  studies.  Mr. 
Pitt  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Rule,  and  he  and  Lis  wife  belong  to  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  of  which  Mr.  Pitt  is  a  Deacon. 


iiEN.TAMIN  W.  THOiMP>SON,  one  of  the 
best  known  and  most  popular  conductors 
on  the  Toledo,  Peoria  <fe  Western  Railroad, 
is  a  native  of  this  State,  born  in  Sangamon 
County,  September  6,  1850.  His  jxirents,  Richard 
M.  and  Nam  j'  (Brawner)  Thompson,  were  natives 
respectively  of  Indiana  and  Richmond,  Ky.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  in  1835,  came  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  (lioneer 
settler  of  this  State.  In  1856,  lie  again  became  a 
pioneer,  locating  in  Iowa,  and  there  died  in  1871. 
His  wife  also  died  in  that  State,  her  deatli  occurring 
in  1865. 

He  of  wiiom  we  write,  was  about  six  years  of  age 
wlicn  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Iowa,  and 
there  lie  gleaned  his  education  in  a  district 
school,  and  after  leaving  school  worked  one  year 
for  a  faimer.  He  remained  in  Iowa  until  1866,  and 
then  came  to  this  Stale,  and  in  1867  went  to  work 
for  the  Chicago,  IJnrlington  &  Quincy  Railroad 
Company.  We  next  hear  of  him  in  Peoria,  com- 
ing to  this  city  in  March,  1868.  From  the  1st  of 
April,  that  year,  he  was  engaged  in  a  brick  yard 
until  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria 
and  Western  Railroad  Company  May  1,  1868.    At 


first,  he  acted  as  a  bridgenian  until  1871.  He  was 
next  engaged  in  breaking  on  passenger  trains.  He 
thus  gained  valuable  experience  and  learned  how 
to  manage  a  train,  and  in  1872,  was  put  in  charge 
of  a  freight  train.  In  1876,  he  was  appointed  to 
Ins  present  position  as  conductor  of  a  passenger 
train  and  has  ever  since  acted  in  that  capacit}'.  It 
is  worth}'  of  note  in  this  connection  that  he  is  al- 
ways on  duty,  has  never  yet  missed  a  pay  roll  and 
no  train  while  under  his  care  has  ever  met  with  an 
accident.  He  has  seen  the  management  of  the 
Toledo,  Peoria  &  Western  Railroad  change  many 
times,  but  such  is  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  and 
the  high  regard  felt  for  him  by  his  employers,  that 
his  position  as  conductor  has  always  been  secured. 
His  kindly  courtesy  and  obliging  manners  make 
him  a  favorite  with  the  traveling  public,  and  he 
has  many  warm  friends  among  the  officials  and 
patrons  of  the  road. 

Mr.  Thompson  purchased  his  present  homestead 
in  Peoria  in  December,  1886,  and  has  since  made  it 
his  dwelling  place.  He  is  actively  identified  with 
the  lodge  of  the  Order  of  Railroad  Conductors  and 
is  connected  with  the  Universalist  Church  in  this 
city,  his  liberality,  progressiveness  and  activity  in 
all  its  good  works,  making  him  a  valued  factor  in 
the  society. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  in  1872,  to  Miss  Sue 
Mealey,  a  native  of  La  Ilarpe,  Hancock  County,  III. 
She  is  a  charming  woman  and  understands  well 
how  to  make  home  attractive.  Their  pleasant  house- 
hold circle  is  completed  by  their  two  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom  is  Charles  M.,  and  the  name  of  the 
other  is  Frederick  N.,  both  of  whom  are  attending 
school. 


^ 


E^^ 


m. 


\f?  AMES  HARVEY  ADAMS.  None  are  more 
worthy  of  representation  in  a  Biographical 
Album  than  tlie  late  James  Harvey  Adams, 
of  Brirafiekl  Township  who,  while  he  lived, 
enjoyed  the  good  will,  esteem  and  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  well  known  as  one  who 
was  honest  in  all  business  transactions,  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  those  about  him  and    exhibiting 


688 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  Ills  domestic  relations  the  utmost  affection  and 
consideration.  He  departed  tliis  life  at  his  pleas- 
ant home  October  3.  1885,  leaving  a  wife  and  three 
children  to  mourn  his  loss,  as  well  as  a  large^circle 
of  friends. 

Mr.  Adams  was  a  native  of  Lawrence  County, 
this  State,  where  his  e_yes  first  opened  to  the  light 
November  1.  1833.  His  mother,  Mary  (Chene- 
worth)  Adams  died  when  the  lad  was  about  six 
years  old  and  his  father,  Joseph  Adams,  some  eight 
years  later.  He*  received  but  a  common-school 
education,  his  privileges  being  somewhat  limited, 
but  endeavored  to  keep  well  informed  regarding 
the  topics  which  ire  of  general  Importance  and 
particularly  those  relating  to  the  Government  and 
the  line  of  work  with  which  he  was  connected. 

He  c.'inie  to  Peoria  County  in  1852,  worked  by 
the  month  for  several  j'ears,  and  then  bought  the 
farm  upon  which  his  widow  now  resides.  His  first 
purchsise  was  in  the  spring  of  1860,  the  amount 
eighty  acres,  and  the  price  §2,000.  He  afterward 
bought  an  additional  eighty,  the  entire  amount  be- 
ing in  a  practically'  unimproved  condition  when  he 
obtained  it.  He  brought  it  to  an  excellent  con- 
dition, being  able  when  called  hence  to  leave  his 
famil}'  in  the  possession  of  a  comfortable  and  re- 
munerative estate. 

Mr.  Adams  was  elected  School  director  and 
earnesll}'  endeavored  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, discharge  well  the  duties  of  his  position  and 
show  himself  the  friend  of  pupils  and  patrons  as 
well  as  a  good  counselor  to  the  teacher.  In  i)ulilies 
he  was  a  stanch  Republican. 

The  good  wo:aan  who  for  more  than  twenty 
3'ears  was  a  faithful  helpmate  and  companion  to 
our  subject  was  formerly'  known  as  Miss  Anna 
Mae\'.  She  was  born  in  Union' C'ountj',  Ind.,  Au- 
gust 25,  1836,  to  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Petty)  Macy, 
with  whom,  when  seventeen  jears  old,  she  came  to 
Peoria  Count}',  settling  in  Elmwood  Township. 
There  her  marriage  was  celebrated  December  24, 
1863.  She  is  the  mother  of  four  children,  the  living 
being  Henry,  Lulu  and  Joseph.  Adelbert,  tlie  first- 
born, is  deceased.  She  is  an  active  member  of  so- 
ciety, looked  up  to  for  her  Christian  cbaracter,being' 
a  consistent  mctnber  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.     She  resides  upon  the  laud   where   almost 


her  entire  wedded  life  was  spent,  exhibiting  good 
juilguicntin  the  management  of  the  business  affairs 
connected  with  the  estate. 

Ths  parents  of  Mrs.  Adams  were  natives  of  North 
Carolina,  but  died  in  this  county,  the  one  in  Elm- 
wood  and  the  other  in  Brimfield  Township.  They 
h.ad  eight  children,  of  whom  the  following  survive: 
David,  now  living  in  Indiana;  Matilda,  in  Brim- 
field  Township,  this  county;  Micajah,  in  Elmwood 
Township;  Emeline,  wife  of  James  Paddock,  of 
Knox  County,  and  the  widosv  of   our  subject. 


?RANK  NEWSAM.  The  denizens  of  the 
larger  cities  and  towns  are  not  the  only 
ones  who  enjoj'  what  are  called  modern  con- 
veniences. On  the  contrary  a  traveler  throughout 
the  rural  districts  of  the  States  which  have  been 
settled  for  a  number  of  3'ears,  will  find  many  homes 
thorough!}'  supplied  with  the  conveniences  of  life 
and  furnished  in  a  manner  which  would  do  credit  to 
the  good  taste  of  any  family.  One  of  these  beau- 
tiful homes  is  located  in  llollis  Township,  one  and 
one-half  miles  noith  of  Mapleton.  It  is  a  commo- 
dious structure  of  pleasing  design  and  convenient 
arrangement,  heated  b}'  steam,  supplied  with  water 
pipes  from  three  large  wells  and  furnished  in  the 
latest  style  of  decorative  house  furnishing.  The 
water  is  pumped  into  a  tank  thirty-eight  feet  high, 
from  which  the  fluid  can  be  thrown  to  the  second 
stor}'.  The  dwelling  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  ^4,- 
500,  while  the  fine  large  barn,  other  outbuildings 
and  improvements  upon  the  estate  causeil  the  ex- 
penditure to  reach  §15.000.  A  view  of  this  beau- 
tiful home  and  pleasant  surroundings  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume. 

The  owner  and  occupant  of  this  fine  residence 
is  of  English  buth  and  ancestry',  his  eyes  having 
opened  to  the  light  in  Lancashire,  April  6,  1841, 
The  parental  home  was  twent}'  one  miles  from 
Liverpool  and  there  he  remained  until  1863  when 
lie  came  to  America.  His  first  abiding-place  was 
in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  sojourned  a  jear,  going 
thence  to  East  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  until 
1865.     He  then  removed, to   Peoria  County,  111., 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


691 


working  in  Kingston  until  1869,  when  he  formed  a 
partnofsliip  with  Tlionias  .letiford,  the  firm  opornl- 
ing  llic  I^ancnstcr  coal  mines  located  on  the  Illi- 
nois River,  three  years.  During  this  time  the}' 
reached  as  high  an  output  as  one  hundred  and 
twenty  tons  per  da)'. 

At  the  expiration  of  three  years,  Mr.  Xewsam 
sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Jefford  and  removing  to 
the  village  of  Mapleton,  emhai-kcd  in  the  mercan- 
tile business,  at  the  same  time  opening  up  what  is 
now  known  as  the  AValker  mines,  in  which  he  sold 
out  his  interest  on  account  of  a  misunderstanding. 
He  continued  the  mercantile  lousiness  and  developed 
other  mines  at  Mai)leton,  among  them  theMcGrew 
in  E.ast  INIapleton,  which  it  was  expected  would  he 
the  largest  in  the  county.  It  was  opened  in  1879, 
but  development  proved  that  there  was  no  large 
vein  of  mineral  and  it  gave  out  in  three  years. 

Mr.  jS'ewsam  has  also  been  interested  in  the  Or- 
chard mines  with  Richard  Newsam,  the  two  operat- 
ing there  for  seven  years  under  the  firm  name  of 
Newsam  Bros.  The  output  from  there  and  the 
Mapleton  nune  of  our  subject  was  as  high  as  three 
hundred  and  twenty  tons  of  clean  coal  daily,  fur- 
nishing employment  to  a  force  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  men.  In  1881  BIr.  Newsam  sold  his 
mining  interests  and  removed  to  his  farm  which  he 
fitted  up  in  elegant  style,  and  ex|)tcted  to  oiien  up 
a  larger  coal  field,  but  sickness  and  shipping  facil- 
ities prevented,  it  being  too  far  from  railroad  com- 
munications. He  is  a  thorough,  practical  man, 
biitli  as  a  manager  and  business  man,  having  worked 
himself  u|)  from  the  lower  levels  to  the  top,  and 
is  master  of  his  business.  He  drew  the  plan  for 
his  residence  which  contains  nine  rooms  and  was 
built  under  his  own  oversight.  The  farm  com- 
])rises  three  hundi'cd  and  twenty  .acres. in  the  man- 
agement of  which  he  finds  sutlicient  occupation.  He 
is  the  inventor  of  a  double  lock  car  coupler,  the 
right  to  which  was  sold  to  practical  parties  who 
considered  it  worth  their  attention. 

Mr.  Newsam  is  a  Rejiublican  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  County  Central  Committee.  He  has  been 
School  Director  and  Township  Supervisor  several 
terins  and  has  likewise  served  as  Coal  Mine  In- 
spector for  the  county.  His  home  is  presided 
over    by  a    Lady  of  English   birth  who    bore    the 


maiden  name  of  Emma  Harris.  Their  marriage 
rites  were  celebrated  in  Peoria,  in  ISGf)  and  their 
union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children. 
The\'  mourn  the  loss  of  four,  having  left  to  them 
John  T.,  William  F.  and  Richard.  The  gracious 
hospitality  dispensed  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newsam  and 
the  pleasing  qualities  which  they  possess,  add  to 
the  charm  of  their  home  and  win  favor  from  those 
with  whom  they  come  in  contact. 


lS^^HEODORE  J.  MULLER,  is  a  fine  representa- 
//^  five  of  our  native-born  citizens,  who,  within 
%&^''  recent  years  have  stepped  forward  to  aid  in 
sustaining  and  extending  the  great  business  inter- 
ests of  Peoria.  He  occupies  the  responsible  posi- 
tion of  Secretary  of  the  German  Fire  Insurance 
Comi)an}'  of  this  citj',  with  which  he  has  been  con- 
nected since  1879,  acting  in  his  present  capacity 
since  September  1,  1887. 

Mr.  Muller  w.as  born  in  this  city,  July  17,  18G0, 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Paulina  (Koenig)  Muller. 
After  he  hail  comi)!fited  his  education  he  was  em- 
ployeil  in  his  father's  grocery  store  on  Bridge 
Street,  until  he  engaged  himself  with  the  insurance 
compau}'.  Here  he  began  in  the  lowest  position 
and  by  his  faithful  attention  to  his  vvork,  his  ready 
tact,  and  the  excellent  business  talent  he  displayed, 
gained  the  confidence  of  his  employers,  who  pro- 
moted him  from  time  to  time  to  more  responsible 
positions  until  he  became  Secretary  of  the  com- 
pan}',  now  having  under  him  fifteen  men  and  doing 
a  business  of  about  §300,000. 

The  German  Fire  Insurance  Compan\  was  or- 
ganized in  1876,  with  a  capital  stock  of  §100,000, 
and  was  incorporated  with  Louis  Green  as  Presi- 
dent and  F.  H.  Wagner  as  Secretar3\  It  has  in- 
creased its  capital  from  %!200,000  to  §300,000,  in  the 
years  from  1882  to  1881.  When  Mr.  Muller  first 
took  charge  of  the  compan}'  it  had  a  smaller  amount 
of  stock  and  did  a  much  smaller  business  than  at 
present.  He  devotes  his  whole  attention  to  his 
work  and  is  justly  considered  one  of  the  most 
efficient  and  trusted  officials  in  the  company. 

Mr.  Muller  married  Miss  Minnie  Borries,  who  was 


692 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


l)oin  and  reared  in  this  city,  a  daughter  of  F.  II. 
Borries.  an  old  settler  of  Peoria,  and  tliey  liave  es- 
tablished a  pleasan'  and  inviting-  home  in  their  na- 
tive cit}'.     They  have  one  child — Jeanetta. 

Mr.  Miiller  is  one  of  the  prominent  German- 
American  citizens  of  the  city  and  earnestly  interests 
himself  in  its  welfare.  He  is  a  young  man  of  fine 
capacity  and  excellent  principles,  and  is  highly 
spoken  of  by  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Roy.al  League,  Turners  and  Schuetzenverein. 
of  which  he  is  Treasurer. 


<«  l»;yLEY  POPLETT.  The  life  of  a  farmer. 
flA  /\y/'  although  devoid  of  the  confusion  and  ex- 
V^^  citement  wiiich  marks  that  of  the  denizen 
of  the  large  city,  is  not  therefore  devoid  of  inter- 
est nor  does  it  lack  in  opportunities  for  usefulness 
as  a  neighbor  and  citizen.  This  has  been  demon- 
strated in  the  life  of  the  gentleman  above  named, 
a  respected  and  useful  member  of  the  agricultural 
community  of  Richwood  Township. 

Tlie  parents  of  our  subject  were  Thompson  and 
.lane  (Montgomery)  Poplett,  who  were  born  in 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia  respectively.  After 
their  marriage  the}'  settled  in  the  latter  .State 
whence  they  removed  to  Kentucky,  again  changing 
their  residence  to  Parke  Count}',  Ind.,  where  they 
remained  several  years.  In  1835,  thej'  journe}-ed 
farther  westward,  locating  in  Knox  Count}'.  111., 
where  Mrs.  Poplett  died  November  16,  1841,  when 
forty-one  years  old.  The  family  remained  in  that 
county  until  1816,  when  they  removed  to  Peoria 
County,  settling  on  section  5,  Richwood  Township. 
There  Thompson  Poplett  improved  a  farm  which 
was  his  home  until  called  upon  to  lay  down  the 
burdens  of  life,  August  13,  1868.  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years.  The  parental  family  consisted  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Parke 
County,  Ind.,  June  29,  1830.  He  w.as  about  five 
years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  Illinois  and 
about  sixteen  when  he  accompanied   his  father  to 


this  county.  Since  his  youth  he  has  been  engaged 
in  farming  and  has  continued  to  reside  in  Rich- 
wood  Township,  remaining  with  his  father  until 
he  was  about  twenty-three  years  old.  He  now  owns 
the  old  homestead,  bis  entire  estate  comprising 
about  three  hundred  and  eighty-five  acre^  of  fine 
farming  land. 

The  lady  who  presides  over  household  affairs  on 
the  Poplett  estate  became  the  wife  of  our  suliject 
March  22,  1871.  She  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Lucinda  J.  Vaughn,  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
Pa.,  April  20,  1852,  and  accompanied  her  parents 
to  Illinois  early  in  the  '60s.  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
(Walkup)  Vaughn  settled  in  Richwood  Township, 
this  county,  where  they  still  reside.  They  are  na- 
tives of  Huntington  and  Cumberland  Counties,  Pa., 
respectively.  Their  family  consisted  of  ten  ciiil- 
dren.  of  whom  Jlrs.  Poplett  is  the  eighth  in  order 
of  birth.  To  our  subject  and  his  good  wife  eight 
children  have  been  born,  named  respectively,  Wil- 
liam T.,  Edgar  L.,  George  M.,  Cora  E.,  Sarah  J., 
Wilber  I.V  Chester  R.  and  Myrtis  M.  William. 
Edgar  and  Sarah  are  deceased. 

A  glance  at  the  official  record  of  Mr.  Poplett 
shows  in  a  flattering  manner  the  confidence  which 
is  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow-townsmen  who  have 
eleeted  him  to  office  year  after  year.  As  Townshi[> 
Collector  he  has  served  seven  years,  and  as  Town- 
ship Assessor  nine  years.and  as  Supervisor  four  con- 
secutive years.  He  takes  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs,  giving  his  ballot  to  the  candidates  who  are 
pledged  to  support  the  principles  of  Democracy.  In 
his  religious  views  Mr.  Poplett  is  liberal,  basing  his 
opinion  of  men  upon  their  actions  rather  than  their 
creed. 

J";ILL1AM  S.  McCULLOUGH  is  a  represent- 
ative of  a  pioneer  family  of  this  county, 
^  ^  and  has  v.aluable  farming  interests  in  Lo- 
gan Township.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  Sep- 
tember 26,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Martha 
(Glasgow)  McCuUough,  who  were  natives  of  Rock- 
bridge County,  Va..  born  respectively  in  180-4  and 
1808. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  but  a  small   boy 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALliUM. 


693 


vflieu  liis  jjareuts  took  liim  from  !iis  early  home  in 
Virginia,  to  the  pioneer  wilds  of  Adams  County. 
Ohio,  in  18r2.  He  was  llitre  reared,  received  but 
limited  educational  advantages,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried. In  the  year  1840,  the  same  pioneer  spirit 
that  had  actuated  Lis  father  to  seek  a  new  home  in 
a  newly  settled  .State,  determined  him  to  loc.ite  on 
the  wild  prairies  of  Illinois.  On  coming  here,  per- 
forming the  journey  hy  wagon,  and  being  two 
weeks  on  the  road,  he  selected  a  tract  of  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  4,  Logan  Township,  as  be- 
ing in  everj'  way  most  suited  to  his  purposes.  In 
the  years  that  followed,  he  developed  it  into  a  good 
farm,  and  increased  its  acreage  by  further  purchase 
until  he  had  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres-  of  ex- 
ctllent  farming  land  at  the  lime  of  his  death  in  the 
month  of  Augu^t,  1874.  His  wife  died  in  the 
month  of  June,  1873,  and  as  their  lives  were  united 
in  life,  in  death  the^'  were  not  long  divided.  They 
were  nien)bers  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  were  among  its  active  workers. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  born  to  them  ten 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  the 
others  lived  to  maturity:  Rosina,  wife  of  William 
A.  Brooks;  Thomas  H.,  who  was  a  member  of  Com- 
[lany  C,  .Sevent3'-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  during 
the  late  war,  lives  in  Farmington;  Robert  G.,  Will- 
iam S. ;  Samuel  E.,  who  was  a  Corporal  in  Company 
A.,  Forty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  was  wounded 
at  ^'icksburg,  Maj',  1863,  and  died  in  the  hospital 
at  St.  Louis;  James  A.,  a  resident  of  Oregon;  and 
Joseph  IL,  a  resident  of  Kansas,  and  served  through- 
out the  war.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  son 
of  Thomas  McCullough.  His  wife  was  aMcClung, 
and  her  parents  went  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in 
1812.  where  her  father  carried  on  farming  until  his 
deatli  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  He  was  of  Scotch 
origin,  and  had  a  famil}'  of  three  sons  and  two 
daughters — John,  Samuel,  McClung,  Polly,  and 
JIary. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  given  the  advan- 
tages of  a  common-school  education  in  his  native 
State,  and  as  his  early  life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  he 
had  a  fine  opportunity  to  learn  all  about  farming. 
At  the  age  of  •twent3-one  he  began  life  for  himself 
by  renting  land.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  invested 
money  in  sixty  acres  of  laud,  which   still   forms  a 


jjart  of  his  homestr^ad.  although  he  has  greatl.y  in- 
creased it  until  now  he  is  a  landed  proprietor  to  the 
extent  of  possessing  two  hundred  and  sixly^  acres 
of  valuable  farming  land.  This  is  under  substan- 
tial improvements,  is  provided  with  a  good  set  of 
huildiugs,  and  every  convenience  for  conducting 
agriculture  advantageously.  Our  suliject  and  his 
wife  have  other  property  besides,  he  having  re- 
ceived $1,000  from  his  father's  estate,  and  she  fall- 
ing heir  to  §3.000  from  her  father's  property. 

December  15,  1858,  is  the  date  of  Mr.  McCul- 
lough's  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  A.  Stewart.  She 
was  born  in  Rush  Counly,  Ind.,in  June,  1838,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  John  W.,  and  Mary  (Stewart) 
Stewart.  Her  wedded  life  with  our  subject  has  been 
blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  four  children, 
namely:  Martha  J.,  wife  of  Robert  W.  Frances; 
Jolni  S.,  who  died  in  infancy;  Sylvester  Grant,  who 
died  in  infanc3-;  and  Melvin  G. 

Mr.  McCullough  has  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  four  terms.  His  views  of  politics  coin- 
cide with  those  generally  held  by  the  Republicans, 
but  he  uses  his  influence  to  advance  the  interests  of 
the  Prohibition  party,  .as  he  is  a  strong  temperance 
man.  His  steady'  principle,  unswerving  integrity, 
and  kindly  [jcrsoual  attributes  have  gained  him 
many  vvarm  friendships.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Pi-esbytcrian  Church,  and  are 
untiring   in   their  zeal  to   promote  its  every  good 


work. 


^♦it'J'i'*"* 


OHN  W.  RINER.  A  good  position  among 
the  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Brimfield 
Township  is  occupied  by  the  gentleman 
above  named,  whose  well-regulated  estate 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
32.  The  success  which  he  has  met  with  has  been 
the  result  of  his  personal  efforts,  aided  by  the  good 
management  of  a  prudent  wife,  and  his  career  ma}' 
well  be  taken  as  an  example  worthy  of  considera- 
tion by  those  who  begin  life  without  worliUv 
means.  He  w.as  even  denied  the  educational  ad- 
vantages which  boys  of  the  present  da}-  enjoy,  his 
early  life  having  been  spent  in  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  wliile  it  was  yet  considered  a  frontier  region. 


691 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Ill  later  life,  however,  he  endeavoreil  to  suppl}-  by 
judicious  reading-  and  acute  observation  the  defi- 
ciencies of  his  mental  training,  and  has  succeeded 
in  becoming  verj-  well  posted. 

Grandfather  Riner  is  said  to  have  been  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812.  Tlie  paternal  line  is  of  Ger- 
man descent  and  the  parents  of  our  subject  natives 
of  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  respectiveh'.  The}- 
were  Peter  and  Margaret  (Kelley)  Riuer,  who  after 
participating  in  the  tiials  of  frontier  life  in  the 
count}'  before  mentioned,  finally,  in  18.5G,  came  to 
Illinois  with  our  subject  and  died  here  some  years 
later.  The  mother  breathed  her  last  on  New  Year's 
Day,  1868,  and  the  father  on  May  14.  1878.  Their 
family  comprised  ten  children,  of  whom  eight  are 
still  living:  Joseph,  a  resident  of  Abingdon;  Jacob 
C,  of  Knox  County:  John  W.;  Meliuda,  wife  of 
Elias  Swafford,  of  Iroquois  Countj- ;  Rebecca  wife  of 
Isaac  Thurston,  of  Nodaway  County,  Mo. :  Lorinda, 
wife  of  J.  "Wilcoxson,  of  Fulton  County,  is  deceased ; 
Jackson,  of  Omaha,  Neb.;  Margaret  E.,  wife  of 
Daniel  Ollaweli,  of  Brimfield  Township,  this  county  ; 
and  Matthew,  of  Texas;  Melissa.  Jlrs.  Wilson,  died 
in  Feliruary,  1868,  in  Elm  wood. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  wiis  January  3, 
1832,  and  liis  birthplace  Preble  Count}',  Ohio,  in 
which  he  was  reared  to  fajming,  an  occupation 
wliicli  he  has  followed  during  his  entire  active  life, 
lie  was  married  March  G,  1856,  to  Rachel  Tiiurston, 
and  the  following  fall  came  with  his  jouug  bride 
to  the  Prairie  State.  He  located  in  Knox  Count}', 
but  after  sojourning  there  two  years,  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Peoria  County,  spending  several  years  in 
the  northern  part  of  Brimfield  Township.  In  1876 
he  removed  to  his  present  location  where  he  has  a 
most  comfortable  home  and  is  successfully  prose- 
cuting the  labors  of  his  life. 

Mrs.  Riner  was  born  ic  Franklin  County,  lud., 
August  13,  1838,  being  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Rebecca  (Thurston)  Thurston.  Like  her  husband, 
she  is  identified  with  the  Primitive  Baptist  Church, 
earnestly  endeavoring  to  make  her  daily  walk  and 
convcrs.ation  correspond  with  the  principles  of 
Christianity.  The  good  counsel  and  loving  care 
which  she  has  bestowed  upon  her  children  and  the 
devotion  she  has  manifested  to  her  husband's  in- 
lirest,  have  uot  prevented  her  from  doing   neigh- 


borly deeds  of  kindness.  She  has  seven  children: 
Elolia.  Ida,  Alice,  William.  Lorinda,  John  Ethel- 
bert  and  Emma.  Elolia  is  the  wife  of  James  Por- 
ter, and  Ida  tlie  wife  of  William  "Warns,  their 
homes  being  in  Brimfield  Township;  Alice  is  the 
wife  of  Ezra  Varns.  also  of  this  county. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Riner  has  officiated  as  Dea- 
con in  the  cliurch  with  which  he  is  identified,  lie 
is  much  interested  in  the  progress  of  education  and 
in  various  movements  which  he  considers  adapted 
to  the  good  of  the  community.  He  has  been 
School  Director  of  District  No.  9,  giving  his  best 
eiJorts  to  his  offici.al  duties  and  proving  a  friend  to 
teachers,  patrons  and  pupils,  alike  In  polities  he 
is  a  Democrat. 


UGKNE  B.  PIERCE,  a  leading  member  of 
the  Peoria  Steel  Plow  Company,  came  to 
/f' — ■^'  this  city  in  1862,  and  the  year  following  be- 
came connected  with  the  plow  works  in  which  he 
has  since  maintained  an  interest.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  solid  citizens  of  Peoria,  a  man  straightfor- 
ward and  reliable  in  his  business  habits  and  who 
enjoys  in  a  marked  degree  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  was  born  in 
Providence,  R.  I.,  November  30,  1  840,  and  is  a  son 
of  Caleb  S.  and  Annie  E.  (Barton)  Pierce,  who 
were  natives  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island 
respectively. 

Mr.  Pierce  was  educated  in  his  native  city  and 
remained  there  with  his  parents  until  a  youtii  of 
eighteen  years.  He  then  started  out  to  seek  his 
fortune,  coming  directly  to  Illinois  and  located  first 
in  Virginia,  Cass  County.  He  ■  had,  however, 
stopped  on  the  way  and  engaged  in  teaching  for  a 
time  in  Chicago.  He  followed  this  profession  also 
after  locating  in  Cass  County.  The  following 
year  he  changed  his  residence  to  Peoria  and  the 
next  year  engaged  with  the  plow  works,  remaining 
as  an  employe  until  1866,  when  he  was  admitted  to 
a  partnership  in  the  business.  Upon  the  incorpo- 
ration of  the  new  company  Mr.  Pierce  was  assigned 
to  the  secretaryship,  a  position  which  he  held  until 
the  i)lant  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1884. 


ir««iA!rv 


'-v'a^ 


v%^ ' 


^^:^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


697 


The  next  move  of  our  subject  was  to  associate 
liiuiself  ill  company  with  Barnhart  Meals,  and  from 
the  ashes  of  the  ohl  mainifactoiy  they  built  up  the 
present  business  which  is  now  one  of  tlie  most 
nourishing  of  the  industries  of  Peoria  County. 
Mr.  Meals  is  duly  represented  on  another  pa^e  in 
this  voUuiie.  At  one  time  Messrs.  Meals  &  Pierce 
were  associateil  together  in  the  hardwood  lumber 
business  with  the  firm  of  Duff  ife  Co. 

Politically,  Mr.  Pierce  gives  his  support  to  the 
Reiiublican  partj'.  He  has  never  aspired  to  oflice 
and  with  the  exception  of  serving  on  the  School 
Board  three  terms  has  given  his  entire  attention  to 
his  business  interests.  Like  his  partner,  however, 
he  is  a  warm  defender  of  the  principles  of  Masonry 
and  has  been  associated  with  the  fraternity  for 
many  years.  He  contracted  matrimonial  ties  No- 
vember 30,  1866,  with  Miss  Lucia  A.  Briggs,  a  na- 
tive of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  born  November  5, 
184.5.  The  four  children  born  of  this  union  are 
named  respectivch',  Edith,  Bertha,  Flora  and  Win- 
nefred.  Flora  died  in  infancy'.  The  father  de- 
signs that  they  shall  have  the  best  advantages, 
educational  and  otherwise,  which  it  is  in  his  power 
to  bestow. 


-i^m' 


j^,ODNEY  MITCHELL,  a   native  of   Peoria 

County,  is  now  one  of   its  prominent  busi- 

^\%       ness^men.     He  is  proprietor  of  the  Rodne}' 

*\^  ^Mitchell  Book  Bindery  and  Blank  Book 
Manufactory,  which  by  his  enterprise,  systematic, 
and  business  like  management,  lias  become  one  of 
the  important  industries  of  Peoria. 

Mr.  INIitchell  was  born  in  Timber  Township, 
April  5,  1849.  He  is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza- 
beth (Starr)  Mitchell,  a  pioneer  family  of  Peoria 
County,  coming  herein  1842.  His  father  was  born 
in  Virginia,  and  his  mother  in  Delaware.  After 
coming  here  Mr.  Jlitchell  bought  a  tract  of  wild 
prairie  land,  and  made  a  home  on  the  lonely'  fron- 
tier. While  3et  he  was  in  the  midst  of  his  career 
of  usefulness,  his  life  was  brought  to  an  untimely 
end  in  1856.  when  the  county  lost  a  worthy  citizen. 
Later  the  mother  of  our  subject  removed  to  Peoria, 


where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  finished  his  educa- 
tion in  the  city  schools. 

After  leaving  school,  Mr.  Mitchell  engaged  in 
the  book-binding  business  in  the  Transcript,  office, 
gaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  calling,  anil 
was  promoted  Ui  the  position  of  foreman  in  the 
bindery  department.  He  acted  in  that  capacity-  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  in  1881,  went  into  the  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  first  leasing  the  bindery 
at  the  Transcript  building,  and  after  a  successful 
career  there  of  three  years,  establishing  himself 
more  independently  at  his  present  place  of  business. 
No.  207  South  Washington  Street.  He  has  a  large 
bindery,  his  business  having  grown  steadily  and 
successfully  to  its  present  size  and  importance.  He 
employs  a  force  of  twelve  hands,  enjoying  a  large 
and  extensive  trade  both  in  the  city  and  outside, 
and  particularly  holding  his  old  customers. 

Our  subject  took  upon  himself  the  cares  of  do- 
mestic life,  b}'  his  marriage  in  18G9,  to  Sliss  Elmira 
Dudle}',  of  Peoria,  their  marriage  being  solemnized 
on  the  6th  daj-  of  June.  Mrs.  Mitchell  was  born 
in  Decatur,  111.,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Minerva 
((rregory)  Dudle3%  and  when  a  child,  came  with 
her  parents  to  feoria.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  have 
a  fine  familj'  of  five  children,  namely:  Gertrude, 
Evangeline,  Robert,  Melville,  and  Bessie. 

Mr.  Mitchell  has  his  manufactory  well  Ktted  u|) 
with  all  needed  applianoes,  and  conducts  his  busi- 
ness after  the  most  approved  methods;  he  has  met 
with  marked  success,  being  now  one  of  the  moneyed 
men  of  the  city.  His  portrait  is  shown  in  connec- 
tion with  this  brief  record  of  the  principal  events 
of  his  life. 


^EV.  GOTTLEIB  TRAUB.  One  of  the  most 
prominent  religious  organizations  in  Peoria 
is  the  Trinity  German  Lutheran  Church, 
^'^^now  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  gentle- 
man above  named,  whose  devotion  to  his  work  and 
untiring  zeal  in  the  labors  connected  therewith 
merit  recognition.  His  mind  has  been  thoroughly 
cultured  in  good  schools  and  by  extended  personal 
efforts,  his  mental  and  [)liysieal  strength   has    been 


698 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


given  to  ministerial  work,  and  tiie  influence  which 

lie  exerts  tiirough  his  life  and  labors  is  immeasur- 
able. Trinity  Cluireh  has  grown  rapidly  in  num- 
bers and  influence  under  his  care,  reaching  out 
through  charitable  and  educational  organizations 
to  the  poor  and  needy  and  to  the  children  whom 
ihey  desire  to  thoroughly  instruct  in  useful  lore 
and  spiritual  knowledge. 

Ihe  parents  of  our  subject  were  the  occupants 
of  a  farm  in  AVurteniburg,  (Germany,  where  his 
father  still  resides.  In  that  kingdom  the  birth  of 
our  subject  took  place  in  1842,  and  he  remained 
there  until  he  was  of  age,  attending  the  public 
and  high  schools  during  the  greater  part  of  that 
time.  He  then  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  New  York, 
and  thence  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  flnishing  his 
studies  in  Concordia  College.  Having  determined 
to  follow  the  grand  calling  in  which  his  grand- 
father had  done  a  noble  work,  he  fitted  himself 
especially  for  it,  and  took  charge  of  his  first  con- 
gregation in  Indiana,  in  Marcli,  1864.  He  contin- 
ued in  the  pastorate  two  and  a  half  years,  then 
removed  to  Crete,  Will  County,  111.,  where  he 
remained  twelve  years,  pi'oving  very  successful  in 
building  up  the  church  given  into  liis  hands. 

In  1878  the  Rev.  Mr.  Traub  came  to  Peoria  to  take 
charge  of  the  organization  over  which  he  still  lias 
pastoral  control.  The  congregation  now  numbers 
more  th.an  one  thousand  active  communicants,  the 
running  expenses  are  paid  by  voluntary  contribu- 
tions, and  all  the  obligations  of  the  church  are 
promptly  met.  According  to  the  custom  of  that 
religious  bod3',  a  school  had  been  instituted  in  1857, 
with  one  teacher  and  twenty-five  pupils.  This  has 
now  grown  to  an  institution  occupying  three  school 
buildings,  attended  by  three  hundred  i)upils,  who, 
under  the  instruction  of  competent  teachers,  take 
up  a  regular  curriculum  from  the  age  of  six  to 
fourteen  ^-ears  and  extend  their  studies  into  fields 
suitalile  for  more  mature  minds,  if  they  so  desire. 

Tiirough  the  efforts  of  the  zealous  pastor,  suita- 
ble buildings  have  been  provided  for  the  schools, 
a  (laslor's  residence  secured,  and  a  large  debt  lifted 
from  the  chinch.  Its  charitable  and  religious  socie- 
ties are  active  and  progressive,  consisting  of  a  Young 
Men's  Association,  a  Young  Ladies'  Association, 
Home  for  the  Friendless,  and  numerous  minor  or- 


ganizations for  the  promotion  of  Christian  work. 
The  Home  for  the  Friendless  was  instituted  about 
ten  years  since,  and  many  unfortunate  souls  have 
gone  from  its  kind  shelter  into  families  of  which 
they  could  become  a  part. 

The  worthy  woman  who  presides  over  the  home 
of  Mr.  Traub  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  known  in 
her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Mary  Aumann,  and  be- 
came his  wife  June  16,  1864.  .She  sympathizes 
fully  in  the  work  which  her  husband  has  in  charge, 
and  in  her  cheerful  society  and  that  of  their  family 
he  finds  rest  and  comfort  after  the  toils  of  the  day. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Traulj  six  sons  and  five  daughters 
have  been  born,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living. 
The  oldest  son,  named  for  his  honored  father,  is 
following  in  his  footsteps,  doing  pastoral  work  in 
Mason  County.  The  others  are  still  inmates  of  the 
parental  home. 


#>'^- 


IDNEY  A.  LYON.  There  is  perhaps  no 
resident  in  Akron  Township  who  began 
(l|l^3)  caring  for  himself  at  an  earlier  age  than 
the  gentleman  above  named,  who  certainly 
is  worthy  of  commendation,  when  we  consider 
that  he  has  passed  through  all  the  temptations 
which  beset  a  homeless  lad  and  preserved  a  good 
character  and  habits.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
engaged  in  farming,  and  he  now  owns  and  occu- 
pies a  good  estate  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  section  12.  It  is  under  good  tillage,  has  been 
snpiilied  with  a  full  line  of  farm  buildings  and  the 
various  improvements  which  are  usually  made  by 
a  man  vvho  desires  to  surround  himself  and  faniily 
with  comfort  and  who  prospers  in  his  undertak- 
ings. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Lewis  and  Ab- 
bie  (Fordyce)  Lyon,  whose  entire  lives  were  spent 
in  New  Jersey.  The  father  died  when  about 
forty-three  years  of  age,  but  the  mother  survived 
until  more  than  three-score.  The}'  had  a  larue 
family,  he  of  whom  we  write  being  the  fourth  of 
eleven  children.  He  was  born  in  Essex  County, 
N.  J.,  February  4.  1818,  and  although  he  grew  to 
niauhood  in  that  (unint}".  began   his  own    career   in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


699 


life  when  nine  yeiirs  old.  At  that  time  lie  left  the 
parental  roof  and  was  variously  employed  until 
sixteen  years  old,  when  he  began  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  trade  of  a  tailor,  and  after  servinir  five 
j-ears  followed  the  trade  fifteen  years.  He  is  a 
first-class  workman,  having  thoroughly  mastered 
everj'  department  of  the  trade. 

In  M.ay,  1849, Mr.  Lyon  journej-ed  westward,  hav- 
ing fully  determined  that  the  newer  country  in  the 
Mississi[)pi  ^'alley  would  afford  him  a  more  profit- 
able field  of  labor.  He  decided  u|)on  a  location  in 
the  Prairie  State,  and  also  determined  to  abandon 
his  trade  and  engage  in  an  agricultural  career.  lie 
located  in  Trivoli  Township,  this  county,  but  after 
residing  there  three  years,  changed  his  location  to 
Akron  Township,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
He  has  experienced  some  of  the  ups  and  downs 
which  fall  to  the  lot  of  all  farmers,  particularly  of 
those  who  have  not  been  reared  to  the  business,  but 
his  career  has  on  the.  whole  been  successful,  and 
better  than  all  else,  he  has  secured  the  thorough  re- 
spect of  his  associates. 

The  excellent  woman  who  for  many  3'ears  shared 
the  joys  and  sorrows  of  our  subject,  looking  well 
to  the  ways  of  her  household,  capably  managing 
the  home  and  encouraging  her  husband  and  chil- 
dren in  ever}'  good,  was  a  native  of  New  .Jersey, 
known  in  her  girlhood  as  Miss  Marj'  Potter.  She 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  L^on  in  their  native  State, 
and  bore  him  ten  cliildren,  eight  of  whom  lived  to 
years  of  matuiily.  This  interesting  group  con- 
sists of  Mary,  Josei)h.  George,  Henr^^,  David, 
Frank,  Annabel  and  Emil}-.  The  faithful  wife  and 
mother  entered  into  rest  April  4,  1889.  She  was  a 
consistent  meml)er  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
as  is  her  bereaved  husband.  Mr.  Lj'on  has  been 
an  active  Republican. 

\fj  OHN  FORD  came  to  this  country  from  his 
native  England  fort}'  years  ago,  and  has 
ever  since  been  a  resident  of  Radnor  Town- 
ship, and  no  man  has  done  more  in  devel- 
oping its  agricultural  interests  than  he.  For  many 
years  he  was  very  extensivel}'  engaged   in  farming 


and  in  raising  and  feeiling  stock.'owning  a  large 
farm,  besides  leasing  an  extejisive  tract  of  land  for 
stock-raising  purposes,  and  it  is  onl}'  within  the 
last  few  years  that  he  has  lived  retired  from  active 
business  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  amjjlo  income. 

March  12,  1822,  was  the  date  of  the  birth  of 
our  subject  in  Devonshire,  England.  He  is  the 
tenth  child  in  the  family  of  eleven  children  born 
to  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Smallridge)  Ford,  natives 
and  life-long  residents  of  Devonshire,  each  living 
to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years  or  there- 
abouts. Mr.  F'ord's  earl}'  life  was  passed  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  he  remained  an  inmate  of  the 
parental  home  till  he  was  twenty  six  years  of  age, 
when  he  married,  and  with  his  young  bride  sought 
a  new  home  on  American  soil. 

After  his  arrival  in  this  country  our  subject  and 
his  wife  made  a  short  visit  with  a  brother  in  Ohio, 
and  then,  in  the  spring  of  18.50,  came  to  this 
county,  and  the  following  autumn  Mr.  Ford 
bought  a  tract  of  land  on  section  32,  upon  which 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  For  the  first  eight 
j'ears  he  gave  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  after  that  he  bought,  fed  and  shipped 
stock  very  extensively  for  fifteen  years,  and  at  the 
same  time  he  farmed  eight  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  connection  with  his  stock  business,  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  which  he  owned.  His  land  lie 
placed  under  substantial  improvements,  and  made 
it  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  this  part  of 
the  county. 

In  his  work,  our  subject  has  received  the  cheer- 
ful help  and  encouragenient  of  the  good  wife  who 
accompanied  him  to  this  country  when  they  were 
both  in  the  vigor  and  prime  of  early  life.  She  is, 
like  himself,  of  English  birth  and  ancestry,  and 
her  maiden  name  was  Pha3be  Ann  Fry.  They  are 
now  living  in  peace  and  quiet,  in  the  beautiful 
home  that  is  supplied  with  every  comfort  that  one 
could  wish,  and  which  is  the  result  of  their  united 
labors.  They  have  five  children  living,  who  are 
named  .John  W.,  Frederick  F.,  James  IL,  Samuel 
T.  and  Charles  R.  Four  of  their  children  died 
young. 

As  a  breeder  of  flue  stock,  horses,  cattle  and 
sheep,  Mr.  Ford  has  been  eminently  successful,  and 
as    we    have    seen,  has    accumulated    a    handsome 


700 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIUORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


properly.  In  his  work  lie  has  shown  more  than 
ordinary  enterprise,  sagacit}'  and  liceuness  of  jndg-- 
ment,  and  his  standing  in  the  financial  circles  of 
llie  coirnt3'  is  of  the  highest  order.  lu  politics  he 
is  independent,  giving  his  snpport  to  either  party 
as  his  views  dictate.  He  has  besn  a  School  Director 
hut  has  never  sought  for  office.  He  and  his  wife 
were  charter  members  of  the  Kickapoo  Baptist 
Church,  and  are  among  the  leaders  of  that  society. 
Ho  has  taken  a  great  interest  in  Sunday-school 
work,  and  has  been  Superintendent  of  two  Snnd.i}'- 
schools  at  the  same  time,  and  no  one  has  done 
more  to  elevate  the  religious  and  moral  status  of 
the  commuuity  than  he. 

\1|0HN  M.  XIEHAUS.  It  affords  the  bio- 
graphical writer  pleasure  to  incorporate  in 
the  pages  of  this  volume  a  brief  sketch  of 
the  career  and  attainments  of  the  gentleman 
above-named,  who  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
bar  in  Peoria,  and  whose  title  of  ■•Honorable"  is 
deserved  by  his  persona!  character  as  well  as  won 
by  his  public  labors.  He  possesses  mental  abilitj- 
of  no  mean  order,  and  his  mind  has  been  cultured 
by  thorough  stud\-,  his  memory  stored  with  facts 
and  principles  pertaining  to  his  profession,  and  of 
general  use.  Hosts  of  friends  are  held  b}'  his  high 
social  qualities,  and  his  fellow  members  of  the  bar 
look  upon  him  with  high  esteem  as  an  honor  to  the 
calling  that  he  has  chosen. 

The  ancestry  of  our  subject  is  an  ancient  and 
honored  one,  the  families  whence  he  siH'ang  being 
well  known  in  Prussia.  In  that  kingdom  his  par- 
ents, Frank  W.  and  Matilda  (Dahmann)  Xiehaus 
lived  until  1856,  when  they  came  to  America,  the 
following  year  locating  in  Peoria.  In  his  own  land 
the  father  w,as  a  hardware  mer'^hant,  but  in  this 
city  he  was  for  a  number  of  j'ears  engaged  in  the 
millinery  business.  He  died  Februarj'  28,  18G9, 
leaving  a  widow  whom  he  had  married  after  the 
death  of  the  mother  of  our  subject.  The  family 
circle  of  which  John  Niehaus  made  one,  comprised 
six  children,  as  follows:  Joseph  F..  now  practic- 
ing medicine  in  Boston,  Mass.;  our  subject;  Hen- 


rietta, and  Tillie,  teachers  in  the  public  schools  of 
Chiciigo;  Frances,  wife  of  Adolph  Trefzgerj  and 
Clara,  at  home. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Warendorf,  Westphalia.  Germnnj-,  Februarj-  15, 
1855.  and  brought  from  his  native  land  to  Amer- 
ica in  his  infancy-.  He  w,as  educated  partially  in 
private  German  schools,  and  took  a  course  in  the 
Central  Illinois  Commercial  Universitj-,  having  able 
tutors  in  all  cases.  Having  evinced  a  desire  to  en- 
ter the  legal  arena,  lie  studied  law  with  Messrs. 
O'Brien  and  Harmon,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
September  II,  1874.  He  then  went  to  Chicago  with 
Mr.  O'Brien,  and  after  practicing  there  for  a  time, 
went  to  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  in  which  city  he  re- 
mained two  years.  Returning  to  Peoria  in  1877, 
he  has  succeeded  well  in  his  profession,  gaining  a 
reputation  such  ,as  few  men  of  his  years  can  bo.ast. 

Mr.  Niehaus  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Thirty- 
second  General  Assembly,  and  won  high  favor  by 
his  application  to  the  interests  of  his  constituency, 
by  his  pleasant  address,  and  his  untiring  energy. 
The  year  following  his  legislative  care;'r  he  was 
elected  State's  Attorney  for  Peoria  County,  to  fill 
a  vacancj',  and  has  been  twice  re  elected — a  gen- 
uine tribute  to  his  management  of  the  prosecution 
of  criminals,  and  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
the  county. 


fILLIAM  JACK  was  born  in  Westmoreland 

Countj',  Pa.,  January  10,  1844  ;  he  came  to 

^)/sS     Peoria  September  13,  1860;  was  admitted 

to  the  bar  of  Peoria  County  in  1865,  and  has  since 

practiced  law  in  the  city  of  Peoria. 


LBERT  STL' KM,  a  successful  stock-raiser 
and  general  farmer  of  Medina  Township, 
ii>  occupies  a  pleasant  home  on  section  9.  The 
home  farm  comi^rises  fifty  acres,  and  he 
also  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 10,  the  fine  property  being  a  part    of  the   first 


Of  tk:i 


^4JLa^^^  imri^a^e^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALRUM. 


703 


bottoms  of  the  Illinois  River,  just  east  of  the  great 
bluffs.  Tiie  entire  estate  has  been  well  impioved, 
supplied  with  all  needful  farm  buildings,  ant!  is  be- 
ing intelligently  managed  by  Mr.  Sturm,  who,  al- 
though still  quite  a  young  man,  is  well  posted 
regarding  his  vocation. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  on  his  fa- 
ther's homestead  in  this  township,  September  21, 
185 1.  lie  is  one  of  the  younger  members  of  a  fam- 
ily consisting  of  foui  sons  and  two  daughters  born 
to  John  and  Elizabeth  Sturm,  whose  history  is 
found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  lie  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  township,  and  has  always  re- 
sided within  the  limits  of  the  county.  In  1875  he 
took  possession  of  his  present  estate,  and  began  life 
on  his  own  account.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, a  man  of  excellent  character,  and  is  regarded 
with  respect  by  his  fellow-men. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Sturm  and  Miss  Nancy 
Buttles  took  place  in  Switzerland  Count}-,  Ind.,  De- 
cember 29,  1875.  The  briile  was  born  near  Yevay, 
Ind.,  October  17,  1849,  her  parents  being  natives 
of  New  York  and  the  Hoosier  State  respectively. 
She  lost  her  father  in  her  childhood,  but  her  mother 
is  still  living  in  Switzerland  County,  Ind.,  now 
quite  advanced  in  years.  Mrs.  Sturm  was  carefully 
reared  b_y  her  mother,  receiving  her  education  in 
her  native  county,  and  becoming  a  woman  of  intel- 
ligence and  estimable  character.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  The  otherwise  happy 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sturm  has  been  childless. 


^: 


':^ 


<^,  I^ILLIAM  nOVENDEN.  This  gentleman, 
a  portrait  of  whom  appears  on  the  opposite 
'Zf'  1"  P^gfi'  ^'■'^s  for  many  years  a  resident  of  this 
county,  spending  the  latter  part  of  his  life  in  the 
city  of  Peoria.  He  was  long  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  Trivoli.  and  as  a  pioneer  of 
of  this  county  his  name  will  ever  he  held  in  rever- 
ence. Mr.  Hovenden  was  of  English  birth  and  an- 
tecedents, born  in  County  Kent.  JIarch  15,  1821. 
He  was  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Saxby) 
Hovenden.  His  bo3'hood  and  youth  were  passed 
on  his  native  soil,  but  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 


he  boldly  determined  to  seek  in  America  the  .ad- 
vantages denied  him  at  home.  In  1840,  he  landed 
in  this  country',  and  for  three  years  lived  in  New 
York.  He  came  from  that  State  in  1843,  to  this 
county,  and  located  in  Trivoli  Township,  where  he 
followed  farming.  lie  was  industrious,  active  and 
wide-awake,  shrewd  in  the  management  of  his  af- 
fairs, and  pursued  his  calling  with  excellent  success. 
He  developed  a  fine  farm,  placing  on  it  substantial 
improvements,  and  making  it  one  of  the  best  in 
Trivoli  Township. 

Mr.  Hovenden  abandoned  .agricultural  pursuits 
in  1877,  and  leaving  his  homestead,  came  to  this 
city  with  his  family  to  spend  his  declining  years  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  comfortable  competence  that 
he  had  acquired.  Here  he  lived  quietly  and  hap- 
[lily,  taking  pleasure  in  the  societ}'  of  his  wife,  chil- 
dren, and  friends,  and  here  in  a  pleasant  home  that 
he  had  established,  his  e3'es  closed  in  death,  Janu- 
ary 30,  1886.  The  citizens  of  Peoria  united  with 
his  family  in  mourning  their  loss.  He  possessed 
those  pleasant  personal  qualities  that  win  regard, 
and  those  solid  practical  traits  of  character  that 
command  respect.  In  his  domestic  relations  he  was 
ever  an  affectionate  husband  and  a  kind  father,  and 
is  greatl\-  missed  in  the  home  circle.  His  wife  and 
children  do  honor  to  his  niemor}'  by  having  a  brief 
record  of  his  life  placed  on  the  pages  of  this  Bio- 
GKAi'iiiCAL  Album. 

Mr.  Hovenden  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  AVilliams,  died  Jan- 
uary 26,  1859.  He  was  a  second  time  married  in 
his  native  England,  August  28,  18G0,  taking  as  his 
wife  Marj'  Scoones,  who  was  a  native  of  the  same 
shire  as  himself,  and  a  daughter  of  Martin  and  So- 
phia (Chambers)  Scoones.  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Hoven- 
den crossed  the  Atlantic  on  their  wedding  trip,  and 
encountered  severe  storms  on  the  way,  but  happily 
the  stormy  weather  was  not  a  prognostication  of 
their  future  married  life,  which  was  calm  and  serene 
and  productive  of  much  hajjpiness  to  both. 

Three  children  blessed  the  union  of  our  subject, 
and  his  amiable  wife,  namely:  Anna  S.,  wife  of 
Charles  Anderson;  Eddie  W.,and  Charles  S.  They 
were  carefully  reared  by  their  parent.^  to  good  and 
useful  lives,  and  are  respected  by  all.  The  sf>ns, 
who  are  active,  enterprising  and  alile  young  men. 


704 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


are  both  engaged  in'  the  livcr_v  business  on  Main 
Street,  Peoria,  where  tliey  liave  a  well  conducted 
establishment,  and  having  secured  a  large  patron- 
age, alreadj'  enjoj'  an  assured  income.  Mr.  Hov- 
enden  was  a  zealous  Democrat,  and  his  sons  are 
also  interested  in  politics,  and  alive  to  the  issues 
of  the  day. 


WfOHN  A.  THOMAS,  an  honored  and  well- 
known  citizen  of  Kickapoo  Township,  where 
he  lives  retired,  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents 
of  Peoria  County,  coming  here  when  a  boy, 
and  growing  up  with  the  county,  as  it  were,  and 
for  many  3-ears  he  was  one  of  the  active  members 
of  its  agricultural  community,  and  has  greatly  aided 
his  associates  in  performing  their  great  work  of 
developing  the  wonderful  agricultural  resources  of 
this  region,  and  has  been  potential  in  making  it  a 
wealthy  and  finely  improved  county. 

Our  subject  comes  of  good  old  New  England 
stock.  His  father,  Gideon  Thomas,  was  born  near 
Springfield,  Mass..  November  29,  1789.  He  mar- 
ried Fannie  Howard,  who  was  born  either  in  New 
Eugland  or  in  New  York,  April  12,  1796,  coming 
of  English  and  Scotch  ancestrj-.  They  settled  in 
what  is  now  Schuyler  Count}".  N.  Y.,  after  their 
marriage  which  occurred  Februar}-  9,  1813,  and 
were  pioneers  of  that  region.  In  1834  they  be- 
came pioneers  of  another  Stale,  removing  to  Huron 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  resided  some  two  or 
three  years.  In  1838  they  became  pioneers  of  still 
another  State,  coming  to  Illinois  in  that  year.  They 
first  took  up  their  abode  where  Joliet  now  stands 
and  in  August,  some  six  months  later,  located  in 
Rosefield  Township,  this  county.  In  1844,  the}- 
.came  to  Kickapoo  Township  which  remained  their 
home  until  death,  she  dying  December  19,  1852, 
and  he  April  14,  1861.  She  was  a  tlioroughl}'  good 
woman,  a  sincere  Christian  and  a  valued  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  He  was  an  active,  wide- 
awake man,  and  a  good  citizen,  and  was  regarded 
,ns  a  public-spirited  man  whose  hand  was  felt  in 
many  enterprises  for  public  improvement.  He  was 
one  of  the  men  who  located  the  Knoxville  road 
between  that  city  and  Peoria.     lie  and  iiis  wife  are 


the  parents  of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

Our  subject  was  the  youugest  son  of  the  family 
and  the  fifth  child  in  order  of  birth,  and  is  the  only 
survivor,  with  the  exception  of  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Louisa  Hopkins.  He  was  born  in  what  was  then 
Steuben  County,  now  Schuyler  County,  N.  Y.,  Octo- 
ber 19,  1825,  and  was  twelve  years  old  when  he 
came  to  Peoria  with  his  parents.  The  countrj-  was 
then  in  a  wild  and  sparsely  settled  condiiion  and 
he  grew  up  amid  pioneer  scenes  to  a  sturdy  self- 
reliant  manhood,  and  has  not  only  witnessed  the 
many  changes  brought  about  in  making  Peoria  a 
large  and  flourishing  city  and  this  county  one  of 
the  leading  counties  of  the  State,  but  he  hae  had  a 
hand  in  bringing  about  this  wonderful  transforma- 
tion. He  has  a  farm  of  about  three  hundred  acres 
of  laud  that  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  is  provided  with  a  substantial  and  well  ordered 
set  of  buildings  and  all  modern  improvements  that 
go  to  make  a  first-class  farm.  In  the  exercise  of 
his  calling  Mr.  Thomas  has  acquired  a  handsome 
competence,  which  enables  him  to  live  in  retire- 
ment from  the  active  duties  of  life  in  a  home  as 
cozy,  comfortable,  and  attractive  as  may  be  found 
in  this  township.  Mr.  Thomas  passed  the  early 
years  of  his  life  under  the  parental  roof  and  from 
liis  father  gained  a  thorough  practical  knowledge 
of  the  calling  he  was  about  to  adopt  later  in  life, 
and  his  education  was  otherwise  chiefly  attained  by 
his  own  individual  efforts,  and  to-daj*  he  is  an  in- 
telligent well-informed  man. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  married  in  Kickapoo  Township. 
April  3,  1856,  to  Miss  Dielsie  Stowell.  daughter  of 
Jasper  and  Mary  Ann  (known  as  Polly)  (Myers) 
Stowell.  Her  father  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and 
her  mother  near  the  Catskills  in  New  York.  After 
their  marriage  they  first  settled  about  five  miles 
west  of  Rochester,  in  Monroe  County.  They  came 
from  there  to  this  count\-  in  the  fall  of  1854,  and 
after  living  here  about  three  years,  settled  in  "Wood- 
ford County,  ivhere  they  made  their  home  until 
death,  he  djing  February  3,  1876;  she  in  Decem- 
ber 1862.  They  had  six  children,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Mrs.  Thomas,  the  third  child, 
was  born  in  Monroe  County.  N.  Y..  five  miles  west 
of  Rochester,  July  29,  1837.     Her  wedded  life  with 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


705 


our  subject  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth 
of  eight  children:  CliarlesV.,  of  Peoria,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  llattie  R.  Stanlej';  Fannie,  the  wife  of 
Judson  Latlin,  of  Chicago;  Etta,  Homer,  Lauren', 
Luc}',  Bertrand.  Edricli  A.,  the  second  eiiiiil  died 
when  he  was  two  3ears  old. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tiiomas  are  pto|)lc  whose  personal 
worth,  kindly  manners,  and  unostentatious  helpful- 
ness toward  the  suffering  and  needy  havo  gained 
them  a  iiigh  place  in  the  regard  of  tlie  entire  com- 
munity, and  a  wide  circle  of  warm  friends.  Rightly 
judging-  that  his  able  management  of  his  own  af- 
fairs showed  that  he  [jossessed  qualities  that  would 
be  of  value  in  the  conduct  of  public  affairs,  his 
fellow-citizens  have  shown  their  confidence  iu  him 
by  calling  him  to  civic  office,  and  he  has  thus  been 
Township  Clerk,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
School  Hoard.  Fe  has  been  quite  active  in  political 
and  social  matters.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent 
members  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  has 
held  some  of  the   oliices  in  the  Grange. 


i  OHN  KLEFFM  AN,  a  veteran  of  the  late  war, 
is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth,  and  was  bred 
to  the  life  of  a  farmer  in  the  good  old  State 
of  his  uativit}'.  lie  came  to  this  county 
while  it  was  3'et  in  the  hands  of  the  pioneers,  and 
has  ever  since  been  busily  engaged  at  his  occupa- 
tion in  Logan  Townsliip,  on  a  farm  a  part  of  which 
has  been  in  his  possession  thirty-flve  years. 

December  18,  181 C,  was  the  date  of  the  birth  of 
our  subject,  in  Thomastown,  Juniata  County.  Pa. 
Ills  parents  were  Justice  Everhard  and  Johanna 
(Kroon)  Kleffman,  his  father  being  born  in  Ger- 
many, December  7,  1774,  and  his  mother  in  Am- 
sterdam, Holland,  Apiil  14,  1781.  While  they 
were  voyaging  across  the  Atlantic  to  seek  a  new 
home  in  this  promised  land,  they  met  on  board  of 
tlie  ship,  and  in  the  course  of  the  six  weeks  con-- 
sumed  iu  coming  to  this  country  became  fast 
friends,  and  were  married  August  24,  1806.  After 
landing  on  these  shores,  disembarking  at  Phila- 
dflpliia,  ^Ir.  Kleffman  settled  in  Lancaster  County, 
I'a.,  where  he  found  em|)lo,\  mcnl  on  a  farm,  where 


he  earned  money  to  pay  for  the  sum  be  had  bor- 
rowed to  purchase  his  ticket  to  the  United  States, 
and  Mrs.  Kleffman  also  had  to  pay  for  her  passage 
after  she  arrived  here.  After  their  marriage  he 
followed  distilling,  having  been  a  brewer  and  a 
baker  in  the  old  country.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  devoted  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
having  been  reared  in  that  faith,  and  were  sober- 
minded,  honest  people. 

The_y  were  the  parents  of  six  ciiildren,  namely: 
Maria,  who  married  Henry  Roush,  and  reared  three 
children;  Catherine  married  John  Krisher,  and  died 
in  Timber  Township;  Elizabeth  married  John 
Pfahler,  of  Pennsylvania,  both  being  now  deceased; 
John;  Frederick  W.,  who  died  in  Peunsylvania, 
leaving  a  family  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters; 
Samuel  H.,  who  died  in  Pennsylvania,  leaving  four 
sons  and  three  daughters.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  the  only  son  of  his  father,  who  died  in 
Germany,  and  his  widow,  the  grandmother  of  our 
subject,  married  a  second  time,  becoming  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Osich,  who  died  in  Baltimore.  He  had  a  son 
who  came  to  the  United  States,  and  at  his  death 
left  a  daughter.  The  father  of  our  subject  died  in 
Pennsylvania,  M:i\-  30,  1844,  and  his  mother  in  Illi- 
nois in  the  month  of  May,  1800. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  was 
reared  mostly  on  a  farm,  and  attended  the  common 
schools  as  opportunity  offered.  At  the  3'outhful 
age  of  tw^elve  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the 
hatter's  trade,  and  worked  at  that  two  years  in  his 
native  village.  At  the  age  of  twent3'-one  he  began 
life  for  himself  on  his  own  account,  and  was  em- 
ployed by  the  month  on  a  farm  until  after  his  mar- 
riage. At  the  time  that  this  important  event  in 
his  life  occurred  he  had  already  saved  up  money 
enough  to  establish  a  comfortable  home  and  to 
purchase  laud  and  become  more  independent.  He 
bouglit  twentj'-five  acres  before  his  marriage,  and 
on  that  tract  of  land  he  and  his  wife  began  their 
wedded  life.  By  steady  and  unremitting  toil  he 
accumulated  more  projierty.  and  had  a  good  one 
hundred-acre  farm  in  his  possession  during  the  lat- 
ter part  of  his  stay  in  Pennsylvania.  In  the  spring 
of  1855  he  disposed  of  his  property  in  his  native 
State  and  came  to  this  county,  locating  on  section 
19,   Logan    Township,   where    he    has    ever   since 


706 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


made  bis  home.  He  at  first  owned  one  liundied 
and  forty-seven  acres  of  land,  to  wliicli  lie  added 
by  subsequent  purchase  until  he  had  two  hundred 
and  thirt3'  acres.  He  has  since  disposed  of  a  part 
of  it  at  a  j^ood  |)rice,  and  his  farm  now  comprises 
one  hundred  and  sevent_y  acres,  that  is  under  tillage 
and  excellent  imin'ovement,  and  is  in  every  way  a 
most  desiralile  piece  of  property. 

Our  subject's  loyaltj'  to  his  country  was  ampl}' 
proven  during  the  tr3'ing  times  of  llie  war.  He 
enlisted  in  August,  1862,  in  Company  D,  Eighty- 
sixth  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry,  and  went  to  the 
front  and  did  good  service  on  the  field.  At  the 
battle  of  Perrysville  lie  was  woumled  in  the  left 
arm.  in  the  elbow  joint,  destroying  the  use  of  it. 
He  was  in  the  hospital  at  Louisville  from  October 
until  Decemlier,  and  suffered  much,  and  was  then 
honorably  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  His 
place  in  this  community  is  among  our  best  citizens, 
and  he  is  held  in  worthy  estimation  by  all  about 
him.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  sound  Repub- 
lican, and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  whatever 
concerns  the  public  weal.  He  has  been  Constable 
and  Collector,  and  in  both  capacities  showed  him- 
self to  be  possessed  of  keen  judgment,  discrimina- 
tion, and  other  qualifications  that  mark  a  good  civic 
official. 

Mr.  Kleffman  was  f.rst  married  to  Sarah  Posey, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Mary  Posey.  Mrs.  Kleffman  died  December 
12,  1842,  leaving  one  son,  Samuel,  now  a  resident 
of  Dawson  County,  Neb.  Mrs.  Kleffman  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  Churcii  at  one 
time,  and  then  identified  herself  with  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Eliza  C.  Bcnner 
took  place  September  12,  1844.  She  is  a  native 
of  the  same  Pennsylvania  town  as  himself,  and 
was  born  October  5,  1821.  Her  parents  were 
Henry  and  Mary  (Lichenlhaler)  Benner,  natives, 
respectively,  of  Union  and  Juniata  Counties,  Pa. 
They  were  farmers  and  tavern  keepers,  and  were 
Lutherans  in  religion.  Of  their  six  children,  two, 
Mathias  and  Eliza,  married  and  reared  children. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  were  reared  in  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  have  ever  since  remained 
true  to  the  religion  of  their  fathers.     Their  mar- 


riage has  been  greatly  blessed  to  tlieni  in  the  birth 
of  the  following  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity:  William  H.;  .John  T.  B.;  Albert  L.,  who 
lives  in  Greenwood  County,  Kan.;  Theodore;  Mary 
E. ;  Sarah  E. ;  Eliza  C,  who  married  Stephen  A. 
Kelley,  and  died  November  26.  1888,  leaving  one 
child,  VAiza  C,  who  lives  with  her  grandparents. 
Thomas  and  Maria  P.  died  in  infancy. 


1 


-€^^ — ^^ 

OHN  HOLE,  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Peoria,  is  in  the  United  States  Revenue  ser- 
vice as  a  storekeeper,  to  which  imi)ortant 
position  he  was  appointed  on  the  1.5tli  of 
December,  1889.  He  is  a  veteran  of  the  late  war, 
and  the  United  States  had  no  native-born  citizen 
more  loyal  to  its  interests  than  he  in  that  trying- 
time. 

Mr.  Holl  w.as  born  in  Hessc-Cassel,  (lermany, 
March  22,  1825.  He  received  an  excellent  educa- 
tion in  the  good  schools  of  his  native  province,  and 
in  accordance  with  the  military'  laws  of  Germany, 
entered  the  German  army,  and  for  five  years  served 
as  a  soldier  and  acted  with  distinction  in  the  Revo- 
lution of  1848  and  1852.  In  the  latter  year  he  left 
the  arm}',  and  came  to  America.  He  made  his  way 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  nine  months  later  went  from 
there  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  thence  to  Knox  County, 
111.  In  1855  he  engaged  in  railroad  bridge  build- 
ing on  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka,  and  was  there  em- 
ployed until  1861.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
his  early  military  training  led  him  to  offer  his  serv- 
ices to  his  adopted  country,  and  his  experience  of 
German  army  life,  proved  very  serviceable  while 
in  the  South.  He  enlisted  in  the  month  of  June, 
in  the  Ninth  Missouri  Infantry,  and  saw  much  hard 
service.  He  fought  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  and 
all  through  the  campaign  in  that  part  of  the  country 
was  a  member  of  Jefferson  C.  Davis's  Division,  be- 
longing to  Company  A.,  which  was  commanded  by 
Clayton  Hale,  now  in  the  regular  army. 

Our  subject  was  discharged  by  general  order  of 
Halleck,  in  March,  1862.  He  went  homo  and  le- 
enlisted  in  Comjjany  P.,  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  vol- 
unteers, and  started   from    Louisville,   Ky.,  under 


JU    Oi    Sn^^~A^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


709 


comiiiand  of  McCook,  and  went  willi  Shcrtiiaii  on 
his  famous  uiaicli  to  the  sea.  Before  that  he  had 
belonged  to  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  was 
with  Gen.  McCook,  wlieii  he  was  killed  at  Kenc- 
saw  Mountain.  jNIr.  Holl  took  part  in  the  Grand 
Review  at  Washington,  in  June.  18G5.  and  tiius 
closed  a  ir.ilitary  career  that  was  alike  honorable  to 
himself  and  to  the  land  of  his  adoption. 

After  his  retirement  from  the  army,  our  subject 
returned  to  Knox  County,  and  resumed  his  former 
trade.  He  was  fin.all}'  chosen  to  ids  present  posi- 
tion, as  before  mentioned,  and  is  justly  considered 
one  of  the  most  faithful  members  of  the  revenue 
force.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  Post  No.  239, 
G.  A.  R.  He  has  always  voted  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  has  never  been  false  to  his  party.  He 
is  an  honest,  upright  man,  and  is  regarded  with 
feelings  of  great  esteem  by  all  about  him. 

Mr.  Holl  and  Miss  Salome  Fremole  were  united 
in  matrimony  in  1856.  vShe  is  a  native  of  Craw- 
ford Countj-,  Pa.,  and  is  a  woman  who  merits  and 
receives  respect  and  affection  Irom  all  about  her. 
She  liMS  led  a  pleasant  wedded  life  with  our  subject, 
tlial  has  been  ble.ssed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  four 
children,  of  whom  two  are  living,  one  at  home, 
both  married,  and  our  subject  and  his  wifo  rejoice 
in  the  possession  of  three  grand-children. 

<«  IMLLIAM  A.  BROOKS,  a  pioneer  settler  of 
\/\//j  Logan  Township,  has  greatly  facilitated 
WW  i's  growth  and  material  prosperity  by  the 
work  he  has  accomplished  as  a  pr.actical  farmer. 
During  his  many  years  residence  here  he  has  ac- 
cumulated a  valualjle  properly,  and  is  the  i)roprie- 
tor  of  three  good  farms,  including  his  homestead, 
which  is  finely  located  on  sec'tiou  28. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  our  subject  was  born  in  the 
wilds  of  Highland  County,  August  8,  1821.  His 
l)arcnts  were  Willi;im  and  Elizabeth  (Irvin)  Brooks, 
who  were  born  in  York  County,  Pa.,  and  County 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  respecti  velj'.  His  father  was  a  son 
of  Samuel  Brooks,  whose  children  were  named 
Samuel,  .Toseph,  John,  Sallie,  Betsey  and  Peggie. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  came  from  Ireland  with 


her  parents  and  two  brothers,  Joseph  and  Samuel, 
and  located  in  Pennsylvania.  She  was  married  in 
that  Slate,  and  in  1820  removed  with  her  husband 
to  Highland  C'ounty,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Brooks  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  also  a  disliller  and 
miller,  and  became  prominent  in  local  affairs,  filling 
many  of  the  township  offices.  In  1847  the  Brooks 
family  came  to  this  county,  traveling  in  wagons,  and 
were  three  weeks  on  the  way.  They  settled  on 
section  33,  Logan  Township,  where  the  father  had 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  choice  farming 
land,  and  there  he  made  his  home  until  death  cut 
short  his  useful  career  in  1854.  His  wife  preceded 
him  to  the  grave,  dying  in  1851.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely : 
Samuel  W.,  Christopher  I.;  Sarah  J.,  now  Mrs. 
Stewart;  Isabella  M.,  Mrs.  Patterson ;  William  A., 
Joseph  O.  and  John  H.  The  parents  were  strictly 
religious  people,  and  were  Presbyterians  of  the  old 
school. 

He  of  whom  we  write  passed  the  early  years  of 
his  life,  until  he  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age, 
on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  his  rducalion  in  the 
common  schools.  He  then  began  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  followed  it  for  about 
fifty  yeais.  In  the  fall  of  1845  he  came  to  this 
county,  and  for  a  few  months  worked  .at  his  trade 
in  Peoria,  Canton  and  Knoxville.  In  the  summer 
of  1846  he  located  where  he  now  resides,  on  forty 
acres  of  land.  He  erected  a  smithy,  and  actively 
followed  his  calling  .as  a  blacksmith,  and  at  the 
same  time  managed  his  farm.  The  pursuit  of 
these  industries  has  brought  him  a  competence, 
and  from  time  to  time  he  has  invested  money  in 
more  land  until  he  now  has  in  his  possession  two 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  choice  farming  land, 
divided  into  three  farms,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  comprising  the  homestead.  He  has  acquircil 
the  most  of  his  propertj' since  he  came  to  Illinois, 
as  when  he  first  set  foot  on  this  soil  he  had  only 
about  ^100  in  his  pocket.  During  the  war  he  was 
drafted,  but  sent  a  substitute. 

November  29,1848,  Mr.  Brooks  and  Miss  Rosanna 
F.  McCuUough,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Martha 
(Glasgow)  IMcCuUough,  were  united  in  marri.age, 
and  to  her  faithful  assistance  and  frugal  management 
of  their  household  affairs  he  owes  much  of  his  present 


710 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


prosperity.  The  following  is  the  record  of  the  ten 
children  born  of  tiieir  marriage:  John  I.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Arizona,  was  born  April  15,  1850;  Will- 
iam II.,  August  30,  1851;  Robert  W..  April  1, 
1853;  Martha  J.,  wife  of  Edward  Quinn,  born 
February  28,  1855;  .James,  February  31,  1857; 
Elizabeth,  November  11,  1858;  Samuel  E.,  born 
.January  14,  18G1,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen; 
Rosa  P.,  wife  of  Henry  Karstetter,  born  February 
13,  1864;Tiiomas  W.,  ^March  4,  1868;  Charles  W., 
Januarj'  6,  1871. 

Our  subject  and  his  amiable  wife  are  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Presby':erian  Church,  taking 
an  active  part  in  all  its  good  work,  and  they  arc  in 
every  way  worthy  of  the  respect  accorded  to  them 
on  all  sides.  In  connection  witii  his  personal 
sketch  we  present  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Brooks. 


-o»o..g)^J>'V^-«*o~ 


-<,-- 


<^VERY  DALTON  is  the  oldest  settler  of 
'i'\  Elmwood  Township  now  living.  He  was 
!1>  born  in  Pittsylvania  Count}',  Va.,  in  1810, 
his  parents  being  Samuel  and  Ludah  (Mus- 
tain)  Dalton,  likewise  natives  of  the  Okl  Dominion. 
The  father  was  a  soldier  in  1812,  afterward  pen- 
sioned by  the  Government.  He  lived  until  1861, 
but  the  mother  passed  away  in  1827.  Thej'  had 
nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living. 

Although  our  subject  helped  to  build  many 
schoolhouses  bt  never  had  a  chance  to  attend  one. 
After  the  death  of  his  mother  the  family  was  broken 
up  and  he  came  west  without  a  dime  in  his  pocket. 
In  Highland  County,  Ohio,  he  remained  three  years, 
when  in  the  summer  of  1830,  he  was  offered  the 
privilege  of  coming  to  Illinois  with  a  family,  to 
pay  for  wiiich  he  was  to  drive  two  cows  and  take 
care  of  the  baby.  Labor  and  hardship  were  looked 
upon  verj'  lightly  by  the  pioneers  of  those  da3-s 
and  tbe  vigorous  3"oung  man  eagerlj'  accepted  the 
office,  firmly  determined  to  surmount  any  difficul- 
ties he  miglit  encounter  and  secure  for  himself  a 
home.  He  landed  where  Farmington  now  stands, 
with  ten  eei.ts  in  his  pocket  which  he  bad  earned 
•  hile  en  route  by  carrying  pumpkins  for  one  of  the 
horses.     His  earnest  efforts  to  obtain   emplo^'ment 


were  at  first  unsuccessful,  but  he  finally  succeeded 
in  obtaining  work  for  which  he  received  three 
bushels  of  oats  per  day.  There  was  no  market  for 
the  grain  at  the  time,  but  after  keeping  it  a  month 
he  sold  it  to  a  neighbor  for  thirty-seven  cents. 

In  the  spring  of  1831,  young  Dalton  hired  out 
at  810  per  month  to  Parnic  Owens  who  lived  about 
six  miles  northeast  of  where  Knoxville  now  stands. 
In  order  to  reach  the  place  it  was  necessary  to  cross 
Spoon  River,  and  there  being  no  bridges  tliere  was 
no  other  way  but  to  wade  or  miss  the  opportunity 
of  making  some  monej'.  The  latter  alternative 
was  not  to  be  thought  of,  so  divesting  himself  of 
his  clothing,  Mr.  Dalton  held  it  above  his  head  and 
walked  boldly  into  the  water  which,  the  montli 
being  March,  was  so  cold  it  almost  took  his  breath 
away.  On  finisiiing  his  work  he  received  his  p.ay, 
§13.50,  all  in  silver  half  dollars,  which  was  the  most 
money  he  had  ever  possessed.  Feeling  anxious  in 
regard  to  its  safety,  he  stripped  some  bark  from  a 
tree,  tied  it  around  his  pocket  and  fastened  the 
other  end  around  his  neck  in  order  that  no  acci- 
dent might  deprive  liim  of  his  earnings.  He  then 
walked  sixteen  miles  home. 

Mr.  Dalton  next  worked  three  years  for  a  Mr. 
Sargent  wiio  had  offered  to  furnish  land,  seed  grain 
and  implements,  and  give  our  subject  one- third  of 
all  he  could  raise  in  return  for  his  labor.  As  the 
grain  when  marketed  brought  but  little,  Mr.  Dal- 
ton bought  three  calves,  some  hogs,  a  colt  and  a 
few  sheep  and  feeding  all  his  grain  to  them  thus  se- 
cured a  start.  He  enlisted  in  the  Black  Hawk  War 
in  the  spring  of  1832,  serving  through  that  memor- 
able camixaign  as  member  of  a  company  of  rangers 
under  Gen.  Stillman  of  Canton.  Being  quite  an 
expert  cook,  he  volunteered  his  services  in  that  ca- 
pacit}'  and  between  cooking  from  a  scantj^  store  of 
provisions  and  fighting  Indians,  was  busily  engaged 
and  many  are  the  thrilling  adventures  that  he  can 
narrate. 

On  September  10,  1835.  our  subject  was  married 
to  bis  second  cousin,  Miss  Delilah  Dalton,  his  capi- 
tal at  that  time  being  a  colt,  four  sheep,  three  cows 
and  nine  hogs.  The  bride  well  knew  what  pioneer 
life  meant,  having  accompanied  her  parents  to  this 
section  in  1829,  when  but  eleven  years  old  and 
grown  to  maturity  on  the  frontier  where    Poltawa- 


PORTRAIT  AMD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1 


toniie  Inilians  still  liiigorficl,  wild  game  abounilcd 
ami  st'ttli'monts  were  few.  Anneil  with  industrious 
habits  wliieli  she  had  aoquired  under  her  father's 
roof,  aud  the  love  of  a  true  woman  for  her  chosen 
companion,  she  eheinfuUy  began  tiie  wedded  life, 
of  wliieli  it  ean  truly  be  said  that  more  than  half  a 
century  of  happiness  has  never  been  marred  l.iy  a 
quarrel. 

Mrs.  Dalton  is  "a  daughter  of  Henj-y  and  Eliza- 
beth (Smith)  Dalton,  natives  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina  respectively,  who  spent  the  first  few  years 
of  their  married  life  in  the  Buckeye  State.  In 
Highland  County  the  wife  of  our  subject  was  born 
May  19,  1818,  being  one  of  the  three  children  now 
living  in  a  family  of  five.  After  the  removal  of 
her  parents  to  Illinois  the3'  resided  where  Farming- 
ton  now  stands,  in  what  was  then  known  as  Mer- 
chants' Settlement.  The  little  trading  post  at  Ft. 
Clark  then  marked  thesiteof  what  is  now  the  flour- 
ishing city  of  Peoria.  Henry  Dalton  died  in  18G2, 
and  his  wife  in  1871. 

One  year  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  l\Irs. 
Avery  Dalton  bought  forty  acres  of  land  on  section 
19,  their  last  cow  being  sold  to  help  pay  for  it  and 
rails  being  made  b}'  Mr.  Dalton  as  additional  as- 
sistance to  that  end.  The  wife  did  her  full  share  in 
securing  the  home,  adding  by  every  means  in  her 
power  to  the  joint  earnings.  In  March,  1837,  the 
couple  located  upon  the  farm  which  has  now  been 
their  home  for  over  fifty-five  years.  Their  first 
dwelling  was  a  log  bouse  which  they  carefully  pre- 
serve, although  long  since  they  erected  and  moved 
into  a  commodious  brick  residence.  They  now  have 
a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  and 
need  have  no  anxiety  regarding  their  support  dur- 
ing the  remnant  of  their  days,  unless  some  unfore- 
seen misfortune  overtakes  them.  They  rejoice  in 
good  health  and  in  the  prospect  of  enjoying  tlie 
good  of  life  for  years  to  come. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dalton  are  the  ])arents  of  nine 
children,  five  now  living.  Cicero,  the  oldest  sur- 
viving child,  married  Delieia  Dixon,  has  four  chil- 
dren, and  lives  in  Elmwood  Township;  he  served 
three  years  during  the  Civil  War  in  the  Ninth 
Illinois  CavaU'y,  taking  part  in  a  large  number  of 
battles  and  being  disabled,  on  account  of  which  he 
now  draws  a  pension.     LaFayette  married  Maggie 


Butler  and  lives  in  Knox  County,  tlieir  family  com- 
prising two  children;  Julius  married  Nellie  Scott, 
lives  in  Elmwood,  and  has  one  child:  Almeda  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Richards,  of  Knox  County,  and 
the  mother  of  four  children;  .lames,  who  married 
Minnie  JNIorris  and  has  two  children,  lives  on  the 
old  homestead,  and  is  now  School  Director  of  the 
district. 

"Uncle  Avery,"  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  has 
perha|is  killed  more  deer  than  any  man  in  this 
region,  while  scores  of  wild  turkeys  and  other  game 
fell  before  his  rifle  in  the  days  when  this  section 
was  all  wild  woods.  He  speaks  the  Indian  language 
fluently  and  many  are  the  stoiies  he  can  tell  of 
frontier  life.  He  is  an  uncompromising  temper- 
ance man.  has  never  used  tobacco  or  sworn  an  oath. 
His  motto  is  "as  30U  mete  out  to  others  so  it  shall 
be  meted  out  to  you."  lie  is  a  life-long  Democrat, 
having  cast  his  first  vote  for  "old  Hickory."  He  has 
been  School  Director,  and  as  a  private  individual 
has  ever  shown  deep  interest  in  educational  affairs 
and  other  objects  that  would  advance  humanity. 
He  and  his  noble  wife  are  now,  in  the  evening  of 
life,  passing  their  days  in  happiness  ami  content- 
ment side  b3'  side,  enjoying  the  results  of  integrity 
and  industry  and  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  them. 


IRAM  S.  CARY,  an  honored  resident  of 
ll  )!)  Peoria,  has  been  engaged  in  the  railroad 
%^  business  for  many  years,  ami  has  seen  it 
<£))  grow  from  its  primitive  state  of  a  few  short, 
illy  equipped  lines,  to  a  luxurious  s3'stera  spreading 
its  network  over  the  continent,  spanning  the  vast 
mountain  ranges,  leaping  the  mighty-  rivers,  and 
linking  together  the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific,  the 
Arties  ar.d  the  Tropics,  in  one  grand  whole.  Mr. 
Cary  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored  family-,  which 
has  produced  the  well-known  poetesses,  Alice  and 
Phebe  Cary.  His  grandfather  was  Luther  Car\', 
whose  family  consisted  of  four  sons — Stephen,  Abi- 
jah,  Cephas,  and  Isaac. 

Stephen  Cary  was  born  in  I'eunsy Ivauia.  and  af- 
ter attaining  to  man's  estate,  married  Mary  Con- 
ners,  establishing  his  home  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio. 


712 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


His  occupation  was  that  of  a  farmer,  and  liis  death 
occurred  on  tlie  oM  homestead.  Of  liis  family  be- 
sides our  subjpct  tliere  are  four  daughters  living, 
these  being  married  and  making  their  homes  near 
the  parental  homestead.  Former  generations  of 
the  family  were  of  the  strict  I'rcsbytevian  belief. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Wayne 
County,  Ohio,  September  29,  1832,  passed  the  days 
of  his  ho\hood  on  a  farm,  and  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  afterward  entered  the  Kdinburg  Acad- 
emj'  in  Wayne  County.  Ohio.  The  first  occupa- 
tion in  which  he  engaged,  was  that  of  a  teaclier, 
which  he  prosecuterl  some  three  years,  after  which 
he  turned  his  attention  to  that  which  has  been  his 
life  work — -railroading.  Going  to  Ft.  Waj-ne,  Ind., 
he  assisted  in  laying  the  first  track  there,  saw  the 
Bret  engine  launched,  and  began  breaking  on  a  pas- 
senger train  on  the  Pittsburg  &  Ft.  Waj'ne  road. 
After  nine  months  spent  at  this  employment,  he 
took  ciiarge  of  a  baggage  car,  but  two  weeks  later 
assumed  control  of  a  construction  train.  On  leav- 
ing that,  he  took  charge  of  a  freight  train,  and  af- 
ter an  experience  of  two  3ears  began  the  career  of 
a  passenger  conductor. 

In  1S71,  after  seventeen  years  service  for  the 
Pittsburg  &  Ft.  Wayne  Road,  Mr.  Cary  changed  to 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  acting  as  a 
freight  conductor  three  months,  and  then  running 
a  passenger  train  from  Milwaukee  to  Beilin.  Af- 
ter three  }'ears'  service  of  that  nature,  he  spent  two 
years  as  "mine  host"  of  an  hotel,  then  returning  to 
the  business  of  a  p.assenger  conductor,  took  service 
on  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois.  His  next  enter- 
prise was  to  take  charge  of  trains  on  the  Western 
Indiana  Railroad  as  Depot  Master,  in  Chicigo,  af- 
ter which,  in  1883,  he  removed  to  Peoria,  and  again 
took  charge  of  a  passenger  train,  this  time  on  the 
Peoria  &  Pekin  L'nion  Railroad.  For  six  years  he 
continued  his  service,  then  took  a  leave  of  absence, 
visiting  Colorado  and  other  places  in  quest  of  re- 
newed health.  His  reputation  among  railroad  men 
is  that  of  a  faithful,  efficient,  honest  man.  while 
among  the  patrons  of  the  various  roads  in  which 
lie  has  held  service,  he  became  known  as  a  courteous 
and  genial  officer. 

In  1860  Mr.  Cary  led  to  the  hymeneal  altar  Miss 
Rebecca  Casebeer.  a  native  of   the  Buckeve  State. 


and  one  of  a  familj-  of  thirteen  children.  She  is  a 
cipable,  energetic  woman,  whose  home  is  neat  and 
cheerful,  w'hose  children  have  been  carefully  in- 
structed^ and  whose  friends  are  many.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carj-  are  the  parents  of  three  sons:  Harry 
Ellsworth  married  the  only  daughter  of  Judge 
Brackenriilge.  of  Ft.  Waj'ue,  Ind.,  his  home  now 
being  in  Omaha,  Neb.;  Edmund  is  in  the  real-es- 
tate business  in  Denver,  Col.;  "Ullliam  H.,  a3-oung 
man  of  eighteen  j'ears,  is  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Cary  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
to  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors.  He  and  the 
entire  family  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  are  numbered  arnong  those  who  bear 
a  hand  in  all  the  good  work  instituted  bj'  that  body. 
Mr.  Cary  had  one  brother  who  was  in  the  Union 
service  during  the  Civil  War. 


■^1-*- 


OWARD  W.  POTTER  is  a  young  merchant 
of  Peoria  who  has  a  flattering  outlook  bo- 
-^y^  fore  him.  Ho  belongs  to  the  firm  of  Berg- 
ner  &  Potter,  whose  commodious  store  oc- 
cupies an  eligible  site  at  No.  119  South  Adams 
Street.  They  have  recently  located  here,  have  put 
in  a  large  and  well-selected  stock  of  fine  dry  goods, 
cloaks,  etc.,  e.-nploy  about  ten  salespeople,  and 
have  already  an  excellent  run  of  custom.  Their 
store  being  the  best  lighted  in  the  citj',patrons  of  the 
establishment  have  no  difficult}'  to  determine  the 
color  aud  texture  of  that  which  thej-  desire  to 
purchase.  Tlie  utmost  courtes}-  prevails  on  the 
part  of  the  heads  of  the  establishment  and  those  in 
their  employ,  and  in  every  way  endeavor  is  made 
to  accommodate  the  citizens  of  the  city  and  vicin- 
ity. 

Hartford,  Conn.,  is  the  native  place  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  is  a  son  of  Gen.  J.  A.  and  Harriet  (Sav- 
age) Potter.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
sciiools  of  his  native  place  and  in  the  Orchard 
Lake  Military  School,  in  Michigan,  his  advantages 
leaving  him  extremely  well-informed  and  fitted 
for  a  prosperous  and  honorable  career  in  life. 
After  finishing  his  course  of  study  he  engaged 
with   the    firm  of   Dives.  Pomerov   it  Stewart,  of 


#T-^T^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


715 


Reading,  Pa.,  in  wlikli  city  he  remained  until 
1888.  He  then  came  to  Peoria,  entering  the  em- 
ploy of  ^Marshall,  Murray  it  Co.,  with  whom  he 
remaineti  until  lie  entered  into  tlie  prejient  partner- 
ship. 

Tlie  social  and  benevolent  qualities  in  the  char- 
acter of  our  subject  have  led  him  to  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  the  woik  of 
wliich  order  he  finds  some  Held  for  tliose  traits. 
Ue  is  much  interested  in  one  of  the  popular  out- 
of-door  si)orts  and,  as  a  member  of  the  League  of 
American  Wheelmen,  has  won  some  laurels.  His 
maidy  character  and  pleasiug  manners  give  him 
l)opMl.'irity  among  the  }-()unger  members  of  the 
community,  while  his  evident  fitness  fur  business 
life  secures  the  good  will  of  the  older  citizens. 


<S[  IflLLIAM  F.  COLE.  December  23,  1883, 
\/sJ/'  I'^'J''''"'  County  lost  in  the  death  of  this 
W^  gentleman  one  of  its  inost  worthy  pio- 
neers, who  did  honorable  service  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  part  of  the  State,  and  made  a  home 
for  himself  in  Millbrook  Township,  gaining  an 
honorable  place  among  its  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers.  His  history  is  linked  with  the  growth  and 
prosperity-  of  this  i)art  of  the  State. 

Our  subject  was  born  July  18,  181S.  in  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Bates) 
Cole,  natives  of  England,  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  the  spring  of  1818.  AVhen  he  was  but  a 
few  months  old  his  parents  emigrated  to  Hardin 
County,  in  this  State,  of  which  they  thus  became 
verj'  early  settlers.  He  grew  up  under  pioneer 
influences  to  a  sturdy,  self-reliant  manhood.  He 
gleaned  his  eaucation  in  the  early  schools  of 
Southern  Illinois,  vvhich  were  not  so  fully  equipped 
as  those  of  to-daj%  and  were  often  taught  by  teach- 
ers who  were  not  proficient  in  their  calling. 

Ambitious  to  do  something  for  himself  and 
make  more  of  life  than  he  could  in  the  environ- 
ments of  his  early  home,  in  1844,  Mr.  Cole  made 
his  way  to  this  county.  For  a  time  he  worked  b}- 
the  month  as  a   farm   hand,  being   thus   employed 


for  two  years,  perha|is,  and  receiving  the  equiva- 
lent c>f  §10  in  repayment  for  his  services,  having 
half  of  it  in  money  and  half  of  it  in  trade.  He 
then  ventured  still  higiier  in  his  calling,  and  for 
ten  years  carrieil  on  agricultural  pursuits  as  a 
renter.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  bought 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  34,  Millbrook 
Township,  paying  nearly  ^G  per  acre  for  it.  This 
farm,  in  its  highlv  improved  condition,  is  the  resi- 
dence of  his  widow.  When  he  settled  on  it  the 
laud  was  in  a  wild  state,  not  a  furrow  having  been 
turned,  nor  any  attempts  made  at  imprt)venient. 
His  was  the  pioneer  task  to  make  of  it  a  good 
farm,  and  well  did  he  succeed  in  his  efforts,  plac- 
ing the  laud  under  excellent  tillage,  erecting  a 
substantial  class  of  buildings  and  putting  the  i)lace 
in  good  order.  He  subsequently  bought  forty- 
three  additional  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  left  a  valuable  estate  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Cole  was  married  April  16.  184G.  to  Miss 
Marj'  A.  Cutter.  Mrs.  Cole  is  a  native  of  Rich- 
land County,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  Jul}'  29, 
1829.  Her  parents  were  Is.aac  and  Sarah  (Met- 
calf)  Cutter,  natives  respectively  of  New  York  and 
Ohio.  Her  mother  was  of  Scutch  descent  and  her 
grandfather  Metcalf  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
^^'hen  Mrs.  Cole  was  about  fourteen  years  old  her 
father  died  in  Brim  field  Township,  of  which  he 
was  a  very  earl}-  pioneer,  coming  to  this  count}'  in 
1833.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  French 
(4rove,  being  one  among  the  four  families  who 
originally  located  there,  and  the  first  election  in 
the  township  was  held  in  his  house. 

Mrs.  Cole's  marriage  with  our  subject  was 
blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  a  large  family  of 
children,  of  whom  the  following  survive:  John,  a 
I)hysician  and  ihuggist  in  Rochester;  William  H., 
a  resident  of  Barry  County,  Mo.;  Isaac  F.,  living 
in  Knox  County;  Charles,  in  Allen  County,  Kan.; 
Sarah,  wife  of  G.  L.  Doubet,  of  this  county;  Luc}^ 
wife  of  George  Nelson,  of  Knox  Count}';  Lemuel, 
residing  in  Williamsfield;  Frederick;  Margie,  now 
Mrs.  Parker,  of  Knox  Count}';  Job  and  Newton  J. 

In  his  career  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  Mr. 
Cole  manifested  shrewdness,  discretion,  calculation 
and  an  intelligent  understanding  of   the  jjrincipleg 


716 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM: 


of  agriculture,  coupled  with  prurience  and  indus- 
trious habits.  His  credit  was  always  good  and  his 
character  unimpeachable,  he  being  possessed  of 
those  qualities  which  make  the  most  desirable  citi- 
zens of  any  cooMnunity.  He  had  in  his  wife  one 
who  zealously  aided  him  in  his  work,  and  to  lier 
faithful  co-operation  and  excellent  counsel  was 
attributable  much  of  his  success.  She  survives  him 
and  holds  an  honorable  place  among  the  pioneer 
women  of  this  township,  who  were  such  an  inspi- 
ration and  aid  to  their  fathers,  husbands  and  broth- 
ers in  their  great  work  of  developing  this  portion 
of  the  count! y.  Mr.  Cole  was  happy  in  his  do- 
mestic relations,  being  a  loving  husband  and  a  de- 
voted father,  and  in  his  intercourse  with  his 
neighbors  he  was  always  pleasant  and  considerate. 
He  was  interested  in  political  affairs  and  gave  his 
sturdy  support  to  the  Republican  party.  A  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  Mr.  Cole  is  shown  on  another 
page  of  this  AtnuM. 


^^ 


OSWELL  BILL.S.  The  ancestral  history 
y  of  this  gentleman  [assesses  considerable  in- 
terest and  may  well  be  regarded  with  some 
^  degree  of  pride  b}'  our  subject.  The  fam- 
ily' is  traced  in  English  histor}'  to  Dr.  Thomas  Bill, 
born  about  1490,  in  Bedfordshire,  England.  He 
was  an  attendant  of  the  Princess  Elizabeth,  in 
l.")49.  and  w.as  also  a  phj-sician  to  King  Henrj*  VIII 
and  Edward  W,  from  the  latter  of  whom  he  re- 
ceived a  grant  of  one  hundred  pounds  per  annum. 
He  obtained  his  degree  of  M.  D.  at  the  university 
founded  b}"  Chirlemagne  at  Pavia,  Italy. 

The  next  in  order  and  the  most  conspicuous  of 
the  family  was  AVilliam  Bill,  L.  L.  D.,  who  in  a 
letter  of  introduction  to  Queen  Anne,  is  character- 
ized as  a  '-learned  and  honest  man,  plentifulh'  en- 
dowed with  knowledge  and  exemplary  morals." 
He  became  Vice  Chancellor  of  the  University- 
of  St.  John,  from  which  he  was  removed  after 
•the  accession  of  Queen  Mary,  on  account  of  his 
decided  faith  in  jDrotestantism.  Upon  the  ac 
cession  of  "Good  Queen  Bess"  he  was  highly 
honored,  becoming  her  Majesty's  Chief  Almoner, 


Fellow  of  Eton  College  ard  subsequently  Provost, 
and  June  30,  1500,  was  installed  as  the  first  Dean 
of  Westminster.  He  died  July  15,  15G1,  leaving 
among  his  bequests  ten  pounds  for  poor  students, 
thirty  pounds  for  the  poor  of  his  native  town,  and 
to  Trinity  College  one  hundred  marks. 

The  next  member  of  the  direct  line  was  Charles 
Bill,  born  in  London  about  1550,  who  became 
highly  educated  and  the  author  of  classical  works. 
His  son,  John  was  born  in  1576,  and  became  pul)- 
lisher  to  King  James  I,  his  chief  publications  be- 
ing Bibles  and  prayer-books.  A  number  of  Bibles 
hearing  his  name  and  tliat  of  his  son  Charles  as 
having  been  published  bj-  assignees  are  still  extant, 
some  on  the  shelves  of  the  American  Bible  Home 
in  New  York.  The  eldest  son  of  the  above-named 
John  Bill  was  also  christened  John.  He  came  to 
America  prior  to  the  year  1635,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  Dorothy  and  three  children,  leaving  two 
behind  who  subsequently  followed  with  a  famil}- 
named  Tuttle,  the  father  of  whom  was  presumed  to 
be  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Bills. 

The  Bill  family  can  be  traced  still  farther  into 
the  past  than  to  Dr.  Thomas  Bill,  the  records  of  Bed- 
ford giving  the  name  for  fire  hundred  years  in 
that  county  alone.  While  it  would  be  interesting 
to  trace  the  history  in  detail,  as  can  be  done  when 
accurate  records  are  kept,  it  serves  our  purpose 
)iut  to  show  the  relation  of  one  of  Peoria's  esteemed 
citizens  to  a  family  that  has  furnished  men  of  high 
standing  in  tlie  mother  country,  those  who  in 
the  formative  period  of  American  history  have  sus- 
stained  the  reputation  of  their  ancestors  and  con- 
tributed their  full  share  to  the   honor  of  the  name. 

As  from  John  Bill  and  his  wife  Dorothy  have 
sprung  the  numerous  familj'  of  Bill  or  Bills,  as 
sometime  written,  we  ma\'  denominate  him  the  first 
as  far  as  thev  are  related  to  American  history.  In 
the  next  generation  we  find  Philip,  a  resident  of 
Ipswich,  where  he  became  possessed  of  considerable 
property.  Joshua  appears  in  the  third  generation. 
Phineas  in  the  fourth  and  .Josiiua  in  the  fifth,  the 
latter  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  While  serving 
his  country  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg  by  a  can- 
non shot  that  caused  him  much  suffering  and 
trouble  and  on  account  of  whicli  lie  received  a 
pension  of  ^8  a  raoutli  during  the  last  ten  years  of 


rOUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


717 


his  lifi".      lie  died  December  20,  1841.  aged  eighty 
years. 

In  liie  sixth  generation  we  find  Avery  Bills,  who. 
was  1)1)1-11  in  (iroton,  October  1,  IT'.iG,  anil  Decem- 
ber 10,  1820,  married  Betsey  Barnes.  His  occu- 
pation was  that  of  a  farmer,  although  the  cutting 
and  hauling  of  timber  and  wood  received  inucli  at- 
tention from  him.  In  a  brief  period  lie  stripi)e(l 
several  farms  in  Ledyane,  Preston  and  Griswold 
of  tiieir  growtiiof  forest,  accunnilating  in  this  way 
considerable  i)roi)erty.  He  finally  settled  in  South- 
ington,  Conn.,  where  he  died  iMarch  12,  18G6.  To 
him  and  his  worthy  wife  ten  children  were  born, 
the  fourth  being  the  subject,  of  this  sketch.  His 
natal  day  was  ,lanuary  14,  1827,  and  his  birthplace 
Groton,  New  London  County,  Conn. 

The  days  of  his  early  bo3-hood  were  passed  b^- 
Roswell  lulls,  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
State  and  he  subsequently  attended  the  Connecti- 
cut Literaiy  Institute  at  Sutlicld.  When  twent^-- 
onc  years  of  age  lie  taught  school  near  his  home. 
The  time  of  liis  youth  being  his  father's  until  he 
was  of  age, his  wages, when  drawn  in  the  springtime, 
were  divided  among  father  and  son.  That  year, 
1848,  Mr.  Bills  started  West  as  a  book  agent,  reach- 
ing Michigan  the  Sunda}'  preceding  the  Presiden- 
tial election  in  which  Lewis  Cass  was  candidate. 
He  began  canvassing  at  Mt.  Clemens,  following  it 
until  the  next  June  in  Michigan  and  Indiana,  and 
then  returning  to  his  native  State. 

In  the  fall  of  1849,  Mr.  Bills  started  for  Peoria, 
111.,  as  a  book  agent  and  while  engaged  in  his  work 
in  Chicago,  saw  an  advertisement  asking  for  insur- 
ance agents.  This  changed  his  life  work,  for  ob- 
taining an  introduction  he  began  the  new  employ- 
ment as  soon  as  he  could  make  out  his  bond,  for 
which  he  obtained  sccurit}^  through  his  connection 
with  the  Odd  Fellowship.  After  canvassing  in  Du 
Page  and  DeKalb  Counties  he  came  to  Peoria 
wheie  he  met  C.  B.  Stebbins,a  former  acquaintance 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  with  whom  he  went  into 
partnership.  That  connection  continued  some  five 
years,  when  our  subject  became  associated  with 
the  Hon.  Peter  Sweat  with  whom  he  continued  in 
business  until    1858. 

In  18()6  David  McKinne\'  and  J.  Stevison  hav- 
ing returned  from  the  war,  Mr.  Bills  entered  into 


partnership  with  them  under  the  liim  name  of  Rtis- 
well  Bills  cfe  Co.,  the  connection  lieing  ke|it  up  un- 
til 187;").  The  firm  name  of  Bills  &  Bacon  was 
tlien  established,  which  was  dissolved  by  the  death 
of  the  junior  member,  Charles  F.  Bacon,  in  1886. 
In  the  forty  years  during  wliieli  Mr.  Bills  has  fol- 
lowed the  insurance  business  he  has  represented 
companies  having  a  capital  stock  of  over  one  hun- 
dred million  dollars. 

When  establishing  a  home  of  his  own  ,Mr.  Bills 
was  fortunate  in  securing  as  companion  and  help- 
mate, a  lady  of  genuine  worth  of  character  and 
many  domestic  accomplishments.  This  was  Miss 
Louisa,  daugliter  of  Jacob  Kulin,with  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Peoria,  Novemlier  4,  1851. 
Tlie  happy  union  has  been  blest  b}'  the  birth  of 
three  children,  now  grown  to  maturity  and  occu- 
pying their  own  homes  in  Peoria.  They  are:  Mrs. 
Norman  S.  King,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Houghton  and  How- 
ard R.,  the  latter  of  whom  resides  at  No.  210, 
North  Madison  Strect,with  his  parents  and  is  clerk- 
ing for  his  father. 

Mr.  Bills  has  won  an  enviable  position  among 
business  men  by  reason  of  his  energy,  capability 
and  straightforwardness,  qualities  which  he  carries 
into  eveiything  with  which  he  is  connected,  whether 
church,  society  or  personal  affairs.  In  politics  he 
is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  Presby- 
terian, being  enrolled  among  the  members  of  the 
First  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order. 


ooo 


I  OBERT  D.  BRADLEY,  M.  D.,  whose  office 
is  at  No.  325  .South  Adams  Street,  Peoria, 
^i  \V  and  residence  at  Pekin,  HI.,  lias  gained  an 
enviable  reputation  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  making  surgery  a  specialty,  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  skillful  surgeons  in  this 
part  of  the  State.  The  Doctor  is  a  veteran  of  the 
late  war,  having  thrown  up  his  studies  at  the  earl 3' 
age  of  sixteen  to  enlist  in  the  defence  of  his  coun- 
try, and  during  the  long  and  wearj'  years  of  strife 
that  followed  he  gained  a  noble  military  recc)rd, 
both  as  a  soldier  and  an  officer. 

Tlie  subject  of  this  review  was  liorii   in  (ireeiie 


718 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


County.  111.,  January  25,  1845,  being  the  seventh 
son  of  Robert  and  Laurana  (Osborn)  Bradley,  who 
had  thirteen  children,  eight  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Richmond,  Ya.,  and  belonged  to 
an  old  family  of  tliat  State.  The  mother  was  born 
in  Gallatin,  Sumner  County,  Tenn. 

Dr.  Bradlej^  was  given  fine  educational  facilities, 
and  was  a  student  in  the  Illinois  College,  at  Jack- 
sonville, when  the  Civil  War  broke  out.  His  pa- 
triotism at  that  time  being  greater  than  his  love 
for  study,  in  August,  1861,  he  threw  aside  his 
books,  and  though  only  sixteen  years  of  age  en- 
listed, and  was  made  Clerk  of  Company  C,  Sixth 
Illinois  Cavalrj'.  The  bright,  energetic  lad  soon 
became  a  favorite  and  discharged  his  duties  so  well 
that  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant- 
Major,  and  in  1864  was  commissioned  as  Captain 
of  his  company.  For  some  time  prior  to  that  he 
had  been  acting  in  that  capacity  and  gallantly  com- 
manded his  company  in  several  engagements.  He 
took  an  honorable  part  in  all  the  battles  in  which 
his  regiment  fought,  was  at  the  siege  of  Port 
Hudson,  went  on  the  famous  Grierson  raid,  did 
good  fighting  at  Franklin,  Nashville  and  Chatta- 
nooga, and  was  in  several  engagements  with  Hood. 
He  received  a  slight  wound  in  ihe  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, in  December,  1864,  but  this  did  not  prevent 
our  gallant  young  Captain  from  doing  his  dutj'. 

The  Bradley  family  was  well  represented  in  the 
great  conflict,  as  four  of  the  boys  enlisted  and  a 
fifth  was  drafted.  The  names  of  these  brothers  of 
our  subject  are:  George,  who  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
in  Mankato,  Minn.;  Bartholemew,  part  proprietor 
of  Glen  Dora,  a  suburb  of  Los  Angeles.  Cal.; 
John  C,  a  hardware  merchant,  of  San  Jacinto, 
Cal.,  who  was  First  Lieutenant  of  the  company 
of  which  our  subject  was  Captain;  James  C, 
who  is  a  successful  farmer  of  Vernon  Countj', 
Mo.;  and  Benjamin  F.,  County  Clerk  of  Scott 
County,  111.  Our  subject's  sister  Nancy  is  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Rimbey,  a  retired  farmer  of  Mur- 
r.aj'sville,  Morgan  County,  111. 

The  summer  of  1866  our  subject  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  at  Bloomington  with  Dr. 
Noble.  He 'afterward  attended  lectures  in  both 
tlio    Chicago    Medical    College    and   the   Jefferson 


Medical  College,  at  Philadelphia,  and  received  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  in  1809.  Thus,  well 
started  out  in  his  medical  career,  he  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Bloomington.  In 
1872  he  located  in  Pekin,  and  here  he  has  acquired 
a  large  geuer.al  practice,  though  he  makes  a  spec- 
ialty of  surgery,  in  which  he  has  acquired  a  fine 
reputation.  He  is  surgeon  for  the  Peoria,  De- 
catur &  Evansville  and  Santa  Fe  Railroads.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Societj' 
and  also  of  the  Peoria  County  Medical  Society,  in 
both  of  which  he  takes  a  prominent  place,  often 
contributing  papers  that  are  listened  to  with  great 
interest,  and  are  thought  to  be  valuable  contribu- 
tions to  medical  literature.  He  has  performed  num- 
erous notable  surgical  operations, which,  on  account 
of  skill  shown  and  original  manner  of  treatment.have 
been  reported  and  highly  spoken  of  by  medical 
journals.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  belonging  to  Bryner  Post, 
No.  67,  though  heretofore  attached  to  the  Joe 
Hanna  Post,  of  Pekin,  of  which  he  has  been  Com- 
mander. 

While  practicing  his  profession  in  Blooming- 
ton, Dr.  Bradley  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Karr, 
whose  family  was  from  New  Jerse3%  and  she  has 
greatly  aided  him  in  the  establishment  of  their  at- 
tractive home.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bradley  have  one 
son,  Robert  C,  who  is  attending  school  in  Pekin. 
Politically,  the  Doctor  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


LBERT  L.  SCHIMPFF.  This  well-known 
resident  of  Peoria  hits  been  an  eye  witness 
'*^  to  its  growth  and  development  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  centur}',  and  for  nearly 
that  length  of  time  has  been  identified  with  its 
business  interests.  He  is  President  of  the  Peoria 
Cold  Storage  Companj',  which  was  organized  in 
January,  1890,  and  has  already  been  acknowledged 
as  one  of  the  most  prominent  concerns  of  the  kind 
in  the  city.  The  compan3-  erected  a  cold  storage 
warehouse.  48x60  feet  and  three  stories  high,  at  the 
corner  of  Maple  and  Forsyth  Streets,  and  does  a 
general  cold  storage  and  forwarding  business. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


719 


The  eyes  of  Mr.  Schimpff  fusl  opt'iierl  to  the 
light  October  9,  1844,  in  Rbiuish  Bavaria,  (Jer- 
raany.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1856,  coming 
directly  to  Peoria  where  his  father,  C.  W.  Schimpff, 
had  located  in  18.')1.  Here  our  subject  grew  to 
maturity,  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  city  schools 
and  becoming  well  versed  in  practical  knowledge. 
His  first  business  enter[)rise  was  as  a  clerk  in  a  gro- 
cery store,  where  he  remained  until  November, 
1861,  wiien  he  left  his  home  to  enlist  in  Company 
A,  Twenty-sixth  Missouri  Infantry.  On  account 
of  his  age  he  was  not  admitted  to  the  service  until 
May,  1862,  but  he  followed  the  regiment,  being 
employed  in  various  capacities  by  the  officers 
tliereof  until  he  was  admitted  to  the  ranks. 

The  regiment  to  which  Mr.  Schimpff  was  attached 
formed  a  [lart  of  the  Arm}'  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
he  participated  in  the  engagements  at  Island  No.  10, 
luka,  Corinth,  and  those  connected  with  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg.  On  the  16th  of  May,  1863,  at  the 
battle  of  Champion  Hills  he  was  severely  wounded 
and  sent  to  the  field  hospital.  He  lost  the  use  of 
his  left  arm,  and  after  his  health  was  somewhat  re- 
cruited was  discharged  on  account  of  disability. 
Returning  to  Peoria  lie  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  R.  A.  &  A.  L. 
Schimpff  which  carried  on  a  retail  trade  on  South 
Madison  Street  for  a  few  j'ears. 

In  1868  Mr.  S,chimpff  removed  toElmwood,  this 
count}',  where  he  conducted  a  retail  grocery  busi- 
ness for  three  years,  then  returning  to  Peoria  he 
engaged  in  the  wholesale  cigar  manufactory  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Miller  &  Schimpff.  Three 
years  later  this  connection  was  dissolved  and  our 
subject  entered  the  wholesale  grocery  and  liquor 
firm  of  Louis  Green  &  Co.,  on  South  Washington 
Street.  With  them  he  did  a  successful  business  for 
fifteen  years,  or  until  New  Year's  Day,  1889,  when 
the  firm  retired  from  business. 

Mr.  Schimpff  has  for  sonie  time  been  a  Director 
of  tlie  Workingraen's  Loan  &  Homestead  Associa- 
tion, and  has  been  since  the  organization  a  Director 
in  the  German-American  National  Bank  and  the 
Peoria  Improvement  Association.  He  is  connected 
with  various  stock  companies.  He  is  and  has  been 
forsometime  President  of  Canton  Masonic  Mutual 
Benevolent  Society,  with    which   he  has  been  con- 


nected ten  }-ears.  He  is  uuich  interested  in  the 
Masonic  order  and  is  identified  with  the  various 
bodies  in  the  city.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Grand 
Arm}' of  the  Republic,  and  to  the  Turner's  society. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Board  of  School  In- 
spectors in  this  city. 

Mr.  Schimpff  has  always  been  actively  identified 
with  the  political  affairs  of  the  city  and  works  for 
the  Republican  party.  He  was  at  one  time  nomin- 
ated for  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and  was  a 
prominent  candidate  for  the  position  of  Postmaster 
last  year.  In  the  fall  of  1889  he  was  pressed  to  accept 
the  nomination  for  Mayor  or  City  Treasurer,  but 
declined  to  do  so  although  there  was  no  doubt  of 
his  election  had  he  run.  His  business  tact  and  en- 
ter[)rise  are  acknowledged  and  are  winning  a  com- 
petence, while  his  social  qualities  and  sterling  traits 
of  character  gain  the  regard  of  many  friends 
throughout  the  community. 

At  the  residence  of  the  bride's  father,  Louis 
Green,  of  this  cit}',  March  31,  1875,  Mr.  Schimpff 
led  to  the  hymeneal  altar  Miss  Frida  Green,  a 
worthy  and  pleasing  young  lady  who  has  looked 
well  to  the  ways  of  her  household  and  made  a  happy 
home.  She  has  borne  her  husband  four  children, 
of  whom  two  survive,  Lilly  and  Emily,  to  add  to 
the  joys  of  the  hearthstone.  Louis  and  Frida  are 
deceased. 


^^ii^ 


;;ILLIAM  W.  WAKEFIELD.     One  of  the 

most  pleasant  rural  abodes  in  Radnor 
Township  is  that  of  the  gentleman  above 
named,  which  is  located  on  section  17,  in  the  midst 
of  fertile  fields,  where  ever3thing  necessary  in  the 
wa}'  of  farm  biiilclings  has  been  erected,  and  all 
other  iminovements  m.ade  which  would  add  to  the 
value  of  the  estate  or  the  comfort  of  those  who 
occupj'  it.  The  greater  part  of  the  life  of  this 
gentleman  has  been  spent  in  this  county,  and  he  is 
quite  well  known  as  a  man  of  means,  possessed  of 
decided  business  ability,  who  has  succeeded  as  an 
agriculturist,  and  has  loaned  considerable  sums  to 
those  less  fortiuiate  than  himself. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born    in   Chester 


720 


PORTRAIT  A>'D   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


County',  Pa.,  June  IS.  ITUi,  and  ditnl  in  Peoria 
Couit_v,  November  8,  1881.  The  mother  was 
born  in  Dauphin  Countj%  Pa.,  October  28,  1805, 
and  departed  this  life  Jul}'  19,  1879.  When  John 
L.  Wakefield  and  Martha  Strickler  were  married 
they  set  up  their  home  in  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
remaining  there  until  1834,  then  locating  on  Or- 
ange Prairie,  Kickapoo  Township,  this  count}-. 
After  sojourning  there  two  }-ears  they  removed  to 
Radnor  Township,  and  on  section  18,  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  The}'  had  a  large  family, 
consisting  of  fifteen  children,  the  name  of  our  sub- 
ject being  the  sixth  on  the  family  roll. 

The  birth  of  the  gentleman  of  whom  we  write 
took  place  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  January  30, 
183'2,  lie  being  therefore  about  two  years  old  when 
his  parents  came  to  Illinois.  He  continued  to  live 
with  his  father  until  a  year  or  more  after  his 
marriage,  when  he  settled  in  Jubilee  Township. 
There  he  pursued  his  vocation  until  1867,  then 
settled  in  Gilead  Township,  Henry  County,  so- 
journing there  a  year.  Returning  to  this  county 
he  settled  on  section  18,  Radnor  Township,  and 
actively  engaged  in  farm  work  until  the  spring  of 
1885,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  more  of  a  re- 
tired life.  His  landed  estate  consists  of  about 
eight  hundred  and  fifty-three  acres  in  Radnor 
and  Jubilee  Townships. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Wakefield  was  so  fortunate 
as  to  secure  for  his  wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Wil- 
kinson, with  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Radnor  Township,  January  1,  1857.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Wakefield  were  Aaron  Ct.  and  Sai-ah  (Har- 
land)  AVilkiusou,  natives  of  Virginia  and  Ohio 
respectively,  whose  first  home  after  their  marriage 
was  iu  the  vicinity  of  Rockville,  lud.  Thence 
they  came  to  Peoria  County  in  If^SC,  living  in 
Piinceville  Township  about  a  year  and  then  mak- 
ing their  home  in  Radnor  Township.  After  a 
time  they  changed  their  residence  to  Kickapoo 
Township,  thence  removing  to  Galva,  111.,  and 
subsequently  to  Red  Oak,  Iowa.  They  had  two 
sons  and  nine  daughters,  Mrs.  Wakefield  being  the 
third  in  order  of  birth.  She  opened  her  eyes  to 
the  light  in  Radnor  Township,  August  2,  1839, 
growing  to  womanhood  possessed  of  intelligence, 
an  estimable  character  and  many  domestic  virtues. 


The  first-born  in  the  family  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  is  George  AV.,  who  married  Miss  Carrie 
Davis;  the  second  child,  Frank  L.,  married  Miss 
I  Isabella  Davis;  the  older  daughter.  Addle,  mar- 
ried Williani  Duggins;  the  youngest  member  of 
the  family  is  Mabel  E.,  who  is  still  unmarried  and 
gladdening  her  parents  by  her  presence  in  the 
home. 

Mr.  Wakefield  has  served  as  Township  Supervi- 
sor two  terms,  discharging  his  duties  in  a  credit- 
able manner.  He  has  taken  quite  an  active  part 
in  the  political  work  of  the  vicinity,  exerting  him- 
self to  advance  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party. 
Although  not  a  member  of  any  religious  body,  he 
contributes  freely  to  the  support  of  various 
churches,  and  has  manifested  an  equally  liberal 
spirit  in  promoting  the  cause  of  education.  He  .and 
his  wife  are  regarded  with  much  respect,  their 
hospitality  frequently  being  enjoyed  by  their  many 
friends. 


,-3"*-: 


ANFORD  SEELYE.  Not  many  of  Peo- 
)l  ria  County's  pioneers  have  done  better 
(sJff^''  from  a  financial  point  of  view  liian  this 
gentleman,  who  Is  one  of  its  best  known 
and  wealthy  citizens  today.  He.  came  to  Hallock 
Township  many  years  ago,  locating  on  his  present 
homestead,  and  by  the  exercise  of  great  enterprise, 
rare  judgment  and  an  extraordinary  power  for 
sustainevl  and  well-directed  toil,  has  accumulated  a 
fortune,  becoming  one  of  the  largest  landowners 
of  this  section  of  Illinois,  and  now  has  in  his  pos- 
session nearl}'  a  thousand  acres  of  realty,  free  from 
incumbrance,  nearly  all  under  cultivation  and  di- 
vided into  seven  well-improved  farms,  which  are 
all  supplied  with  substantial  buildings  and  every 
thing  necessary  to  conduct  agriculture  after  the 
best  methods.  His  first  purchase  after  arriving 
here  comprised  eighty  acres  of  prairie,  which  was 
mostly  unbroken  and  uniini)roved,  and  from  that 
small  beginning  has  come  his  present  handsome 
propert}-. 

Jlr.  Seelyc    wiis  born    in    the  town  of  Parnell. 
Bencington  County.  Vt.,  July   7.  1823,  coming  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


721 


an  old  New  England  family.  His  father,  Thomas 
B.  Seelye.  was  also  a  native  of  the  Green  Jlountain 
State,  where  he  carried  on  farminj;-  for  many  jears. 
He  lived  in  Bennington  County,  till  he  was  eightj'- 
one  yeais  old,  when  lie  came  to  Illinois,  and  two 
years  later  passed  awa}'  from  the  scenes  of  earth, 
in  the  home  of  our  subject,  his  death  occurring 
February  10,  1850,  at  the  age  of  eighty  three 
years  and  four  months.  He  was  a  quiet  unassum- 
ing man,  and  had  many  friends,  by  whom  he  was 
affectionatcl3-  known  as  "Uncle  Barnes."  Tiic 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Bethanj'  Shaw.  She 
was  born  and  reared  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  came  westward  with  her  husband,  whom  she 
survived  eight  years,  and  then  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  j^ears,  four  months  and  ten  days.  Ten 
children  were  born  to  that  worthy  cou()le,  of  whom 
our  subject  was  the  eldest,  and  four  of  the  family 
are  j-et  living  and  reside  in  dififerent  parts  of  the 
AVest. 

Mr.  Seelye  was  reared  in  his  native  county  until 
he  had  neai'ly  attained  manhood,  when  he  crossed 
the  State  line  into  Berkshire  County,  Mass.  There 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Larabee,  the  mar- 
riage ceremony  being  performed  in  Williamstown, 
which  was  Mrs.  Seel^-e's  birthplace.  She  was  born 
November  19,  1824,  and  was  reared  amid  the 
beautifid  Berkshire  hills.  She  came  of  an  old  fam- 
ily, who  for  several  generations  had  lived  in  Berk- 
shire County,  and  her  parents  were  Elcizer  and 
Ivuth  (Haley)  Larabee,  natives  of  that  part  of  the 
liay  State.  Her  ancestors  had  settled  there  in  Co- 
lonial times,  and  several  of  them  took  part  in  the 
Revolution  and  fought  the  British  at  the  battle  of 
Bennington,  Vt.  Eleizer  Larabee  ^nd  his  wife  be- 
gan life  in  their  native  county,  succeeding  to  the  old 
homestead,  aiid  there  passed  their  natural  lives,  dy- 
ing at  an  advanced  age,  when  past  three-score 
and  ten  years.  They  were  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcoi)al  Church  and  were  devoutly  relig- 
ious. ISIrs.  Seelye  was  one  of  a  family  of  four 
sons  and  eight  daughters,  five  of  whom  are  yet 
living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seelye  began  their  life  together  in 
Williamstown,  and  came  from  there  to  this  county 
in  1841*.  Their  wedded  life  has  been  productive  to 
them  of  eleven   children,  of   whom   the   following 


four  are  deceased:  Marshall,  Ephraim,  Emeline 
and  Bethany,  the  latter  dying  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ti;en  years,  the  others  dying  quite  j'oung.  Those 
living  are  Diana,  wife  of  Lankford  Green,  a  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  in  Marshall  County;  Lyman,  of 
whom  see  sketch  elsewhere;  George  W..  who  re- 
sides near  Chenoa,  Livingston  County,  who  married 
Carrie  R.  R(jberts;  Ruth,  wife  of  William  Wilcox, 
a  farmer  near  Rome;  Thomas  B.,  a  farmer  iu  West 
Hallock,  who  married  Maggie  Landers;  Lncy  M., 
wife  of  Michael  Landers,  a  farmer  of  Hallock 
Township;  and  Fannie  H.,  who  lives  at  home  and 
cares  for  her  parents.  The  children  arc  all  usef\d 
memliers  of  society  and  are  well  settled  in  life. 

Mr.  Seelye  has  accumulated  a  large  fortune, 
solely  by  his  individual  efforts,  with  the  exception 
that  ho  has  alw.aj's  had  the  cordial  assistance  of  his 
good  wife,  who,  by  her  wise  and  prudent  manage- 
ment of  household  affairs,  has  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  his  success.  When  he  came  to  this 
count}'  he  had  but  $5  in  cash,  which  proved  the 
nucleus  of  after  wealth,  and  what  he  has,  he  has 
acquired  by  strictly  honorable  methods,  as  he  has 
always  paid  his  bills  promptly,  has  never  yet  been 
dunned  bj'  a  man  and  owes  no  man  a  cent,  his 
credit  standing  high  in  the  financial  circles  of  the 
countj\  Although  a  strictly  upright,  moral  mnn, 
he  is  not  religious,  nor  does  he  engage  iu  politics. 


DWARD  W.  HANLY  is  an  active,  intelli- 
gent and  useful  member  of  the  farming 
community  i>f  Logan  Township.  Cincin- 
nati was  the  place  of  his  birth  and  September  18, 
1856,  the  date  thereof.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  (Car}')  Hanly.  His  father  was  born  in 
Ireland  and  his  mother  either  there  or  in  England. 
They  were  married  in  New  York  City,  and  from 
there  came  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  carried 
on  his  trade  of  a  shoemaker.  He  died  in  that  city 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six,  in  1868,  his  wife  having 
died  about  three  months  before.  Those  worthy 
people  were  the  parents  of  three  sons :  Joseph,  a 
printer  of  Cincinnati ;  Edward  W^.  and  Francis  R. 
The  father  had  been  previously  marrieil  and  by  his 


72-2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUK 


first  wifu  hail  one  sou,  Thumas,  who  served    in  an 
Ohio  Regiment  during  the  war. 

The  sad  death  of  his  parents  left  our  suliject  an 
orphan  at  an  earl}'  age  and  he  then  went  to  live  on  a 
farm  in  Butler  Count3',Ohio,  and  when  sixteen  years 
old  began  to  receive  wages  for  his  work  at  tlie  rate 
of  $18  a  month.  He  was  a  bold,  venturesome  lad, 
desirous  to  see  something  of  the  world,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  went  to  Mississippi,  where  he 
worked  for  six  months  at  *  12.50  per  month.  He 
then  rented  land  for  a  ^-ear  and  reaped  good  har- 
vests in  return  for  the  time  and  care  that  he  spent 
on  the  land. 

In  the  spring  of  1875,  Mr.  Hanly  came  to  this 
county  with  his  brother  Francis,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years  passed  in  Ohio,  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  county  ever  since.  For  one  year 
he  was  with  his  elder  brother  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  Cincinnati,  and  for  one  year  was  on  a  farm. 
Since  taking  up  his  residence  here,  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  and  for  seven  years 
was  employed  by  the  month.  He  wisely  saved  a 
portion  of  his  earnings,  and  for  the  past  year  has 
been  more  independent  and  has  rented  land  for 
himself  on  section  11,  Logan  Township,  and  is 
meeting  witli  excellent  success  in  its  cultivation. 
In  the  spring  of  1890  he  was  elected  Assessor  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  his  choice  for  this  re- 
sponsible position  is  shown  to  be  a  wise  one  by 
the  able  manner  in  which  he  is  discharging  the  du- 
ties devolving  upon  him  as  an  incumbent  of  this 
office.  His  father  was  a  sturdy  Democrat  but 
our  subject  upholds  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Hanly  and  Miss  Luella  M.  Pinkertou  were 
united  in  marriage  December  24,  1889.  Mrs.  Han- 
ly's  parents,  John  H.  and  Nancy  C.  (JIaus)  Pink- 
erton  were  pioneers  of  this  township.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio.  August  10, 
1842.  He  was  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  jNIary  (Mc- 
Crerry)  Pinkerton,  who  were  farmers  and  reared 
seven  children.  Mr.  Pinkerton's  grandfather  came 
from  Ireland.  Mrs.  Ilanly's  parents  came  to  Illi- 
nois about  1852.  Her  father  was  a  veleran  of  tiie 
late  war  in  which  he  did  noble  service.  He  en- 
listed ii)  Company  C,  Seventy  seventh  Illinois  In- 
fantr}',  and  took  part  in  all  the  hard  fought  battles 
ill   which    his    regiment   participated.      He    was  at 


Chickasaw  Bluff,  Arkansas  Post, Ft.  Hudson,Cham- 
pion  Hills,  Black  River,  Siege  of  Vicksburg,  Jack- 
son, Mansfield,  (La.,)  Kane  River,  Ft.  Haines, 
Siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  and  at  Whistler  Station.  He 
was  discharged  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  July  20,  1865. hav- 
ing won  a  military  record  upon  vvhich  his  chil- 
dren and  children's  children  may  look  with  pride. 
Ilis  death  occurred  May  1,  1881,  and  his  commun- 
ity was  tlien  deprived  of  an  honored  citizen.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Miami  County,  Oliio,  May  20, 
1845,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Charles  F.  and  Cath- 
erine (Sherwood)  Maus.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pinkerton 
had  four  children — Mary  L.,  M.argaret  C,  William 
E.  and  Harriet  E. 


^^E 


AMES  G.  WHITING,  D.D.S.  A  compen- 
dium of  biographical  sketches  from  Peoria 
would  be  incomplete  did  it  not  include  that 
of  the  above-named  gentleman,  who  although 
quite  young,  is  taking  a  good  rank  in  a  profession 
to  which  he  brings  an  uiiderstamliug  mind,  mechan- 
ical ability,  and  thorough  knowledge  of  its  details. 
The  son  of  a  minister,  the  Rev.  Charles  Whitmg, 
D.  D.,  and  Lucy  M.  AV'hiling,  iiee  Welib,  his  youth 
was  spent  iu  the  different  places  to  which  his  father 
was  called  in  the  line  of  his  duty,  and  with  the 
usual  quickness  of  boyhood,  he  picked  up  consid- 
erable information  regarding  men  and  manners, 
learning  that  best  of  all  lessons — Christian  faith. 

The  birthplace  of  Dr.  Whiting  was  Dover,  Mo. 
and  his  natal  day  August  4,  1866.  He  obtained  a 
fair  education  in  the  various  schools  which  he  at- 
tended, being  graduated  from  the  High  School  at 
Canton,  111.,  in  1883.  He  then  entered  the  office 
of  Dr.  J.  W.  Peck,  remaining  there  two  and  a  half 
years,  studj-ing  dentistry.  He  next  entered  the 
Phil.idelphia  Dental  College,  an  institution  which 
ranks  higher  tiian  any  other  school  of  the  kind  in 
America.  From  this  he  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  1889,  holding  the  honored  positi(_)n  of  valedic- 
torian, in  a  class  numbering  ninety-nine.  He  at 
once  opened  an  office  in  Peoria,  his  rooms  being 
favorably  located  at  No.  430,  Main  Street,  and  fitted 
up  in  the  best  style  of  modern  dental  parlors.     Dr. 


'■"•VERSir 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


726 


Wliitiiig  is  securing  an  excellent  practice  and  es- 
tablishing a  fine  reputation  for  skill  in  liis  chosen 
profession. 

Dr.  Whiting  pursues  a  most  straightforward 
course  in  life,  while  giving  his  principal  attention  to 
his  professional  work,  being  ready  to  assist  as  well 
as  he  can  in  that  which  tends  to  the  welfare  of  the 
cit\'  which  he  has  chosen  as  his  home.  He  has 
aljounding  faith  in  the  future  of  the  fair  town  as  a 
business  center,  and-a  pliice  from  which  culture  of 
mind  and  heart  will  spread  throughout  the  sur- 
rounding country.  His  gentlemanly'  bearing,  in- 
telligence and  social  qualities  win  friends  among 
those  who  k)ok  no  deeper,  and  his  consistent  mem- 
bershif)  in  the  Baptist  Church  gives  hira  the  respect 
of  those  who  appreciate  worth  of  character. 


?^^EORGE  W.  H.  GILBERT.  The  real-estate 
interests  of  Peoria  and  vicinit}'  are  worthily 
s^^  represented  by  Mr.  Gilbert  as  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Gilbert  &  Gilbert,  the  junior 
member  being  his  son,  Henry  S.  Mr.  Gilbert  is 
also  the  Secretary  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Society.  He 
was  born  in  Peoria,  February  12,  1837,  and  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  county  his  entire  life,  exceiit 
a  few  years  spent  in  St.  Louis  in  early  life. 

In  noting  the  parental  history  of  our  subject,  we 
find  that  his  father,  Henry  Gilbert,  was  a  native 
of  London,  England,  and  born  in  1808.  He  was 
educated  in  his  native  city  where  he  grew  to  man's 
estate  and  served' a  seven  years'  apprenticeship  at 
carpentering  and  architecture.  Emigrating  to  the 
United  .States  in  1831  he  established  himself  in 
Peoria  as  an  architect,  contractor  and  builder, 
being  one  of  the  principal  men  in  this  business  at 
that  time.  He  put  up  some  of  the  largest  and  best 
buildings  which  were  then  erected  in  the  city, 
among  which  was  the  Mitchell,  which  afterward 
became  the  Fulton  House;  Mrs.  Lettie  Baldwin's, 
formerh'  the  Louck  residence  on  Bluff  Street,  and 
the  John  Flanigan  and  Moses  Pettengill  mansions, 
all  of  which  urc  still  standing. 

Henry  (ilill)ert  maintained  his  residence  in  I'eoria 


until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  4,  1848.  He 
was  a  Whig,  politically,  and  one  of  the  pioneer 
temperance  men  of  this  region.  He  was  married 
in  early  manhood  to  Miss  Margaret  Ann  Fash,  who 
is  still  living  at  the  family  residence,  No.  312 
South  Jefferson  Avenue,  which  has  been  the  home 
of  the  family  for  more  than  fifty  years.  Mrs.  Gil- 
bert was  born  in  New  York  City  about  1820,  where 
she  was  reared  to  womanhood,  receiving  her  educa- 
tion in  the  city  schools.  She  came  with  her  parents, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Fash,  to  Peoria,  and  engaged 
as  one  of  the  first  teachers  in  Peoria.  Her  union 
with  Mr.  Gilbert  occurred  in  1835,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living,  viz:  George  W.  H.,  our  subject;  Margaret 
E.,  the  widow  of  Lester  Pattee;  A.  Frederick; 
Celestine  S.,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Black,  who  is  one  of  the 
chief  officers  of  the  Women's  Christian  Home  Mis- 
sion in  Dakota;  and  Carrie  M.,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Row- 
cliff,  of  Peoria.  Mrs.  Gilbert  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church  with  which  she  became 
connected  during  the  ministry  of  Rev. Levi  Spencer. 
The  father  was  also  an  attendant  of  this  church 
and  a  liberal  supporter.  He  possessed  some  talent 
as  a  vocalist  and  sang  in  the  choir  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Gilbert,  of  this  sketch,  with  the  exception  of 
four  j'ears  which  the  family  spent  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
lias  been  continuously  a  resident  of  his  native  city 
and  obtained  his  education  principally  in  the  public 
schools.  He  commenced  his  business  career  with 
A.  Bishop,  with  whom  he  remained  from  1851  until 
January  1,  1865,  becoming  in  the  meantime,  in 
1858,  a  partner  in  the  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Bishop  &  Co.  Upon  the  removal  of  Mr.  Bishop 
to  Chicago,  Mr.  Gilbert  became  associated  with  his 
brother,  A.Frederick,  and  Gilbert  Bros,  immediately 
became  recognized  as  leaders  in  the  sale  of  hats, 
caps  and  furs,  which  business  they  conducted  until 
1885.  The  ambition  of  Mr.  Gilbert  was  to  conduct 
the  largest  wholesale,  retail  and  manufacturing 
business  which  could  be  maintained  in  this  section. 

In  1885  Mr.  Gilbert  closed  out  his  business  and 
spent  two  years  in  travel.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  been  posting  himself  upon  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness and  in  1887  commenced  in  earnest  the  business 
to  which  he  now  gives  the  greater  part  of  his  time 
and    attention.      Although    a    stanch    Republican, 


726 


PORTRAIT  A^fD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


politically,  lio  has  never  asiiirei]  to  the  respousibili- 
ties  of  office,  preferring  to  continue  the  life  of  a 
private  citizen.  In  religion  he  is  a  Congregation- 
alist.  being  a  regular  attendant  at  his  church  and 
contributing  to  its  regular  support. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  first  married  in 
1859  to  Miss  Josephine  Speers,  a  resident  of  Peoria 
at  that  time,  but  a  native  of  Ponnsjivania.  born 
near  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  She  became  the  mother 
of  seven  children  and  departed  this  life  at  the 
family  residence  in  Peoria  in  January,  1875,  aged 
thirty-nine  3-ears.  Their  eldest  son,  Henry  S.,  is 
the  partner  of  his  father;  Mamie  W.  is  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  Lester  E.  is 
in  the  employ  of  the  Consolidated  Tank  Line,  mak- 
ing his  headquarters  at  Peoria.  The  other  four 
children  died  in  earl3'  childhood.  Mr.  Gilbert  has 
given  to  the  survivors  a  good  education  and  they 
occup3'  honored  positions  in  society.  He  con- 
tracted a  second  marriage  in  1876  with  Miss  Alice 
Osbon,  of  Ri|)ley,  Ohio.  Of  the  tliree  children 
born  of  this  vniion  only  two  are  living;  Retta  O., 
and  Elsie  M. 

After  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  the  mother 
of  our  subject  could  not  bring  herself  to  give  her 
consent  to  the  enlistment  of  her  sons  and  kept  out 
of  the  way  so  they  could  not  ask  her.  A.  Freder- 
ick enlisted  in  Company  A,  Seventeenth  Illinois 
Infantry,  being  but  a  bo}-.  His  mother  was  patri- 
otic in  all  her  impulses  and  desirous  of  presenting 
a  flag  to  her  son's  company,  started  out  to  obtain 
the  necessary  funds.  Finding  it  slow  work  she  re- 
turned what  she  had  collected  and  then  purchased 
silk  with  her  own  monej'.  made  the  flag  and  pre- 
sented it  with  a  nice  speech.  The  bojs  carried  it 
through  the  war  and  when  they  returned  consigned 
it  to  the  care  of  the  donor  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies. At  everv  re-union  the  old  flag  is  unani- 
mously called  for  and  the  poor  old  tattered  bauble 
has  become  a  valued  relic. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  also  one  of  the 
first  women  to  assist  in  the  organization  of  a  relief 
corps  and  went  to  the*  front  at  Memphis,  Tenn. 
"While  there  she  one  night  took  an  armful  of  pillow 
slips  for  use  in  the  wards  and  by  mistake  walked 
over  the  guards  of  the  boat  into  the  water.  She 
was  rescued,  after  having  passed   under  the  boat,  a 


steamer,  nearly  its  entire  length.  At  the  time  of 
the  Garfield  memorial  services  when  there  was  so 
much  discussion  about  the  reunited  North  and 
South,  this  l.",dy  hung  out  both  I'nion  and  rebel 
Bags,  having  been  presented  with  one  of  the  latter 
at  Chickasaw  bayou.  Her  sou,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  inquired  why  she  did  so,  aud  she  replied, 
that  "  as  they  say  no  North  no  South,  we  should  be 
able  to  say  no  South  no  North."  The  incident  at- 
tracted much  attention  at  the  time,  and  this  modern 
mother  with  the  s[iirit  of  '76  was  widelj'  spoken  of 
in  admiring  terms. 

Mr.  Gilbert's   poi trait   is   presented   on   another 
page. 


'lIlOSEPH  S.  SCHNEBLY  is  the  owner  and 
occupant  of  an  excellent  property  on  section 
34,  Riehwood  Township,  together  with  sev- 
eral city  lots  in  Peoria.  He  has  built  a 
good  residence  ui)on  his  farm,  is  keeping  up  the 
other  im|n-ovements  upon  it  and  operating  it  with 
a  satisfactory'  degree  of  success.  He  is  known  as  an 
unpretentious  man  who  pursues  the  even  tenor  of 
his  wa)-  with  no  desire  for  public  honors  or  a  prom- 
inent place  before  the  public,  finding  sufficient  oc- 
cupation for  his  business  hours  in  the  conduct  of 
his  own  aff.airs,  and  abundant  recreation  in  social 
.and  domestic  life.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  his  estimable  companion  being 
likewise  numbered  among  the  workers  in  that  relig- 
ious body. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Henry  Schnebly, 
a  native  of  Maryland,  and  Elizabeth  M.  (Wunder- 
lich)  Schnebly,  who  was  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
Pa.  They  were  married  in  Mainland,  living  there 
for  a  short  time,  but  removing  to  Illinois  in  the 
fall  of  18.35.  They  settled  in  Riehwood  Township, 
this  county,  making  it  their  home  during  the  rem- 
nant of  their  days.  Mr.  Schneblj'  died  in  1858, 
his  widow  surviving  until  August,  1885.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  flrst-boru. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  opened  his  e3es  to  the 
light  November  20,  1831,  in  Washington  County, 
Md.     He  was   about   four  years  old  when  his  par- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cnts  came  West  and  lie  grew  to  manhood  in  this 
county,  acquiring  a  good  education  and  learning 
all  that  is  necessary  in  order  to  satisfactorily  con- 
duct a  faiin.  When  twenty-three  years  old  he 
went  to  California,  being  absent  from  home  about 
nine  months.  Xot  long  after  his  return  lie  was 
manied,  and  settling  in  this  county,  remained  here 
several  years.  We  next  find  him  a  resident  of 
Woodford  County  during  a  period  of  nine  years, 
then  making  McLean  County  his  home  three  years, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  busi- 
ness in  Peoria.  He  carried  on  that  business  about 
a  twelvemonth,  then  purchased  the  property  which 
he  now  occupies  and  again  took  his  position  among 
the  dwellers  in  the  rural  districts. 

On  February  7,  1856,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were 
celebrated  between  our  subject  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna  (Landis)  Stone- 
braker.  Mrs.  Schnebly  is  the  tenth  in  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  was  born  in  Maryland,  October  14, 
ls3;3,  and  possesses  many  of  the  qualities  most 
liighlj'  esteemed  in  womanhood.  Her  father  was  a 
native  of  M;'.ryland,  in  which  State  he  died.  Her 
iinrllier  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  departed 
this  life  at  the  residence  of  her  son  while  on  a  visit 
ti)  Woodford  County,  111. 

Our  subject  and  his  good  wife  have  had  thirteen 
childien  but  have  been  called  upon  to  part  with 
five.  The  living  members  of  their  family  circle 
are  Anna  K.,  Cora,  Joseph  K.,  Henry,  Landis  S., 
IClnur  L.,  Daisy  E.  and  Walter  A.,  all  of  whom 
have  been  carefully  reared  and  well  fitted  for  useful 
careers. 


,AUL  F.  GRAZE.  Many  of  the  most  enter- 
prising agriculturists,  as  well  as  the  most  in- 
dustrious mechanics  of  America,  were  born 
and  reared  in  lauds  far  across  the  sea,  and 
wnatever  maj-  be  one's  opinion  regarding  indis- 
i-riminate  immigration  into  the  United  States,  all 
honest-minded  men  must  confess  that  we  owe  a 
debt  of  gratitude  to  the  foreign-born  citizens  who 
have  done  so  much  to  develop  our  resources.  Mr. 
Graze,  whose  home  is  on  section  12,  Kickapoo 
Township,  is  a  German-Auierican  citizen  who  from 


early  manhood  has  been  identified  with  the  indus- 
tries of  the  United  States  and  during  the  most  of 
the  time  with  those  of  the  Prairie  State. 

The  e^'es  of  our  subject  first  opened  to  the  light 
in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  May  24,  183.5,  .and  in 
his  native  land  he  sojourned  until  about  nineteen 
jcars  old.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  early  becom- 
ing acquainted  with  the  details  of  agricultural  life, 
and  under  the  school  laws  of  his  country  acquiring 
a  good  practical  education.  In  the  fall  of  1853  he 
came  to  America,  acconjpanied  by  his  parents, 
Ilenrj'  and  Caroline  (Faber)  Graze,  of  whom  he  is 
the  only  child.  They  both  died  in  Kickapoo 
Township. 

After  lauding  in  New  York  young  Graze  went  to 
Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he  remained  until  the  summer 
of  1854  when  he  came  westward  to  Peoria,  111. 
After  spending  about  three  months  in  the  city  he 
found  employment  on  a  farm  and  worked  by  the 
month  about  two  and  one-half  years.  He  then 
rented  land  in  Kickapoo  Township,  operating  as  a 
renter  eleven  years  and  hoarding  his  resources  in 
order  that  he  might  purchase  himself  a  home.  He 
finally  bought  land  in  the  same  township  and  now 
has  a  good  estate  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
bearing  the  usual  improvements,  and  under  careful 
management. 

In  his  efforts  to  secure  a  home  Mr.  Graze  has 
been  ably  seconded  by  his  faithful  helpmate,  for- 
merly Miss  Sarah  E.  Orr,  who  became  his  wife 
September  3,  1859,  the  marriage  taking  place  in 
Peoria.  She  is  the  second  of  three  children  com- 
prising the  family  of  the  late  James  and  Jane 
(Howard)  Orr,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1853 
and  the  latter  January  17,  1890.  They  were  old 
settlers  in  Kickapoo  Township,  where  Mrs.  Graze 
was  born  January  14,  1840.  A  goodly  number  of 
children  have  come  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graze,  and  ten 
J  et  remain  inmates  of  the  parental  home.  They 
are  Letltia,  Paul,  John,  Henr3%  Rose,  Martha,  Mary, 
Charles,  Clara  and  Joseph.  Caroline  has  left  the 
home  nest  as  the  wife  of  Edward  Loudenberwer. 
lona  and  Elizabeth  have  been  removed   by  death. 

Mr.  Gr.aze  has  been  Highway  Commissioner  and 
School  Director,  in  both  capacities  serving  with 
credit  to  himself  and  his  constituents.  In  polities 
he  is  iudeiiendent,  depositing  his  ballot  in  favor  of 


r28 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  best  man  or  the  principles  which  he  believes 
the  important  issues  at  the  time.  He  is  interested 
in  all  wliioh  will  tend  to  tlie  material  prosperity  and 
personal  advancement  of  the  community,  in  which 
his  reputation  is  most  excellent. 


IkA  RS.  CHRISTENA  M.  HALLEK.     Among 
j      \     the    comfortal)le    homes   to    he    found    in 
jlj       A  Kicicapoo  Township,  that  of  the  subject  of 
*  this  notice  is  deserving  of   mention.     The 

dwelling  is  a  substantial  edifice,  while  the  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  fine  farm  land  which  stu'- 
round  it  bear  various  iiiii)rovemeuts,  such  as  are 
usuall3'  to  be  found  on  the  estates  of  enterprising 
and  prosperous  farmers.  For  more  tlian  thirty 
years  this  farm  has  been  under  the  charge  of  Mrs. 
Haller,  who  has  continually  manifested  her  ability 
to  guide  the  labors  which  are  conducted  thereon, 
and  to  make  of  agriculture  a  remunerative  em- 
ployment. She  is  now  somewhat  advanced  in 
years,  having  been  born  May  2,  1823,  but  is  still 
one  of  the  smartest  and  shrewdest  women  to  be 
met  with  in  Peoria  County. 

The  lad}'  of  nhom  we  write  is  a  native  of  Wur- 
temburg,  German}',  in  which  kingdom  her  parents, 
Jacob  and  Christina  (Grill)  Koerner,  were  also 
born.  They  emigrated  to  America  in  1831,  mak- 
ing their  first  home  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  com- 
ing to  the  Prairie  State  in  1848.  They  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  in  this  county,  dying  in 
Kickapoo  Township,  in  which  they  had  taken  up 
their  abode.  Their  family  included  twelve  chil- 
dren, Mrs.  Haller  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth. 
She  was  married  in  Cincinnati,  May  15,  1842,  to 
Conrad  Haller,  who,  like  herself,  was  of  German 
birth  and  parentage,  his  natal  day  having  been  July 
4,  1804.  His  parents  died  in  the  old  country,  but 
he  left  his  native  Wurtemburg  fully  persuaded 
that  the  New  World  would  afford  him  better  op- 
portunities for  financial  advancement. 

In  1850  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haller  came  to  Peoria,  the 
husband  continuing  his  occupation  of  a  butcher 
until  the  spring  of  1851,  when  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  agriculture,  settling  on    section  11,  Kicka- 


poo Township.  He  prosecuted  the  peaceful  labors 
of  farm  life  until  his  death,  which  occurred  No- 
vember 9,  1855,  since  which  time  the  estate  has 
been  ably  managed  by  his  widow.  He  was  well  re- 
spected as  a  man  who  steadily  pursued  his  course 
in  life,  leaving  to  his  children  the  example  of 
sturdy  manhood,  industry,  and  considerateness  in 
domestic  relations. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  the  mother  of  eight 
children,  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Jacob  died  in 
infancy;  Conrad  ,T.  married  Miss  Llicina  Bowl- 
ing: Frederick  is  still  single;  Jacob,  2d,  died  when 
about  one  year  old ;  George  H.  married  Miss  Au- 
gusta Patton;  Catherine  F.  is  a  teacher;  Rosina  C. 
familiarly  known  as  Rose,  is  the  wife  of  William 
Armstrong;  Mary  Christina  is  a  teacher.  The 
daughters  are  graduates  of  the  Peoria  County  Nor- 
mal School,  more  than  ordinarily  intelligent  and 
well  read,  and  the  Misses  Kittle  and  Christie,  as 
they  are  familiarly  known  among  their  friends,  are 
numbered  among  the  most  successful  teachers  of 
tlie  county.  The  son,  Conrad,  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army  when  but  seventeen  years  old,  being 
assigned  to  Company  A,  Seventy-seventh  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
but  during  his  enlistment,  having  been  captured 
by  the  enemy,  was  held  eighteen  months  in  a 
Texas  prison. 


;  OIIN  M.  GIPPS.  The  late  John  M.  Gipps 
is  well  remembered  in  Peoria  as  one  who 
took  a  prominent  part  in  adding  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  citizens  by  means  of  public  im- 
provements,  and  bore  a  large  share  in  alleviating 
the  distress  of  the  needy,  rejoicing  in  the  oppor- 
tunity to  bestow  of  his  abundance  upon  those  less 
fortunate,  and  to  aid  liberally  in  promoting  culture. 
He  was  an  excellent  type  of  the  steady-going  Eng- 
lishman, persisteut  in  whatever  lie  undertook,  pru- 
dent and  thoughtful  in  decisions,  and  hard  to  turn 
when  once  he  had  made  up  his  mind;  yet  withal, 
of  a  kindly  and  generous  spirit,  a  genial  compan- 
ion and  firm  friend. 

The  birthplace  of   Mr.   Gipps   was   Canterbury, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


72;i 


Kent,  Kiiglan'l,  and  the  year  of  his  birth  1820.  He 
lived  within  sound  of  llie  bells  of  tlie  noted  cathe- 
dral until  after  he  was  of  age,  although  he  was  ab- 
sent from  home  while  prosecuting  his  studies  in 
the  famous  university  of  Cambridge.  He  was  grad- 
uated from  that  institution  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  and  the  proud  position  of  Senior 
Wrangler,  which  his  father  had  held  before  him. 
After  flnisliing  his  cduealion,  he  came  to  America 
on  a  pleasure  trip,  and  so  much  was  he  pleased  with 
the  country  in  Centr.al  Illinois,  that  he  bought  a 
pretty  place  near  Washington,  Tazewell  County, 
known  as  Gipps'  Grove. 

Mr.  Gipps  established  himself  on  a  largo  farm  to 
the  oversight  of  which  he  devoted  himself  for  some 
years.  During  some  time  ho  also  carried  on  a  large 
store  in  the  town  of  ]Morton;  it  was  the  first  store 
there.  In  18G5  he  abandoned  other  employment 
to  establish  the  Gipps'  Brewery,  of  which  he  was 
sole  owner  and  manager  for  many  years,  and  which 
at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  largest  in  this  part 
of  the  country.  Two  years  after  the  enterprise  was 
inaugurated.  Mr.  Gipps  removed  to  Peoria,  which 
was  his  |)lnce  of  abode  from  that  time  until  he  was 
called  hence.  Ills  demise  took  place  November  27, 
1882,  dccpl}'  regretted  by  many  friends,  whose 
sympathy  for  his  sorrowing  household  was  bejond 
expression. 

When  the  Public  Library  was  established,  Mr. 
Gipps  was  deeply  interested  in  its  success,  ever 
proving  one  of  its  most  hearty  supporters.  He  was 
one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
and  made  himself  a  man  of  note  in  various  move- 
ments for  the  welfare  of  tlic  community.  Ho  would 
never  accept  oflice,  preferring  to  serve  his  fellows 
in  a  private  capacity.  Ho  was  a  memlier  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  The  cherished 
companion  of  Mr.  Gipps  was  known  in  her  maiden- 
hood as  Miss  KUen  Dawson,  aiul  is  a  native  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Their  marriage  rites  were  cele- 
brated December  12,  18.")2,  and  to  their  happy 
union  came  two  children,  George  IL,  and  Emma  W. 
Mrs.  Gipps  is  an  estimable  woman,  having  m;iny 
friends,  and  being  looked  up  to  for  her  virtues  and 
pleasing  traits. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Henry  Gipps,  LL. 
D.,  Rector  of  St.  Peter's  in  Hereford,  England,  and 


having  two  livings  there.  He  possessed  much  lit- 
erary ability,  was  the  author  of  numerous  published 
works,  and  a  student  of  note  in  liis  part  of  the  king- 
dom. His  brother  George  Gipps,  was  at  one  time 
Governor  of  Canada,  and  later  held  a  similar  office 
over  Her  Majesty's  possessions  in  Australia. 

UFUS  McINTIRE,  Esquire,   Justice  of   the 
Peace   of  Trivoli,  where  he  is  engaged   in 
L\  \\\       market  gardening,  is  an  old  settler  of  the 
county,  and  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War, 
and  is  well  known  and  greatly  respected  by  the  en- 
tire community. 

Our  subject  is  a  New  Englander  b^-  birth  and 
antecedents.  He  was  born  in  Parsonsfield,  York 
County,  Me.,  April  G,  1828.  His  father,  bearing 
the  same  name  ,as  himself,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
county,  and  w.as  a  son  of  Micum  Mclntiro,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  [ilaco,  and  there  carried  on  farm- 
ing. Ho  was  a  Revolutionary  patriot,  and  was  in- 
terested in  running  Tories  outof  York.  His  father, 
also  named  Micum,  was  a  farmer,  and  was  a  son  of 
another  Micum  Mclntire.  The  latter  was  banished 
from  Scotland,  having  been  captured  and  sent  to 
this  country  by  Cromwell,  because  ho  was  a  fol- 
lower of  Prince  Charles  Edward  Stewart.  He  be- 
longed to  a  Highland  clan  in  Scotland,  and  was 
among  the  early  settlers  of  !Maine. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  man  of  culture, 
and  was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  his  native 
State  in  his  day.  He  was  graduated  from  the  clas- . 
sical  course  at  Dartmouth  College,  and  then  studied 
law  in  Alfred,  York  County,  with  .John  Holmes, 
and  was  admitted  to  tlie  bar  when  thirty  years  of 
age,  and  established  himself  in  practice  in  Parsons- 
field,  and  also  superintended  the  cultivation  of  his 
farm.  He  mot  with  brilliant  success  as  a  lawyer, 
and  .also  became  a  great  statesman.  He  was  the 
first  representative  of  his  town,  and  was  elected  a 
member  of  Congress  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  was  re- 
elected throe  times  to  that  position.  He  w.as  C'ap- 
tain  of  a  company  of  I'liited  States  Artillery  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  served  throughout  that  conllict 
on   the  lake   frontier.     He   became  land  agent  for 


730 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Maine  in  the  time  of  the  Aroostook  troubles,  and 
was  then  appointed  Surveyor  of  the  Custom  House 
at  Porthind  during  Buchanan's  administration. 
After  that  lie  resumed  farming  and  practice  of 
law.  ami  died  in  1866.  at  the  age  of  eighty-one. 
full  of  years  and  honor,<.  He  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing Democrats  of  his  time. 

The  fatiier  of  our  subject  was  twice  mariied  : 
first  to  Nancy  Hannaford,  and  after  her  death  he 
was  wedded  to  iier  sister  Mar}-.  The  tirst  wife,  the 
mother  of  our  suiiject.  was  born  in  Parsonsfield.  Me., 
and  there  spent  her  enli.-e  life.  Her  father.  Josiah 
Hannaford,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  af- 
ter ills  removal  to  Elaine,  carried  on  farming  until 
his  death.  Seven  children  were  born  to  the  first 
marriage,  uaincly:  ISIary  and  Annette,  residents  of 
Portland.  Me..  .Tames  O.,  who  died  in  that  city; 
Eveline,  who  lives  in  Portland;  Alonzo,  who  died 
in  York  County,  Me.:  ^Malcolm,  who  died  j'oung; 
and  Rutiis.  There  were  three  children  born  of  the 
second  marriage — iLakolm.  who  died  young;  Mal- 
colm (2d),  a  resident  of  Kentuck}';  and  Nancy  a 
resident  of  Portland.  Me. 

The  subject  of  this  biograph}-  was  bred  on  a  farm 
and  was  earl}'  set  to  do  work  of  all  kinds.  He 
learned  to  mow  with  a  scjthe,  and  to  reap  with  a 
sickle.  His  education,  was  conducted  in  free  and 
private  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  left  home 
to  learn  the  tanner  and  currier's  trade  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  worked  at  it  there  for  six  or  seven  years. 
We  next  hear  of  hini  in  IMassachusetts,  where  he 
had  gone  to  seek  employment  at  his  calling.  As 
he  could  not  get  a  job  at  it  immediately,  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  shoemaker  at  Dauvers.  He  worked 
in  that  town  for  a  year  or  two,  and  then  returned 
to  Maine,  and  remained  in  his  native  State  a  jear. 

In  1855  he  determined  to  come  West,  and  in  the 
spring  of  that  year  came  bj-  rail  to  Peoria,  and 
thence  to  Trivoli,  and  took  up  his  residence  here. 
He  engaged  on  a  farm  for  a  while  with  Dr.  Levi 
Hannaford,  working  for  him  for  six  months,  and 
then  put  up  a  sho})  and  commenced  the  manufac- 
ture of  shoes,  employing  two  hands.  He  continued 
in  that  business  two  years,  then  sold  and  went  to 
Adair  County.  Iowa,  where  he  had  an  interest  in  a 
sawmill.  He  did  not  make  that  p.a}',  however,  and 
came  back  to  this  count}'  the  same  j^ear.    The  next 


spring  he  went  to  New  Rutland,  on  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  and  conducted  the  shoe  business  there 
for  awhile.  He  had  a  hard  time  of  it.  tried  farm- 
ing and  failed,  and  had  to  make  shoes  in  the  win- 
ter to  get  enough  to  live  on.  The  next  year  he 
again  attempted  farming,  onl}'  to  fail  again  and  to 
fall  back  on  his  trade  of  a  shoemaker  during  the 
winter  months. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  the  war- 
like spirit  of  his  early  ancestors  stirred  in  the  breast 
of  our  subject,  and  his  patriotism  was  aroused,  and 
he  w.as  among  the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  for 
troops  to  defend  the  stars  and  stripes.  He  went  to 
Springfield  and  enlisted  in  a  compan}'  of  artillery 
to  be  attached  to  the  Thirty-second  Illinois  Regi- 
ment, but  as  that  failed,  it  then  became  a  part  of 
the  Second  Illinois  Artillery  Regiment,  Batterj'  K. 
He  and  his  comrades  were  sent  to  Cairo,  and  thence 
to  Kentucky,  from  there  to  ^Memphis,  whence  the}' 
were  sent  down  the  Mississippi.  They  engaged 
in  various  skirmishes,  and  were  present  at  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg  in  which  they  bore  a  gallant  part. 
Six  months  later  he  was  promoted  to  the  important 
position  of  Quarter  Master  .Sergeant  to  the  battery, 
and  served  as  such  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  Memphis,  December  31.  1864, 
and  honorably  discharged. 

Jlr.  Mclnlire  came  back  to  Trivoli  after  leaving 
the  army,  to  the  family,  and  found  his  wife  sewing 
to  support  the  household.  He  actively  resumed 
the  calling  of  a  farmer,  and  rented  a  farm  in  this 
township  for  seven  years,  operating  eighty  acres  of 
land.  Misfortune  still  followed  his  efforts,  as  he 
lost  two  crops,  and  in  1872  he  had  a  sale  and  aban- 
doned agricultural  pursu'ts  for  awhile.  The  ensu- 
ing two  years  he  acted  as  agent  for  three  insui'ance 
companies  until  the  Mutual  Insurance  Company 
spoiled  his  business  for  him,  and  he  then  engaged 
in  lobbing,  doing  ditching,  draining,  and  digging 
wells,  working  very  hard  and  employing  three  or 
four  men.  He  laid  a  good  deal  of  tile,  and  finally 
located  on  his  present  place  on  section  11,  where 
he  has  two  acres  of  land  of  exceeding  fertility,  and 
is  prosperously  engaged  in  raising  garden  stuff. 

Mr.  Mclntire  and  Miss  Eunice  D.  Jordon,  a  na- 
tive of  Gorham.  Me.,  were  united  in  marriage  in 
Trivoli,  ^lay  12,  1856.  Mrs.  Mclntire  was  a  school 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


731 


teacher  before  her  marriage,  and  tamo  to  Trivoli 
in  that  capacity  in  1854.  Four  children  liave  been 
born  of  this  marriage,  of  whom  the  following  is  re- 
corded :  p]mi'line,  formerly  a  school  teacher,  mar- 
ried Oscar  B.  Wykoff,  a  farmer  of  this  township; 
Emma  is  a  tailoress  in  Elmwood;  Alice,  a  music 
teacher,  is  attending  the  Mt.  Carroll  Seminary; 
James  Otis  is  at  home. 

Our  subject  has  been  a  School  Director,  and  lie 
has  also  been  engaged  in  the  vocation  of  school 
teacher,  for  which  he  is  well  fitted  by  education 
and  temperament.  In  1866,  the  school  in  his  dis- 
trict in  Trivoli,  h.ad  acquired  a  bad  reputation  on 
account  of  the  unruly  boys  who  had  run  the  teacher 
out,  and  our  subject  was  asked  to  teach  the  school, 
and  bring  them  to  terms,  and  it  is  needless  to  say, 
that  he  succeeded  in  tiie  undertaking.  He  is  a 
member  of  McCook  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Elmwood, 
and  is  a  stanch  Democrat  in  politics.  In  1884  he 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  here,  and  has  an 
office  in  town.  He  had  been  Collector  of  the  town- 
ship for  four  years,  and  is  considered  one  of  our 
most  intelligent  and  useful  civic  offlci.als. 


-I-Hi«^«^4+^ 


ylLLlAM  WHITTEN  settled  in  Brim  field 
Township  at  an  early  day  and  is  one  of 
the  oldest  pioneers  in  his  neighborhood. 
He  has  here  a  farm  that  in  point  of  cultivation  and 
improvement  ranks  very  higli.  It  is  finel}'  lo- 
cated on  section  10,  and  here  he  li.is  erected  a 
handsome  residence  which  is  considered  to  be  one 
of  the  best  in  the  township. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Peunsylv.aniaand  was 
born  in  Fayette  County.  September  28,  1829.  He 
is  the  son  of  the  Late  John  and  Jane  (Freeman) 
Whitten.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  father  was  bo'-n  in  New  Jersey.  The  latter 
came  of  sturdy  ancestry  and  his  father,  William 
Whitten,  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  Revolution 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Continental  Army. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  son  in  a  family  of 
four  children  of  whom  the  following  three  still  sur- 
vive: William;  F:iiza  J.,  the  widow  of  Mr.  Barnes, 
of  Bates  County,  Mo.;  and  Alpheus,  a    resident  of 


Linn  County  .Kan.  In  the  f.-ill  of  1836,wlien  William 
was  a  lad  of  seven  j'cars,  he  left  his  early  home  in 
Licking  Count}',  Ohio,  witli  his  parents  who  came 
to  Illinois.  They  first  located  in  Fulton  County, 
and  five  years  later  removed  to  Knox  County,  the 
family  residing  there  ten  years  and  in  the  mean- 
time the  father  died,  his  death  occuring  March  29, 
1852.  The  mother  of  our  subject  who  is  now  quite 
aged  lives  in  Linn  County,  Kan.,  making  her  home 
with  her  son  there. 

Our  subject  has  i)assed  tl'.e  most  of  his  life  in 
Illinois  and  can  know  but  very  little  of  any  other 
home.  He  received  limited  educational  advan- 
tages, as  the  pioneer  schools  were  but  indifferent 
institutions  of  learning.  However,  he  has  read 
and  observed  much  and  has  kept  himself  very 
well  posted  on  all  things  of  general  concern.  In 
1862  Mr.  Whitten  journeyed  across  the  plains  and 
mountains,  and  passed  some  three  j-ears  in  Mon- 
tana, Idaho,  Washington  and  the  northeast  part 
of  Oregon  in  search  of  gold.  He  found  that  pre- 
cious metal  in  various  places  but  he  frankly  says 
that  the  expedition  could  not  be  c  msidered  a 
financial  success.  After  his  return  to  Peoria 
County,  he  resumed  his  farming  operations  and 
has  ever  since  resided  here  in  contentment,  peace 
and  comparative  happiness.  He  located  on  his 
present  farm  in  1857,  and  has  had  to  work  hard 
to  bring  it  to  its  present  fine  condition.  He  bought 
the  land  in  1855  in  company  with  his  brother,  A. 
F.,  paying  $12.50  an  acre  for  it.  The  land  which 
comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  was  in  a 
pi imitive  condition,  never  a  furrow  having  been 
turned  or  a  harvest  reaped  from  its  virgin  soil.  In 
1868  our  subject  bought  out  his  brother's  interest 
on  the  place  and  has  since  had  sole  possession  of 
it.  In  1888  he  built  his  present  fine  residence,  in 
which  he  and  his  wife  have  one  of  the  coziest  and 
most  comfortably  furnished  of  homes. 

Mr.  Whitten  w.as  married  November  25,  1869, 
to  Miss  Zillah  P.  Lucas,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a 
daughter  of  Er.astusand  Isabella(  Lucas) Lucas.both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased.  She  was  born  February 
i;j,  1849.  By  their  union  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  six  ehildreJi,  of  whom  the  following  are 
recorded:  John  L.  was  born  October  20,  1870; 
Lida  M.,  M.ay  .31,  1874;  Carrie  L.,  April   1,    1877; 


732 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Azel  O..  September  2,  1879:  May  Isabella.  Decem- 
ber 23,  1881:  William  AV.  December  26,  1883. 

Jlr.  Whitten  is' a  man  of  sound,  sensible  views, 
is  scriipulousl}'  honest  and  just  in  all  bis  dealings, 
.and  these  excellent  characteristics,  together  with 
his  geni.al  and  obliging  nature,  have  won  him 
man  J'  steadfast  friends.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  is  ever  willing  to  lend  a  hand  in  push- 
ing forward  all  enterprises  that  will  contribute  to 
the  public  good.  He  and  his  wife  are  among  the 
most  consistent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  their  conduct  of  the  afifairs  of  every 
day  life  shows  that  their  religion  is  not  a  mere 
empty   form. 


IIAKLE.S  BREIER  &  SONS.  One  of  the 
most  flourishing  business  establishments  of 
'•f'  Peoria  is  that  of  the  gentlemen  above 
named,  who  keeps  a  large  livery  stable  with  forlj' 
horses  and  a  full  supplj'  of  excellent  vehicles  and 
ether  eqnipments.  The  business  was  established 
b3-  Mr.  Breier  in  1808,  and  he  is  now  assisted  in  its 
management  b}-  two  sons — William  and  Albert. 
Mr.  Breier  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  April 
27,  1828,  and  spent  the  first  twentj'  years  of  his 
life  in  the  land  of  his  forefathers.  He  then  came 
to  America  and,  locating  in  Peoria,  engaged  in 
butchering,  in  which  he  had  been  occupied  to  some 
extent  in  the  old  countrj'.  He  also  dealt  in  cattle, 
working  up  an  excellent  trade  in  which  he  contin- 
ued until  he  entered  upon  )iis  present  occupation. 

This  gentleman  is  a  son  of  Heurj-  and  Fredericka 
Breier,  his  father  having  been  a  butcher  and  saloon 
keeper.  Of  tlie  six  children  belonging  to  the  pa- 
rental family,  four  are  now  living,  all  remaining 
in  Hanover  except  him  of  whom  we  write.  The  eld- 
est, Henry,  follows  his  father's  business  of  butcher- 
ing; William  is  Cit^-  Clerk  of  Hanover;  Ernst  is  in 
the  furniaire  trade. 

On  the  8th  of  August,  1850,  nuptial  rites  were 
celebrated  between  Charles  Breier  and  Miss  Au- 
gusta Lehne,  who  belonged  to  a  familj'  that  emi- 
grated from  Germanj'  in  1848.  Mrs.  Breier  is  a 
notable  housewife,  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and 
a  neighbor  to  whose  kindliness  many  bear  witness. 


She  has  borne  nine  children,  five  of  whom  have 
been  removed  by  death.  Besides  the  two^sons  en- 
gaged with  the  father  in  business,  there  are  now 
living  Mrs.  Emma  Schober,  engaged  in  the  grocery 
trade,  and  Minnie,  wife  of  Charles  Zimmerman,  a 
druggist  in  Peoiia.  William,  the  elder  son,  was 
married  May  11,  1887,  to  Fannie,  daughter  of  Phil- 
opona  Peters,  of  Peoria;  they  have  one  daughter. 
He  belongs  to  various  civic  societies,  namely:  The 
Masonic  fraternity.  Ancient  Order  of  Druids;  Red 
Men,  Turners,  Concordia,  Humboldt,  Knights  and 
Ladies  of  Honor. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  served  as  Alderman 
in  1866;  he  has  also  held  the  office  of  Highway 
Commissioner.  He  is  a  sturdy  Democrat,  never 
failing  to  cast  his  vote  on  election  daj'.  He  belongs 
to  the  Concordia  .Society  and  the  Peoria  Rifle  Club, 
taking  the  interest  usually  manifested  by  those  of 
his  nationality  in  the  matters  which  form  the  prom- 
inent interests  in  these  organizations. 


;  QUILLA  HL'BER.  Among  the  men  who 
have  for  some  j^ears  been  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  the  town  of  Dun- 
lap,  is  the  gentleman  above  named,  a  first- 
class  shoemaker,  and  the  possessor  of  tact  and 
shrewdness  in  the  prosecutljn  of  business.  His 
parents,  John  G.  and  Anna  M.  (Gremminger)  Hu- 
.ber,  were  natives  of  Wurtcmburg,  Germany, whence 
the}-  emigrated  about  1851,  settling  near  Morton, 
Tazewell  County,  this  State.  Thence  thej-  removed 
toCruger,  Woodford  County,  afterward  living  in 
Kentuck}'.  in  Cairo.  111.,  and  St.  Louis,  Mo.  In 
1863,  the}'  settled  in  Peoria,  this  county,  where  the 
father  died  ten  years  later.  The  mother  is  still 
living,  now  quite  advanced  in  years.  Their  family 
consisted  of  four  children,  two  of  whom  grew  up. 
Our  subject  is  the  first-born  in  the  parental  fam- 
il}'  and  opened  his  ej'es  to  the  light  near  Morton, 
April  30,  185-1.  He  resided  under  the  parent.il 
roof  until  the  death  of  his  father  from  whom  he 
learned  the  trade  which  he  successfullj-  followed 
for  a  number  of  years.  After  the  death  of  his  par- 
ent he  worked  for  different  parties  about  a  twelve- 


,1^' 


N: 


/^'Si 


MDQyyyi^ 


^^pty^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


735 


niontli,  tlieu  located  in  Piiuceville,  following  his 
trarle  there  two  years.  In  1876,  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Dunlap,  still  pursuing  his  trade,  but  also 
operating  a  boot  and  shoe  store  al)out  six  j'ears,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  time  he  engaged  in  the  sa- 
loon business,  lie  has  erected  a  comfortable  and 
substantial  residence  and  has  surrounded  Lis  familj- 
with  many  comforts. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Huljer  was  celebrated 
in  Peoria  in  1880,  his  bride  being  Miss  Louisa 
Langheiniich,  a  native  of  that  city.  -She  survived 
until  .January  14,  1884.  when  her  career  was  cut 
short  by  an  untimel3'  death.  She  left  one  child — 
Tillie  JI.  Mr.  Iluber  contracted  a  second  matri- 
mojiial  alliance  March  18,  1886,  the  solemn  rites 
being  celebrated  in  Princeville.  The  present  Mrs. 
Iluber  was  formerly  known  as  Miss  Lena  Feinholz, 
is  a  native  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  a  woman  of  do- 
mestic skill  and  estimable  character.  She  has  borne 
her  husband  two  daughters  and  one  son — Floin, 
Carrie  and  A(iuilla. 


-^—^^ 


<^/AMES  JORDAN  is  the  youngest  son  of 
Patrick  and  Catherine  Jordan,  who  came  to 
Peoria  County,  III.,  when  our  subject  was  a 
child  of  one  year.  Their  advent  was  made 
in  18.53,  and  after  living  a  short  time  in  the  city 
they  removed  to  a  farm  in  Limestone  Township, 
where  thej'  resided  until  the  death  of  the  father. 
The  mother  then  went  back  to  Peoria  to  live  with 
a  married  daughter,  ai^d  now  makes  her  liome 
there.  The  father  was  killed  on  a  bridge  near  his 
home,  by  a  runaway  team,  August  23,  1878,  leav- 
ing a  family  of  eighl'children,  four  boys  and  four 
girls,  all  of  whom  arc  now  living.  The  mother  is 
in  good  health  at  this  writing,  although  she  has 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  the 
farm  and  received  his  elementary  training  in  the 
district  scliools,  finishing  his  education  at  the  Nor- 
mal School  in  Peoria,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  class  of  '73.  For  a  short  while  he 
followed  teaching,  then  took  a  trip  to  see  the  coun- 
try, and  in  the  course  of  his  travels  visited   Wis- 


consin, Minnesota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Dakota,  Iowa, 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  all  the  States  bordering  on 
the  Miss!ssip|)l  River.  He  reached  Texas  without 
mishap,  and  remained  there  two  j'ears  engaged  in 
the  exciting  sport  of  hunting  buffaloes,  which  were 
•at  that  time  very  plentiful.  A  few  years  later  the 
business  had  ceased  to  be  profitable,  the  herds  hav- 
ing become  small  and  widely  scattered.  In  1870 
the  country,  as  far  as  could  be  seen,  was  a  vast 
treeless  plain,  and  the  ground  covered  in  every 
direction  by  one  large,  moving  mass  of  the  shaggy 
creatures;  two  years  later  they  had  disappeared, 
and  were,  for  that  section  of  the  country,  things  of 
the  past. 

Our  subject  returned  home  in  1878  a  few  months 
prior  to  his  father's  death,  and  when  th.at  event 
occurred  he,  in  company  with  his  l)rother  Patrick, 
took  charge  of  the  farm.  They  bought  out  the  in- 
terests of  the  otiier  heirs  and  divided  the  place  be- 
tween tliem,  our  subject  taking  the  portion  con- 
taining the  family  residence.  Before  the  division 
the  farm  contained  four  hundred  and  thirty-two 
acres  of  land,  which  had  been  largely  improved  by 
the  father  during  his  lifetime.  It  was  under  a 
good  state  of  cultivation,  and  b.as  been  further  im- 
proved and  beautified  until  it  is  now  one  of  the 
handsomest  places  in  the  county. 

In  1881  Mr.  Jordan  took  to  himself  a  wife  in 
the  person  of  Miss  Mary  Tighe,  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  Tighe,  natives  of  County  Kil- 
kenny, Ireland,  and  at  the  time  of  the  marriage  of 
their  daughter  residing  at  No.  1 14  Charlotte  Street, 
Peoria,  111.  The  family  of  Mrs.  Jordan  came  di- 
rectly from  their  native  land  to  the  city  of  Peoria 
about  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War,  and  have 
resided  there  from  that  time  to  the  present,  with 
the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in  Burlington, 
Iowa.  The  father  died  in  April,  1890;  the  mother 
still  lives  in  Peoria.  The  Jordans  were  originally 
from  the  same  county  in  Ireland  as  the  Tighes,  but 
they  tarried  in  Ohio  for  a  number  of  years  before 
taking  up  their  residence  in  Illinois.  Our  subject 
was  born  while  the  family  were  living  on  a  farm 
near  Zanesville,  Muskingum  County,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Jordan  takes  an  .active  interest  in  all  matters 
of  political  importance,  and  has  done  as  much  for 
the  success  of  his  partj' — the  Democratic — as  any 


736 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


man  in  the  township.  In  1883  he  was  appointed  to 
fill  a  vacancy  in  tho  office  of  Iliohway  Commis- 
sioner, and  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  was  elected 
to  the  place,  and  has  laeen  successively  re-elected 
to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  seven  years.  In 
1800  he  was  further  honored  b}-  the  nomination  of 
his  )iartj'  to  the  office  of  Supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship, and  at  election  time  his  friends  rallied  to  his 
supiiort  and  triumphantl}'  elected  him.  His  con- 
duct in  office  has  been  such  as  to  call  forth  many 
.  encomiums  fi'om  botli  friends  and  jmrty  opponents. 
He  is  gentlemanly  in  his  demeanor,  and  makes 
many  friends.  He  is  one  of  the  firm  of  Jordan 
Brothers  &  Swords,  contractors  and  excavators  of 
this  cit}'.  He  has  an  interesting  family  of  five 
children,  whose  names  are:  Katie,  Josie.  Martin, 
Roger  and  Leo.  They  are  bright  children,  and 
give  promise  of  much  future  usefulness  in  the 
world.  A  fine  portrait  of  this  gentleman  may  be 
seen  elsewliere. 


i\  ARTIN  VAN  BUREN  CONKLIN.  Proba- 
bl}'  the  most  important  member  of  the  com- 
munity of  Mapleton  in  business  and  politi- 
cal affairs,  is  the  gentleman  above  named, 
wlio  carries  on  llie  only  large  mercantile  business 
therein.  He  is  still  quite  a3-oung  man  having  been 
born  July  15,1 858. but  has  already  pushed  himself  to 
the  front  by  reason  of  energy  and  good  business 
qualities.  He  was  born  in  Mason  County,  in  the 
little  town  of  Bath,  where  he  lived  until  reaching 
man's  estate.  He  is  a  son  of  Henrj-  and  Eliza 
(Nott)  Couklin,  who  were  natives  of  the  Empire 
State.  Henrj'  Conklin  had  been  left  an  orphan  at 
an  earlj'  age,  and  lie  and  his  wife  died  when  our 
subject  was  but  ten  j'ears  old.  During  the  summer 
the  latter  worked  for  money  with  which  to  pay  ins 
board  wliile  attending  school  in  the  winter  and  so 
secured  for  himself  a  fair  education. 

Wiien  twenty-one  j'ears  old  Mr.  Conklin  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jennie  E.  Hardin,  a 
native  of  the  same  county  as  himself  and  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Martha  (Micklen)  Hardin.  Her  an- 
cestors were  of  English  origin,  the  Hardins  being 


of  the  old  Maryland  stock.  The  young  couple 
went  to  Johnson  County,  N«b.,  where  Mr.  Conklin 
purchased  a  farm  and  lived  seven  years.  He  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  second  farm  in  the  same  county 
prior  to  the  expiration  of  that  period,  when  he  sold 
out  and  returned  to  Mason  County. 

Embarking  in  the  mercantile  business  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Kilhiirn,  Mr.  Conklin  continued  in  trade 
there  about  three  years,  when  in  1886  he  removed 
to  Mapleton,  Peoria  County,  and  bouglit  out  the 
business  of  James  Walker,  together  with  the  fine 
residence  and  store  occupied  by  that  gentleman. 
Since  locating  here  he  has  been  interested  in  coal 
mining,  but  has  recently  disposed  of  his  mining 
stock  and  now  devotes  himself  entirelj'  to  his  mer- 
cantile business.  He  carries  a  full  line  of  all  goods 
sold  in  a  general  store  and  is  working  up  a  fine 
trade  for  a  village  of  this  size. 

When  Mr.  Conklin  bought  out  Mr.  Walker  he 
also  took  full  charge  of  the  jiost-ollice.  which  he 
kept  for  two  years  or  more.  In  the  spring  of  1889 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Township  Supervisor 
for  the  short  term,  and  in  the  spring  of  1890  was 
re-elected  for  tiie  long  term.  He  has  been  an  active 
Democrat  since  Grover  Cleveland  was  first  nomin- 
ated for  the  Presidency,  and  since  removing  to 
Mapleton  has  done  much  for  the  partj'  in  Ilollis 
Townshi]).  He  belongs  to  Phoenix  Lodge  No. 
C63,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  and  his  good  wife  have 
four  children,  named,  respectivelj',  Gertrude,  Ollie 
May,  Fay,  and  Hardin  Guj'.  They  form  an  inter- 
esting group  whose  growth  and  intelligence  delights 
the  hearts  of  their  parents,  whose  object  it  is  to  fit 
them  for  useful  and  honorable  careers. 


T-#-V-^-i" •' 


NDREW  WEATHERWAX,  a  pioneer  of 
Brimfleld  Township,  occupying  a  fertile 
1 L*  and  attractive  estate  on  section  11,  is  one 
of  those  to  whom  Peoria  County  owes  a 
debt  of  gratitude  for  unremitting  industr}',  well- 
directed  eflforts  and  sturdy  integrity  during  many 
years.  He  is  a  native  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio, 
born  April  27,  1827.    His  fatlu  r,  George  Weather- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


737 


wax,  is  believed  to  Imve  been  a  native  of  New 
Yorlv  State,  and  his  mother,  Susan  (Craig)  Weather- 
wax,  of  Virginia.  The  father  was  a  pioneer  in  the 
wilderness  of  Holmes  County,  where  he  and  his 
wife  entered  Into  rest  after  having  seen  a  niarljed 
change  in  the  appearaucn  of  that  country  and  borne 
a  fair  share  in  tlie  toil  which  conduced  to  it. 

The  parental  family  was  a  large  one,  comprising 
twelve  children.  Those  now  living  are,  John,  a 
resident  in  Greene  County,  Ind.;  Andrew,  of  whom 
we  write;  Ann,  whose  liome  is  in  the  Buckeye  State; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Thompson  Patterson,  living  in 
Warren  County,  Iowa;  .lacob,  a  resident  in  Ohio; 
Abram,  living  in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  and 
George  L..  of  Peoria  County,  111. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  his  native  county,  bred  partly  to  farm 
pursuits  and  partlj'  to  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  his 
father  before  him  having  been  a  mechanic.  He  I'e- 
ceived  his  education  in  the  early  subscription 
schools  of  Ohio,  and  although  his  advantages  were 
not  of  the  best  he  has  endeavored  to  keep  posted 
regarding  the  general  topics  of  interest  and  while 
mainly  self-educated,  is  well  informed  and  intelli- 
gent. About  1847  he  went  to  Ohio  County,  W. 
Va.,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  tluee  years. 
He  then  rented  land  five  }'ears. 

On  December  24,  1847,  Mr.  Weatherwax  w.-is 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  McGlothlin,  of  the  county 
in  which  he  located,  who  has  borne  him  two  chil- 
dren, Susan  and  George  W.,  the  former  now  de- 
ceased. The  paternal  ancestors  of  Mrs.  Weather- 
wax  are  said  to  have  been  Irish.  To  her  parents 
were  born  four  children.  Jane  is  now  the  widow 
of  Joseph  Buchanan,  living  in  Virginia;  Ezekiel 
lives  in  the  same  State,  and  so  also  does  Kmily, 
wife  of  James  Nickerson. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Weatherwax  removed  with  his 
family  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  where  for  a  time  he 
operated  rented  land,  finally  purchasing  that  on 
which  he  now  resides,  owning  all  told  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  The  farm  was  new  and  in  poor 
condition,  but  by  dint  of  persevering  energy  and 
good  management  it  was  gradually  brought  to  a 
condition  equal  to  that  of  other  well-improved 
farms  in  the  township.  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Weatherwax 
have  a  clear  understanding  of  what  is  embraced  in 


pioneer  life  and  looking  back  to  their  earlier  hard- 
ships and  toils,  rejoice  in  their  present  peace  and 
plenty  and  tiic  beautiful  appearance  of  tlie  country 
round  about  them. 

Mr.  Weatherwax  is  independent  in  politics,voting 
for  the  principles  and  the  man,  not  the  party.  He 
can  always  be  counted  upon  when  movements  for 
the  public  good  are  on  fool,  being  anxious  to  have 
future  generations  enjoy  every  possible  opportun- 
ity for  comfort  and  improvement.  He  is  well 
known  and  esteemed  in  his  locality,  and  the  esti- 
mable woman  whose  wise  counsel  and  loving  as- 
sistance have  been  his  for  years,  has  likewise  many 
friends. 


OHN  R.  ENGLISH,  deceased,  shared  in  the 
pioneer  labors  that  resulted  in  bringing  this 
county  to  its  present  tine  condition  as  re- 
_  gards  its  wealth  and  rank  among  its  sister 
counties,  and  when  he  laid  down  his  life-work  April 
4,  1887,  in  the  comfortable  home  which  he  had 
built  up  for  his  family  in  Brimfleld  Township,  he 
left  behind  a  record  of  an  industrious  man  of 
exemplary  habits  and  upright  life  that  many  a  man 
might  envy. 

Mr.  English  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  March 
25,  1824,  to  Dan'el  and  Lucy  English.  He  was 
reared  in  their  humble  pioneer  home  amid  the 
primitive  scenes  of  his  native  State  at  that  early 
day  of  its  settlement,  and  w.as  brought  up  to  a 
farmer's  life  and  always  followed  that  calling.  His 
educational  advantages  were  not  extensive,  but  he 
acquired  sufficient  book-learning  to  enable  him  to 
transact  business  properly,  which  was  about  all  the 
education  the  youth  of  his  day  received.  He  con- 
tinued to  live  in  Ohio  until  18G0,  having  in  the 
meantime  married  and  established  a  home  on  his 
native  soil.  Thinking  that  he  could  materially 
better  his  financial  condition  on  the  rich  prairies  of 
this  Slate,  he  came  here  that  year,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  two  children,  and  for  a  few  years  was 
a  resident  of  Sangamon  County.  He  subsequently 
came  to  this  county  and  located  on  the  farm  still 
occupied  by  his  widow.     At  the  time  of   his  death 


738 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


it  comprised  sixty  acres  of  land  wliich  lie  liad 
placed  under  excellent  cuUivaLion  and  had  \n-o- 
vided  it  with  all  necessary  improvements  including 
an  excellent  set  of  buildings.  Its  acreage  has  since 
been  reducedliy  the  sale  of  a  part  of  it  and  now 
comprises  forty  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is 
owned  by  his  widow. 

Mr.  English  secured  bj'  his  marriage  to  Miss  Al- 
mira  lieardsley,  which  was  solemnized  October  12, 
1854,  one  of  the  best  of  wives,  whose  encourage- 
ment and  cheerful  assistance  greatly  aided  luni  in 
his  work.  She  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
February  24,  183G.  Her  parents  were  Daniel  and 
Fannie  (Leggett)  Beardsley,  the  former  a  native  of 
tlie  State  of  New  York,  and  the  latter  thought  to 
have  been  born  in  Virginia.  Five  of  the  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  English  are  still  living, 
namely:  William,  David,  Daniel,  Flora  and  Milton. 
The  four  deceased  are,  Lucy.  Henrietta,  Elsworth 
and  Ann. 

Mr  English  was  a  thoroughly  good^mau,  whom 
to  know  was  to  esteem,  and  he  was  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  his  fellow-citizens.  He  was  a  hard  worker, 
was  prudent  and  frugal,  was  sober  minded  and 
honest,  and  these  traits  placed  him  among  our  most 
desirable  citizens  and  his  death  was  a  loss  to  the 
township. 

Mrs.  English  is  one  of  a  family  of  six  children, 
of  whom  three  are  now  living,  herself,  her  brother 
Milton  and  her  sister  Dorinda.  She  has  been  a  wit- 
ness of  much  of  the  growth  of  this  part  of  the 
country  and  may  be  classed  among  its  worthy  pio- 
neer women. 


^ 


E^ 


j;^^IIOMAS  D.  GANTT,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  a  well-known  and  honored  resi- 
dent of  Peoria,  who  was  influential  in  vari- 
ous ways  in  advancing  its  interest  in  different 
directions,  and  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  pro- 
motion of  various  projects  for  the  improvement  of 
the  city,  and  his  death,  while  scarcely  past  the 
meridian  of  life  was  a  serious  loss  to  the  com- 
munity with  whose  material,  social  and  religious 
interests,  he  had  so  thoroughly  identified  himself. 


Mr.  Gantt  was  liorn  in  Newport.  Pa.,  April  17, 
1833,  a  son  of  Hiram  Gantt.  His  parents  removed 
to  Philadelphia  when  he  was  a  lad  and  he  received 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  city,  and  then 
for  a  short  time,  worked  on  his  father's  farm  in 
that  vicinity.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  book- 
keeping for  a  number  of  years,  and  finally  estab- 
lished a  grocery  store  at  Atkinson,  in  Henry  County, 
he  having  gone  there  when  a  young  man.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  station  agent  on  the  Rock 
Island  Road.  After  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
he  became  connected  with  the  Commissary  Depart- 
ment, and  for  that  reason  came  to  Peoria.  He  re- 
mained in  the  Government  employ  until  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  rendered  very  efficient  aid  as 
a  commissary  official.  After  peace  was  declared  he 
accepted  a  position  as  clerk,  and  later  was  agent 
for  three  years  for  the  packet  office.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  he  became  a  railway  official,  and 
was  soon  given  the  position  of  general  freight  and 
track  agent  of  tiie  C.  P.  &  S.  W.  Railway,  and  acted 
in  that  capacity  until  that  railway  was  sold.  During 
this  time  his  office  was  in  Jolietin  the  general  office 
of  the  same  road,  but  he  still  made  his  home  in 
Peoria,  and  for  a  time  was  at  Evansville,  Ind.,  on 
the  Blue  Line. 

About  three  years  before  his  death  Mr.  Gantt  re- 
tired from  that  business,  and  his  fellow-citizens, 
finding  him  free  to  devote  his  time  to  public  affairs, 
called  him  to  the  important  office  of  Secretary  of 
the  Peoria  Improvement  Association,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  until  the  time  of  his  death  November 
24,  1889.  He  was  very  much  interested  in  his  work 
and  lent  cheerful  assistance  to  all  plans  for  beauti- 
fying and  improving  the  city  and  adding  to  its  at- 
tractiveness as  a  place  of  residence.  Mr.  Gantt  was 
in  other  ways  closely  identified  with  the  progress 
of  the  city.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  was  very  active  in 
securing  the  erection  of  the  building.  He  was  one 
of  the  leading  members  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  State  Fair  he  was  Secretary  for 
local  and  city  matters.  He  was  much  prospered  in 
his  finances  and  built  a  handsome  residence  at  No. 
207  Fifth  Street. 

Mr.  Gantt's  devoted  wife  to  whom  he  owed  much 
of  liis  success  in  life,  survives  him.     The^-  were 


& 


/ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


741 


united  in  marriage  in  1856,  and  of  their  union  are 
two  cliildren:  Ira  W.  of  Chicago,  and  Thomas  A. 
of  this  city.  Mrs.  Gantt's  maiden  name  was  Sn- 
retta  Walters  and  she  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  David  Walters.  She  remained  in  that 
State  until  she  was  thirteen  and  then  came  to  At- 
kinson in  this  Stale. 


1^^    II AHVEY  LAMBERT,  M.D.,F.G.S.  Al- 

^^^  though  tliis  gentleman  has  been  located  in 
IvL^-*)  I'Ptiria  but  a  brief  period  he  has  already  won 
the  lionors  of  a  slvillfid,  conscientious  lihysi- 
cian,  continuing  llie  reputation  which  he  had  held 
elsewhere.  He  was  the  recipient  of  the  best  of  in- 
struction, both  from  |)rivate  parlies  under  wliom  he 
read  and  in  I  lie  schools  which  he  attended,  and  has 
continued  liie  pursuit  of  knowledge  regarding  his 
chosen  profession,  making  various  scientific  inves- 
tigations which  have  a  bearing  on  his  work  and 
contributing  some  excellent  articles  to  the  literature 
of  the  science  which  he  professes,  many  of  his 
treatises  being  widely  circulated. 

Dr.  Lamlicrt  was  born  in  Eaton,  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  February  2.'),  1851,  being  a  son  of  Jeremiah 
D.  l^ambert,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  had  come  to 
the  Buckeye  State  in  1838.  The  father  remained 
in  Eaton  until  185!l  when  he  changed  the  |ilace  of 
his  residence  to  Liberty,  Ind.,  and  in  1808  he  re- 
moved to  Union  City,  in  which  place  he  is  still 
living.  When  the  removal  took  place  our  subject 
was  a  lad  of  about  eleven  years  and  when  twelve 
years  of  age  he  returned  to  his  native  place  where 
he  spent  two  j'cars  under  the  tutelage  of  Dr. 
Huggins.  Returning  to  Union  City  he  took  a  course 
of  study  in  the  academy  at  that  place  and  when 
nineteen  years  old,  following  the  bent  of  his  natural 
tastes,  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Daniel 
W.  Humphreyvillo,  a  man  of  rare  ability,  who  is 
now  located  at  Walerville,  Kan. 

In  1872  young  Lambert  entered  the  Medical 
College,  of  Ohio,  at  Cincinnati,  continuing  his 
studies  there  two  years,  then  returning  to  the  office 
of  his  former  preceptor,  with  whom  he  practiced  a 
year.     He    next   spent   live  years  at  Ogden,  Lnd., 


and  from  there  went  to  Indianapolis,  where  in  1880 
he  graduated  from  the  Central  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons.  While  there  ho  was  the  per- 
sonal assistant  of  Dr.  Joseph  Eastman, Demonstrator 
of  Anatomy,  and  also  of  Dr.  Haughton,  Surgical 
Clinic.  After  this  experience  he  located  in  As- 
sumption, 111.,  and  while  in  active  practice  there 
was  chosen  Local  Surgeon  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  in  which  capacity  ho  served  until  1885. 
He  was  then  chosen  Exarainer-in-Chief  and  Blcdical 
Actuary  to  the  Northwestern  Benevolent  Associa- 
tion, a  position  which  he  resigned  in  1887  on  ac- 
count of  his  health,  locating  in  Peoria.  While 
serving  in  the  arduous  position  he  held  in  the 
Northwestei-n  Benevolent  Association,  he  won  the 
respect  and  confidence]  of  his  "associates  on  the 
Board,  as  he  has  that  of  other  members  of  the  pro- 
fession whom  he  has  met  in  the  course  of  his  life 
work. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Lambert  and  Miss  Callie 
Funk  was  celebrated  at  the  liridc's  home  October 
21,  1873.  She  is  a  native  of^Ohio,  a  member  of 
an  old  and  honored  family,  and  the  possessor  of 
the  ready  intelligence,  synii)alliizing  spirit  and  cul- 
ture which  (it  her  for  a  place  by  the  side  of  a  young 
man  who  already  displays  such  ability  as  her  hus- 
band and  who  bids  fair  to  rise  still  higher  as  his 
years  increase.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Lambert '  have 
two  children:  Winnie,  born  November  5,  187G,and 
Hermann,  November  1),  1878.  The  family  attend 
the  I'resbyterian  Church  and  Dr.'[Lambert  is  a 
member  of  the  Ind('i)endent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

A  portrait  of  Dr.  Lambert  is  shown  on  another 
l)age  of  this  volume. 

<X\  MLLIAM  J.  BRUS.  This  name  will  be  at 
\/qJ//  once  recognized  by  the  German  citizen  of 
\ysf/  Peoria,  as  that  of  a  gentleman  who  is  edi- 
torially connected  with  the  Sonniags  Post,  and  who 
is  well  known  to  many  besides  those  of  similar  an- 
cestr}-.  He  was  scarcel3-  more  than  a  boy  when  he 
began  contributing  to  a  newspaper,  and  so  much 
fitness  for  journalism  did  he  exhibit,  that  he  rap- 
idly advanced  to  a  position  as  associate  editor,    lie 


742 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


wields  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  is  terse,  vigorous 
and  courageous  in  iiis  expressions  when  dealing 
with  questions  of  social  or  political  import,  and 
skillful  in  his  selection  of  that  which  exchanges 
can  furnish  to  his  patrons. 

Mr.  Brus  is  a  son  of  Anton  and  Mar3'  (Seifcrt) 
Brus,  natives  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  whence  they 
emigrated  to  Americii  in  1850.  The  father  had 
been  a  weaver  in  his  native  land,  but  after  coming 
to  America  engaged  in  farming.  In  1855  the}'  re- 
moved to  Tazewell  County,  111.,  Mr.  Brus  dying  at 
Groveland  in  August,  1865.  Mrs.  Brus  had  de- 
parted this  life  a  few  mouths  after  the  birth  of 
our  subject,  the  only  son,  who  was  born  June  27, 
1853,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  W.  Xa.  The  boy  attended 
the  public  sciiools  in  Tazewell  County  six  years, 
displaying  aptness  in  comprehending  that  to  which 
he  applied  himself  and  grasping  the  practical  rela- 
tion of  his  studies  to  the  work  of  life. 

In  1865  young  Brus  entered  the  office  of  the 
German  Demokrat,  in  Peoria,  and  from  the  position 
of  office  boy  worked  up  until  he  was  able  to  do  any 
duty  connected  with  a  printing  establishment.  His 
first  contributions  to  the  press  were  published  in 
the  columns  of  the  Demokmt,  with  which  he  sev- 
ered his  relation  in  1876,  in  order  to  take  charge 
of  the  Pekin  Fi-eie  Presse  as  foreman  and  associate 
editor.  In  1879  he  returned  to  Peoria,  and  became 
one  of  the  firm  publishing  the  Peoria  Sonne.  The 
firm  of  Wolf  &  Brus  continued  six  3^ears,  when  the 
second  member  withdrew,  and  in  connection  with 
Mr.  Rennen,  started  the  Sonntags  Post.  Mr.  Ren- 
nen  died  soon  after  the  establishment  of  the  paper, 
and  others  have  been  associated  with  our  subject  in 
its  publication,  the  firm  now  being  Brus  &  Schaefer. 

The  Post  is  a  first-class  family  paper,  extensivel}' 
circulated  in  Peoria  and  the  adjoining  counties. 
Beside  editing  and  managing  the  Post,  Mr.  Brus 
has  connected  with  it  a  complete  job  office,  which 
his  thorough  knowledge  of  printing  enables  him  to 
conduct  in  such  a  manner  as  to  send  out  good  work 
at  prices  satisfactory  to  his  patrons,  while  leaving 
him  a  fair  margin  of  profit. 

An  event  of  great  importance  to  our  subject  and 
to  Miss  Mary  Schleehuber  occurred  November  27, 
1878,  it  being  the  celebraticm  of  their  marriage 
rites.     Their  home  is  brightened  by  the   preserce 


of  four  children — Dora  Antoinette,  William  Jo- 
seph, Elmer  Peter,  and  Joseph  Emil.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brus  mourn  the  loss  of  one  child.  Thej'  have  manj' 
friends  throughout  the  city,  and  the  social  nature 
of  our  subject  finds  an  added  expression  through 
various  societies  to  which  he  belongs.  He  is  As 
sistant  Secretary  in  the  St.  Joseph  Benevolent  So- 
ciety, Vice-President  of  the  Knights  of  St.  George, 
and  President  of  St.  Michael's  School  Society.  Po- 
litically he  is  independent.  He  and  his  wife  are 
both  members  of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church. 

-^ •^"^* -— 


\|]OSEPII  D.  HIGGS  is  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
tlers in  this  countj',  to  which  lie  was  brought 
^^  1  when  an  infant,  in  1835.  He  has  devoted 
(^|//  himself  to  agriculture  as  a  life-work,  has  ac. 
quired  an  independent  fortune  thereb}',  and  while 
prosecuting  his  private  affairs  has  not  neglected  his 
duties  to  his  fellow-men,  but  has  secured  a  high 
standing  in  the  community  as  one  of  the  most 
worthy  citizens.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Caroline  (Doty)  Higgs,  of  whom  and  his  ancestry 
an  account  is  given  in  the  biography  of  Charles 
Higgs,  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Our  subject  w.as  born  near  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.. 
January  4,  1835,  the  scenes  of  his  earliest  recollec- 
tions being  in  Trivoli  Township,  where  he  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  earl}'  bearing  his  share  in  the 
develoi)meut  of  the  homestead  and  pursuing  the 
limited  school  advantages  furnished  by  the  first 
free  schools  of  the  district.  Oxen  were  used  upon 
the  place  and  many  a  day  has  he  spent  in  driving 
five  3'oke  when  hauling  rails  or  produce.  His  rec- 
ollection goes  back  to  the  time  when  wild  game 
was  plentiful  -and  wolves  and  other  savage  animals 
roamed  at  will  over  the  prairies.  He  remained  at 
home  until  twenty  years  old,  then  began  working 
out  by  the  year,  thus  getting  his  flr^t  start  in  life. 
As  soon  as  possible  he  bought  a  team  of  horses, 
which  he  used  in  breaking  prairie  during  the  sum- 
mer and  in  teaming  for  A.  D.  Reed,  hauling  pork 
from  Farmington  to  Reed's  Landing  on  the  Illinois 
River. 

After  having  followed  those  occupations  two  or 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


743 


three  years,  Mr.  Hiiigs  located  on  eiglity  acres  of 
his  father's  laml  in  Marshall  t'ounty.  iuiproying  the 
place  and  oiterating  it  for  some  years.  He  then 
bought  eighty  acres  near  Canton,  Fulton  County, 
and  in  1880  bought  eighty  acres  of  partly  improved 
land  in  Trivt)li  Township,  this  county,  which  forms 
a  part  of  his  present  estate.  He  was  soon  able  to 
purchase  an  adjoining  eighty  acres  on  the  south, 
which  he  also  improved,  farming  the  entire  quarter- 
section  until  1875.  He  then  bought  eighty  acres 
on  section  il.  for  %<5.'250,  taking  [tossession  of  it,  but 
still  rotauiing  his  ownership  of  the  old  place. 

In  the  prosecution  of  his  work,  Mr.  Higgs  uses 
the  latest  machinery  and  means  of  fertilization.  He 
has  put  in  tiles,  built  good  fences,  set  out  hedges, 
and  fitted  each  of  the  farms  with  the  necessary 
buildings.  He  has  raised  both  stock  and  grain, 
feeding  a  large  [lart  of  the  latter  to  hogs  and  cattle, 
in  which  he  has  dealt  quite  extensively.  He  has  also 
raised  draft  horses  and  roadsters.  He  now  rents 
most  of  his  land,  although  he  continues  to  occup}' 
one  of  the  residences  upon  it. 

Realizing  thai  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  live 
alone,  Mr.  Higgs  won  as  Iks  comi)anLon  Miss  Nancy 
Kline,  with  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
Farmiiigton,  November  8,  1859.  His  bride  was 
liurn  in  Franklin  Count}',  Pa.,  .June  6.  1835,  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  that  county, 
which  she  left  when  twenty  years  old  for  a  journey 
to  Illinois,  which  was  accomplished  by  means  of 
three  teams  and  wagons.  The  family  of  which  she 
is  a  member  included  nine  children,  one  of  whom 
died  bi'fore  the  removal  to  the  West.  Those  who 
accom|)anicd  the  parents  hither  were:  Jacob,  now 
living  in  Bradford;  Andrew  H.,  who  died  in  Can- 
ton in  1890;  George  "VV.,  who  died  in  Henr}', 
Marshall  County,  in  1880 ;  Mrs.  Klizabeth  Harri- 
son, now  living  in  Marshall  County;  ]\Irs.  Mary 
Dutfleld,  whose  home  is  in  Henry;  Mrs.  Christie  A. 
Miller,  living  near  Mansfield,  Iowa,  and  Susan,  wife 
of  Thomas  Higgs,  of  .Storm  Lake,  Iowa.  The  parents 
of  this  family  were  John  and  Elizabeth  (Hooker) 
Kline,  natives  of  M.aine  and  Pcnnsjivania,  respect- 
ively. The  father  was  a  farmer  and  large  land- 
owner in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  and  after  coming 
West  owned  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Ful- 
ton County  and  other  lands  in   Marshall  County. 


He  was  a  Democrat  and"a  member  of  the  Dunkard 
Church.  He  died  in  Canton  in  18G5,  his  wife  also 
breathing  her  last  there. 

The  familjr  of  our  subject  and  his  good  wife 
consists  of  six  children — Joseph,  Frank,  George, 
Grace,  Mary,  and  Harry.  The  eldest  is  married 
and  living  in  this  township,  engaged  in  farming; 
Frank  has  been  operating  the  home  farm;  George 
taught  when  quite  young,  being  obliged  to  aban- 
don that  pursuit  when  twenty  years  old  on  account 
of  his  health,  and  returned  to  the  home  roof;  the 
younger  members  of  the  family  are  at   home   also. 

Mr.  Higgs'has  been  School  Director  some  years. 
He  is  independent  in  politics,  but  has  in  former 
years  beeu  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  County 
Convention.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  holding  the  ofHce  of  Trustee,  and  has 
been  Superintendent  of.the  Sunday-school  held  in 
the  neighboring  schoolhouse.  His  unusual  intelli- 
gence, paiticularl3'  regarding  matters  connected 
with  the  township  history,  and  his  cordial  manners 
make  it  a  pleasure  to  converse  with  him.  Those 
who  know  him  have  only  good  words  for  his  char- 
acter and  life-work. 


Vj^^ICHOLAS  K.  WORTHINGTON.  Among 
I  jj  the  members  of  the  legal  profession  in 
[il,Xi^)  Peoria  none  are  more  deserving  of  notice 
in  a  BiOGKAPHicAL  Album  than  the  gentleman 
above  named.  Not  only  is  he  well  versed  in  law 
and  equity,  but  he  h.as  a  highly  cultured  mind,  and 
has  done  much  good  work  in  the  educational  Held. 
His  powers  of  oratory  are  far  above  the  average, 
.and  in  limes  of  political  excitement  have  been  used 
to  win  success  for  the  party  to  which  he  belongs, 
his  ability  as  a  political  organizer  assisting  to  that 
end. 

Mr.  Worthington  is  of  English  extraction,  the 
entire  familj'  in  America  being  descendants  of  two 
brothers,  one  of  whom  located  in  New  England 
and  another  iu  Maryland  on  first  coming  to  Amer- 
ica. His  father,  Samuel  G.  J.  Worthington,  was  a 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a  na- 
tive of  Mar3'land,  and  a  resident  at  different   pe- 


744 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


periods  of  his  life  iu  Pennsylvania,  Oiiio  and  Vir- 
ginia. He  married  Mar\'  J.  Hedges,  who  bore  him 
two  sons  and  four  daughters.  Of  this  family  those 
who  survive  are:  Samuel  H.,a  merchant  at  El  Paso; 
Mary  C,  wife  of  George  Hubbel,  a  leading  lawjer 
of  Davenport,  Iowa;  Emily,  wife  of  Mr.  Forbes,  a 
planter  in  Texas;  and  our  subject. 

The  natal  day  of  Nicholas  E.  Worlhington  was 
March  30,  1836,  and  his  birthplace  Brooks  County-. 
West  Ya.  With  the  usual  fate  of  a  minister's  son 
in  the  fields'of  Methodism,  his  boyhood  was  passed 
in  several  States  and  towns,  among  them  being  Al- 
leghan}'  City  and  Pittsburg,  in  each  of  which  the 
famil}'  lived  two  years.  In  the  academy  at  Clarks- 
burg, Va.,  the  young  man  fitted  for  college,  and 
from  the  Allegheny  College,  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  he 
was  graduated  in  the  class  of  '54.  He  took  the 
first  honors  of  the  class,  B.  F.  Martin,  now  of  Graf- 
ton standing  second,  and  James  McKilvey,  Cir- 
cuit Judge  of  Minnesota,  third.  The  lives  of  him- 
self and  these  classmates  have  run  parallel  to  some 
extent,  particularly  that  of  Mr.  Martin  and  him, 
the  former  having  been  a  member  of  the  Fort}'- 
sixth  and  Forly-sevenlli  sessions  of  Congress. 

After  graduation  Mr.  AVorthington  taught  one 
year  :is  First  Assistant  in  the  Academy  at  Clarks- 
burg, Va.,  then  entered  the  office  of  Wartman  T. 
AVillett,  as  a  law  student,  also  teaching  there.  In 
1856  he  came  to  Tazewell  County,  111.,  leaching 
during  the  first  winter  at  Fremont,  and  tlien  going 
to  Brierfield  to  pursue  his  pedagogical  labors  in 
that  place.  While  there  he  was  appointed  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools  to  fill  out  the  term  of 
William  G.  Randall.  He  was  afterward  elected 
and  sei  ved  through  one  term  of  office,  after  which 
he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  legal  profession 
in  Peoria.  For  three  or  four  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Board  of  Public  Instruction.  His 
services  to  the  cause  of  education  were  recognized 
as  valuable  while  on  that  Board  and  in  the  county 
work  which  he  had  formerly  done.  In  1872  he 
was  a  Congressional  candidate  on  the  Democratic 
ticket,  but  was  at  tliat  time  defeated.  In  1 882  he 
won  the  Congressional  race  and  again,  in  1884,  he 
was  sent  to  the  legislative  halls  to  represent  a 
large  and  intelligent  constituency.  As  a  member 
of  Congress  he  has  won  a  good  record,  and  upon 


his  return  to  Peoria  to  resume  his  law  practice  he 
found  that  his  reputation  was  here  before  him, 
and  has  aided  largely  in  determining  his  standing 
iu  the  community. 

The  wife  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Worthington  was 
known  in  her  girlhood  as  Miss  Sarah  E.  Fowkes, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Col.  Richard  Fowkes,  of  West 
Virginia,  in  which  State  her  marriage  was  cele- 
brated in  1856.  She  belongs  to  an  old  and  hon- 
ored family,  and  in  mind  and  character  is  the 
fitting  companion  for  her  brilliant  husband.  The 
fruit  of  the  union  is  three  children,  two  of  whom, 
Louis  B.  and  Nellie,  still  brighten  the  home  fire- 
side with  their  presence.  The  eldest  son  and  child, 
Frank  E.,  is  engaged  iu  mining  in  Alaska. 


HOMAS  FRY.  Among  the  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  who  have  been  prominent  in 
bringing  about  this  county's  high  standing 
as  a  great  agricultural  centre,  no  name  is  more 
worthj'  of  mention  than  this  gentleman's.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Radnor  Town- 
ship, and  here  he  has  developed  a  large  farm  that 
is  in  all  its  appointments  verj-  fine,  and  is  in  all  par- 
ticulars one  of  the  best  regulated  landed  estates  in 
this  locality. 

Mr.  Fry-  is  of  English  birth  and  antecedents.  ])orn 
in  Devonshire,  December  24,  1831,  the  fourth  child 
in  the  family  of  eight  children  of  Thomas  and 
Betsey  (Suell)  Fry,who  were  also  natives  of  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  there  spent  their  entire  lives. 

Our  subject  grew  to  a  stalwart,  self-reliant,  ac- 
tive manhood  on  his  native  soil,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years,  in  1 858,  ambitious  to  make 
more  of  life  than  he  could  in  the  land  of  his  birth, 
he  sought  to  better  his  condition  b\^  emigration  to 
the  United  States  of  America.  Accompanied  by 
his  wife,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  making  his 
wa}-  to  Peoria  County,  has  ever  since  been  identi- 
fied with  its  agricultural  interests,  and  has  been  ac- 
tive in  the  upbuilding  of  Radnor  Township,  with 
the  exception  of  a  year  spent  iu  Trivoli  Township. 

Mr.  Fry  has  here  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  which  he  has  supplied  with  a   fine  set 


'^   ^ 


^ 

^ 


^ 


-.4*:: 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  ALBUM. 


747 


of  convonlenlly  an-angod  buildings,  including  a 
commodious  rosidenee,  ancl  its  broad  well  tilled 
fields  yield  him  large  harvests  and  a  good  annual 
income.  He  is  much  interested  in  stock  raising, 
and  has  his  farru,  which  is  well  adapted  to  that  pur- 
pose, well  supjilied  with  cattle,  horses,  and  hogs  of 
fine  grades. 

Mr.  Fry  was  married  i)rior  to  coming  to  this 
country,  to  Miss  Kate,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ann 
(Ilartwell)  Simons,  natives  of  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, tiieir  marriage  taking  place  in  their  native 
shire,  A])ril  20,  1858.  Jlrs.  Fry  was  liorii  July  12, 
1836.  She  was  carefully  reared,  and  received  an 
excellent  training  in  all  the  duties  of  u  housewife, 
and  knows  well  how  to  look  after  the  interests  of 
her  household.  Five  of  the  seven  children,  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fry,  are  living:  George,  Robert, 
Henrietta,  Mary,  and  Anna.  Robert  married  Fan- 
nie Brown,  and  lives  in  Rosefleld  Township.  The 
other  two  children,  Lucy  and  Mary  Ann,  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Fry's  career  as  a  farmer  and  stock-iaiser  has 
shown  him  to  be  practical,  skillful  and  progressive, 
and  has  resulted  in  placing  him  among  the  most 
substantial  men  of  his  adopted  township.  He  is  a 
man  of  good  habits,  his  honesty,  integrity,  and  sta- 
liility  of  character  are  well  known,  and  his  credit  is 
good  in  financial  circles.  Having  decided  opinions 
of  his  own  on  all  subjects  with  which  he  is  convers- 
ant, in  politics  he  is  independent. 

sgj^^^:       :    „ 

7  OHN  SCOVIL.  Peoria  County  has  no  more 
worthy  pioneer  still  living  within  its  borders 
than  this  gentleman,  who  is  one  of  the  old 
settlers  of  Timber  Township.  lie  has  been 
prominently  connected  with  its  agricultural  inter- 
ests for  many  years,  and  has  a  large  farm  here  that 
is  finely  improved,  his  home  being  among  the  most 
pleasant  in  this  vicinity. 

Mr.  Scovil  w-as  born  in  the  town  of  Ripley,  Seneca 
County,  N.  Y.,  May  .'iO,  1823.  His  parents  were 
Benjamin  and  Rebecca  (Targee)  Scovil.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was-Benjamin  Scovil,  who  came 
from  Scotland    to    this  euuiitrv    in    Colonial    limes 


and  served  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  also 
in  the  War  of  1812,  under  Commodore  Perry. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  it  is  thought,  was  born 
in  New  York,  where  he  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer.  He  subsequenth'  removed  to  Huron 
County,  Ohio,  in  1828,  and  thus  became  one  of  its 
pioneers.  He  was  prominent  there  in  public  af- 
fairs and  at  one  time  was  Sheriff,  lie  was  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812,  doing  gallant  seryice.  His 
last  days  were  spent  in  Shelb3'villo,  111.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife,  the  niother  of  our 
subject,  dying'  in  1830.  She  was  a  true  Christian 
and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
His  second  marriage  was  with  a  Mrs.  Boll.  His 
children  were  all  l)y  his  first  wife,  and  their  record 
is  as  follows:  Lorenzo  D.,  who  died  leaving  a 
family  in  Ohio;  Harriett  C;  Lecta,  wife  of  Mr. 
Mai  tin,  who  died  leaving  four  children;  Charles 
died  leaving  a  family  in  Shelby  ville;  William,  who 
left  home  early,  went  to  California  and  has  never 
been  heard  from  since;  John;  Lucy,  wife  of  Mr. 
Martin;  and  Gilbert,wLo  died  in  Shelby  County,  III. 

Our  subject  was  an  active,  sturdy,  bright  lad, and 
commenced  the  battle  of  life  on  his  own  account  at 
a  very  early  age.  When  ten  years  old  he  left  his 
home  in  the  month  of  April,  1833,  and  going  to 
the  lake  shipped  on  board  a  sloop  as  cook  for  four 
men.  He  was  on  the  lake  as  a  sailor  until  1844, 
and  had  many  exciting  experiences  of  the  dangers 
to  be  encountered  iu  the  hard  storms  that  so  often 
sweep  over  these  waters.  He  was  a  wheelman  on 
the  "Big  Erie"  when  she  was.  burned  with  four 
hundred  passengers  aboard,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
twenty-two  persons  who  were  saved.  After  that 
terrible  affair  he  was  employed  on  a  canal  at  To- 
ledo until  1847.  In  June,  of  that  year,  became 
to  this  count}'  and  located  on  section  20,  in  Timber 
Township,  i)urchasing  at  that  time  twenty-five 
acres  of  land.  He  added  to  it  until  he  had  one 
hundred  acres,  and  then  selling  it  bought  the 
place  where  he  now  lives,  on  the  same  section.  At 
first  he  purchased  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  which  he  cleared  and  improved,  and  has  since 
bought  other  land  until  his  farm  comprises  four 
hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  of  the  choicest 
farming  land  in  this  locality.  He  lumbered  and 
worked  in  timber  until  the  war   broke  out,  and  has 


748 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


since  confined  his  attention  to  tlie  niiinugenient  of 
his   huge  farm. 

Onr  subject  is  a  veteran  of  the  late  war.  lie 
enlisted  Febriiaiy  23. 1805,  in  Company  B,  Seventh 
Illinois  InfanliT,  joined  his  regiment  at  Raleigh, 
N.  C,  and  served  faithfull}',  proving  to  be  a  good 
and  loyal  soldier,  until  his  honorable  discharge  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  July  9,  1805.  In  early  days  Mr. 
Scovil  was  a  prominent  Whig  in  these  parts,  and 
when  he  first  voted  in  Timber  Township  lie  was 
one  of  the  six  representatives  of  that  i)arty  in  this 
locality.  When  the  Republican  party  came  into 
existence,  he  naturally  identified  himself  with  an 
organization  with  whose  sentiments  he  was  so  fully 
in  sympathy,  and  has  ever  since  remained  true  to 
its  interests.  He  is  a  man  of  weight  and  infiuence 
in  this  community,  generously  using  his  money  to 
forward  the  public  good,  and  is  ver^"  highly  re- 
garded by  all  around  him.  He  and  his  wife  are 
considered  among  our  best  people,  and  his  wife  is 
one  of  the  most  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scovil  were  mariied  September  15, 
1850,  and  their  wedded  life  has  been  as  happy  as  is 
usually  allotted  to  mortals,  their  only  sorrow'  being 
in  the  death  of  some  of  their  cliildren,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  .lohn  W.  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  and  Benjamin  at  fourteen.  The  remain- 
ing children  are  Charles  S.,  Leroy,  Gerald  L., 
Nellie  ^^,  wife  of  Ed.  Wcisner,  and  Clara  A.,  Mrs. 
En  gel. 

Mrs.  Scovil's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Ann  Me- 
Co}',  and  she  was  born  in  T-awrence  County',  Ohio, 
her  parents  being  .Tohn  W.  and  Abigail  (Robbins) 
McCoy,  natives  respectively  of  Virginia  and  New 
Jersey.  Her  father  was  a  son  of  William  McCoy, 
who  was  of  Irish  parer.tage.  Her  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  .l^iseph  and  Sarah  Robbins.  Mr.  McCoy 
was  a  moulder  by  trade,  and  left  his  native  State  for 
Obit)  when  a  young  man.  In  1837,  he  to  came  this 
county  with  his  family  and  located  in  Trivoli, where 
he  carried  on  farming  ma^iy  years,  being  one  of  the 
pioneer  farmers  of  that  township.  In  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  he  kciit  an  hotel.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcoiial  Church,  and  in  every 
v/ay  was  a  good  man.  He  was  twice  married,  and 
by  his  first  marri.age  h.ad  eleven  ehihlren,  of  whom 


the  following  is  recorded:  .Toseph  was  killetl  on  a 
i-ailway;  James  lives  in  Iowa;  Mary  A.,  is  the  wife 
of  our  subject;  William,  of  low.a,  served  in  the 
war;  John  M.  is  a  resident  of  Quincy;  Sarah' J., 
now  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  resides  in  Kansas;  Philena  is 
Mrs.  Cobb,  of  Missouri ;  John  T.  lives  in  that  State, 
and  also  INIartha  E.,  Mrs.  Bickford. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  is  directed  to  litho- 
graphic portiaits  of  Mr.  Scovil  and  his  estimable 
wife. 


-~i— ^S^^^ 


li^RANK  D.  JACOBS,  the  son  of  an  old  set- 
iJpH^''  tier  of  this  county,  who  was  a  prominent 
/15>  pioneer  of  Trivoli  Township,  was  born  on 

the  old  homestead  here,  where  he  still  makes  his 
home,  December  15,  1800.  He  is  now  associated 
with  the  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  his  native 
place,  and  his  standing  as  an  intelligent,  capable 
agriculturist  is  among  the  solid  men  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Alexander  Jacobs,  the  father  of  our  su1)ject,  was 
born  in  Juniata  County,  I'a.  His  father,  William 
.Tacobs,  who  was  of  German  descent,  was  a  farmer 
there.  Mr.  .lacobs  was  a  carpenter  and  vvorked  at 
his  trade  in  I'ennsylvania  until  he  came  to  Peoria 
County  in  1856,  and  settled  on  the  place  now  oc- 
cupied by  his  widow  and  family  on  section  30, 
comprising  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land. 
Besides  attending  to  its  improvement  he  was  en- 
gaged as  a  builder  and  contractor  for  twelve  years 
after  settling  here.  He  engaged  successfully  in  gen- 
eral farming  after  that  until  his  death  in  1872,  when 
only  fifty  years  old.  He  was  prominent  in  the  relig- 
ious and  public  life  of  the  township.  He  w.as  active 
in  building  the  Lutheran  Church,  giving  ^100  worth 
of  work  towards  it.  He  was  Collector  and  Assessor 
of  the  township  at  different  times,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Mary  M.  Glasco.  She  was 
born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  America  when  three 
years  old  with  her  parents.  They  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  spent  their  remaining  d.ays  in  Juniata 
County.  The  mother  was  reared  and  educated  there 
and  is  now  living  in  comfort  in  Trivoli  Township. 
She   has   had  thirteen  children,  of  whiim  we  recoi'd 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


749 


the  following:  .Tniius  M.  died  here;  Sarah  J.,  Mrs. 
Riddle,  died  in  California;  T.  J.  resides  in  Trivoli 
Township;  Jesse  W.,  in  Iowa;  Howard  A.  in  South 
Dakota;  Clara  F.,  Mrs.  McFarland,  iu  Iowa;  Eu- 
phemia  K.  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen;  Edward  A., 
deceased;  Frank  D. ;  G.  M.  lives  in  Trinidad,  Colo,; 
Josephine  lives  with  her  mother;  one  child  died  in 
infancy. 

Frank  D.  .lacobs  was  born  December  15,  18G0, 
on  the  place  where  he  now  resides  on  section  25, 
Trivoli  Township.  He  gleaned  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  his  knowledge  of  farming  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  remained  at  home  with  his 
mother,  working  on  the  homestead  until  he  was 
twenty -one.  He  then  rented  the  farm  and  contin- 
ued its  imi)rovement,  and  in  1886  bought  fortj'  acres 
of  choice  lan:l  on  section  25.  Besides  tilling  his  own 
land  he  manages  iiis  mother's  and  is  meeting  with 
gratifying  success.  He  has  all  the  necessary  im- 
provements and  facilities  for  carrying  on  agricult- 
ure, and  lias  his  farm  well  stocked  with  Short-horn 
CMtllf  and  hogs  of  a  good  grade,  of  which  he  raises 
and  sells  about  fifty  each  year.  His  farm  has  on  it 
a  beautiful  orchard  and  groves,  is  neatly  fenced 
i;ito  convenient  fields,  and  is  well  watered  b}'  a 
br:iiicli  of  Copper.as  Creek. 

Mr.  Jiicobs  was  wedded  to  Miss  AloUie  Griggs 
ill  Oiion  Township,  Fulton  County,  April  22,  1886, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Clifford  D.  and  Wil- 
bur. Mrs.  Jacobs  was  born  in  Orion  Township, 
November  25,  1860,  and  was  given  a  flue  educa- 
tion in  the  High  Schools  of  ?'"armington  and  Elm- 
wood.  Slie  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
and  was  thus  engaged  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a 
niciiiber  in  high  standing  of  the  Lutheran  Cliurch. 

iMrs.  Jacobs  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Dulcena 
(McMains)  Griggs,  natives,  respectively,  of  New 
York  and  Ohio.  Her  father  came  to  this  county 
when  ahoy  with  his  father,  (George  Griggs,  in  vevy 
early  days.  They  lived  in  Peoria  a  short  time,  and 
then  the  elder  Griggs  bought  a  farm  in  Timber 
Township,  which  was  unim[)roved,  and  there  Airs. 
Jacobs'  grandfather  died.  "When  her  father  started 
in  life  for  himself  he  bought  a  farm  in  Orion  Town- 
ship, and  now  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  there,  on  which  he  lives  retired.  He  is  a  Baptist 
in  reliiiion  and  a  Uni inlin  politics.   Mrs.  .Jacob's 


maternal  grandfather,  Enoch  McMains,  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  reared  there  in  a  Quaker  neighborhood. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  an  early  settler  of  this  county, 
a  pioneer  of  Logan  Township.  Her  [larents  have 
had  five  children,  as  follows:  George  W.,  in  the 
agricultural  implement  business  at  Glasford  ;  Enoch 
E.,  a  farmer  in  Fulton  County;  MoUie;  Susan  A., 
at  home  with  her  [)arents;  Marion  F.,  who  died 
when  a  child. 

Our  subject's  pleasant  disposition  and  easy,  open- 
hearted  manner  has  attached  to  him  many  friends. 
His  active  business  capacity  h.as  been  a  factor  in 
|)lacing  him  in  his  present  position,  and  also  makes 
him  a  very  desirable  public  oflicial.  He  has  been 
Tax  Collector  of  the  township  two  years;  is  Town- 
ship School  Trustee  at  present,  and  has  been  School 
Director  in  the  past.  Mrs.  Jacobs'  grandfathers, 
both;  paternal  and  maternal,  were  iu  the  War  of 
1812. 


OL.  JOHN  BRYNER,  deceased,  came  to 
Peoria  as  early  as  1845,  and  subsequently 
became  identified  with  its  mercantile  inter- 
erests.  After  the  war  broke  out  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  Government,  and  as  a  commis- 
sioned officer  in  the  Union  army  afforded  valuable 
assistance  in  suppressing  .the  rebellion,  and  won  a 
distinguished  military  record.  He  was  at  one  time 
a  conspicuous  figure  in  public  life,  and  in  various 
ways  forwarded  the  highest  interests  of  the  com- 
munity, and  his  death  was  a  serious  loss  to  the 
citizenship  of  city  and  count}'. 

Col.  Brj'ner  was  born  in  Juniata  County,  Pa., 
Ootober  6,  1820,  and  was  a  son  of  George  and 
Catherina  (Motzer)  Bryner.  His  father  was  born 
January  5,  1787,  and  died  January  9,  1823.  His 
marriage  with  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  sol- 
emnized April  16,  1805.  She  was  born  October 
28,  1787,  and  died  September  1,  18y3. 

Our  subject  was  early  left  an  orphan,  and  was 
brouglit  up  by  an  uncle.  He  entered  a  dr3-goods 
store  as  an  errand  boy,  and  from  early  youth  was 
familiarized  with  the  business,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  after  marriage  carried  it  on.  In  the 
spring  of    1845    he    removed,  with    his  family,   to 


750 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Peoria,  and  became  book-keeper  for  the  firm  of 
Yories_&  Daugbert3',;ancl  was  thus  engaged  for  a 
short  time,  when  be  was  obliged  to  give  up  all 
cares  and  responsibilities  on  account  of  ill-liealtk. 
After  leaving  Mr.  Daugberty's  employ'  he  be- 
came book-keeper  for  D.  (Turney  A-  Co.,  and  re- 
mained with  that  firm  a  year.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  time  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Will- 
iam McLean,  under  the  firm  name  of  McLean  ife 
Bryner,  and  Ihej"  engaged  in  the  leatlier  trade  to- 
gether until  186L  While  in  the  latter  business 
he  was  elected  .Sheriff  of  Peoria  County,  which  of- 
fice be  filled  very  acceptablv  for  two  terms. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  war  gave  our  subject 
opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  bis  great  execu- 
tive talent,  and  his  knowledge  of  military  tactics, 
which  be  bad  gained  in  connection  with  the  Na- 
tional Blues,  of  which  militia  company  he  was 
Captain.  He  entered  the  services  of  the  Govern- 
ment in  October,  1861.  was  commissioned  Colonel, 
and  organized  the  Forty-Seyenth  Illinois  Regi- 
ment, which  he  commanded  until  the  siege  of  Cor- 
inth, be  having  thoroughly  drilled  his  troops,  so 
that  they  acted  with  the  coolness,  courage  and  ef- 
flcieney  of  veterans  in  their  various  encounters 
with  the  enemy.  After  the  capture  of  Corintli 
the  Colonel  was  taken  sick  and  w.is  obliged  to  re- 
sign bis  commission  at  Rieuzi,  Miss,,  September  2. 
1862. 

After  his  return  from  the  scat  of  war.  Col. 
Bryner  still  continued  to  do  good  service  in  the 
cause  of  bis  country,  although  he  was  incapacitated 
for  active  work  on  the  field,  and  he  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing an<1  sending  to  the  front  the  Eigbt}-- 
fifth.  Eighty-sixth,  One  Hundred  and  Third.  One 
Hundred  and  Eighth  and  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth 
Regiments,  and  had  charge  of  the  camp  here. 
When  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty  ninth,  a  hun- 
dred-da\-  regiment,  was  organized,  he  accepted  a 
commission  .as  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant 
Quartermaster.  While  in  camp  at  Cairo  bis  old 
regiment,  the  Fort3-sevenlh,  which  had  been  re- 
duced to  four  companies,  came  home  on  veteran 
leave  from  the  Red  River  expedition  and  visited 
him  in  a  bod}'.  His  old  comrades-in-arms  showed 
their  love  for  their  old  leader  by  doing  him  the 
great  honor  of   presenting  a    petition,   signed  bj' 


every  officer  and  member  of  the  command,  request- 
ing him  to  reorganize  and  take  command  of  his 
old  regiment.  He  accepted  the  great  mark  of 
their  respect  and  esteem,  and  gaining  permission 
from  Gov.  Yates,  raised  six  new  companies,  and 
went  into  camp  at  .Springfield,  the  four  veteran 
companies  having  been  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Smith's 
command  in  front  of  Spanish  Fort  before  the  de- 
fenses of  Mobile. 

But  the  Colonel's  illustrious  career  was  already 
overshadowed  by  his  approaching  death,  and  while 
yet  in  the  prime  of  a  noble  manhood  he  was  called 
upon  to  give  up  his  life  that  was  so  precious 
to  his  country,  to  his  beloved  famiU'  and  his 
many  warm  friends.  After  the  completion  of  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  he  was  taken  sud- 
denly ill  at  the  Cbenerv  House,  in  Springfield,  and 
on  the  19tb  of  March.  1865,  he  passed  aw.a^-  uui- 
versallly  regretted.  Every  honor  possible  was 
l>aid  to  the  dead  man's  memory,  and  all  that  was 
mortal  of  him  was  borne  to  its  final  resting-place 
in  Peoria,  the  funeral  ceremonies  being  witnessed 
by  a  large  concourse  of  sorrowing  friends. 

Our  subject  was  a  man  of  marked  public  spirit, 
and  his  hand  w.as  noted  in  the  promotion  of  an^- 
and  every  feasible  scheme  for  the  common  good. 
Of  a  frank,  genial  and  tender  nature,  he  was  gen- 
erous, sj'mpatbizing  and  considerate,  and  no  one 
ever  appealed  to  him  in  vain  for  aid  if  suffering 
or  need}-.  He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  was  always  active  in  its  every 
good  work.  Before  the  war  he  .assisted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  Calvary  Mission  in  a  railroad  car, 
and  to  his  earnestness  and  devotion  it  owed  inuch 
of  its  success.  In  commemoration  of  his  patriotic 
services  during  the  war,  Br3ncr  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  or- 
ganized October  8,  1879,  was  named  in  bis  honor. 

Col.  Br3'ner  was  happily  married  September  15. 
1842,  to  Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  James  and 
Rachel  (Jordan)  North,  of  Mifflintown.  Pa.  The 
North  family  came  of  an  old  and  distinguished 
famih-  of  England,  being  descendants  of  Lord 
North.  Mrs.  Brj-ner  is  a  native  of  Juniata  Count}-, 
Pa.,  where  she  w.as  born  October  28,  1824.  Her 
father  died  when  she  was  but  two  years  old,  while 
her  mother  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six  years.      Mrs.  Bryner  is  living  alone  in  a  pleas- 


POiriRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


7i>\ 


ant,  attractive  home  cm  Ellis  Street.  Peoria.  She 
is  a  woman  of  fine  character,  who  has  suffered  and 
sacrified  much,  but  lias  borne  herself  nobly  through 
it  all.  .She  relates  tiiat  when  she  first  came  to 
I'eoria  with  her  husband  to  share  with  him  his  pio- 
neer life  she  had  to  endure  many  hardships  to 
which  she  was  unaccustomed.  She  lost  two  of  her 
children  the  first  summer  she  was  here,  and  has 
laid  away  six  of  her  cliildren  in  all  and  her  hus- 
band, in  two  of  the  cemeteries  in  this  city.  One 
of  her  children  was  poisoned  by  eating  mushrooms; 
and  her  son  Willie  was  accidentallj'  shot  and  killed 
July  4,  1867,  at  the  .ige  of  nine  years.  Three  of 
the  nine  chihiren  born  to  her  anil  her  husband  are 
still  living:  Cloyd,  who  is  in  the  life  insurance 
business  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Clara  B., wife  of  Charles 
A.  Corn  well,  an  attorney- at  law  of  Peoria;  and 
John,  who  is  in  the  grain  and  coraniission  business 
in  Chicago. 

The  following  is  the  record  of  the  children 
born  to  Col.  and  Mrs.  Br\Mier:  Francis  Marion, 
liorn  February  23,  1844,  died  August  28,  I84(i; 
Mary  M.,  burn  March  3,  1846,  died  August  30, 
1846;  Jane  S,  born  July  25,  1847,  died  August 
22,  1847:  Byron  Cloyd,  born  February  20,  1849; 
Clara  Belle,  February  20,  1854;  William  Henry, 
born  July  22,  1856,  died  October  4,  1857;  Will- 
iam, born  September  19,  1858.  died  July  4,  1866: 
John,  born  January  1,  1862. 


^if^OBERT  WHITTAKER  has  done  much  pio- 
(       ueer  work  in  this  county,  and  as  oue  of  the 


\V  jjrominent  members  of  its  agricultural  com- 
\S^i  munity,  is  ent.lled  to  representation  in  this 
volume.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in  farming 
and  raising  stock  in  ^lillbrook  Township,  where  he 
owns  a  large  and  well  ordered  farm. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Ireland,  November  20, 
1837,  to  John  C.  and  Susannah  (Carter)  AVhittaker, 
who  were  also  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  When 
he  was  eight  years  old  he  accompanied  his  parents 
in  their  migration  from  the  Old  World  to  the  new. 
They  took  passage  in  a  sail  vessel  at  Liverpool,  and 
after  a  voyage  of  al)0ut  nine  weeks,  landed  in  New 


York  Cit\'.  and  came  directly  from  there  to  this 
county,  that  being  the  jear  1845.  John  Whit- 
taker  resided  several  years  in  the  city  of  Peoria, 
where  he  was  engaged  as  a  laborer,  and  subse- 
quently removed  to  Millbrook  Township  and  lo- 
cated on  section  27.  The  land  was  in  a  wild  con- 
dition when  he  settled  on  it,  not  a  furrow  having 
been  turned  in  the  virgin  soil.  By  dint  of  ener- 
getic and  hard  labor  from  year  to  year  he  wrought 
a  great  change,  and  in  time  that  tract  of  wild  prai- 
rie became  oue  of  the  best  farms  in  this  locality. 
In  his  death,  December  10,  1886,  one  of  the  old 
pioneers  of  the  county  was  removed,  but  his  name 
and  memory  are  still  cherished  as  belonging  to  a 
good  citizen,  and  a  kind  husband  and  father.  His 
widow  survives  him,  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Millbrook  Township,  and  though  now  in 
her  eighty-eighth  year,  enjoys  good  health  for  one 
of  her  advanced  age. 

Robert  Whiltaker  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared  » 
to  manhood  in  this  county,  amid  the  wild  scenes 
of  pioneer  life.  His  experience  of  that  period 
made  him  self  reliant  and  helpful,  and  gave  him 
good  courage  to  go  on  with  his  work,  and  he  is  now 
comparatively  rich.  He  has  been  a  f.actor  in  the 
pioneer  labors  that  were  necessary  to  develop  his 
county,  and  his  own  financial  condition  has  lieen 
greatly  improved.  When  lie  came  to  this  county, 
the  city  of  Peoria  consisted  mostly  of  log  houses, 
and  as  there  were  no  bridges  across  the  river,  a 
ferry  boat  was  used  for  people  who  desired  to  go 
to  the  other  side.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  four  hun- 
dred and  two  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  placed 
under  fine  cultivation,  and  has  otherwise  greatly  im- 
proved. His  farm  is  pleasantly  located  on  section 
27,  Millbrook  Township,  and  here  he  and  his  fam- 
ily enjoy  life  in  one  of  the  coziests  of  homes. 

November  6,  1864,  Mr.  Whiltaker  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Frances  Parnell,  a  native  of  this 
county.  Mrs.  Whiltaker  is  a  native  of  Peoria 
County,  and  was  born  Jlarch  13,  184G,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Catherine  ((lioodman)  Parnell. 
Her  father  is  a  native  of  England,  and  the  mother 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  (Jerman  ex- 
traction. Sometime  in  the  '30s  thej'  came  to  this 
county,  and  were  early  pioneers  of  Princeville 
Tovviishii),   where  the   father   pre-empted   Govern- 


16-2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


meiit  land.  He  is  now  past  eight}'  years  of  age. 
He  is  the  father  of  the  followiug  seven  children: 
Kliza.  wife  of  William  Hissock.  of  Vermilion 
County;  William,  who  lives  in  Vermilion  County; 
Jolin,  who  lives  in  Champaign  Count}-;  Frances, 
wifi;  of  our  suliject;  Katie,  wife  of  James  Arm- 
strong, of  Princeville  Township;  Douglas,  living 
in  Champaign  Count}-;  Caroline,  wife  of  William 
Meaker,  of  Princeville  Township.  Tiie  mother  died 
April  12,  1S87. 

Mr.Whittaker's  parents  had  the  following  children: 
Arthur,  who  lives  in  Peoria;  Richard,  a  resident  of 
Millhrook  Townsliip;  Robert;  .lane,  wife  of  Mor- 
row P.  Reed.  Supervisor  of  Biimficld  Township; 
and  John,  a  resident  of  Toulon.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Whitlaker  have  five  children:  Arthur,  born  Octo- 
ber 17.  180.=);  Catherine,  wife  of  Albert  Catton,  of 
Brimfiehl  Township;  Martha  Jane,  William  Rob- 
ert, and  Charles  Leroy. 
;  Mr.  Wiiittaker  might  well  be  proud  of  tlie  fact 
tliat  his  fortune  has  been  of  his  own  making;  his 
hands  and  brain  have  been  busily  employed  in  its 
upbuilding,  as  he  had  no  other  capital  when  he 
started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account.  He  is  iude- 
peudent  and  self-reliant,  is  keen  and  |)-ompt  in  his 
dealings,  yet  he  is  frank  and  cordial  in  iiis  manner, 
and  no  one  is  more  ready  than  he  to  extend  a  help- 
ing hand  to  those  who  have  been  less  fortunate 
than  himself.  In  him  the  township  finds  a  loyal 
citizen,  whose  public  spirit  prompts  him  to  aid  in 
pushing  forward  every  movement  for  the  benefit 
of  the  community.  His  sound  common  sense  is 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  political  questions  of  the 
day,  and  he  favors  the  Republican  party. 


W ^HITMAN  R.  BENNETT.  This  gentleman, 
'  faniiiiarly  known  by  the  title  of  Captain, 
acquired  while  in  charge  of  various  steam- 
boats plying  on  western  rivers,  first  came  to  Peoria 
in  1863.  Since  that  lime  he  has  become  well  known 
here,  having  made  this  his  home  a  number  of  years. 
Since  1889,  he  has  been  eng.agcd  in  real-estate  dea!- 
i.rj,.  combinin::  with  it  the  management  of  a  hard- 


ware store.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia  County, 
Pa..  February  3,  1831,  being  a  son  of  W.  R. 
and  Cornelia  (Van  Dyke)  Bennett,  who  were  like- 
wise natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  The  Bennetts 
came  originally  from  England  and  the  Van  Dykes 
from  Holland,  the  latter  being  among  those  who 
fled  from  persecution  in  their  native  land  and 
joined  their  lot  with  that  of  William  Penn  in  the 
New  World. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed  in 
his  native  city  where,  after  acquii-ing  a  fundamen- 
tal education,  he  beg;in  working  in  his  father's 
mills.  The  senior  Bennett  was  a  miller  and  wood- 
turner and  also  owned  and  operated  a  drug  and 
spice  mill.  F|)on  the  destruction  of  the  mills  by 
fire,  the  son  turned  his  attention  to  the  machinist's 
trade  which  he  duly  acquired  under  a  competent 
master.  In  1856.  became  West,  locating  at  Ke- 
wanee,  111  ,  where  ho  took  charge  of  mills,  soon 
afterward,  howevm-,  exchanging  this  business  for 
that  of  farming  which  he  continued  three  years.  He 
then  came  to  I'eoria  where  he  put  up  the  machinery 
for  E.  T.  Nowlin  &  Sons  distillery.  Then  to  use 
an  expression  common  along  navigable  streams  he 
'•followed  the  river'"  for  some  time. 

Capt.  Bennett  was  in  command  of  different 
boats,  at  one  time  running  the  "Tiger,"  then  the 
"Ozurkie"  and  again  the  '-Lady  Withup,"  which 
was  used  as  a  dispatch  boat  during  the  war.  Dur- 
ing a  portion  of  the  time  of  his  river  career  he  was 
employed  as  manager  of  boats  by  John  II.  Howe,  of 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  In  18G9.  Capt.  Bennett  left  Peoria, 
returned  to  his  native  city,  and  there  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  in  wiiich  he  continued  until 
1884.  He  then  became  a  real  estate-dealer  in  which 
occupation  he  continued  after  returning  to  Peoria 
in  1889.  As  before  stated,  he  is  also  tlie  manager 
of  a  hardware  store,  in  which  a  fine  trade  is  carried 
on. 

On  October  10,  18.52.  the  interesting  ceremony 
took  place  which  gave  Mr.  Bennett  a  wife  and  Miss 
Rebecca  C.  Anderson,  of  Philadelphia,  a  husband. 
The  happy  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
four  daughters,  two  of  whom  await  their  parents  on 
the  other  shore.  The  survivors  are  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Bowers  and  Mrs.  Lizzie  Witliington.of  Philadelphia. 

Capt.  Bennett  is  a  member  of  several  social  and 


FORTRAIT  AND   I'.IOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


753 


benevolent  orders,  among'  then]  being  tlie  Royal 
Arcanum;  Knights  of  Goiden  Eagle;  Oirler  of 
Sparta  and  also  a  Knight  Templar,  lie  is  a  pro- 
nounced Republican.  i)olitieally.  l"\ir  several  3ears 
he  was  Tax  Collector  in  Philadelpliia.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  C'hincli  and  one  of 
the  twelve  persons  who  started  the  Calvary  Mis- 
sion on  Spencer  Street,  Peoria.  A  man  of  energy, 
the  fact  that  his  speculations  have  not  always  suc- 
ceeded to  his  Hiving  lias  not  daunte<l  him,  but  on 
tlie  contrary  served  to  increase  his  determination 
a'.id  readiness  to  try  again.  Frank,  genial,  intelli- 
gent and  courteous.  Ins  good  citizenship  and  wortliy 
manhood  have  given  him  an  excellent  reputation. 


vr  EVl  W.  CARTER,  M.  I).  Among  the  well- 
I  ((^]  establisiied  pliysicians  (tf  Peoria  none  have 
J'--^'-.  a  better  re|uitatlon  than  the  gentleman 
alx)ve  named,  who  combines  with  tiie  technical 
knowledge  acquired  in  the  liest  schools,  a  practienl 
skill  [larlially  the  result  of  hereditary  instincts  and 
partially  accruing  from  his  careful  experience.  His 
fine  personal  appearance  prepossesses  strangers  in 
his  favor  and  acquaintance  but  strengthens  their 
trust  in  him  as  his  unassuming  manner  and  unfail- 
ing courtes}'  become  known. 

Dr.  Carter  was  born  in  Essex  (,'ounty,  Del.,M.ay 
9,  1835,  his  parents,  William  and  Susan  (Wyatt) 
Carter,  being  natives  of  the  same  State.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  contractor  and  builder  (luring  his  earlier 
life,  later  turning  his  attention  to  farming.  His 
mother  who  is  still  living  is  now  in  her  seventy- 
seventh  year,  but  the  father  died  in  18G6.  The 
parental  faujily  comprised  ten  children,  six  of  whom 
are  yet  living. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Dr.  Carter  were  spent  in 
Bureau  County,  III.,  to  which  his  parents  had  re- 
moved when  he  was  about  four  years  old.  His 
schooling  was  obtained  in  the  district  schools  prior 
to  his  twentieth  year,  when  he  entered  the  academy 
at  Galesburg.  In  that  inslilntion  he  (nirsued  his 
studies  a  year  after  which  he  took  up  the  stud^'  of 
medicine  imder  Dr.  V.  S.  Thompson,  of  Wyaiict. 
When  his  reading  was  sufficiently  advanced  he  en- 


tered Rush  Medical  College,  in  Chicago,  subse-- 
(piently  changing  to  Ilahnneraan  College  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  March,  1871. 

Upon  becoming  tlie  possessor  of  a  diploma  the 
young  doctor  formed  a  connection  with  his  former 
preceptor,  in  Wyanet,  Bureau  County,  but  after  a 
time  went  to  Atkinson,  Henry  County,  remaining 
there  twelve  years  and  gaining  constantly  in  skill 
and  repute.  A  removal  w.as  then  made  to  Pekiri, 
this  State,  and  after  ten  years  to  Peoria,  whicli  has 
been  his  liorae  since  March,  1882,  and  the  center  of 
an  excellent  practice.  Dr.  Carter  is  a  memlier  of 
Pekin  Lodge,  No.  126,  F.  A  A.  M. 

A  well-built  dwelling  of  pleasing  architectural 
design  at  No.  900  Knoxville  Avenue,  set  in  the 
midst  of  attractive  surroundings  and  presided  over 
by  a  genial  and  cultured  housewife,  is  the  home  of 
Dr.  Carter.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mary  S.  Giles,  her  father,  O.  W.  Giles,  being  a  res- 
ident in  Wyanet,  Bureau  Connt)',  at  tlie  time  of 
her  marriage  November  2,  1858.  She  wns  born  in 
Seneca  County-,  N.  Y.,  near  Lake  Geneva,  F\'l)ruar\- 
10,  1838. 


H^^ 


m 


r/ULIUS  S.  STARR.  This  well  known  resi- 
dent of  Peoria  was  appointed  Internal  Rev. 
enue  Collector  for  the  Fifth  Collection 
District  of  Illinois,  embracing  eleven  conn- 
ties,  in  July,  1889,  and  is  discharging  the  duties  of 
his  office  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  all  concerned. 
He  is  numbered  among  the  older  settlers  of  the 
city,  in  which  for  over  twenty-five  years  he  prac- 
ticed law  and  bore  a  part  in  various  affairs  of  a 
public  and  private  nature,  as  will  be  seen  by  a 
perusal  of  these  paragraphs. 

On  November  3,  1833,  in  Sullivan  County,  N.Y., 
the  eyes  of  our  subject  opened  to  the  light  of  day. 
During  his  infancy  his  parents,  Judson  and  Eliza 
(Smith)  Starr,  removed  to  Middletown,  Ohio, 
where  the  father  died  when  our  subject  was  but 
three  years  old.  The  lad  was  early  thrown  u|)on 
his  own  resources  to  obtain  an  education  and  lit 
himself  for  the  duties  of  life.  In  1849,  when  six- 
teen   years   old,   he  came  to   Peoria  County,  III., 


751 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


working  on  a  farm  until  1S6().  and  during  this 
time  obtaining  a  good  education.  He  then  read 
hiw  with  Col.  P.  Davidson  and  Judge  Williamson, 
of  Peoria,  and  was  admitted   to  the  liar    in    1862. 

Mr.  Starr  at  once  located  in  Peoria  and  began 
tu  buihl  up  a  reputation  wbicii  has  extended  far 
bc)-oud  the  limits  of  the  city.  During  the  years 
of  his  activity  in  the  profession  he  served  as  Cit}' 
Attorney,  and  in  1874  was  elected  to  the  State 
Loi^islature,  re-elected  in  1876,  serving  in  three 
sessions.  He  was  Chairman  of  the  committee  on 
Corporations  and  second  member  of  tlie  .Indicial 
department.  Having  been  elected  to  represent  the 
element  which  desired  letter  water-ways,  he  de- 
voted liimself  particularly  to  work  in  that  line  and 
was  quite  instrnraental  in  promoting  l)iHs  for  the 
improvement  of  the  Illinois  River  and  other  water- 
way's of  the  State.  He  was  also  a  member  of  tlie 
special  committee  for  the  revision  of  the  statutes 
in  1875. 

Mr.  Starr  was  Reiniblican  candidate  for  Con- 
gress in  1884,  but  was  defeated  by  one  hundred 
and  sixl\-two  votes  by  reason  of  the  combination 
of  the  Democratic,  Prohibition  and  Greenback 
jiarties.  He  has  always  been  an  active  Republican 
worker  in  this  district,  and  none  moi'e  heartilj'  en- 
dorse the  party  principles  than  lie.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  National  Convention  of  1888,  which 
nominated  Gen,  Harrison  for  the  Presidency.  Mr. 
Starr  is  a  member  of  the  Selby.  Starr  &  Co.  Manu- 
facturing Company,  which  was  recently  incorpor- 
ated with  a  capital  stock  of  §75,000,  of  which  our 
subject  owns  a  half  interest,  holding  the  office  of 
Treasurer.  The  firm  was  organized  in  1872  by 
Messrs.  Starr  &  Seliij',  for  the  manufacture  of  agri- 
cultural  implements,  their  works  being  located  at 
Glendale  Park,  opposite  the  fair  grounds. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Mv.  Starr  has  from  a 
very  early  period  in  his  life  manifested  a  degree  of 
persistence  and  determination  to  reach  a  high 
standing,  (•xireniel3'  creditable.  Having  set  *his 
mark  high  on  the  hill  of  knowledge,  he  climbed 
manfully  toward  it,  and  no  obstacle  was  sufficient 
to  change  his  determination  to  become  the  pos- 
.=essor  cf  a  cultured  mind  and  to  win  an  honorable 
place  in  the  learned  professions.  As  is  often  the 
ia=e,  the  tcliooj  of  hard  experience  only  developed 


and  strengthened  his  natural  aliilities  and  led  liim 
to  a  higher  place  than  he  might  have  filled  had 
Ills  boyhood  been  passed  amid  more  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, or  those  which  seemed  such. 

j\lr.  Starr  has  been  twice  married,  his  fiist  wife 
l)eing  Miss  Susan  Comstock,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who 
died,  leaving  four  children.  Subsequentl3-  Mr. 
Starr  led  to  the  hymeneal  altar  Miss  Eveline  Burt, 
of  Minneapolis.  Minn.,  who  was  likewise  born  in 
Ohio,  and  was  formerl}'  a  resident  of  Peoria.  She 
is  a  cultured  and  accomplished  lady,  well  fitted  to 
share  in  tlie  reasonable  recreations  of  her  husband 
and  enjoy  with  him  all  that  makes  life  best  worth 
living.  The  children  of  Mv.  Starr  are:  Judsoii,  an 
altornej-  of  Peoria,  who  seems  likely  Ip  continue 
the  legal  honor  which  already  accrues  to  the  name; 
Minnic,wife  of  H.  Piiicknej- .Treasurer  of  the  Peoria 
&  Pekin  Railroad  Company;  Emma,  wife  of  Charles 
Robison,  of  this  citj';  and  George,  who  is  still  in 
school,  and  in  the  intervals  of  study  is  at  work  as 
industriously  as  his  father  was  in  early  daj's. 


^^  LAVELL  SHURTLEFF,  one  of  the  promis- 
ing young  business  men  of  Peoria,  is  con- 
/ll  nected  with  the  firm  of  Gauss,  Shurtleft'  & 
Co.,  who  are  conducting  a  thriving  grocery  trade 
at  No.  207  South  Madison  Avenue.  The  business 
w.as  established  at  its  present  location  in  1887,  and 
controls  a  full  share  of  the  best  trade  in  that  vicin- 
it3'.  Mr.  Shurtleff  has  had  an  experience  of  seven 
years  in  the  grocery  line,  and  is  well  qualified  for 
attending  to  his  particular  branch  of  the  business. 
A  native  of  Tazewell  County,  this  State,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  was  born  March  14,  1868,  and 
is  a  son  of  N.  Shurtleff  and  Geraldine  (Whit- 
comb)  Shurtleff,  who  were  natives  of  Tazewell 
County,  and  who  came  to  Peoria  when  their  son 
Flavell  was  onl3-  about  one  year  old.  The  father 
was  in  business  for  a  number  of  years,  but  is  now 
deceased.  The  education  of  Flavell  was  obtained 
in  the  city  schools,  and  he  commenced  his  liusiness 
career  as  a  clerk  for  E.  D.  Culoer,  in  1882,  in  the 
same  building  where  he  is  at  present.  He  remained 
in  the  same  employ  until  becoming  connected  with 


t!^'HA»: 


^-wihsitI  '''.. 


my :. 


%      J 


'^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUIM. 


757 


tlve  present  firm.  Tlieir  ti'nflo  is  steadily  on  Hie  in- 
crease. They  keep  a  full  line  of  staple  and  fancy 
groceries,  and  have  Iheir  store  convenient!}^  ar- 
I'anged  for  the  rapid  transactiun  of  business.  Mr. 
.Shurtleff  is  a  slraiiiiitforward  and  reliable  youno; 
man.  prominent  In  both  social  and  bn>iness  circles, 
a  member  of  the  First  Congreijational  Church,  and 
liighl}-  spoken  of  bj-  all  wlio  kiiovv  him. 


OSEPH  VOORHKES.  Peoria  County  em- 
braces one  of  the  richest  farmin<>-  regions 
the  sun  ever  shone  on,  and  owes  a  great 
debt  of  gratitude  to  its  uoi)le,  hard}-,  capa- 
lile  pioneer  farmers,  who  have  been  potent  factors 
in  laying  the  enduring  foundation  of  its  present 
prosperity.  As  a  fine  representative  of  one  of 
these  it  gives  us  pleasure  to  place  on  the  [)ages  of 
this  liiocitAriiKJAL  Alkt.m,  a  brief  account  of  the 
li-'e,  and  to  present  on  the  opposite  page  a  i)ortr.'iit 
of  Mr.  Voorhees,  wlio  was  a  early  settler  of  Kicka- 
piKi  Township.  Here  he  has  improved  one  of  tlio 
finest  farms  in  this  part  of  the  Cijuntv,  beautifully 
located  on  section  G,  where  he  lives  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  comforts  of  a  pleasant  and  well-ordered 
home. 

The  paternal  ancestors  of  our  subject  originated 
in  Holland,  and  the  family  made  its  ap()earance  in 
this  countr}'  in  Colonial  times,  being  among  the 
(■arly  settlers  of  ]S'ew  Jersey.  The  members  of  the 
faniil}'  threw  in  tlieir  lot  with  tlie  Colonists  during 
the  Revolution,  and  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the 
struggle  for  freedom.  Garrett  Voorhees,  the 
faiUer  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Somerset 
County,  N.  J.,  born  June  9,  17G3,  and  his  death 
occurred  near  Reading,  Ohio,  at  the  remarkably  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-nine  years.  The  maiden  name 
of  our  subject's  mother  was  Jerusha  Rugg,  who 
was  of  English  anleocdents,  and  is  thought  to  have 
been  born  on  Long  Island.  After  her  marriage  to 
the  father  of  our  subject  they  settled  in  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  carried  on  the  occupation 
of  a  farmer,  and  where  they  made  iheir  home  unld 
death. 

Our    subject    was    the   eldest  of  the   three  sons 


born  to  his  parents;  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  was 
the  place  of  his  birth,  and  February  2,  1814,  the 
date  thereof.  He  w'as  reared  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  continued  an  inmate  of  the  par- 
ental household  until  he  was  about  tvvent3'-four 
years  old.  In  1839  he  abandoned  his  native  iState 
and  came  to  Ulinois  to  continue  in  a  more  newly 
settled  country  the  pioneer  life  to  which  he  had 
been  bred.  He  resided  m  Peoria  County  for  a  few 
months,  and  then  returned  to  his  native  State, 
whence  he  came  in  the  fall  of  1841  to  take  up  his 
permanent  residence  here.  He  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  ou  section  G,  Kickapoo  Township,  which  is 
now  incorporated  in  his  present  farm.  He  has  de- 
voted himself  very  assiduously  to  farming  and 
stock-raising,  and  was  also  successfully  eng.aged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick,  his  kiln  being  on  his 
farm.  This  vv.as  in  18;')0,  when  he  made  the  brick 
for  his  house.  He  has  been  more  than  ordinarily 
successful  in  his  career,  has  accumulated  a  lianil- 
some  property,  and  is  numbered  among  the  wealthy, 
substantial  citizen.s  of  the  county.  He  has  a  large 
and  valuable  farm  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  .acres, 
which  he  has  put  under  a  high  slate  of  cultiv.ation 
and  supplied  with  a  neat  set  of  substantial  farm 
buildings.  He  has  erected  a  commodious  brick 
house,  in  place  of  the  old  log  cabin  in  which  he 
and  his  wife  spent  the  first  nine  years  of  their 
wedded  life. 

iMr.  Voorhees  was  married  in  Peoria,  March  10, 
1840,  to  Miss  Sarah  Rynerson.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Minney  and  Sarah  (Carroll)  Rynerson,  na- 
tives of  New  Jersey,  and  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Peoria  County.  Thej'  continued  to  live  in  this 
county  until  the  time  of  their  death,  both  dying  in 
Rosefield  Township.  Mrs.  Voorhees  was  born  near 
Scipio,  Franklin  County,  Ind.,  August  19,  1823. 
October  14,  1889,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  her 
age,  after  a  peaceful  and  happy  wedded  life  of 
iiearl}'  forty  years,  death  took  her  from  the  cures 
and  joys  that  she  had  so  long  shared  with  our  sub- 
ject. She  left  behind  her  the  record  of  a  life  spent 
in  well  doing,  and  her  memory  will  ever  be  cher- 
ished b}'  all  who  knew  her.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  faithful  to  all  that  belongs 
to  true  Christian  womanhood. 
j        Mr.  Voorhees   is   the  lather  of  twelve  children. 


758 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  whom  the  following  tliroe  are  living — (iarrett 
II.,  who  inariicd  Miss  Kniily  Cook,  and  resides  in 
ill  Stark  C'liiity;  Williaiu  M.,  who  married  Mary 
Simpson  ai.d  rrsides  in  Peoria;  and  Joseph  M., 
who  is  at  home  with  his  father.  The  names  of  the 
deceased  are:  John  R.,  vvho  died  when  about  two 
years;  Jernsha  A.,  wlio  died  when  about  two  years 
old;  Laura  A.,  who  died  vvhen  one  year  old;  Al- 
gernon A.,  wiio  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
Martha  A.,  wlio  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
Elizabeth,  Joseph  E.,  Maria  H.  and  Charles  E.  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  Voorhees'  life  career  has  been  distinguished 
b}'  rare  energy  and  stabilitj'  of  character,  and 
prompt  and  S3'Stemalic  business  habits,  combined 
with  honorable  and  conscientious  dealing.  lie  en- 
joys a  high  personal  standing  throughout  the 
county,  and  holds  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of 
hosts  of  friends.  He  is  a  man  of  intelligence  and 
much  information,  and  possesses  broad  views  of 
life.  Tiiough  no.t  a  member  of  any  church,  he 
generously  supports  them,  sincerely  believing  that 
the  world  is  better  for  the  religion  taugiit  within 
their  walls,  and  he  has  a  sincere  respect  for  a  true 
Christian  wherever  found.  It  is  said  of  Mr.  Yoor- 
hces  that,  'Tt  is  very  seldom,  indeed,  that  wq  meet 
with  one  who  has  led  so  temperate  a  life;"  from  his 
boyhood  up  he  has  never  used  tobacco  or  liquor,  and 
we  may  add,  he  is  now  reaping  the  reward  of  his  tem- 
perance in  the  enjoyment  of  sound  physical  and 
mental  healtli.  Mr.  Yoorhees  is  a  pronounced  ad- 
herent of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  always 
been  one  of  its  most  intelligent  and  liberal  sup- 
porters. 


^^EORGE  A.  THOMPSON.    Toi 

III  (^— .  can  scarcely  be  given  those  wl: 
^^iij    vanguard  of  civilization,  bore 


lEORGE  A.  THOMPSON.    Too  much  credit 

fho  formed  the 
re  the  brunt  of 
privation  and  arduous  toil  necessary  in  opening  up 
a  new  country,  and  who,  having  seen  the  fruition 
of  their  hopes,  are  in  their  declining  j'ears  enjoying 
the  worldly  prosperity  they  so  well  deserve  and  the 
esleeni  of  all  who  recognize  the  worth  of  their  ef- 
forts. Among  such  men  an  honored  rank  is  held 
by  the  gentleman  above-named,   who  is  the  oldest 


of  the  pioneers  of  Brimfield  Township  now  living. 
He  resides  on  section  35,  where  he  located  upon 
coining  to  this  county  in  1842.  The  land  which 
was  then  raw  piairie  whose  surface  iiad  never  been 
broken  by  a  plow,  is  now  under  excellent  tillage, 
marked  with  a  good  line  of  farm  buildings  and 
made  valuable  by  intelligent  and  persevering  ef- 
forts. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  was  August  20, 
1814,  and  his  birthplace  the  city  of  New  York.  He 
was  the  .fourth  son  in  the  family  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Hankins)  Thompson,  who  were  likewise  na- 
tives of  the  Empire  State.  The  father  was  a  dealer 
in  stoves,  copper  and  brass,  and  our  subject  was 
brought  up  in  the  store  with  him.  He  obtained  his 
education  in  public  and  private  sciioolsin  his  native 
city,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  the  S[)ring 
of  1838.  He  then  emigrated  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Adams  County,  where  he  spent  four  years  engaged 
in  farming,  after  which  lie  changed  his  location  to 
Peoria  County,  identified  himself  with  the  pioneers 
in  Brimfield  Township,  and  ere  long  became  known 
far  and  wide  as  a  man  of  undaunted  spirit,  indomi- 
table energy  and  unflagging  industry.  The  home- 
stead which  he  now  occupies  comprises  eighty-five 
and  one-half  acres,  quite  sufficient  while  well 
handled  to  afford  the  comforts  and  many  luxuries 
of  life,  while  not  unduly  burdensome  in  control 
and  oversight. 

In  the  building  up  of  his  fortunes  Mr.  Thomp- 
son has  lieen  ably  assisted  by  his  good  wife,  who 
for  more  than  half  a  century  has  made  his  home 
the  dearest  spot  on  earth.  She  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Plsther  M.  Batterson  and  became  his  wife 
March  25,  1838.  She  was  born  in  Greene  County, 
N.  Y.,  March  19,  1818,  being  a  daughter  of  Morris 
and  Betse3' A.  (Long)  Batterson,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. Her  father  was  a  boot  and  shoe  merchant 
who,  on  account  of  his  health,  kept  his  store  in 
Natchez,  Miss.,  some  thirty-six  j'cars,  although  the 
home  of  the  family  was  at  Coxsackie,  N.  Y.  He 
died  in  the  Empire  State  June  29,  1855. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  are  the  parents  of  five 
children,  the  youngest  of  whom,  Emma  A.,  is  still 
living  with  them.  A  daughter,  Adeline  F.,  has 
been  removed  by  death,  and  the  other  members  of 
the  family  are  living  in  homes  of  their  ow]\.    Mary 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


759 


K.  is  the  wife  of  -laiiies  (J.  Coolidge,  of  Oakland, 
C'a!.;  Morris  B.  lives  in  Osborn  Countj-.  Kan.; 
Anne  J.  is  the  wife  of  J.  U.  Clark,  of  Elinwood 
Township. 

Mr.  Thompson  has  fre(iiientl\-  been  solieilcil  to 
accept  important  township  ollices  bnt  preferring 
the  cjuiet  of  his  home,  steadfastly  declines.  He  is 
a  member  of  (he  Kei)ublican  party,  a  sui)portcr  of 
every  movement  which  prf)mises  to  benefit  the  peo- 
ple in  material,  moral  or  educational  matters,  and 
with  his  wife  an  active  member  of  society.  In 
Adams  County,  Mrs.  Thompson,  in  company  with 
a  physician's  wife  there,  did  much  gond  in  visiting 
and  caring  for  the  sick,  whose  comfort  at  that  lime 
dei)ended  almost  entirely  npon  the  neighliorly 
kindness  and  good  ofticcs  of  the  settlers.  We 
are  pleased  to  represent  this  esteemed  eouiile,  who 
in  their  declining  life  are  enjoj'ing  the  fruits  of 
years  of  usefulness  and  well-doing,  whose  home  is 
a  standing  monument  to  their  industry  and  perse- 
\erance,  and  whose  reputation  is  astill  greater  tes- 
timonial-to  their  worth. 


-^^ 


ILLIAM  REKD,  an  enlightened  and  pro- 
,  ,.,  gressive  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  is  recog- 
\/^  nized  .as  one  of  the  most  successful  agri- 
culturists of  Peoria  County.  He  is  a  jirorainent 
citizen  of  Millbrook  Township,  where  he  is  exten- 
sively engaged  in  his  calling,  and  has  on  section  3, 
a  very  fine  and  substantially  improved  farm. 

Ohio  is  the  native  State  of  our  subject,  and  iie 
was  born  in  Delaware  County,  April  7,  1834,  a  son 
of  one  of  its  early  pioneer  families.  His  parents, 
Joseph  and  Lucy  A.  (German)  Reed, were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  his  mother  being  of  Clerman  descent, 
and  his  father  of  Irish  extraction.  The  latter  served 
three  months  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  settled  in 
Delaware  County  at  an  early  daj'. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  passed  amid 
pioneer  scenes,  and  he  grew  to  a  vigorous  and 
strong  manhood,  being  endowed  with  an  exce|)tion- 
ally  tine  constitution.  The  manly  self-reliant  little 
lad  was  early  set  to  work  on  the  farm,  and  since  he 
was  ten  years  old  has  been  able  to  attend  to  a  crop 


and  has  never  missed  a  harvest,  as  he  has  always 
enjoyed  the  best  of  hcaltli.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  subscription  schools  of  Ohio,  which  at 
that  early  day  afforded  but  few  a<l  vantages  to  those 
desiring  to  obtain  snbscanlial  education.  In  his 
twentieth  jear  our  subject,  with  characteristic  en- 
terprise, sought  '-green  fields  and  pastures  new"  in 
which  to  carry  on  the  calling  to  which  he  had  been 
bred,  coming  at  that  time  to  Illinois.  lie  worked 
for  nearly  eight  years  by  the  month  in  Stark  County, 
receiving  |!18  a  month  for  his  services.  He  subse- 
quently farme.I  as  a  renter  there,  and  finally  came 
to  Peoria  County  in  1866,  and  located  on  his  pre- 
sent farm.  As  a  pioneer  in  this  portion  of  Illinois, 
he  has  witnessed  much  of  the  growth  of  Stark  and 
I'eoria  Counties,  and  has  had  a  hand  in  their  de- 
velopment. Thirty-two  years  ago,  he  used  to  draw 
his  grain  to  Peoria,  making  about  three  trips 
weekly.  When  he  first  came  to  this  State,  markets 
were!  distant,  and  the  roads  leading  to  them  were 
often  rough  and  almost  impassable  at  times,  and 
the  farmers  of  those  d.ays  did  not  enjoy  the  advan- 
tages that  the  agriculturists  of  the  present  have  in 
their  man}'  facilities  for  shijiping  their  produce  and 
laying  in  their  supplies.  ., 

When  Mr.  Reed  first  came  to  this  county,  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  in  Millbrook  Township, 
p.aying  therefor  $12  an  acre.  He  has  added  to  his 
original  luirchase  from  time  to  time,  and  now  has 
three  hundred  and  four  acres  of  land,  mostly  under 
cultivation,  and  supplied  with  every  needed  im- 
provement, to  make  it  a  valuable  farm.  When  it 
came  into  his  possession  it  was  mostly  covered 
with  brush  and  timber,  being  in  its  original  wild 
state,  and  he  has  done  much  hard  pioneer  work  in 
clearing  it  and  preparing  the  soil   for  cultivation. 

Mr.  Reed  was  married  March  6,  1862,  to  Mary 
(iingrich,  and  to  them  have  come  eight  children, 
namely:  Lucy  E.,  wife  of  Henry  Emery,  of  Laura, 
111.;  Flora,  wife  of  Caleb  Wildrick,  of  Jackson 
County,  Mo.;  Allen  G.;  Hattie  B.,  Marion  J., 
Milo  M.,  Viola  A.,  and  Clyde  E. 

When  Mr.  Reed  started  out  in  life,  his  only 
cajiital  was  his  fine  physical  endowments  and  a 
clear  brain,  seconded  by  ambition,  tenacity  of  pur- 
pose and  good  habits,  and  with  these  he  has  achieved 
success  as  will  be  seen  in  Ihc  perusal  of  this  record 


760 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  his  life  and  work.  His  position  in  the  business, 
social,  and  religious  fircles  of  his  adopted  town- 
siiip,  is  among  our  liest  citizens.  He  is  serving  as 
SchoollJirector,  and  we  are  sure  to  find  him  abet- 
ting all  enterprises  that  will  in  any  way  benefit  the 
community.  He  is  independent  in  politics,  gener- 
ally voting  for  the  man  and  not  the  party,  but  he 
has  Democratic  proclivities.  He  is  a  member  in 
good  standing  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  most 
liberal  in  its  support. 

"« « I? ■St 'J' It* A"  «*' 


^  LDER  ABY  is  the  proprietor  of  a  farm  on 
section  8,  Millbrook  Township,  which  when 
it  came  into  his  possession  was  nothing 
more  than  a  tract  of  timber  and  brush.  He  has 
cleared  it,  placed  it  under  excellent  tillage,  and 
1ms  erected  convenient  buildings  and  made  of  it  a 
valuable  piece  of  property.  By  doing  this  he  has 
also  placed  himself  among  the  substantial  farmers 
of  Peoria  Count}',  of  which  he  was  a  pioneer. 

3Ir.  Ab3'  is  a  native  of  Penns3'lvania,  his  birth 
taking  place  in  Montgomery  County,  March  2, 
1828.  His  parents,  Benjamin  and  Rachel  Aby, 
were  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  his 
jiatcriial  ancestors  are  said  to  have  been  of  German 
origin.  When  he  was  an  infant  his  father  and 
mother  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  became  pioneers  of 
Richland  County,  and  there  he  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  his  mother  when  he  was  only  about  two 
years  old.  When  he  was  seven  years  of  age  his 
father  removed  to  Huron  County,  Ohio,  and  there 
remained  until  early  in  the  '40s,  when  he  again 
took  up  his  march  westward,  and  crossing  the  State 
of  Indiana  penetrated  as  far  as  Stark  County  in  this 
State,  and  became  a  pioneer  in  what  is  now  known 
as  West  Jersey.  Mr.  Ab}-  eventually  came  from 
there  to  this  county,  and  spent  his  remaining  days 
in  Millbrook  Township,  dying  here  in  1866  at  a 
ripe  old  age;  his  name  holds  a  worth}-  place  among 
those  of  the  sturdy  pioneers  of  Illinois. 

KIdtr  Aby  was  a  stalwart,  active  youth  of  about 
liftfin  years  when  he  accompanied  his  father  to  this 
State,  of  which  he  has  ever  since  been  a  resident, 
:ind  he  has  had  a  hand  in  the  pioneer  labors  of  de- 


veloping the  wonderful  resources  of  this  part  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley.  He  was  the  fourth  child  in 
his  father's  family,  and  early  became  self-reliant 
and  heli)ful,and  after  coming  to  Illinois  for  several 
years  worked  as  a  farm  laborer  at  §8  or  §9  a  month 
and  his  board.  He  was  prudent  and  thrifty,  and 
wisely  saved  his  mone3%  and  was  thus  enabled  early 
to  marr}'  and  establish  a  home.  In  1865  he  located 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  9,  Millbrook 
Township,  and  for  several  years  was  busily  engaged 
in  farming  there.  In  1880  he  decided  to  try  life 
in  Kansas,  and  established  himself  in  Allen  County. 
He  did  not  like  that  part  of  the  country  so  well  as 
Illinois,  and  returned  to  the  Prairie  State  well  sat- 
isfied that  he  could  do  better  financially  here  than 
elsewhere. 

On  his  return  from  Kansas  Mr.  Aby  settled  on 
his  present  farm  on  section  8,  Millbrook  Township, 
and  has  ever  since  made  his  home,  which  is  a  cozy, 
comfortable  abode,  in  this  pleasant  locality.  By 
dint  of  downright  hard  labor,  carried  on  persist- 
entl}'  and  systematically,  he  has  succeeded  in  clear- 
ing off  the  brush  and  timber  that  was  standing  on 
his  land  when  he  purchased  it,  and  its  eighty  acres 
are  now  in  a  fine  condition  as  regards  cultivation 
and  improvement  and  from  them  he  gleans  rich 
harvests. 

In  his  wife  our  subject  has  found  a  sagacious 
counselor  and  an  active  assistant,  who  bravely 
shared  his  pioneer  labors,  and  the  hardships  of  life 
in  a  newlj'  settled  country,  and  is  now  enjoying 
with  him  the  fruits  of  a  successful  toil.  They 
joined  hands  in  wedlock  August  17,  1848,  and  to 
them  have  come  ten  children,  of  whom  six  survive, 
namely:  Frances,  wife  of  Albert  Long,  of  Knox 
County;  F.  Albert,  a  resident  of  Allen  County, 
Kan.;  James  O.,  living  in  this  county;  Jacob  I.,  in 
Laura;  Emma,  wife  of  Richard  Bilderbeck.  of 
Millbrook  Township,  and  Pluma  R. 

The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Aby  was  Mary  A. 
Murphy,  and  she  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  September  11,  1827,  to  James  and  Maria 
(Trickle)  Murphy.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of 
Maryland.  Her  father  died  before  Mrs.  Aby  was 
one  year  old  and  when  she  was  in  her  tenth  year 
she  came  to  Illinois  with  her  mother  and  other 
members  of  the  family,  and   her  first  winter   here 


«?N»VEKSI7V  Ot  ' 


# 


€/^^C<^   JQ^^^/^^^^/^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOCRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


76a 


was  spent  in  Fullon  County,  near  Canton.  The 
next  spring  the  family  went  to  Starlv  County,  and 
settled  about  five  miles  northeast  of  Rochester, 
being  among  the  first  settlers  of  that  locality. 

His  possession  of  those  very  desirable  traits,  the 
economy  that  spends  judiciously  and  saves  wisely, 
and  tiirift  and  native  force,  have  been  an  important 
factor  in  placing  our  subject  on  a  sound  financial 
basis.  He  is  a  man  of  strictly  moral  habits  and 
sound  principles,  his  personal  character  being  such 
that  his  fellow  citizens  regard  him  with  feelings  of 
perfect  trust  and  kindly  friendship.  He  unites 
with  bis  neighbors  in  forwarding  s.11  schemes  for 
the  improvement  of  the  community  socially,  relig- 
iously and  educational!}',  and  has  borne  an  hon- 
orable part  in  carrying  on  the  local  government. 
For  nine  years  in  succession  he  served  creditably 
as  School  Director,  and  for  three  years  was  Road 
Commissioner  of  Millbrook  Township.  His  reli- 
gious views  find  expression  in  the  faith  of  the 
Christian  Church,  of  which  he  and  his  wife  are 
active  members  and  cordially  unite  with  their  fel- 
low-members in  doing  the  good  work  for  which 
the  society  is  noted.  Mr.  Aby  is  independent  as 
regards  politics,  and  votes  for  the  man  whom  lie 
thinks  best  fitted  for  the  office  without  referenda  to 
(lariy. 


|TpV,  ICHARD  nOWARTH,  one  of  the  wealthiest 
L^  residents  of  Kickapoo,  resides  on  section 
.'i^\\\  30,  where  he  has  a  large  and  finely  eulti- 
^>^  vated  farm.  Not  only  does  the  smiling 
prosperity  every wliore  visible  over  the  broad  ex- 
tent of  his  domain  besi)eak  his  thrift,  pnulence, 
and  intelligent  adaption  of  means  to  secure  the 
desired  ends,  but  the  substantial  and  tasteful  build- 
ings of  stone  which  he  has  erected  to  accommodate 
his  family  and  serve  the  needs  of  his  stock,  also 
proclaim  in  unmistakalile  terms  that  the  owner  has 
been  no  laggard  in  the  "world's  great  field  of  bat- 
tle." He  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man,  and  an 
honor  to  the  county  of  his  adoption. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Uicliard  and  Martha 
(Greenwood)  Howarth,  were  both  natives  of  Lan- 
cashire,  England,    where    they   were*  married   and 


lived  until  1842.  They  then  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica and  settled  in  Kickapoo  Township,  in  which 
place  they  resided  until  death  claimed  them  for 
his  own.  Mr.  Howarth  was  a  stone-mason  b^'  trade, 
and  followed  the  business  while  a  resident  of  his 
native  country,  being  engaged  principally  in  con- 
tracting. After  coming  to  America  he  commenceil 
farming  operation.s,  but  ere  a  second  harvest  had 
been  gathered  he  fell  a  victim  to  the  Reaper 
Death,  and  passed  peacefully  away  to  his  home  on 
high,  where  life  is  one  perpetual  harvest  of  happi- 
ness. His  wife  lingered  in  this  lower  world  some 
nine  3'ears  longer,  departing,  in  LS.'il,  from  its 
cares  and  pleasures,  its  sunshine  and  shadows. 
They  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  the  younger 
members. 

Richard  Howarth,  of  whom  we  write,  was  born 
A{ivi\  12,  1821,  in  Lancashire,  England.  He  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  America  in  1842,  and 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  his  mar- 
riage, in  1849,  to  Miss  Alice  Lonsdale.  Their  mir- 
riage  was  celebrated  October  25,  in  Kickapoo 
Township,  amid  the  festivities  usual"  upon  such 
occasions  among  the  people  of  that  d.iy.  With 
mingled  sadness  and  joy  the  young  couple  bade 
farewell  to  their  respective  homes,  and  took  up 
their  abode  on  a  piece  of  land  which  forms  a  por- 
tion of  the  present  large  farm  of  our  subject. 

Mrs.  Howarth  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Helen  (Halsted)  Lonsdale,  natives  of  Lancashire, 
England.  Mr.  Lonsdale  came  to  America  in  1842, 
and  was  joined  by  his  family  the  following  3ear. 
The}'  settled  in  Kickapoo  Township,  where  they 
resided  during  the  remainder  of  their  earthly  pil- 
primage.  Mrs.  Howarth  was  born  in  Lancashire, 
England.  Ofttober  10,  1828,  and  eiileieil  upon  the 
joys  of  the  life  beyond  January  2.5,  1887.  She 
w.TS  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
throughout  her  life  was  an  affectionate  daughter, 
a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  a  true  Christian 
whose  death  was  a  severe  loss  to  the  entire  com- 
munity, as  well  as  a  deep  atHiction  to  her  iininedialc 
friends. 

Mr.  Howarth  is  the  father  of  twc>  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Samuel,  died  when  one  year  old. 
The   second,    Martha    E,.    is    the   wife  of   William 


r64 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUil 


Tavlor.  :inil  resides  willi  our  subject.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Taylor  are  tlie  parents  of  six  children,  as 
follows:  Alice  A..  Susanna,  Ricliard,  Helen,  Arthur 
and  Mahel.  Arthur  departed  this  life  wlien  a 
tender  infant  of  six  months. 

Our  subject  is  the  jjossessor  of  a  large  farm, 
comprising  some  nine  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Kickapoo  Township,  upon  which  he  resides. 
He  also  owns  valuable  property  in  the  city  of 
Peoria.  Aside  fiom  his  farmiiis  and  other  in- 
terests, he  is  largely  engaged  in  the  mining  of 
coal  at  Edwards'  Station  in  company  with  William 
and  James  Taylor,  and  is  also  engaged  with  Isaac 
Wantling  in  a  separate  coal  mine.  The3'  have 
been  very  successful  in  this  business,  and  are 
amassing  wealth  with  gratifying  rapiditv.  Our 
subject  lakes  alivel}-  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his 
adopted  country,  and  keeps  himself  abreast  of  the 
times  by  reading  and  meditating  upon  the  great 
questions  that  are  (iresented  for  consideration  from 
time  to  lime.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  the  good  will  and  admiration  of  his  party 
friends,  but  does  not  make  enemies  among  his 
political  opponents,  lielieving  it  the  inalienable 
light  of  everyone  to  think  for  himself. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Howarth  is  presented  on  another 
page. 


^  AMES  M.  MILLER  is  a  Government  official 
in  Peoria,  where  he  is  acting  as  store-keeper 
on  the  United  States  Revenue  force.  He  is 
a  native  of  this  county,  and  his  whole  course 
through  life  has  been  an  honor  to  its  "citizenship, 
both  in  his  public  and  in  his  private  life  and  as  a 
soldier  in  the  late  war.  He  was  born  October  28, 
1846,  and  is  a  son  of  W.  W.  and  Amelia  (Robey) 
Miller,  natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Maryland. 
His  father  is  a  farmer  and  came  to  this  State  in 
1841  or  1845,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  still  honored 
residents  of  tiiis  county. 

Our  subject  has  passed  the  most  of  his  days  in 
this  county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  His 
early  life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  and  he  was  assist- 
ing his  father  in  his  work  when  the  war  broke  out. 
He  was  a  mere  lad  too  young  to  c-iter  the   service. 


but  he  watched  the  course  of  events  with  intense 
patriotic  interest  and  at  the  youthful  age  of  seven- 
teen was  allowed  to  enlist  in  the  Union  Army.  He 
became  a  member  of  Compan}'  M,  Fourteenth  lUi- 
nois  Cavalry,  which  was  ofHcered  first  by  Captain 
Lupton,  then  b\'  Captain  Rowcliffe,  of  the  Robins 
Nest,  and  subsequently  by  Col.  H.  Capron.  now  de- 
ceased. After  his  enlistment  in  Peoria  in  the  month 
of  January'.  18G3,  Mr.  Miller  was  sent  with  his  reg- 
iment to  Nieholasville,  Ky.,  thence  to  Knoxville, 
Tenn.  He  did  gallant  service  in  the  battle  of  Ken- 
esaw  Mountain  and  from  there  he  and  his  comrades 
were  dispatciied  to  Marietta,  Ga.,  and  then  w^ere 
onlered  to  take  part  in  Stoncman's  rpid  which  was 
sent  out  with  the  intention  of  capturing  the  enemy, 
but  the  regiment  itself  was  taken  near  Macon,  Ga., 
b}'  Gen.  Forrest  and  the  men  were  sent  to  Anderson- 
ville.  They  were  there  five  months,  and  later  were 
dispatehc'  to  Florence,  N.  C,  and  endured  the 
awful  hardships  of  those  two  famous  prisons  with 
fortitude.  After  four  months  In  the  Florence  strong- 
hold, our  subject  and  his  felloiv-prlsoners  were  re- 
leased by  Sherman's  army  in  April,  18(35,  and  they 
were  taken  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  and  brought  home. 
Such  were  the  sufferings  he  endured  during  his 
confinement  that  he  had  been  reduced  to  seventy- 
five  pounds  weight  and  was  a  mere  skeleton. 

After  he  had  partiality  recovered  from  the  effects 
of  his  dreadful  experience  of  life  in  rebel  prisons 
and  on  Southern  battle-fields,  Mr.  Miller  resumed 
his  studies  which  had  been  interrupted  when  Ue  had 
volunteered  to  give  his  services  to  his  country,  and 
for  two  years  he  was  closely  engaged  at  his  books  at 
Grinnell  College,  and  thus  amply  fitted  himself  for 
any  walk  in  life.  He  first  entered  the  mercantile 
business,  and  subsequently  began  railroading  as 
agent  for  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Rail- 
way Companj-  and  continued  in  its  service  until  he 
received  his  appointment  as  store-keeper  on  the  Uni- 
ted States  Revenue  force,  an  appointment  due 
cntiiely  to  his  well-known  personal  integrity  and  fit- 
ness for  the  ofHce,  which  he  still  retains,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  serviceable  officials  in  the 
employ  of  the  Government  in  this  city. 

'Jo  the  lady  who  presides  over  his  home  so  graci- 
ously and  with  his  genial  assistance  renders  it  a 
hospitable  abiide  1(1   which    llieir   numerous    friends 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


765 


are  glad  to  resort,  our  subject  w.is  united  in  mar- 
riage December  25,  1878,  at  Oak  Hill, and  found  in 
so  true  a  wife  a  most  precious  Christian  gift.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Isabelle  Cunningham,  and  she  is 
a  daughter  of  Cornelius  Cunningiiam.  Of  their  six 
children  four  are  living — Edna,  Charles,  Earl  and 
Lester.     Two  died  in  infancy  unnamed. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  Briner  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
and  is  identified  with  the  Masonic  lodge  in  Elm- 
wood  and  the  Consistory  at  Peoria.  Religiously,  he 
is  inclined  towards  Metliodism,  and  his  life  is 
guided  by  principles  of  honor  and  truthfulness. 

■-^ ^-*-B- ^^ 

^^^^ENRY  S.  PAYSON,  the  only  living  child  of 
his  parents,  occupies  a  beautiful  country 
home  in  Richwood  Township,  surrounded 
by  all  that  money  can  purchase  and  a  tine 
taste  suggest.  He  is  linel}^  educated,  being  a  grad- 
uate of  one  of  the  best  known  of  American  insti- 
tutions of  learning,  and  having  enjoyed  the  added 
l)rivilege  of  foreign  travel,  which,  to  a  man  keenly 
observant,  is  of  itself  a  liberal  education.  Having 
been  obliged  to  abandon  a  professional  life  on  ac- 
count of  his  healtli,  he  has  recently  taken  up  agri- 
culture, purchasing  an  estate  of  about  one  thous- 
and acres  close  to  the  Illinois  River  and  entering 
upon  his  new  calling  with  a  determination  to  make 
it  a  sj^ccess. 

Henry  R.  Payson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  AViscassett,  Me.,  August  24,  1822.  He  is 
an  able  linancier  and  although  now  living  a  retired 
life,  was  formerly  engaged  in  business, manifesting 
decided  ability  for  commercial  life  and  increasing 
his  capital  from  year  to  year  until  he  became  the 
possessor  of  a  considerable  fortune.  He  married 
Miss  Alexandrine  Cauda,  who  was  born  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  August  27,  1829,  is  of  French  and  Italian 
parentage,  and  attained  to  womanhood  in  Paris, 
France. 

The  marriage  of  the  jiarcnts  of  our  subject  took 
place  in  Chicago,  where  they  made  their  first  home 
and  where  the^'  have  resided  most  of  the  time  since. 
Mrs.  Pa3-son  is  a  lad\'  of  rare  intelligence,  broad 
culture  and  most  charming  manners,  and  liotli   she 


and  her  husband  i)ossess  characters  which  win  the 
respect  of  all  who  make  their  acquaintance.  Upon 
their  son  the}-  have  lavished  affection  and  wealth 
giving  him  every  opiiortunity  possible  to  cultivate 
his  mind,  establish  his  principles  and  fit  himself  to 
secure  a  position  of  honor  in  society. 

The  gentleman  who  is  the  subject  of  these  brief 
notes,  was  born  in  Chicago,  December  23,  1848, 
receiving  his  fumlamental  education  in  excellent 
schools  there,  and  leaving  the. city  to  enter  Yale 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  '72.  He  next  spent  eighteen  months  traveling 
in  Europe,  on  his  return  entering  the  Columbia 
Law  School  for  professional  study.  He  received 
his  diploma  from  that  institution  in  1876,  and  be- 
ginning the  practice  of  his  profession  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  sojourned  in  that  city  about  a  3'ear  and  a  half. 

Illness  obliged  Mr.  Payson  to  relinquish  his 
practice,  and  to  benefit  his  health  he  turned  his 
attention  to  an  occupation  which  would  lead  him 
more  into  the  open  air.  Going  to  liradford,  Pa., 
he  embarked  in  the  oil  business,  operating  in  pe- 
troleum two  years,  after  which  he  made  a  second 
trip  to  Europe.  Ere  long  he  again  visited  foreign 
shores,  combining  business  and  pleasure  in  these 
later  excursions.  In  1882  he  purchased  the  old 
Littleton  estate  which  was  former!}-  a  portion  of 
the  ]\Ioss  estate.  Here  he  has  taken  up  his  abode, 
identifying  himself  with  the  best  agricultural  ele- 
ment and  vvitli  the  intelligence  and  culture  of  the 
county. 


'^1  AMMERT  B.  LOOK  is  numbered  among 
I  ^  the  early  German  settlers  in  the  eastern  part 
/'L-^\  of  Peoria  County,  and  one  of  those  to  whom 
much  credit  is  due  for  their  share  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  material  resources  of  the  county,  the 
progress  of  education  and  morality,  and  all  that 
goes  to  make  up  the  best  citizenship.  He  is  the 
owner  of  some  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres 
of  fine  land  in  Limestone  Townslup,  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  which  comprises  the  original 
homestead  of  the  Look  family.  There  are  two  ex- 
cellent residences  on  the  estate,  one  of   which    was 


766 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


recently  erected  in  the  raodern  st3'le  for  the  use  of 
our  subject  and  his  family.  AVhen  it  was  com- 
pleted Mr.  and  Mrs.  Look  found  it  .«o  hard  to  tear 
themselves  away  from  the  old  home  around  which 
many  associations  clung,  that  they  remained  therein, 
giving  u})  the  new  one  to  their  eldest  son.  The 
residence  which  they  occupy  stands  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  the  road,  surrounded  liy  fields  of 
waving  grain,  green  pasture  lands,  and  orchard  and 
shade  trees,  while  the  new  residence  is  pleasantly 
located  on  the  Smith ville  Road. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Barney  and 
Alma  (Brons)  Look,  of  Hanover,  Germany,  in 
which  kingdom  our  subject  was  born,  November 
21,  1833.  His  mother  died  in  the  Fatherland  and 
the  father  married  a  second  wife  who  is  still  living. 
In  18.50  the  family  emigrated  to  America,  soon  lo- 
cating on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  our  subject's 
brother,  John  B.  Our  subject  was  an  inmate  of 
the  parcntnl  home  until  18G1,  when  he  married 
Cornelia,  daughter  of  Ulrich  and  Emma  (Johnson) 
Ilippon,  of  Pekin.  In  that  city  Mrs.  Look  was 
born,  receiving  a  good  education  and  much  useful 
instruction  from  her  worthy  parents  prior  to  her 
marriage.  The  Hip|)en  famil3'  was  originally  from 
Hanover,  Germany. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Look  bought  eight3'  acres 
on  the  Dutch  Road,  where  he  made  such  improve- 
ments as  have  made  the  estate  worthy-  to  be  ranked 
among  the  finest  in  tlie  county.  That  place  is  now 
owned  by  his  brother.  Reared  from  boyhood  to 
habits  of  industry'  and  accurate  observation  of  the 
manners  and  methods  of  others,  Mr.  Look  has  been 
\ery  successful  in  iiis  worldly'  affairs,  and  has  been 
enabled  to  bestow  upon  his  familv  excellent  advan- 
tages, encouraging  and  developing  the  worthy  traits 
in  their  characters  and  their  mental  abilities.  The 
home  is  abundantl}'  sup|)lied  with  excellent  reading 
matter,  the  perusal  of  which  affords  great  pleasure 
as  well  as  profit  to  the  intelligent  lads  and  lassies 
who  gather  around  its  hearthstone.  Although  well 
versed  in  German,  the  children  do  most  of  their 
reading  in  English. 

Tlie  eldest  son  of  our  subject  and  his  good  wife 
is  Herman,  who  married  IMiss  Minnie  Bruninga  and 
has  one  child,  a  daughter,  Nellie.  The  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are  Bonny,  Anna,  Louis,  Lena, 


Williana,  Bertha  and  Johnny,  the  latter  a  lad  of 
eight  years.  All  are  at  home  except  Louis,  who  is 
correspondent  for  the  firm  of  Schipper  &  Brock, 
of  Peoria,  with  whom  he  has  been  for  some  months. 
This  J'oung  gentleman  took  a  course  of  study  in 
the  Business  College  of  Peoria,  in  addition  to  the 
good  privileges  which  he  elsewhere  shared  with  his 
brothers  and  sisters.  The  familj-  attend  the  Ger- 
man Methodist  Church  of  Peoria,  of  which  the 
parents  are  respected  members.  Mr.  Look  is  not 
an  office-seeker,  but  is  sufficiently  interested  in  po- 
litical affairs  to  keep  well  informed  regarding  the 
outlook  and  tieposit  his  vote,  a  Republican  one,  on 
election  d.aj'. 

fi^^^  ENRY  SINGER.  A  prominent  place  among 
li  the  business  establishments  of  Peoria,  is  oc- 
cupied by  the  Bottling  Works  of  Charles 
.Singer,  now  deceased,  the  business  being 
continued  under  the  same  name  by  his  sons,  Charles, 
Jr.,  Henry,  and  Emil.  The  works  were  establisiied 
in  18G8,  the  only  goods  tlien  put  up  being  soda 
and  mineral  water.  From  a  moderate  foundation 
the  trade  has  grou-n  with  llie  growth  of  the  city  un- 
til it  now  stands  among  the  most  flourishing  of  her 
industries.  Finallj'  it  was  thought  ailvisable  to 
add  the  bottling  of  Blatz'  Milwaukee  beer  to  the 
beverages  alread}'  put  up,  and  in  this  alone  a  large 
business  is  done. 

Charles  Singer,  the  originator  of  the  works,  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United  States, 
making  his  first  home  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  reach- 
ing Peoria  in  1855.  On  .arriving  here  he  took 
charge  of  the  boarding  house  known  as  the  Rail- 
road Exchange,  subsequently  becoming  one  of  the 
earl}'  ice  dealers  of  the  citj'.  At  length  he  deter- 
mined to  open  the  establishment  which  his  sons  are 
still  controlling,  and  in  which  he  worked  u|)  a  fine 
large  trade.  In  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  .Tolianna  Branch,  who  carefully 
managed  the  domestic  affairs,  and  gave  loving  care 
to  her  family.  Mr.  Singer  died  in  Jul}',  1887, 
while  his  wife  is  still  living,  making  her  home  in 
Peoria. 

The  geiitU'inan  with  whose   name   tliis    sketch    is 


'■•■'VFP': 


l/MtJh^    cJfo^tX^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


769 


introduced  was  born  in  Peoria,  June  16,  1857,  and 
educated  in  the  coiniiiou  schools.  He  turned  his 
.ittention  vvliile  still  young,  to  a  life  of  trade,  and 
devotes  himself  steadily  to  the  interests  of  the  busi- 
ness in  which  he  and  his  l)rothers,  after  the  death 
of  their  parent,  took  each  his  usual  position.  He 
Is  well  informed,  particularly  on  those  topics  that 
have  a  bearing  upon  the  work  he  has  in  hand,  his 
prospects  being  favorable  to  accumulate  a  fortune. 
Politics  are  eschewed  by  him,  as  he  thinks  a  single- 
ness of  purpose  more  effectual  than  a  divided  aim. 
At  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents  in  Peoria, 
Mr.  Singer  and  Miss  Ada  Klewe  were  joined  in  holy 
wedlock.  They  have  one  child,  a  charming  little 
maid,  named  Camilla. 

^  IfcARREN  NOEL  has  been  honored  by  this, 
\jiJ/'  '"^  native  county,  by  election  to  one  of 
VtW  its  most  important  offlces,  that  of  Sheriff 
of  the  county,  and  his  lidelit3'  to  his  duty,  his  in- 
corruptibility and  various  other  sterling  traits, 
show  that  a  wise  selection  has  been  made,  and  that 
he  is  in  every  way  fitted  for  the  responsibilities  of 
his  position.  His  portrait  appears  on  the  opposite 
[)age  and  represents  one  of  Peoria's  most  widely 
known  citizens. 

Sheriff  Noel  was  born  in  this  county,  August 
8,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Trial) 
Noel,  natives  of  Virginia.  They  had  gone  from 
there  to  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Illinois  before  they 
met  and  married.  Of  the  eleven  children  born  to 
them  nine  are  now  living:  Albert,  in  Iowa;  Eliza- 
beth Nixon,  in  Kansas;  Ariminda  Shepherd  and 
Jackson,  in  tliis  county ;  Minerva  Harker  and  Na- 
thaniel, in  Peoria;  Charles,  in  Iowa;  Mary  Horn- 
backer,  in  Peoria;  and  \Vairen.  Harriet  and  Mar- 
garet are  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  this  county  and  farming  has  been 
his  vocation.  In  1882  he  was  called  from  his  quiet 
pursuits  to  public  life,  being  then  elected  Deputy 
Sheriff,  and  so  ably  did  he  discharge  the  duties 
thus  devolving  upon  him,  that  in  1886  be  received 
the  honor  of  election    to   the  still   higher  office  of 


Sheriff  of  the  county.  He  makes  a  most  excellent 
officer,  as  he  is  eminently  adapted  by  temperament 
and  capacity  for  this  responsible  position,  possess- 
ing a  steady  nerve,  undaunted  courage  and  ready 
tact.  By  his  just  and  courteous  treatment  of  all 
who  come  in  contact  with  him  he  has  made  himself 
popular,  we  might  almost  say,even  with  the  criminal 
class.  He  is  a  natural  detective,  and  is  feared  by 
evil-doers,  as  is  illustrated  b}'  this  forcible  tribute 
that  he  once  received  from  a  notable  prisoner:  "I 
thought,"  said  he,"  "my  case  would  be  put  in  the 
hands  of  Chicago  detectives,  and  felt  safe,  but 
when  I  found  it  was  in  Warren  Noel's,  I  knew  my 


jig  was  up 


Sheriff   Noel    is  a   member  of   the 


Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern  Woodmen,  and  politi- 
cally, is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Sheriff  Noel  is  fortunate  in  having  a  cozy,  pleas- 
ant home  to  which  he  can  retreat  from  the  cares 
of  public  life.  P^or  the  comforts  of  this  abiding- 
place  he  is  indebted  greatly  to  his  amiable  wife, 
formerly  Miss  Nancy  J.  McFarland,  to  wli  nj  he 
was  married  January  23,  1873.  To  them  have 
been  born  two  children — Mabel  and  Julia. 


^ •^-*^ ^ 


m 


>j|^OHN  M.  YERION  is  eminently  worthy  of 
representation  in  this  biographical  work, 
where  the  record  of  many  of  Peoria  County's 
pioneers  and  leading  men  is  preserved  for 
the  benefit  of  rising  and  future  generations.  He  is 
a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  and  is  conducting  his 
business  in  Trivoli  Township,  where  he  is  pleasantly 
located  in  that  \r.ii-l  generally  known  as  Brunswick. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  George  Yerion,  was  a 
native  of  Wythe  County,  Va.,  while  his  grandfa- 
ther was  a  Pennsylvaniau  by  birth  and  of  German 
descent.  He  married  in  the  Keystone  State,  and 
then  removed  to  Virginia,wherc  he  was  successfully 
engaged  as  a  farmer  and  stockman  and  became  a 
large  landowner.  He  was  an  early  settler  there 
and  took  part  in  the  War  of  1812. 

His  son  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer  on  the 
old  plantation.  He  made  tar  and  mined  coal  to 
some  extent,  and  also  engaged  as  a  blacksmith.  He 
was  a  good  mechanic  and  made  wagons  and  could 


770 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


do  anything  that  required  manual  skilL  His  wife 
urged  him  to  move  to  Illinois,  where  she  wisely 
thought  a  man  of  his  practical  ability  would  find  a 
good  opening  in  the  building  up  of  a  new  couutr}^ 
In  1848,  they  started  with  their  family  on  the 
eventful  journey,  traveling  witli  two  teams  and  a 
wagon,  crossing  the  Ohio  at  Louisville,  and  the 
Wabash  at  Terre  Haute,  and  proceeding  slowly  on 
tlieir  wav  to  Peoria,  which  tlie}'  reached  at  the  end 
of  nine  weeits'  travel,  and  which  the}'  found  to  be  a 
small  place.  One  of  the  sons  was  sick  on  tlie  jour- 
ney, so  they  had  camped  for  twenty-one  days. 
They  found  plenty  of  game  along  the  way,  and  it 
added  greatly  to  their  supply  of  food.  The  father 
rented  land  in  Trivoli  Townsliii),  and  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death  in  1850,  closed  an  honor- 
able and  industrious  life.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  while  a  resident  of  Virginia  was  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  He  was  a  conscientious  aud  upright 
man,  and  a  member  of  the  Presbj'terian  Church. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Sallie  Miller,  and  she  was  born  in  AVj'the 
County,  Va.,  a  daughter  of  "William  Miller,  who 
was  of  English  extraction.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  during  the  War  of  1812.  was  a 
soldier  and  an  officer,  and  was  wounded.  The 
mother  resided  with  her  children  here  until  187o, 
and  then  went  to  live  with  a  daughter  in  Platte 
County,  "Neb.,  where  she  died  in  188G,  at  tl)e  age  of 
eiofhty-one  years.  Thirteen  children  were  born  of 
her  marriage,  of  whom  eight  grew  to  maturity : 
Susan,  ISIrs.  Minnick,  who  died  in  Trivoli;  Sarah, 
Mrs.  HoUandsworth,  who  died  in  Trivoli;  John, 
Randall  and  Jackson,  who  died  in  Trivoli;  David, 
a  resident  of  Arkansas;  Nancy,  Mr.s.  Yerion,  of 
Farmington;  Martha,  Mrs.  Wolf  of  Nebraska. 
David  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  enlisting  in 
Company  I,  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  in  1861, 
and  serving  creditably  throughout  the  war. 

John  Yerion  was  born  February  12,  1829,  on  the 
Cherry  Purchase  in  Tennessee,  during  the  residence 
of  liis  parents  in  that  locality.  He  was  reared  in 
Virginia,  gleaning  what  education  he  could  in  the 
subscription  schools,  that  were  held  three  months 
of  each  year  in  a  rude  log  house,  furnished  with 
slab  benches  and  having  greased  pa|)er  instead  of 
glass  in  the  windows.     He  helped  on  the  farm,  en- 


gaging in  making  tar,  etc.,  and  was  twentj'-one 
years  old  when  he  came  to  this  county.  Beginning 
life  for  himself  in  the  fall  of  1848,  he  worked  out 
i)y  the  month  until  he  was  thirty-six  years  of  ago. 
In  1856,  he  letised  a  farm  in  Orion  Townshiij,  Ful- 
ton County.  Prior  to  that  time,  in  1854,  he  and  his 
partner,  made  a  trip  to  Texas  driving  two  colts, and 
returning  in  the  month  of  November.  The  next 
fall  he  again  visited  the  Lone  Star  State,  going 
there  to  pilot  seven  families,  and  remaining  there 
one  winter,  engaged  in  work.  He  was  taken  sick 
and  came  home,  via  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  tlie 
Mississippi  River.  In  1856,  he  went  to  Virginia  to 
revisit  his  old  home  and  remained  there  one  win- 
ter, then  coming  back,  once  more  engaged  in  farm 
labor.  lie  is  an  extensive  traveler,  and  made  a 
trip  to  Dakota  in  1882,  and  again  in  J 885.  During 
the  latter  year  he  also  visited  Portland,  Ore. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Yerion  having  been  very  successful 
in  agricultural  adventures  located  on  bis  present 
farm,  which  he  then  purchased,  and  here  he  has 
since  been  actively  engaged  in  raising  grain  and 
stock.  He  purchased  the  original  eighty  acres  of 
his  homestead  for  S3, .300  and  has  since  added  ten 
acres  to  his  landed  possessions,  buj'ingasmall  tract 
of  land  on  section  28.  His  place  is  well  fenced  and 
has  on  it  fine  buildings,  including  a  roomj-  house 
and  good  barns;  also  a  fine  orchard  and  good 
S[)rings  of  water.  He  has  horses  for  general  pur- 
poses and  uses  two  teams  of  draft  horses  in  liis 
work;  he  has  full-blooded  cattle  and  hogs,  bu3-ing 
and  feeding  swine  in  addition  to  raising  them. 

Our  subject  is  very  hapjiy  in  his  domestic  rela- 
tions, his  wife  filling  in  a  perfect  measure  the  duties 
devolving  upon  her,  in  her  position  as  his  helpmate 
and  the  motlier  of  children,  of  whom  they  have 
two  living— John  M.  and  Flora  M.  Two  children 
are  deceased,  Lctta  V.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one 
month,  and  Varina,  who  died  when  four  years  old. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yerion  were  married  113-  Judge  Fol- 
lett  February  17,  1864.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Maria  Stookey,  aud  she  was  born  in  Timber  Town- 
ship January  30,  1840.  For  parental  history  see 
the  biography  of  her  brother,  the  Hon.  D.  B. 
Stookey,  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  As  a 
man  of  unblemished  character  and  fine  refutation, 
our  subject  is  an  important  member   of  tiiis    com- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBLIM. 


1 


munity,  and  eveiy  scheme  toward  its  advancement, 
religiously,  educational!}'  or  materiall}',  finds  in  him 
a  liberal  and  able  promoter.  He  has  been  School 
Director  for  years  and  for  a  period  of  nine  years 
was  Commissioner  of  Highways  in  this  township. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  strong  Democrat.  He 
is  one  of  the  foremost  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Brunswick,  of  which  he  is  a  Deacon. 


^;^, OAII    BIRD.     Among    the    many    pleasant 
I     )/;  and    remunerative    farms    to    be  found    in 


11^^  Trivoli  Township,  that  of  the  gentleman 
above  named  should  not  be  pnssed  unnoted.  It 
comprises  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  and  one-half 
acres  on  section  30,  all  tillable  and  pasture  land, 
watered  by  Copperas  Creek  and  divided  into  two 
parts  by  the  road.  The  land  is  surrounded  and 
divided  into  fields  of  convenient  size  bj'  substan- 
tial fences,  is  furnished  with  a  comfortable  dwell- 
ing, barns  and  other  outbuildings,  a  good  orchard 
and  an  abundant  supply  of  small  fruits,  and  further 
beautified  by  groves  of  forest  trees.  The  dwelling 
is  about  five  miles  from  Farmington,  thus  affording 
the  inmates  a  convenient  trading  post. 

Mr.  Bird  is  of  German  descent  in  the  paternal 
line,  and  his  near  ancestors  have  been  natives  of  the 
Southern  States.  Hie  grandfather  died  in  Virginia 
and  his  father,  Henry  Bird,  a  native  of  AVest  Vir- 
"inia,  operated  a  farm  in  the  Old  Dominion.  While 
still  single  he  removed  to  Hardin  Coiint^^  Ky., 
where  he  married  Mary  Parker,  a  Virginia  lady. 
He  located  on  and  cleared  a  farm,  residing  upon  it 
until  1833,  when  he  removed  to  Macoupin  County, 
111.  There  he  lived  two  years  upon  rented  land, 
then  changed  his  habitation  to  Peoria  Count}',  and 
after  renting  land  in  Trivoli  Township  some  3'ears, 
purchased  a  quarter-section  in  Orion  Township, 
Fulton  County.  This  was  raw  land  which  he  placed 
under  excellent  improvement,  adding  to  it  until  at 
the  time  of  his  death  his  estate  amounted  to  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres. 

Mr.  Bird  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  being  nu  oiticial  member  of  the  organiza- 


tion at  Concord,  whose  edifice  he  helped  to  build 
and  which  he  otherwise  aided.  He  was  an  old-line 
Whig,  and  in  later  j'ears  a  Democrat.  He  died  in 
1872,  having  passed  his  three-score  years  and  ten. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  having  died,  the  father 
married  a  second  wife. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  the  first- 
born of  the  seven  children  of  his  mother,  his 
brothers  and  sisters  being:  David,  who  died  in  Ful- 
ton Count}';  Richard,  now  living  in  Iowa;  Mrs. 
Sarah  A.  HoUingsworth,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  Joel, 
whose  home  is  in  Northwestern  Iowa;  Jacob,  who 
lives  in  Northern  Nebraska,  and  Mrs.  Nancy  Escue, 
whose  home  is  in  Kansas. 

The  natal  da}'  of  our  subject  was  January  13, 
1826,  and  his  birthplace  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  near 
Elizabethtown.  When  seven  years  old  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  North,  the  journey  being  per- 
formed with  a  four-horse  team  and  wagon  orer 
mud  and  corduroy  roads.  He  helped  to  drive  the 
stock  through,  and  after  the  family  located  did 
what  he  could  on  the  farm  in  the  intervals  of  at- 
tendance at  the  district  school.  In  the  spring  of 
1835  the  family  came  to  this  county  with  the  same 
"prairie  schooner,"  our  subject  driving  cattle  and 
sheep.  Passing  through  Peoria,  which  was  but  a 
small  village,  the  lad  assisted  his  father  on  the 
Fulton  County  farm, ere  long  becoming  a  champion 
ox-driver,  breaking  prairie  with  from  five  to  six 
yoke  and  a  twenty-four-inch  plow  with  a  wooden 
mold-board.  Rattlesnakes  were  quite  numerous, 
while  wild  deer,  wolves,  and  foxes  abounded,  mak- 
ing hunting  the  prominent  excitement  and  recrea- 
tion. 

When  twenty  years  old  young  Bird  rented  a  farm 
in  Trivoli  Township,  receiving  one-third  of  its 
produce  for  his  labors  thereon.  In  1848  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  raw  land  which  forms  a  part  of  his 
present  estate.  It  was  partially  covered  with  tim- 
ber, necessitating  grubbing  as  well  as  breaking,  but 
by  dint  of  perseverance  it  was  ere  long  placed  in 
good  condition.  A  small  frame  house  was  built 
upon  it  and  the  owner  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  and  stock-raising,  Peoria  and  Reed's  Land- 
ing being  his  markets,  and  all  grain  and  sufipiies 
being  hauled  to  and  fro  in  w.agons.  After  a  time 
he  was  enabled  to  buy  an  additional  eighty  acres 


772 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


which  he  also  improved,  the  whole  now  making  one 
of  the  fine  farms  of  the  township,  and  being  worth 
a  much  larger  sum  than  the  $3.50  per  .acre  wiiieh 
his  first  purchase  cost  him. 

In  the  summer  of  1865  Mr.  Bird,  witli  two 
brotliers  and  a  number  of  other  men,  started  with 
ox-teams  for  Denver,  Colo.  Upon  reaching  Coun- 
cil Bluffs,  Iowa,  our  subject  tliouglit  it  would  be 
better  to  remain  in  that  State  and  hire  out  at 
breaking  land.  His  brothers  being  of  a  similar 
mind,  they  returned  to  Knox  County,  Iowa,  and 
bought  eight  yoke  of  oxen  and  two  large  plows 
with  which  they  labored  in  Iowa  until  July.  They 
received  15  an  acre,  turned  the  sod  on  from  five  to 
six  acres  per  daj',  and  were  enabled  to  return  to 
their  homes  with  a  nice  purse  which,  Mr.  Bird  saj's, 
was  the  easiest  and  quickest  money  he  ever  m.ade, 
as  he  received  "spot  cash"  for  his  labors. 

Upon  coming  back  to  his  home  Mr.  Bird  again 
turned  his  attention  to  work  upon  his  estate,  de- 
voting his  energies  priucip.ally  to  grain  and  stock. 
He  has  some  graded  Short-horn  cattle,  a  good 
grade  of  hogs,  but  makes  a  specialty  of  horses,  hav- 
ing inherited  from  his  father  a  love  of  equines 
which  amounts  to  a  hobljy.  His  herd  of  tliosc 
animals  is  the  largest  in  the  county  anti  made  up 
of  the  finest  animals,  all  being  standard-bred. 
Among  his  herd  is  a  Norman  and  English  draft 
horse,  "Prince,"  which  now  leads  the  van.  He  al- 
waj'S  keeps  a  stable  horse  which  is  certain  to  be  of 
good  blood. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Bird  was  celebrated  in 
this  township  in  1845,  his  bride  Miss  Margaret  A. 
Reed,  a  native  of  Hamilton  County.  His  second 
marriage  took  place  in  Peoria,  in  185G,  to  Miss 
Susan  Ousley,  a  native  of  Cass  County.  This  union 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  son,  Alva,  who  is  mar- 
ried, living  in  Fulton  County  and  occupied  in 
farming.  The  present  Mrs.  Bird  was  formerly 
known  as  Miss  Abigail  Mathis.  She  was  born  in 
Hamilton  County,  and  celebrated  her  nuptial  rites 
in  Knox  Count}'  in  1868.  She  has  borne  her  hus- 
band two  children — Ora  A.  and  Edgar  AL,  both  of 
whom  arc  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Bird  is  now  President  of  the  School  Board, 
and  has  been  School  Director  about  half  of  the  time 
since  he  has  lived  here.     He  is  a  sturdy  Democrat 


but  interests  himself  in  politics  only  to  the  extent 
of  keeping  himself  well  posted  and  depositing  his 
vote  on  election  daj'.  He  has  served  on  both  Petit 
and  Grand  Juries.  The  work  in  which  he  takes 
most  interest  is  that  of  the  church,  in  which  lie  has 
for  man}'  3'ears  been  prominent.  His  membership 
is  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society  at  Concord, 
where  he  now  holds  the  positions  of  Trustee  and 
Steward,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  chief  sup- 
ports. He  assisted  in  building  the  first  edifice  in 
which  this  society  worshipped,  served  as  Trustee, 
and  when  it  was  rebuilt  in  1884  was  a  member  of 
the  building  committee.  His  son  is  now  Class- 
Leader,  has  been  .Superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  and  has  frequently  attended  Conference  as  a 
delegate,  having  united  with  tlie  church  when  but 
a  boy. 


r^^KED  PFANDER.  This  enterprising  yo\ing 
[Wg>  gentleman,  a  resident  of  Limestone  Town- 
l^  ship,  is  prosecuting  the  coal  business  with 

a  degree  of  energ}'  highly  commendable.  He  was 
born  near  his  present  residence,  June  5,  1854,  be- 
ing the  oldest  of  the  five  children  of  Charles  .and 
Elizabeth  (Gabler)  Pfander.  His  father  came  from 
Germany  to  this  country  when  a  young  man,  locat- 
ing in  Peoria,  and  followed  building  and  contracting 
in  and  around  that  city  for  j'ears.  He  also  did 
a  great  deal  of  work  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railro.ad,  in  building  bridges,  culverts,  etc. 
He  was  a  proficient  stone-cutter  as  well  as  a  good 
builder.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was,  like  her 
husband,  a  native  of  Wittenberg,  their  marriage 
having  been  celebrated  in  this  country. 

Our  subject  has  been  engaged  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness, in  some  capacit}',  since  an  early  period  in  his 
life.  He  has  been  a  miner  and  a  superintendent 
of  mines,  and  twelve  years  since,  in  partnership 
with  George  Noll,  lie  started  in  business  for  him- 
self. This  was  operated  by  tiie  firm  for  a  time,  and 
then  Mr.  Noll  was  bouglit  out  by  our  subject,  who 
carried  on  the  enterprise  alone  several  years  longer. 
In  the  spring  of  1890  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
A.  H.  Barnewalt,  buying  wh.at  is  known  as  the  Star 
shaft  on  the  Iowa   Central    IJaiiroad.     The   shaft 


Of    THF 
'VERSITV 


y^^^^  ^. 


-^^-^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


775 


was  put  up  to  the  highest  bidder,  the  machinery 
and  franchise  for  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  coal  land  having  cost  !i;30,000.  and  was  bought 
by  Messrs.  I'fandercfe  Barne wait  for  $10,150.  The 
new  owners  are  putting  in  great  repairs,  and  will 
soon  coninicnce  work  with  a  full  force  and  a  ca- 
pacity of  eight  or  nine  car-loads  per  day. 

Mr.  Pfander  won  for  bis  companion  Louisa, 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Noll,  whom  he  led 
to  the  hymeneal  altar  in  1878.  The  hapt)y  union 
has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of  five  children,  and 
the  parents  have  been  bereaved  of  their  first-born. 
The  names  of  their  offspring  are  George,  P'annj-, 
Charles,  Lizzie  and  Freddie.  Mr.  Pfander  is  a  man 
who  attends  strictly  to  the  business  he  has  in  hand, 
bringing  to  its  prosecution  ail  the  powers  of  an 
active  mind  and  an  abundance  of  vital  force.  In 
his  associations  with  his  fellow-men  he  is  honorable 
and  kindly,  while  as  a  citizen  of  this  great  republic 
he  is  peaceable  and  truotworthy.  In  aildition  to 
his  recent  purchase  of  coal  lands  he  retains  his 
ownership  of  another  bank,  which  is  shut  down  on 
a<'couiit  of  the  strike. 


~s^S^ 


w 


^¥/OHN  HINES.  Among  the  worthy  farmers 
of  Richwood  Township,  mention  should 
certainl}'  be  made  of  John  Hines,  whose 
portrait  appears  on  the  opposite  page  and 
whose  comfortalile  estate  is  located  on  section  28. 
H^  is  a  son  of  .John  and  KUen  (Belford)  llines, 
natives  of  ^'irginia,  who  two  years  after  their  mar- 
riage removed  to  Coshocton  Count}',  Ohio,  remain- 
ing there  until  1836.  The^^  then  changed  their 
place  of  abode,  settling  in  Richwood  Township, 
Peoria  County,  and  here  s[)ent  the  remnant  of  their 
days.  i\Irs.  Ilines  |>assed  away  in  1876  and  her 
husband  lireathed  his  last  some  few  years  later. 

The  subject  of  this  noti(^e  is  the  fifth  in  the  pa- 
rental household  which  comprised  nine  children. 
He  was  born  in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  .lanuary 
6,  1826,  anil  having  accompanied  his  parents  to  the 
Prairie  State,  abode  under  their  roof  until  he  was 
twenty-three  3-ears  old.  He  then  married  and  set- 
lied  on  his  present  location,  where  he  has  erected  a 


good  dwelling  and  made  such  other  improvements 
as  would  be  expected  of  one  who  understands  his 
calling  and  desires  pleasant  surroundings.  His  es- 
tate compiises  eighty-seven  acres,  sufficient  to  insure 
him  a  comfortable  maintenance,  and  not  so  large  as 
to  require  numerous  tenants  and  burden  one  un- 
duly in  its  management  and  oversight. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Hines  was  celebrated 
in  Peoria  Township,  his  bride  being  Miss  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Smith  and  Nancy  (Shei)ler)  Frye.  .She 
was  a  daughter  of  the  Keystone  State,  born  in  1825. 
She  bore  two  children,  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
w.as  herself  removed  by  death  in  1856.  The  sec- 
ond marriage  of  Mr.  Hines  was  celebrated  in  Rich- 
wood  Township,  June  10,  1857,  his  bride  on  this 
occasion  being  Miss  Laura  N.  Corrington,  daugh- 
ter of  Washington  and  Elizabeth  H.  (Chase)  Cor- 
rington and  a  native  of  Hamilton  County,  Ohio. 
They  have  nine  children,  named,  respectively, 
Lewis,  John  B.,  Mary  Eliza,  Charles  W.,  Walter 
S.,  Gilbert  B.,  Laura  A.,  Everett  and  Winfred. 
Lewis  is  farming  in  Kickapoo  Township;  Charles 
in  Radnor  Townshii),  and  Walter  in  Richwood 
Townshi|). 

Mr.  Ilines  has  not  been  allowed  to  devote  his 
entire  attention  to  his  personal  affairs,  but  has  been 
called  u|)on  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  advance  their 
interests  as  Ro.ad  Commissioner  and  School  Di- 
rector. In  both  oflices  he  has  served  acceptably, 
showing  good  judgment  and  a  keen  appreciation  of 
the  neeils  of  the  public.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  ever  ready  to  cast  his  vote  for  the 
principles  in  which  he  believes.  He  and  his  good 
wife  are  esteemed  by  those  about  them  as  their 
useful  lives  merit. 


'ji?  SAAC  W.  DAVIS  was  a  pioneer  of  this  county, 
||  and  during  his  life  took  an  active  part  in  de- 
/li  veloping  its  farming  interests,  and  at  the  same 
time  improved  a  valuable  farm,  which  is  still  in 
possession  of  his  family.  He  was  born  in  Marshall 
County,  W.Va.,  November  14,  1831,  and  was  a 
son  of  Albert  W.  and  Mary  (Ridifer)  Davis.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  the  same  State,  while  his 


776 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALI'.LIM. 


mother  is  thoug'ht  to  have  beeu  born  in  Ohio.  He 
was  the  eldest  son  in  the  family,  and  was  bied  to 
the  life  of  a  farmer  amid  the  beautiful  scenes  of 
his  birth,  and  received  a  fair  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools. 

In  tlie  fall  of  1856  our  subject  came  to  this 
county  and  settled  in  Milbroolt  Township,  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  28,  whicii  his  fatlier 
had  previously  purchased,  and  here  he  was  actively 
engaged  in  its  improvement  until  death  called  him 
from  his  labors.  He  located  on  it  permanently  in 
1859,  and  in  the  years  that  followed  placed  it 
under  admirable  tillage,  and  erected  neat  and  sub- 
stantial buildings,  transforming  it  from  a  tract  of 
wild  prairie  to  one  of  the  best  cultivated  farms  in 
all  the  region. 

Mr.  Davis  was  married  December  23,  1858,  to 
Miss  Amanda  V.  Reed,  who  was,  like  himself,  a 
native  of  West  Virginia.  Marshall  County  the  place 
of  her  birth,  and  February  6,  1840,  tlie  date  thereof. 
Her  parents  were  John  and  Louisa  (Caldwell) 
Reed,  the  former  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland, 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  the  latter  a  native  of 
West  Virginia.  Her  father  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica when  he  was  but  one  year  old  by  his  parents, 
who  settled  in  West  Virginia  among  its  early  pio- 
neers. They  came  to  this  county  from  tliere  in 
1853,  and  located  near  Brimfield,  where  the  father 
died  a  few  months  later  in  the  same  year.  His 
wife  survived  him  until  .July  7,  1861,  when  she  too 
passed  away.  They  had  a  large  family  of  children, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Davis  is  the  youngest  child.  B3' 
licr  union  with  our  subject  she  became  the  mother 
of  seven  cliiidren,  of  whom  the  following  is  re- 
corded: Albert  W.  is  in  Canada;  John  R.  is  de- 
ceased; Minnie  is  the  wife  of  C.  A.  Snyder,  of 
Elmwood;  Arthur,  Charles  C. ;  Everett  W.  and 
Freddie  M.  are  at  home  with  their  mother.  Jlrs. 
Davis  is  living  in  the  attractive  home  that  she  as- 
sisted her  husband  in  making,  and  here,  sur- 
rounded by  her  children,  she  ispa?siug  life  quietlj'^ 
and  pleasantly,  in  the  enjoj'ment  of  an  assured  in- 
come from  her  well-managed  farm.  She  occupies 
a  prominent  place  in  the  social  circles  of  the  com- 
munity, and  is  actively  identified  with  the  Presby- 
byterian  Church,  and  takes  a  great  interest  in  the 
church  work.     Our  subject   left  his  heirs  comfor- 


tably well  ofif,  the  homestead  comprising  a  valua- 
ble estate  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  acres  of 
exceptionally  fertile  land. 

The  life  of  our  subject  was  rounded  out  May 
17,  1876,  and  he  left  behind  him  an  unblemished 
record,  of  which  his  friends  m.ay  well  feel  proud, 
lie  was  one  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  the  county, 
and  his  memory  is  cherished  in  this  township,  the 
scene  of  his  labors,  as  one  of  the  early  settlers  who 
had  the  making  of  it  and  have  now  passed  to  their 
final  rest.  He  was  earnest  and  zealous  in  giving 
his  support  to  all  things  that  tended  in  any  way  to 
elevate  society,  and  was  ever  to  be  found  on  the 
side  of  right  in  any  important  issue  before  the 
public.  Politically,  he  was  a  follower  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  none  had  greater  faith  in  it  or 
gave  it  more  active  support.  A  man  of  high  moral 
char.acter  and  excellent  princii)les,  his  was  truly 
a  religious  nature,  and  in  him  the  Presbyterian 
Church  found  one  of  its  firmest  and  most  active 
members. 


-^^i 


J)ENJAM1N  WOOKEY  represents  the  large 
brick  manufacturing  interests  of  Richwood 
li^)))ltl  Townsliip  as  one  of  its  leading  manufact- 
urers, one  who  is  potent  in  advancing  the 
growth  of  the  county.  He  w.as  born  in  Somerset- 
shire, England,  March  1,  1834,  to  William  and 
Ann  Wookcy.  He  was  the  seventh  son  in  a  fam- 
ily of  nineteen  children,  eighteen  sons  and  one 
daughter,  ten  of  whom  grew  to  maturitj-.  Ilis 
parents  were  natives  of  the  same  shire  as  liinisclf, 
and  there  spent  their  entire  lives  engaged  in  the 
occupation  of  farming. 

Our  subject  lived  in  his  native  shire  until  he  was 
almost  eight  years  old,  and  then  spent  the  ensuing 
time  until  he  was  twent3'-two,  in  Newport,  Mon- 
mouthshire. At  that  age,  in  the  flush  and  vigor 
of  early  manhood,  he  came  to  this  country  to  see 
what  life  held  for  him  here  and  to  build  up  a  home 
under  the  favorable  conditions  offered  to  people  of 
foreign  birth  by  this  Government.  Landing  in 
New  York  City,  he  came  directly  to  Peoria  in  the 
fall  of  1855,  and  was  employed  in  that  city  making 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


777 


brick  until  18G(!.  lit;  then  establislierl  himself  as  a 
manufacturer  of  brick  in  Richwood  Township,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  business  that  luM'e.  lie 
manufactures  from  a  million  to  a  million  and  a 
quarter  of  bricks  each  year,  which  are  Itiund  by  his 
liatrons  to  be  both  durable  and  cheap,  ant!  from 
their  sale  he  derives  a  very  [jrofitable  income. 

When  our  subject  came  to  this  countrj',  ho  was 
a  single  man,  but  he  left  a  sweetheart  bchin<l  in  the 
old  Isle,  who  had  agreed  to  share  his  liome  and 
fortunes  with  him  in  this  new  country,  when  he  had 
prepared  the  way  for  licr,  and  in  18G0  he  returned 
lo  his  native  land  to  secure  his  bride.  Miss  RIary 
Ann  Lane,  and  their  marriage  was  duly  solemnized 
December  13,  of  that  year.  Mrs.  Wookey  is  a 
daughter  of  tiie  late  Thomas  and  Ann  (Moore) 
Lane,  natives,  respectively  of  Connvall  and  Devon- 
shire, England.  Her  father  died  in  Newport,  Mon- 
mouthshire, England,  in  1887.  Her  mother  survives 
at  an  advanced  age.  They  had  a  family  of  four 
children,  of  whom  Mrs.  AVookey  was  the  eldest. 
She  was  born  in  Bridgewater,  Somersetshire,  Eng- 
land, July  23,  1831.  Mv.  and  Mrs.  Wookey's 
happy  wedded  life  lias  brought  them  tiiree  children  : 
Ella  L.,  wife  of  Ernest  W.  Dickinson;  Willium  T., 
and  IJenjamin  L. 

By  those  fine  traits  of  character  that  mark  Mr. 
Wookey  as  a  sensible,  progressive,  far-seeing  man 
of  business,  he  has  not  only  built  np  his  own  pros- 
perity, but  has  materially  advanced  the  interests  of 
his  adopted  county  and  township,  and  is  classed 
among  their  best  citizens.  In  the  neat  and  finely 
appointed  brick  house  tiiat  lie  has  erected  liere, 
hospitality  reigns  supreme  under  the  guiding  hand 
of  the  good  housewife,  who  understands  well  how  to 
control  the  affairs  of  the  household,  and  seconds 
her  husband  in  his  efforts  to  entertain  friend  or 
stranger  while  under  the  shelter  of  tiieir  roof.  They 
are  among  the  leading  members  of  the  Methodist 
Elpiscopal  Church,  taking  an  active  part  in  all  its 
good  work.  Mr.  Wookey  has  aided  very  eflicicntly 
in  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  church  in 
the  various  offices  that  he  has  held  in  connection 
with  it,  and  especially  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school when  he  held  that  position.  He  has 
been  influential  in  political  atTairs,  and  is  an  influ- 
ence in  the  councils  of  the  Republican  party  in  this 


part  of  the  county.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
North  Peoria  Board  of  Trustees,  and  made  an  ex- 
cellent record  as  a  public  official  who  was  to  be 
trusted  to  work  only  fcr  the  interests  of  the  com- 
munity. 


LIOT  CALLENDER.  This  name  is  famil- 
iarly known  to  the  citizens  of  Peoria  as 
having  been  from  the  start  connected  with 
the  Dime  Savings  Bank,  which  w.as  organized  in 
January,  1887,  by  ().  J.  Bailey,  II.  P.  Ayers,  Frank 
Myers  and  Mr.  Callender.  The  latter  and  Mr. 
Ayers  took  an  active  part  in  its  establishment.  Mr. 
Callender  was  elected  the  first  President,  and  still 
holds  the  office. 

This  bank  occupied  during  the  year  1887  the 
old  A.  P.  Bartlett  residence,  adjoining  its  present 
quarters  to  which  it  was  removed  in  January, 
1888.  The  building  is  30x70  feet  in  dimensions, 
four  stories  in  height  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$30,000.  The  plans  vvere  furnished  by  Burnham  & 
Root,  the  celebrated  architects  of  Chicago,  who 
had  been  concerned  in  the  erection  of  sixty  differ- 
ent bank  buildings,  and  who  gave  to  this  their 
best  efforts.  The  material  era|)loyed  is  compressed 
brown  stone  and  brick,  with  tile  floors  and  Italian 
marble  stairs,  the  wainscoting  of  Tennessee  marble 
and  the  woodwork  of  polished  oak.  It  forms  a 
beautiful  structure,  as  substantial  as   it  is  shajiely. 

The  bank  building  is  both  burglar  and  tire 
proof,  the  safety'  deposit  vaults  being  equal  to  any 
in  the  State  in  point  of  security  and  strength.  In 
the  construction  of  the  vaults  over  fifty  thous- 
and pounds  of  drill-proof  steel  were  employed. 
The  door,  weighing  five  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred pounds,  has  a  double  time-lock,  this 
alone  costing  $400.  By  aid  of  an  electric  alarm 
attachment  it  cannot  be  even  touched  without 
ringing  out  its  signal  to  the  police  station.  The 
vault  contains  numerous  safety  deposit  boxes  be- 
sides the  private  safes  of  the  bank,  and  is  in  all 
points  as  secure  us  mechanical  skill  and  money  can 
make  it. 

The  first  floor  of  the  bank  building,  which  is  ten 
feet  above  the  sidewalk,  is  occupied    by  the  bank. 


778 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  its  arebitectural  design  is  sufli  that  light  is 
admitted  both  at  the  bacic  and  front  of  the  coun- 
ters. There  are  four  coupon  rooms  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  patrons  of  the  safety  deposit 
vault,  these  being  also  equipped  with  every  con- 
venience for  rapid  and  correct  transaction  of  liusi- 
ness.  In  point  of  architecture  the  building  is  an 
ornament  to  the  city,  and  is  excelled  by  few  in  the 
State.  The  bank  accepts  deposits  of  from  ten 
cents  to  $5,000,  the  latter  being  the  limit.  It  now 
has  over  seven  thousand  accounts  oi^en,  all  ac- 
complished within  tlie  space  of  three  years. 

This  bank,  as  its  name  implies,  was  instituted  in 
order  to  accommodate  the  class  of  citizens  for 
whom  no  banking  advantages  had  hitlierto  been 
furnished.  Anyone  may  borrow  money  upon 
real-cftate  security-,  and  as  soon  as  his  deposits 
amount  to  -Si 00  it  can  be  applied  on  the  loan,  and 
the  interest  cease.  Interest  of  four  per  cent,  is 
allowed  on  savings,  the  regular  rate  being  seven 
per  cent.  Thus,  to  an  honest  and  industrious  in- 
dividual a  mortgage  may  be  robbed  of  its  terrors. 
The   bank   accepts   no  mercantile  paper,  whatever. 

The  present  Cashier  is  Rudolph  Pfeiffer,  the 
Treasurer,  II.  P.  Ayers,  the  Vice-President,  O.  J. 
Bailey,  and  the  Manager  of  the  Safety  Deposit 
Vaults,  Joseph  E.  Callender.  The  bank  operates 
upon  a  capital  of  ^100,000,  but  the  entire  assets  of 
each  i^artner  are  liable  for  the  liabilities  of  the 
bank,  which  makes  its  assets  over  half  a  million  of 
dollars. 

Eliot  Callender  was  born  March  22,  1842,  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  is  a  son  of  George  H.  and 
Elizabeth  P.  (Melcher)  Callender,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Maine  and  Massachusetts.  The  family 
left  St.  Louis  when  the  sou,  Eliot,  was  about  seven 
years  old,  going  to  Boston,  where  he  attended 
school,  remaining  there  until  a  lad  of  fifteen  years. 
The  parents  then  came  to  Peoria,  and  the  boy  re- 
turned to  St.  Louis,  becoming  a  student  of  AVash- 
ington  University.  Upon  completing  his  studies 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier  of 
John  Howe,  the  first  Republican  Mayor  of  St. 
Louis,  and  was  tliere  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War.  About  this  time  occurred  the  Camp  Jackson 
affair,  when,  the  property  of  Mr.  Howe  becoming 
jeopardized,  it  wa'  placed  on  a  steamer  at  night,  and 


under  charge  of  Mr.  Callender  brought  to  Peoria, 
where  he  finished  up  ti)e  stock  in  the  building  now 
occupied  by  the  wholesale  drug  house  of  Colburn, 
Berks  &  Co. 

This  accomplished.  Mr.  Callender  in  November 
following  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Navy  on 
the  gunboat  "  Benton,"  at  St.  Louis,  as  an  ordinary 
seaman  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Foote 
and  Admirals  Porter  and  Farragnt.and  engaged  in 
all  the  battles  on  the  Mississippi.  In  the  meantime 
he  distinguished  himself  for  his  courage  and  fidel- 
ity, and  was  rapidl}-  promoted  from  an  ordinary 
seaman  to  Paymaster,  Steward,  Master's  Mate  and 
Ensign.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  steamer  '•  Marnujra," 
plying  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  southern 
tributaries. 

In  the  meantime,  in  1864,  Mv.  Callender  re- 
turned to  Peoria,  and  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Miss  Marj'  E.  Fryc,  on  the  5th  of  May.  Mrs. 
Callender  was  born  November  11,  1845,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Frj'e,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent phj'sicians  of  Central  Illinois.  After  leaving 
the  navy  Mr.  Callender  embarked  in  the  insurance 
business  with  William  H.  Robinson,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Robinson  &  Callender.  The3'  conducted 
this  successfully  a  few  years,  then  began  loaning 
money  for  Eastern  capitalists  upon  real-estate  se- 
curity. I'pon  the  death  of  Mr.  Kobinson,  in  1880, 
Mr.  Callender  associated  himself  with  Mr.  A3'ers, 
who  was  then  Cashier  of  the  Meclianics'  National 
Bank.  In  1883  the  banking  firm  of  Callender, 
Ayers  &  Co.  was  organized,  Mr.  Ayers  retiring 
from  the  insurance  business,  which  has  since  been 
continued  at  No.  124  South  Washington  Street 
under  the  firm  name  of  Callender  tt  Co. 

In  this  new  banking  enterprise  the  firm  consisted 
of  Eliot  Callender,  Henry  P.  Ayers,  C.  R.  Cura- 
mings  (of  Chicago).  G.  T.  Barker  and  Walter  Bar- 
ker. It  has  been  a  marked  success  financiall3',  but 
was  deprived  of  the  services  of  Mr.  Ayers  in  1885 
on  account  of  his  failing  health. 

January  1,  1885,  Mr.  Callender  organized  the 
Commercial  National  Bank  of  Peoria,  with  a  capital 
of  ^200,000,  this  succeeding  to  the  business  of  Cal- 
lender, Ayers  &  Co.  Mr.  Callender  was  President 
of  the  foimer  for   two  years  and  until  1887.  when 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


781 


the  Dime  Savings  Bani{  was  organized,  and  to  tliis 
iio  has  since  given  his  entire  time  and  attention. 
In  the  meantime,  liowever,  he  acted  as  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Commercial  one  year,  having  resigned 
the  Presidency,  and  was  a  Director  until  January 
1,  l^yO,  when  he  was  re-elected  l)ut  declined  serv- 
ing, lie  is  also  Treasurer  and  one  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  tiie  Central  Railway  Company, 
and  also  a  Director  and  Treasurer  of  the  building 
committee  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion. He  w.is  also  one  of  the  incorporators  and 
directors  in  building  the  National  Hotel  and  the 
(^rand  Opera-House. 

Altiiougli  a  Republican  in  a  Democratic  city, 
Mr.  Caliender  has  been  elected  to  the  offices  of 
Township  Supervisor  and  City  Collector,  which  is 
snfticientiy  indicative  of  his  popularity  among  the 
people.  He  belongs  to  the  military  order  of  the 
l.oy.'d  Legion,  Illinois  Commandery,  of  which 
.hidge  Waiter  Q.  Gresham  is  Commander.  He  is 
member  and  Tra.asurer  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  was  one  of  tiie  building  committee 
during  tiie  erection  of  the  church  edifice,  vvhich  is 
a  fine  ar.d  beautiful  piece  of  architecture. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caliender  there  have  been  born 
three  children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Joseph  E., 
already  spoken  of;  Anna  J.  and  Eliot,  Jr.  The 
family  residence,  one  of  the  most  attractive  in  the 
city,  is  pleasantly  located  on  the  corner  of  Monroe 
and  Jackson,  while  our  subject  and  his  estimable 
wife  occupy  a  position  in  the  front  rank  among  the 
social  circles  of  Peoria. 


■^*-- ^r^-|>^« '"^^ 


OHN  S.  TUCKER  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
and  his  course  lluough  life  has  been  such  as 
to  reflect  credit  on  its  citizenship.  Urim- 
field  Townshi|)  is  the  place  of  his  birth,  and 
he  is  the  son  of  one  of  its  earliest  pioneers,  who 
became  well  and  favorably  known  tluougliout  this 
part  of  the  .State  and  was  an  active  factor  in  its  initial 
development.  Our  subject  is  a  veteran  of  the  late 
war,  in  which  he  suffered  much  for  the  (■.■uise  of  his 
country.     He  is   now  one  of   the  prominent  farm- 


ers of  his    natal    place,  having  a   finely   improved 
farm  on  section  6,  which  he  is  managing  with  profit. 

Mr.  Tucker  was  born  March  .'3,  1814,  his  parents 
being  John  and  Ellen  Tucker,  natives  of  Ohio. 
They  came  from  that  State  to  this  in  18.33  or  1834, 
and  casting  in  their  lot  with  the  i)ionecrs  of  this 
county  were  among  the  very  first  to  settle  in  Brim- 
field  Township,  locating  on  a  wild  tract  of  land  on 
section  G,  far  away  from  an}'  other  settlement,  their 
nearest  neighbors  being  about  thirteen  miles  dis- 
tant. Mr.  Tucker  promptly  entered  upon  the  im- 
provement of  a  farm  on  which  he  lived  and  labored 
until  his  useful  career  was  closed  by  his  untimely 
death,  June  2.5,  1850,  when  this  township  lost  one 
of  its  best  citizens.  He  had  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance here,  and  by  all  was  greatly  respected  for  his 
undoubted  integrity  of  character  and  true  merit. 
He  was  interested  in  the  political  issues  of  the  day 
and  gave  his  support  to  the  Whig  party.  He  was 
the  father  of  a  large  family  of  children,  as  follows: 
Saumel,  V.  L.  and  Ezra  W.,  who  are  living  in  Knox 
County;  Catherine,  wife  of  Amos  McKrill,  of 
Brimfield  Township;  Sarah,  wife  of  L.  A.  German, 
of  Knox  Count}';  Deborah,  who  lives  in  Missouri, 
and  our  subject. 

John  Tucker  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth 
amid  the  pioneer  scenes  of  his  native  townshi[), 
growing  with  its  growth  to  a  strong  manhood.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  local  district  schools, 
making  the  best  of  the  advantages  thus  afforded 
him,  but  he  is  mainly  self-educated.  He  was  a 
youtli  of  sixteen  years  when  the  war  liroke  out,  and 
with  patriotic  ardor  offered  his  services  in  defense 
of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and  became  a  member  of 
Compau}'  L,  Eighth  Missouri  Infantrj-,  enlisting  in 
September,  1801,  his  regiment  forming  a  [lart  of 
the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  under  Sherman  and 
Grant.  Notwithstanding  hisyouthfulness.  he  fought 
bravely  at  Els.  Henry  and  Donelson,  bore  an 
honorable  part  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Russel 
House  and  Corinth,  and  was  then  engaged  in  the 
siege  and  capture  of  VicUsburg.  He  was  afterward 
dispatched  to  Memphis  with  the  corps  and  started 
with  Sherman  on  his  famous  march  to  the  sea.  At 
Moscow,  Tenn.,  he  was  shot  in  the  left  hand,  re- 
ceiving a  permanent  injury,  and  for  that  reason 
now  has  a  pension  of  ^(i  per  month, 


782 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


In  the  fearful  conflict  :it  Waterloo,  Tenn.,  our 
subject  was  often  in  tlie  tliickest  of  the  battle,  and 
was  finally  captured  by  the  Confederates.  For  sev- 
eral months  he  had  a  terrible  experience  in  rebel 
prisons,  suffering  ever}'  iiuagin.able  privation  and 
hards'jip,  wliich  so  affected  his  health  that  his 
weight  was  reduced  from  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  pounds  to  seventy  at  the  time  he  regained  his 
liberty.  He  was  first  assigned  to  Thuu<ler  Castle 
Prison  in  Richmond,  and  was  in  a  dungeon  there 
for  nine  days,  and  then  escaped  by  effecting  a  ruse. 
He  did  not  taste  the  sweets  of  liberty  very  long, 
however,  but  was  recaptured  and  sent  to  Libby 
Prison,  where  he  staid  about  six  weeks  and  was  then 
transferred  to  Belle  Island,  near  Richmond.  Three 
months  later  he  was  taken  from  there  to  Anderson- 
ville,  where  he  was  confined  some  seven  months, 
and  was  then  incarcerated  in  tlie  Florence  Prison 
some  five  mouths.  He  experienced  all  the  horror 
of  life  in  those  famous  prisons  and  at  the  close  of 
the  war  was  exchanged  and  returned  home  more 
nearly  dead  than  alive. 

Our  brave  hero  soon  found  consolation  for  all 
his  sufferings  in  his  marriage,  August  8,  18G5,  to 
Mary  Nelson,  a  native  of  Knox  County,  and  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  Nelson,  pioneers 
of  that  part  of  Illinois.  The  happ}-  wedded  life  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been  productive  to 
thera  (jf  ten  children,  of  wliom  the  following  eight 
are  now  living:  Emma,  wife  of  Harry  Nelson,  of 
Knox  Count}-;  Maggie,  Dollie  A.,  John  A.,  Clem, 
Carrie.  Jlinnie  and  Elmer. 

Our  subject  h.as  made  farming  his  life  work  and 
lias  done  well  at  his  chosen  calling,  as  is  apparent 
to  one  who  notes  the  condition  of  his  farm,  which 
is  well  ordered  in  every  respect,  provided  with  neat 
buildings  and  all  the  necessary  machiner}-.  Forty 
acres  of  his  laud  he  received  from  his  father's  estate, 
but  the  remainder  of  the  two  hundred  and  seventv- 
five  acres  comprising  the  wliole,  he  has  gained  by 
his  own  exertions.  He  shrewdly  carries  on  farm- 
ing to  make  money,  and  is  in  possession  of  an  in- 
come that  places  him  among  the  solid  men  of  the 
township. 

JNIr.  Tucker  possesses  in  a  large  degree  the  sound 
intelligence,  ripe  wisdom  and  discretion  so  neces- 
sar}'  to  full  success  in  any  walk  in  life.     He  is  re- 


garded as  one  of  our  most  desirable  citizens,  none 
being  more  public  spirited  or  more  desirous  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  township  than  he.  He 
served  as  School  Trustee  of  Brimfield  Township 
three  years  and  showed  himself  to  be  earnestly  in- 
terested in  educational  matters.  He  displ.ayed  true 
patriotism  in  his  course  during  the  war  and  his 
loyalt}-  has  never  been  questioned  since.  In  poli- 
tics the  Republican  pa'ty  receives  his  zealous  sup- 
port. 

In   connection  with  his  sketch  a  portrait  of  Mr. 
Tucker  is  presented. 

-^^ "#-^ ^^ 


7j;  NDREW  J.    GRAHAM,  M.D.     A    simple 
stor}'  of  a  life  devoted  to  earnest  endeavor 
in  the  line  of  duty  and   personal  culture, 
^  presents    an    example    of   true    manhood 

worthy  of  consideration  b}'  all  who  appreciate 
heroism  in  dail}-  life  or  in  times  of  peril.  It  af- 
fords the  biographical  writer  great  pleasure  to  re- 
count the  life  history'  of  Dr.  Graham,  who  has 
reached  an  honored  position  through  the  mental 
powers  which  have  been  developed  and  the  char- 
acter which  h.as  been  won  b}'  a  will  not  to  be  con- 
quered b}'  difficulties. 

William  and  Elizabeth  S.  (Jackson)  Graham  left 
the  Blue  Grass  State  to  make  a  home  in  Illinois, 
driving  through  to  Peoria  County,  and  settling 
near  Farmington  about  1832.  Tho}-  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  ten  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this 
notice  was  the  next  to  the  youngest.  He  w.is  horn 
in  Trivoli,  this  county,  in  1844.  and  was  loft  fath- 
erless when  four  jears  old.  His  mother  died  in 
this  count}-  in  1882.  After  the  death  of  the  father 
each  of  the  children  was  obliged  to  do  for  him- 
self as  early  as  possible,  as  the  support  of  so  large 
a  family  was  an  arduous  task  for  the  mother. 

Young  Andrew  grew  to  maturity  on  a  farm  and 
obtaining  his  education  as  best  he  might,  the  most 
of  it  being  gained  after  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years.  While  he  yet  lacked  some  months  of  man's 
estate  he  entered  the  Union  Arnay,  his  loyalty  to 
his  Country  deciding  him  to  take  up  arms  in  her 
defense.     In  February,   1864,  he    was  enrolled  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


783 


Coinpanj'  A,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  became  an  integral  paiit  of  the  First 
Brigade,  Second  Division,  of  the  Armj-  of  the  Cum- 
berland. He  served  in  Georgia  under  Gen.  Stead- 
man  for  a  year,  the  most  of  the  time  being  spent 
in  fighting  guerrillas.  He  was  injured  iu  the  right 
shoulder  and  still  suffers  somewhat  from  tiie 
wound. 

After  returning  to  tlie  Is'orth  Mr.  Graham  at- 
tended a  commercial  school  at  Aurora,Kane  County, 
from  wliich  be  was  graduated  in  1866.  He  also 
took  one  term  at  the  Farmington  High  School,  and 
finally  entered  Lombard  Uuiversitj'  at  Galesburg, 
Knox  County,  his  expenses  being  paid  by  means 
which  he  had  saved  while  in  the  arm}'.  He  be- 
gan teaching  near  Farmington,  the  directors  of  his 
first  school  being  so  well  pleased  with  his  success 
as  an  instructor  that  tliey  secured  for  him  a  cer- 
tificate on  that  ground,  he  having  failed  to  pass 
the  required  examination  in  all  branches  of  study. 
Thej'  also  engaged  liim  for  the  second  j'ear  at  asal- 
ar3'  of  $60  per  month,  an  increase  of  815  from  the 
preceding  year.  From  that  time  on,  so  well  did 
lie  improve  Ins  opportunities  for  gaining  knowledge, 
that  iie  was  able  to  secure  a  first  grade  certificate. 
He  continued  his  pedagogical  labors  for  some  time, 
gaining  an  excellent  reputation  among  both  patrons 
and  pupils.  For  two  years  he  was  principal  of 
Good  Hope  School,  and  from  1868  to  1872  was  the 
teacher  iu  Lancaster;  the  first  school  in  Glasford 
was  conducted  by  him  in  1873-74,  and  he  then 
held  a  position  in  the  Good  Hope  Iligli  School  for 
two  years. 

While  occupying  the  latter  position  ]\Ir.  Gra- 
ham began  the  study  of  medicine,  his  preceptor 
being  Dr.  Wright.  After  gaining  a  fundamental 
knowledge  of  the  science  to  which  he  desireil  to 
devote  his  future  life,  Jlr.  Graham  entered  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  iu  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  from  which  Le  was  graduated  in  1879.  His 
initial  work  as  a  practicing  i)hysician  was  in  Tri- 
voli,  this  county,  in  partnership  with  Dr.  T.  R. 
Plummer.  From  that  [jlacc  he  went  to  Summit, 
Knox  County,  three  years  later  removing  to  Elm-, 
wood,  where  he  remained  from  the  spring  of  1883 
until  October,  1888.  Mis  next  removal  was  to  the 
county  seat  where  he  has  made  for  himself  an  ex- 


cellent reputation,  not  only  as  a  physician  but  .as  a 
man.  He  has  a  growing  [jractice  and  has  already 
become  one  of  the  most  prominent  inactitioners  in 
the  city. 

Dr.  Graham  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  is  now  Surgeon  of  Biyner  Post,  No. 
67,  in  Peori.a.  In  1886  he  was  Commander  of  Dan 
McCook  Post;  and  while  living  iu  Elm  wood  was 
Master  of  the  Masonic  lodge,  and  in  the  Grand 
Lodge  in  1887  was  a.  member  of  the  Committee  on 
Charter  Lodges.  In  Trivoli  Township  he  held  the 
oflice  of  Clerk  in  1867-68  and  in  1874  was  Col- 
lector. In  1886  he  was  elected  Assessor  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  and  re-elected  in  1887  and  1888 
in  Elmwood  Townsliip.  Since  moving  to  Peoria 
he  has  given  very  little  attention  to  politics.  He 
has  always  been  an  active  member  of  society  and  an 
earnest  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Ciinrch 
and  Sunday-school.  Recently  he  has  taken  i\  less 
prominent  part  in  the  Sunday-school  work,  his  pro- 
fessional duties  requiring  more  of  his  time  and 
attention.  He  is  numbered  among  the  members 
of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Pe- 
oria. 

The  need  of  assistance  at  Johnstown,  Pa.,  after 
the  great  floods,  was  felt  by  Dr.  Graham,  and  on 
June  6,  1889,  he  arrived  at  the  scene  of  devasta- 
tion. There  he  labored  for  a  fortnight  without 
remuneration,  and  his  kind  heartedness  and  Christ- 
ian charity,  received  the  following  Uatlering  trib- 
ute from  the  Sanitary  Department  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania State  Board  of  Ilcaltli,  which  was  sent  to  a 
Peoria  paper  without  the  knowledge  of  the  Doctor. 
The  article  is  dated  at  Buckuell  University,  Lewis- 
burg,  July  3, 1889,  and  re.-ids  as  follows:  "Editor  of 
Transcript — You  have  in  your  city  a  man  to  whom 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  owes  a  lasting  debt  of 
gratitude.  AVhen  the  terrible  Hoods  came  ujjon  our 
State  he  at  once  left  his  home  and  came  and  offered 
himself  to  the  stricken  people  of  Johnstown,  to  aid 
in  whatever  capacity  he  could  do  the  most  good. 
He  belongs  to  the  medical  profession,  but  fiudino 
that  he  had  beeu  preceded  by  so  many  plysi- 
cians  that  the  sick  and  injured  were  well  cared 
for,  instead  of  returning  home  as  did  many  other 
physicians,  he  offered  his  services  to  the  State 
Board  of  Health  to  combat  anticipated   pestilence, 


r84 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  under  direction  of  the  Board  did  most  excel- 
lent work  in  clearing  the  devastated  region  of 
thousands  of  carcasses  of  horses,  cows,  pigs,  dogs 
and  smaller  domestic  animals.  The  State  Board 
of  Health  of  Pennsylvania  found  Dr.  A.  J.  Graham 
of  Peoria,  111.,  a  man  upon  whom  they  could  de- 
pend,and  siiould  sickness  during  the  present  summer 
he  held  in  check  in  the  Valley  of  the  Conemaugh, 
the  valuable  work  of  Dr.  Graham  will  stand  as  no 
small  factor  in  producing  this  hoped  for  result.  Par- 
don me, Mr.  Editor,for  this  letter,  but  it  is  due  you 
and  tiie  citizens  of  Peoria  that  I  speak.  Respectfully. 
G.  G.  Groflf,  M.D.,  Member  of  Pennsylvania  .State 
Board  of  Health."  The  board  also  passed  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  at  their  thirteenth  annual  meet- 
ing which  was  held  in  Johnstown.  July  10,  1889. 
"Resolved  that  the  tlianks  of  the  State  Board  of 
Health  are  certainly  due  and  are  heieby  tendered 
to  Dr.  A.J.  Graham,  Peoria.  111.,  for  iiis  arduous, 
indefatigable,  and  elBcient  services,  so  generously 
rendered  as  a  volunteer  member  of  the  Sanitary 
Corps  of  the  Board  at  Johnstown,  in  aiding  in  the 
important  work  of  i)reventing  epidemic  diseases 
as  a  result  of  the  recent  disastrous  flood  in  the 
Conemaugh  Valley.  Signed;  Daniel  Engleham, 
M.D.:  Pembertou  Dudley,  M.  D.;J.  T.  Edwards, 
M.  D.;  Howard  Murpliy,  C.  E.;  J.  H.  McClellau. 
M.  D.;  George  G.  Groflf,  M.  D.;  Benjamin  Lee, 
M.  D.  Philadelphia,  Secretary  and  Executive  office. 


-€-*-^ 


^OHN  E.  McDERMOTT,  United  States  Claim 
Agent,  and  also  interested  in  insurance  and 
general  collections,  is  pleasantly  located  at 
No.  100  South  Adams  Street,  Peoria.  He 
takes  all  classes  of  claims  against  the  Ciovcrnment 
and  finds  sufficient  business  to  occupy  his  time 
very  thoroughly.  He  has  become  well  known  in 
Peoria  and  vicinity  as  a  member  of  the  Revenue 
force  and  in  other  business  capacities,  and  adds  to 
his  commercial  reputation  that  of  a  gallant  soldier 
who  devoted  some  of  the  best  years  of  his  life  to 
the  service  of  his  country. 

Mr.   McDermott  was   born  in    Ireland,  October 
J3,  1838,  and  spent  the  first  few  years  of  his  life  in 


the  land  of  his  birth.  In  1847  he  accompanied  his 
parents,  Michael  and  Catherine  (McCormick)  Mc- 
Dermott, to  America,  the  parents  locating  in  La- 
Salle  County,  111.,  where  our  subject  remained 
until  thirteen  3-ears  of  age.  He  then  came  alone 
to  Peoria  and  found  employment  in  the  wholesale 
and  notion  house  of  Bissell  tfe  Willard,  in  whose 
emploj'  he  continued  until  August,  1862. 

Mr.  McDermott  could  no  longer  be  contented 
to  remain  engaged  in  a  peaceful  pursuit  in  the 
North  while  others  were  battling  for  the  flag,  and 
he,  therefore,  became  a  member  of  Company  G, 
One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which 
he  was  immediateh-  appointed  Sergeant-Major.  The 
regiment  was  sent  to  the  Southwest  with  Grant 
and  passed  through  Kentucky  to  Vicksburg.  The 
first  heavy  engagement  in  which  Mr.  McDermott 
was  engaged  was  at  Chickasaw  Bayou,  following 
which  were  the  contests  at  Arkansas  Post,  Port 
Gibson,  Champion  Hills,  the  siege  and  capture  of 
Vicksburg,  the  battle  of  Cnintown,  Miss.,  and  fin- 
ally at  Spanish  Fort,  the  last  battle  of  the  war.  He 
was  one  of  those  fortunate  men  who  escaped 
wounds  and  capture,  and  during  his  three  3'ears' 
service  he  never  lost  an  hour  from  duty.  He  was 
promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  then  to  First,  then 
to  Cajrtain,  and  finally  became  Brevet-Major,  with 
which  rank  he  was  mustered  out  August  5,  1865, 
conscious  that  he  had  done  all  that  was  in  his 
power  to  keep  the  old  flag  intact. 

Returning  to  Peoria,  Mr.  McDermott  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  notion  business,  but  this  not  prov- 
ing suflicienth-  remunerative  to  satisfy  him,  he 
closed  out  at  the  expiration  of  a  twelvemonth.  For 
a  few  years  following  he  was  in  the  employ  of  O. 
P.  Bissell.  then  traveled  for  ^'.  Ulrich,  wholesale 
grocer,  for  eighteen  months.  He  w.as  then  ap- 
pointed United  States  Ganger  and  afterward  served 
as  Deputj-  Collector  for  tiie  Fifth  Collection  Dis- 
trict under  Maj.  AVhiting  and  Howard  Knowles. 
We  next  find  ISIr.  McDermott  engaged  as  a  claim 
agent  and  also  insurance  agent.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride,  in  this  city,  in  Au- 
gust, 1862,  Mr.  McDermott  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with   Miss  Mary    Fulton,  an   estimable  and 


c 


m 


^,     "if^:  ^^<^r:r^. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


787 


educated  lady,  wlio  graciously  presides  over  his 
pleasant  iiome.  Tlie  union  has  l3een  blest  by  the 
birlli  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters— Mary  Au- 
gusta, Clara,  Robert  and  Blaine,  the  last  two  being 
twins.  All  yet  brighten  the  home  fireside  bj'  their 
presence.  Mrs.  McDermott  is  a  daughter  of  Jo- 
siah  Fulton,  an  old  settler  of  this  county,  whose 
sketch  will  be  found  on  another  page  in  this  Ai-bum. 


ILLIAM  W.  ATWOOD.  The  reader  will 
'/  notice  on  the  opposite  page  a  lithographic 
|)ortrait  of  this  gentleman,  who  occupies  a 
leading  place  among  the  most  enlightened  and  pro- 
gressive farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Peoria  Count}'. 
He  has  long  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
Grange  movement  which  has  done  so  much  to  ad- 
vance the  agricultural  interests  of  Illinois,  and  is 
still  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  councils  of  the  Pat- 
rons of  Husbandry.  He  was  appointed  Poslmasler 
of  Orange  Prairie  post-oflice,  in  Kickapoo  Township, 
bj'  Postmaster- General  Wanamaker,  and  attends  to 
the  duties  of  that  position  while  managing  his 
large  farming  and  stock  interests  on  section  11, 
Kickapoo  Township. 

Our  subject  comes  of  fine  New  England  stock, 
his  father,  Hiram  Atwood,  being  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Aurilla  Douglass,  a  native  of  Connecticut.  After 
marriage  the}'  settled  in  Macomb  County,  Mich., 
being  among  its  pioneers,  and  there  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  The  father  was  a  ship 
carpenter  b}-  trade  and  pursued  that  calling  in 
connection  with  his  farm  work.  He  died  about 
1875  and  his  wife  died  about  1884.  The}'  had  a 
family  of  four  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
was  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in  Clinton,  Ma- 
comb County,  Mich.,  April  10,  1836.  The  early 
years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  thirteen  j'ears  old.  From  the  Abo- 
riginees, who  still  lingered  there,  he  li,ad  learned  the 
Indian  language,  and  at  the  youthful  age  of  thir- 
teen was  employed  as  an  interpeter  at  different 
places  on  Lake  .Superior  for  about  three  years.    At 


the  expiration  of  that  time  he  engaged  in  carry- 
ing the  mail  between  Eagle  River  and  Houghton, 
and  between  the  latter  place  and  Ontonagon  and 
was  appointed  assistant- Postmaster.  Nearl}' a  year 
later  he  became  employed  as  a  trader  and  interpre- 
ter for  the  American  Fur  Company,  and  was  with  it 
for  about  one  year,  and  then  became  an  attache  of 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  working  for  it  nearly  a 
year  and  a  half. 

We  next  hear  of  Mr.  Atwood  on  the  Pacific 
Coast  and  Puget  Sound, where  he  had  been  sent  by 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  where  he  left  their 
employ,  to  enter  that  of  a  company  wishing  him 
to  go  to  Southern  California  to  engage  in  pros- 
pecting. He  was  thus  employed  one  season  in 
that  part  of  the  country  and  in  Mexico,  also.  From 
there  he  wended  his  way  back  to  the  Lakes  and 
purchased  an  interest  in  a  sailing  vessel,  engaged 
In  carrying  merchandise  between  Chicago  and  Lake 
Superior.  In  18G5,  having  sold  out  his  maritime 
interests,  he  came  to  Peoria  County  and  was  em- 
ployed at  different  occupations  until  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  when  he  settled  in  Peoria  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  spruce  beer  for  about  five 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  resolved 
to  give  his  attention  to  farming  and  coming  to 
Kickapoo  Township,  rented  land  for  three  years 
and  then  purchased  the  fine  farm  where  he  now 
lives.  This  comprises  four  hundred  and  four  acres 
of  as  rich  and  productive  land  as  can  be  found  in 
the  township.  He  has  made  many  valuable  im- 
provements, having  his  farm  well  stocked,  and  de- 
voting considerable  attention  to  that  branch  of 
agriculture. 

November  24,  1858,  Mr.  Atwood  and  Miss  Mar- 
garet Fry  took  an  important  step  in  their  lives 
which  has  resulted  in  their  mutual  benefit,  as  by 
their  marriage  on  that  date  he  secured  the  assist- 
ance of  a  cheerful  and  helpful  companion,  and  she 
a  devoted  husband.  Mrs.  Atwood  is  a  daughter 
of  Smith  and  Nancy  (Shepler)  Fry,  natives  of 
Washington  County,  Pa.  They  married  and  set- 
tled in  that  State  and  from  there  came  to  Peoria 
abo^ut  1835,  and  became  pioneers  of  Richwood 
Township.  Mr.  Fry  was  prominent  in  public 
affairs  and  was  Sheriff  of  Peoria  County,  for  two 
terms.     He  was  a  contractor  for  the  railroads  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


had  also  served  as  con.Iuctor.  During  the  latter 
part  of  their  lives.he  and  his  wife  removed  to  Peo- 
ria, where  they  died,  he  June  23,  1860,  and  she 
January- 21,  1882.  Mrs.  At  wood  was  the  seventh 
of  their  eleven  children,  and  she  was  born  in  Rich- 
wood  Township,  Maich  29,  1839.  Ten  children 
have  blessed  her  marriage  with  our  subject,  who 
are  named  as  follows :  Charlie  L.  who  married 
Miss  Ilattie  Gordon,  and  died  in  Dakota,  August 
3,  1888;  George  AV.,  who  married  Miss  Hedges, 
and  lives  near  Bennett,  Neb.;  Mary  A.,  the  wife 
of  William  Enders  of  Dakota;  Smith  F.,  who  mar- 
ried Fannie  Harris  and  resides  in  Peoria ;  William 
W.  Jr.,  who  married  Lena  Dornbus,  and  lives  in 
Dakota;  Douglass  L.,  of  Kickapoo  Township,  who 
married  Haltie  Ames;  Henry  A.,  Percj-  G.,  Au- 
rilla  A.  and  Phoebe  C. 

As  we  have  seen,  Mr.  Atwood  wields  a  potent 
influence  in  promoting  various  schemes  for  the 
further  improvement  of  township  and  county,  and 
his  name  will  ever  be  linked  with  various  plans 
that  have  greatly  adv.anced  their  standing.  As  a 
lo3-al  citizen  he  takes  an  earnest  interest  in  the  po- 
litical situation  of  the  day,  and  favors  the  Repub- 
lican party  by  voice  and  vote.  He  and  his  wife 
were  charter  members  of  Orange  Grange,  Patrons 
of  Husbandrj',  with  which  the^-  are  still  connected, 
and  he  has  been  very  prominent  in  an  official  ca- 
pacity. He  has  been  Master  of  the  Grange  and 
also  of  the  county  Grange  and  was  for  two  years, 
(from  1878  to  1880)  Master  of  the  Grange  Store 
located  in  Peoria.  Mr.  Atwood  is  a  man  of  excep- 
tional personal  habits,  and  of  a  fine  character,  pos- 
sessing man^'  genial  attributes  and  with  his  ami- 
able wife,  stands  high  in  social  circles  in  this  com- 
munity. 


-     OiiO 


ILLIAM  H.  CRANDELL,  a  resident  of 
of  Peoria,  and  at  present  in  the  employ  of 
■^  the  Government  as  United  States  Store- 
keeper, a  position  to  which  he  was  appointed  in 
November,  1889,  has  long  been  identified  with  the 
agricultural  element  of  this  county,  and  represents 
the  brave  citizen  soldier  of  the  late  war,  who,  since 
those  trjing  times  has  quietlv    done   his  dutj'  in 


whatever  position  he  has  been  placed.  In  the  ex- 
citing and  momentuous  days  that  followed  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  our  subject  early^  re- 
sponded to  his  countrj-'s  call,  and  with  noble  self 
sacrifice  went  forth  to  aid  in  fighting  its  battles 
and  to  brave  the  iiardships  of  a  soldier's  life,  and 
the  privations  he  suffered  uncomplainingly  during 
his  long  and  almost  constant  service  throughout 
the  entire  war  testify  to  his  loyalty  and  devotion 
to  the  Union. 

Mr.  Crandell  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in 
Hollis  Township,  November  26,  1840,  and  is  a  son 
of  one  of  its  pioneer  families.  His  parents,  Will- 
iam Zanes  and  Marj'  (Johnson)  Crandell,  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio  and  came  to  this  State  in  the  early 
da3's  of  its  settlement.  The  father  died  in  Missis- 
sippi in  1863,  the  mother  having  died  when  our 
subject  was  about  three  j'ears  old. 

William  Crandell  began  life  as  a  farmer,  having 
received  a  very  good  education  in  the  public 
schools.  He  was  conducting  agricultural  pursuits 
when  the  war  broke  out,  and  as  soon  as  he  could 
arrange  it  he  volunteered  to  defend  his  country's 
honor,  enlisting  on  the  15th  of  May,  1861,  at  Peo- 
ria, becoming  a  member  of  Company  A,  Second 
Illinois  Light  Artiller3',  better  known  as  the  Peo- 
ria Battery  A.  He  went  with  his  regiment  to 
Alton,  whence  he  and  bis  comrades  were  sent  to 
St.  Ciiarles,  Mo.,  where  they  were  prepared  for 
the  army,  and  were  then  sent  up  the  Mississippi 
River.  The  first  campaign  in  which  our  subject 
took  part  was  that  in  which  Fremont  chased  Mc- 
Cullough  and  Price.  He  returned  immediately  to 
Springfield,  Mo.,  after  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  end 
some  months  later  took  an  active  part  in  a  battle 
at  Prairie  Grove.  He  was  found  to  be  admirably 
fitted  for  the  arduous  and  dangerous  woi'k  of 
scouting  and  was  thus  engaged  in  Missouri. 

Mr.  Crandell  subsequently  accompanied  Gen. 
Grant  to  Black  River  Bridge  and  fought  bravely 
In  the  battle  at  that  place,  and  again  was  in  the 
encounter  with  the  enem^-  at  Jackson  and  also  was 
in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills.  After  that  en- 
gagement he  was  sent  to  New  Orleans,  and  took 
part  in  the  defense  of  that  city.  He  reirained  there 
till  he  went  to  Mobile,  and  was  active  in  the  cap- 
ture   of    Fts.  Morgan,  Fisher    and    Gaines.     Our 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIU'iM. 


789 


subject  again  retunied  to  New  Orleans,  and 
there  they  manned  the  fort  at  Burwicks  Hay,  and 
kept  that  position  till  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service.  He  was  transferred  from  thereto  Spring- 
field, and  was  mustered  out  August  27,  1865.  He 
had  veteranized  January  1,  1.SG4.  and  was  kept  in 
the  same  battery  all  the  time,  with  the  excejition  of 
sixt_v  days  furlough,  and  it  is  reuiarkal)le  to  note 
that  he  was  never  disabled  or  in  a  hospital,  was 
never  on  detached  service  and  was  not  awa}'  from 
his  command  during  the  oar. 

After  our  subject  returned  from  his  lengthy  ex- 
perience of  life  on  Southern  battlefields,  he  re- 
sumed his  former  pursuit  as  a  farmer,  and  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years  established  pleasant  domestic 
relations  bj-  his  marriage.  January  1,  1868,  to 
Miss  Mar}^  C.  Wallace,  a  native  of  New  York,  and 
a  daughter  of  Robert  C.  and  Margaret  (Gaily) 
Wallace.  Her  fatiier  is  still  living.  Tliree  chil- 
dren have  blessed  the  wedded  life  of  our  sulijcct 
and  his  wife,  of  whom  the  eldest,  a  son,  Charles 
Franklin,  is  deceased;  tlie  names  of  the  living 
are  Cora  Isabelle  and  iMary  Margaret,  who  live  in 
this  county.  Cora  Isabelle  married  William  Giv- 
ens,  a  miner  by  occupation. 

Our  subject  is  a  quiet,  imohtrusive  man  and  is 
universally  esteemed.  He  possesses  a  clear,  intel- 
ligent mind,  and,  of  a  natural  religious  tempera- 
ment, is  liberal  in  his  views  and  has  a  preference 
for  the  Universalist  faith,  as  have  his  wife  and 
children  also.  His  career  in  the  army  is  held  in 
remembrance  by  his  connection  with  the  Joe 
Ilanna  Post.  No.  117.  G.  A.  R..  in  Pekin. 


^E 


-:^^ 


"^f^OSEPH  BRADLEY,  Supervisor  of  Chilli- 
cothe  Township,  and  residing  in  the  city  of 
the  same  name,  is  ?,  sturdy  Englishman,  on 
whoiii  his  fellow-men  look  with  respect  on 
account  of  his  shrewdness  and  straightforward 
dealings  with  mankind.  He  was  born  in  Groyles- 
teen,  Lancashire,  England,  April  27,  1828,  and 
worked  in  a  cotton  factory  until  the  age  of  four- 
teen 3'ears.  He  then  began  an  apprenticeship  at 
the  tr.ade  of  a  wagon-maker,  and   after  ni.astcring 


his  handicrafl,  .■m-I  up  a  home  of  liis  own.  taking  as 
his  companion  Jliss  Mar}^  A.  Stores  who  has  shared 
in  all  his  joys,  sympathized  in  his  disappointments 
and  aided  him.  as  none  but  a  loving  woman  can,  in 
every  scene  through  which  they  have  passed,  re- 
ceiving in  return  the  deepest  regard  and  kindest 
consider.ation. 

In  1851  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Br.adley  determined  to 
emigrate  to  America,  and  having  crossed  the  At- 
lantic, located  in  Wyoming  Couuty,  N.  Y.  There 
Mr.  Br.adley  carried  on  his  trade  two  years,  then 
changing  his  location  to  Chillicothc,  111.,  he,  in  the 
fall  of  1853,  established  a  business  which  he  con- 
ducted until  1887.  He  had  not  been  in  tlds  pl.ace 
long  before  he  became  known  as  an  excellent  work- 
man and  a  man  of  honor  in  business  relations,  his 
trade  increasing  in  proportion  .as  his  reputation  be- 
came established.  His  fellow-citizens  have  called 
for  his  services  in  their  behalf  as  Supervisor  of 
Chillicothe  Township,  in  which  capacity  he  has 
served  eight  years,  and  as  one  of  tlie  Aldermen  of 
tiiecity,he  having  filled  that  position  for  nine  3-ears. 
He  is  a  sound  Democrat  in  his  political  views.  To 
him  and  his  wife  one  daughter  has  been  born,  that 
event  having  transpired  in  the  Empire  State.  This 
daughter,  Jennie,  is  the  wife  of  Edgar  Heath,  a 
grocery  dealer  in  Henry,  this  State.  They  liave 
three  children,  named  respectivel3%  Pearl  B.,  Jo- 
seph W.  and  Orris  R. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  John  Bradley,  a 
native  of  Yorkshire  and  dsceendant  of  English  an- 
cestors. He  married  Jliss  Esther  Hughes,  who  w.as 
born  in  Wales,  of  Welsh  parents,  but  reared  in 
Lancaslnre,  England.  In  that  shire  Mr.  and  IMrs. 
John  Bradley-  passed  their  wedded  life,  dj-ing  when 
past  the  age  of  seventy.  The  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Our  suljjcct 
was  the  second  of  three  children  born  to  his  parents. 
His  brother,  Thomas,  spent  his  entire  life  in  his 
native  land, leaving  a  widow  an<l  four  children  when 
called  hence.  He  was  a  baker  by  trade.  Ann,  the 
youngest  member  of  the  p.arental  family,  became 
the  wife  of  James  Miller,  and  slie  also  died  in  Eng- 
land, leavir.g  one  child. 

Mrs.  Bradley,  of  this  sketch,  w.is  born  in  Pockle- 
ting,  Yorkshire,  England,  November  5,  182G,  being 
the  onl^'  daughter  and   the  oldest  child   of   David 


790 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  Jane  (Craig)  Stoiy,  who  were  likewise  natives 
of  Yorkshire.  She  was  well  reared,  remaining  with 
her  parents  until  her  marriage.  Her  parents  came 
to  America  when  she  and  her  hnsband  emigrated, 
and  spent  their  last  days  with  their  daughter  in 
Chillicotlie.  Mr.  Storj'  was  nearly  seventy-nine 
years  old  and  his  wife  seventy-six  when  called 
hence.  Mrs.  Stor}'  was  of  th(^  Presbyterian  faith. 
The  three  brolhers  of  Mrs.  Bradley  also  came  to 
America,  and  all  are  vet  living. 


LBERT  ERNST.  A  visitor  to  the  farm 
of  this  gentleman,  on  section  5,  Medina 
Township,  would  find  there  a  tract  of  land 
^J  under  thorough  cultivation  and  supplied 

with  a  complete  line  of  fine  buildings  which  pro- 
vide adequate  shelter  for  crops  and  stock  and  a 
home  of  great  comfort  for  the  family'.  Although 
not  a  native  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  Ernst  has 
manifested  his  loyaltj'  to  his  adopted  country  on 
fields  of  battle,  winning  the  confidence  of  his  com- 
manding officers  and  fellow  soldiers  by  his  gal- 
lantry and  read}'  obedience  to  the  word  of  command. 
As  a  private  citizen  he  is  respected  by  reason  of 
his  interest  in  the  good  of  the  people  and  the  up- 
building of  the  country,  and  his  own  industrious, 
thrifty,  law-abiding  conduct. 

Mr.  Ernst  is  of  pure  German  ancestry,  descended 
from  respected  families  of  Hesse-Cassel.  His  father, 
Peter  Ernst,  a  sturd}'  miner,  worked  in  the  silver 
mines  of  his  own  State  all  his  life;  he  died  in  1832. 
when  about  fifty  years  of  age.  His  wife,  formcrh' 
Catherine  Bowman,  died  in  middle  life,  when  her 
son,  our  subject,  was  quite  small.  The  family  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Ernst  consisted  of  two  sons 
and  one  daughter.  The  latter  died  young,  and  a 
son — John — having  come  to  America,  married  in 
New  York,  and  died  there  when  quite  old. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Hesse-Cassel  November 
20,  1818,  .and  was  not  j-et  fifteen  years  old  when 
he  began  to  earn  his  own  living.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  broadcloth-making,  and  after  completing 
his  apprenticeship,  worked  as  a  journeyman  until 
twent3'-two  years  of  age.  when  he  took  passage  at 


Bremerhaven  for  the  United  States.  After  a  te- 
dious voyage  of  fort3-seveu  days  he  landed  in  New 
York  City,  remaining  there  eighteen  months.  He 
then  went  to  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  but  a  few  months  later 
changed  his  place  of  abode  to  Springfield,  111. 

Mr.  Ernst  had  been  living  in  the  capital  about  a 
year  when.in  August.  1846.  he  enlisted  in  a  regiment 
of  mounted  riflemen  for  service  in  the  Mexican  War. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Chepaultepec  and 
the  capture  of  the  citv  of  Mexico,  together  with 
the  other  prominent  engagements  of  the  two  j' ear's 
campaign.  During  that  time  he  was  in  some  very 
dangerous  places,  but  he  escaped  with  only  a  flesh 
wound  above  the  right  cheek  bone,  near  the  e\e. 
He  likewise  avoided  capture,  and  reported  for  duty 
ever}'  day.  The  events  of  the  two  years  are  fresh 
in  his  memory,  as  are  the  names  and  characteristics 
of  man}'  members  of  the  regiment  and  his  superior 
officers.  For  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  he  had  an  ad- 
miring love,  believing  him  the  kindest  commander 
that  ever  lived. 

At  the  close  of  the  hostilities  Mr.  Ernst  was  hon- 
orably discharged,  and  coming  to  Peoria  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  1848,  remained  there  until  his  marriage 
the  following  year,  when  he  took  up  ngrieullural 
life  in  Medina  Townsbii).  He  and  his  good  wife 
are  among  those  who  have  heliied  to  build  up  P«'- 
oria  County,  interesting  themselves  as  far  as  they 
were  able  in  movements  which  would  tend  to  that 
end,  Mr.  Ernst  being  particularly  interested  in  the 
educational  affairs  of  his  district.  He  votes  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  is  a  devout  member  of 
the  Catholic  Chnrch,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a 
communicant. 

The  lady  who  for  many  years  has  been  exhibit- 
ing her  good  qualities  at  the  head  of  the  household 
of  our  subject,  was  formerly  Miss  Theresa  Muller. 
She  was  horn  in  Alsace,  then  a  part  of  France, 
February  8,  1828,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1847,  when  about  grown  to  womanhood.  Her 
parents  lived  for  a  time  in  Peoria,  and  Later  on  a 
farm  in  Medina  Township, where  her  aged  father,An- 
drew  Muller,  still  resides.  Her  mother  p,assed  away 
in  1886,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ernst  are  the  parents  of  thirteen  children, 
two  of  whom  are  deceased.  These  are  Joseph  and 
Molly,  who  died   unmarieil  at  the  age  of  twenty- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIJI'M. 


793 


four  j'cavs.  The  living  children  are  Mary,  wife  of 
Peter  Wilhelm,  a  farmer  near  Tolono,  Champaign 
County;  Theresa,  wife  of  John  Backest,  a  farmer 
in  Akron  Township;  Albert,  a  cigarmaker  in  Peo- 
ria, who  married  Lizzie  Rett;  Katie,  wife  of  John 
Knoblock,  whose  home  is  in  Burlington,  Iowa; 
Matilda,  wife  of  Frank  Williams,  who  owns  and 
operates  a  farm  in  Medina  Township;  Josephine, 
wife  of  Jacob  Wagner,  a  farmer  in  Pasoteera 
Townshii).  Champaign  County;  John,  who  carries 
on  the  home  farm;  Robert,  who  resides  with  his 
parents  and  runs  a  threshing  machine  ;  Bertha,  Anna 
and  Julia  A.,  who  arc  still  with  their  parents. 


JOSEPH  COLLIER.  The  attention  of  the 
reader  will  be  claimed  by  the  portrait  and 
biograpiiy  of  this  gentleman  who  is  a  widely 
known  and  greatly  respected  citizen  of 
Peoria  County.  He  has  for  many  years  been 
prominently  connected  with  its  mining  interests, 
and  is  now  tlic  owner  of  a  valuable  mine  in  Bar- 
lonville,  whicli  he  leases  to  a  company  and  de- 
rives from  it  a  substantial  income.  He  has  a  beau- 
tiful home  in  Limestone,  located  about  five  miles 
south  of  the  court-iiouse  on  the  brow  of  the  bluff, 
overlooking  llie  whole  city  of  Peoria,  with  a  fine 
view  of  Pekin  in  another  direction. 

Mr.  Collier  was  born  in  .Somersetshire,  England, 
August  16,  1817,  receiving  iiis  early  education  in 
in  the  scliools  of  that  shire.  lie  followed  the  busi- 
ness of  a  mason  which  he  had  learned  wiicn  young, 
and  going  to  Wales,  did  mason  work  in  the  mines, 
and  from  that  develoi)ed  into  a  miner  or  an  opera- 
tor of  tiie  mines,  doing  a  large  business.  While  in 
that  line  he  did  some  of  the  finest  and  most  scien- 
tific work  in  tlie  Welsh  and  English  mines,  as 
each  rock  for  the  shafts  was  cut  and  numbered  and 
had  its  place  in  the  wall,  which  when  completed 
was  a  specimen  of  much  better  work  than  is  seen  in 
the  mines  of  tliis  country.  Mr.  Collier  says  that 
work  was  done  for  all  time,  the  mines  being  put 
into    proper    shape    before    they     were    formally 


opened  and  it  would  take  years  to  get  them  ready. 
During  his  stay  in  Wales  Mr.  Collier  met  and 
married  Miss  Ann  Kear,  who  was  of  English  de- 
scent. After  ten  years  of  jiiarried  life  they  came''to 
America  and  cast  in  their  fortunes  with  the  pioneers 
of  Peoria  Countj^  having  first  sojournetrtwo  years 
in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Collier  was  en- 
gaged in  the  management  of  some  coal  mines. 
After  he  came  here  he  commenced  to  operate  a 
coal  mine  for  T.  C.  Moore,  which  was  one  of  the  first 
opened  in  the  settlement  of  Bartonville,  before  the 
village  was  started,  that  being  in  the  year  1850. 
He  has  been  very  prosperous  and  acquired  valualile 
property  b}'  his  operations.  He  first  built  a  home  on 
his  farm  in  1 853,about  four  miles  south  of  the  court- 
house and  there  he  and  his  wife_dwelt  for  twenty 
years  and  reared  their  family  of  eight  children,  four 
now  living.  Their  daughter  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Otis 
Wilder,  of  Limestone,  now  of  Lexington,  Johnson 
County,  Neb.,  and  they  have  eight  children.  Ann 
is  the  wife  of  Griffith  Hopkins,  of  Ohio,  now  a  res- 
ident of  Maquon,  Knox  Comity,  and  they  have 
five  ciiildren.  Sarah,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  met 
her  death  by  a  stroke  of  lightning  while  standing 
in  her  father's  door  yard.  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Strasser,  a  native  of  Limestone  Township, 
where  they  now  resiile,  and  they  have  four  children. 
Franklin  Joscfjli  is  the  manager  of  the  compan3-  oi>- 
erating  the  coal  bank  at  Bartonville,  leased  from 
his  father.  'Ibis  company  is  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful in  the  State.  It  was  first  started  about  six 
}'ears  ago  by  Mr.  Collier,  who  interested  in  tlie 
venture  thirty-five  men,  who  were  bound  by  an  ar- 
ticle of  agreement  to  keep  the  bank  running,  and 
pay  him  half  a  cent  a  bushel  for  the  coal  and  one- 
f'cnirlh  of  a  cent  a  bushel  for  the  improvements 
until  the  machinery,  which  cost  ^(),600  was  paid 
for,  and  this  3'ear  will  find  them  all  out  of  debt, 
with  their  franchise  greatly  im|)roved  in  value. 
Frankllin  J.  Collier's,  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Kate  Strassers,  is  a  native  of  Altona.  Pa., 
where  her  parents  now  live.  .She  and  her  husliand 
have  six  children — Ernest,  Edith  Jane,  Joseph, 
Chester,  Ethel,  and  Annie  M.  Our  subject  gave 
all  of  his  children  fine  educational  advantages  and 
educated  his  girls  as  teachers,  giving  them  a  course 
in  the  Normal  School  of   Peoria,  fiHjm  which    tlu^y 


794 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


were  graduated,  and   his  house  has  alwa3's   been   a 
home  for  teachers. 

Mr.  Collier  was  for  a  long  time  a  conspiouoiis 
figure  in  the  public  life  of  township  and  county. 
He  has  served  as  Rond  Commissioner  and  as  School 
Director,  and  in  the  latter  office  has  been  very  in- 
fluential in  the  establishment  of  one  of  the  best 
sc!!Ools  in  the  county  in  his  district.  For  ten  years 
he  represented  Limestone  on  the  Countj^  Board 
of  Supervisors,  and  was  one  of  the  foremost  in 
bringing  about  any  enterprise  that  was  calculated 
to  benetit  the  county,  and  he  will  long  be  held  in 
grateful  respect  for  his  active  work  in  securing 
the  building  of  the  court-house.  He  cast  the  de- 
ciding vote  when  the  resolution  for  building  the 
new  court-house  was  under  discussion  before  the 
Board,  while  man3' of  the  others  voted  against  it. 
He  fought  iiard  for  it  and  finally  won  the  day,  and 
justly  feels  more  proud  of  that  than  any  other  act 
of  his  life.  It  is  greatly  due  to  his  personal  efforts 
that  the  building  stands  to  day  a  monument  of 
strength  and  durability,  and  is  an  ornament  to  the 
city.  He  looked  vigilantly  after  the  work  of  the 
contractors,  and  often  got  out  injunctions  and 
stopped  work  until  the  builders  would  proceed  ac- 
cording to  the  contract.  On  his  return  home  from 
the  Centennial  he  found  that  they  had  put  in  con- 
crete pillars  instead  of  solid  as  had  been  agreed,  and 
in  other  ways  had  slighted  the  work.  He  at  once 
took  steps  to  have  their  blunder  corrected  and  did 
so  after  a  long  fight.  Wiien  they  were  putting  up 
the  dome  he  told  the  contractors  it  would  not  stand, 
and  it  had  to   be  taken  down  and  rebuilt. 

In  the  fall  of  1888,  Mr.  Collier,  accompanied  by 
his  wife,  went  back  to  visit  their  Welsh  and  En- 
glish friends  in  Pennsylvania,  and  while  there  cel- 
brated  their  golden  wedding,  having  an  enjoyable 
time  on  that  memorable  occasion  and  receiving 
many  appropriate  and  elegant  gifts.  Mr.  Collier 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  over  fifty  years,  and  his  children  are 
nearly  all  connected  with  it,  his  daughters  have 
been  active  workers  in  the  Sunday-school.  This 
fine  old  English  gentleman  respects  the  Lord's  Day, 
and  believes  that  all  the  good  the  world  knows 
comes  from  the  fact  that  England  with  her  manu- 
facturers has  pushed  the  Bible    into  all  lands,    and 


where  the  people  would  not  accept  it  as  a  gift,  has 
forced  it  upon  them  at  the  cannon's  mouth,  and 
also  from  the  fact  that  P^ngland,  having  always 
kept  Sunday  and  made  others  keep  it,  has  been 
blessed  for  its  observance. 


m' 


AMES  H.  RICHARD.  ISIany  decades  ago 
the  contest  between  Protestantism  and 
Catholicism  became  so  serious  in  Scotland, 
that  many  families  fled  from  their  homes 
there  to  find  refuge  from  the  oppression  of  the 
ruling  powers  among  the  mountains  and  bogs  of 
Count}'  Antrim,  Ireland.  They  were  cordially 
welcomed  by  the  natives  of  tlie  Emerald  Isle  and 
in  the  fair  valley  of  tiie  Bann  they  lived  and  la- 
bored for  many  years,  banding  down  to  their  de- 
scendants the  frugal  habits,  calculating  minds, 
persevering  spirits  and  devotion  to  principle  which 
make  their  history  interesting  antl  their  progeny 
honored.  The  subject  of  this  notice  is  a  descend- 
ant of  one  of  these  old  families,  the  home  of  his 
more  recent  ancestors  having  been  that  part  of 
Ireland  adjacent  to  the  Morth  Channel,  which  has 
become  so  famous  by  reason  of  that  wonderful  ob- 
ject, the  Giant's  Causeway,  whose  columns  attract 
the  attention  of  tourists  and  arc  a  source  of  won- 
der to  scientists. 

The  present  home  of  our  subject  is  on  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Tri- 
voli  Township,  where  excellent  improvements  of 
various  kinds  meet  the  eye,  among  them  being  the 
substantial  dwelling,  a  barn  24x40  feet,  a"  stable 
capable  of  sheltering  sixteen  head  of  horses,  a  ha}' 
shed,  and  various  other  edifices  sufflciently  large 
and  numerous  to  shelter  all  the  stock  upon  the 
place  and  house  all  the  crops  that  are  raised. 
The  land  is  fertilized  liy  living  water,  a  branch 
of  Copperas  Creek  running  through  it,  the  entire 
acreage  is  tillable,  not  a  foot  being  allowed  to 
"•o  to  waste  while  fourteen  thousand  soft  ma- 
ple trees  and  three  orchards  adorn  the  premises. 
Hedge  and  wire  are  used  to  enclose  and  divide  the 
property, which  consists  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


795 


acres  on  section  19,  eighty  acres  on  section  18  and 
one  hundred  and  twent3'  acres  on  sections  20  and 
17,  all  now  combined  in  one  improved  farm. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  being  the  son  of  Scotch 
parents  who,  after  emigiating  from  their  native 
land  became  large  landowners.  Grandfather  Rich- 
ard owned  the  farm  ''Ballinaloob,"  which  means 
'•loop  of  the  bag,"  upon  which  stood  a  large  resi- 
dence. He  farmed  until  striclven  by  a  fatal  illness, 
when  he  divided  his  property  among  his  four  sons, 
and  put  his  worldly  affairs  in  order.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian,  prominently  connected  with  every 
good  work,  liberal,  enterprising  and  high!3'  hon- 
ored. 

His  son  John,  the  father  of  our  subject,  becom- 
ing the  owner  of  a  portion  of  the  old  farm,  op- 
erated it  until  1845,  when  he  sold  and  came  to 
America.  He  found  emploj'ment  in  New  York 
City,  remaining  there  until  1857,  as  overseer  of 
the  engine  room  in  the  Farris,  Tabcr  &  Co.  marble 
works.  He  had  left  bis  family  in  Ireland,  but  in 
1851,  sent  for  them,  and  si.x^  years  later  lirought 
them  to  Central  Illinois,  settling  on  a  farm  three 
miles  west  of  Farmington,  Fulton  County.  He 
rented  land  until  1860,  then  took  possession  of 
another  piece  of  property  farther  West,  and  in 
18G2,  in  connection  with  our  subject,  bought  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  the  property  now 
cccu|)ied  by  the  son,  moving  into  a  log  house  upon 
it.  It  was  his  home  until  1883,  when  he  removed 
to  Farmington,  making  that  town  his  home  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  May  15,  1890, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  3-ears.  He  was  a  Demo 
crat  in  politics  and  a  rresbyterian  in  religion,  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  church  work,  helping  to  build 
the  house  of  worship. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  like  her  husband, 
was  born  in  Count}-  Antrim,  Ireland.  She  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Henry,  l)cingthe  daugh- 
ter of  Matliew  Henry,  a  well-to-do  farmer,  large 
landowner,  and  prominent  man  in  the  church,  in 
which  he  was  Ruling  Flder  from  the  age  of 
twentj'-one  until  his  death  when  over  eighty  years 
old.  Mrs.  Sarah  Richard  has  reached  the  ad  vanceil 
age  of  eighty-four  years,  making  her  home  with 
our  subject,  her  eldtst  cliild.     Her  other  children 


are  Mrs.  Jane  Davison,  whose  home  is  in  Logan 
County,  Kaii.;  Mrs.  Margaret  Watson,  living  in 
Farmington,  Fulton  County;  Mrs.  Matilda  Threw, 
whose  home  is  in  EIrawood;  Mrs.  Mary  Vaughan, 
now  living  in  Peoria;  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rich- 
mond, who  resides  in  Trivoli  Township.  All  have 
children,  there  being  from  two  to  eight  in  each 
family-,  and  not  a  death  had  occurred  until  the  fa- 
ther of  our  suliject  was  called  hence. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  the  Giant's  Causeway, 
November  16,  183.3,  his  home  being  so  near  the 
Channel  that  in  pleasant  weather  he  could  see 
across  to  the  coast  of  Scotland.  Many  a  day  was 
spent  by  him  sporting  on  the  shore  and  dallying 
with  the  waves  of  the  great  deep.  The  national 
schools  which  he  attended  until  he  was  twenty 
years  old  were  excellent  and  through  their  means 
be  acquired  a  good  education.  When  fifteen  years 
old  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  dry -goods  business 
at  Ballaniana,  but  after  serving  several  years  his 
health  failed  and  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  it. 
He  then  remained  with  his  mother  until  August, 
1851,  when  he  accom[)anied  her  to  America.  The}- 
left  Liverpool  on  the  sailer  "Jeremiah  Thompson" 
under  command  of  Capt.  C.  H.  Hlake,  and  after  a 
voyage  of  twenty-one  days  landed  in  New  '\'«irk 
City. 

Young  Richard  spent  three  months  in  an  uffice, 
then  was  engaged  in  painting  at  Brooklyn  six 
months.  lie  next  found  employment  with  the 
marble  firm  for  which  his  father  worked,  doino- 
their  carpenter  work  and  making  good  wan-es, 
under  pleasant  emi)loyers,  who  were  of  the  (^»uaker 
belief.  He  came  to  llli'iois  the  same  year  hi,s  fa- 
ther did,  making  the  journey  by  rail  to  Peoria  and 
thence  by  team  to  Farmington.  For  three  years  he 
rented  land  of  Uncle  John  Wallace,  then  became  a 
tenant  of  I).  Brewer  two  years.  At,  the  expiration 
of  that  time  he  joined  his  father  in  the  purchase 
of  property,  the  price  of  which  was  $4,800,  and  lo- 
cating thereon,  continued  to  occupy  it  until  1870. 
In  the  meantime  ho  had  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  19,  valued  at  $10,000,  and 
as  water  was  plentiful  on  the  new  place  he  champed 
his  location.  lie  bought  the  tirst  self  binder  in  the 
township,  it  being  an  Osborn  Wire  Binder.  In 
1870  housed  the  self  rake,  running  it  ten  years. 


796 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Richard  raises  various  kinds  of  stock,  keep- 
ing good  grades  of  liorses  and  cattle,  having  now 
eighteen  head  of  half-blood  Clydesdales  and  some 
three-fourths  Kentucky  Whip,  which  fine  propor- 
tioned animals  are  among  the  best  colts  in  the  vi- 
cinity. He  also  raises  mules,  finding  them  more 
profitable  than  horses.  In  all  his  work  he  emitloys 
the  latest  improved  machinery  and  most  approved 
methods.  He  was  School  Director  twelve  j'ears 
after  which  he  resigned  the  position.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Douglas  Democrat.  He  helped  build  the 
church  at  Farmington,  he  and  his  father  donating 
^300  when  they  were  obliged  to  borrow  the  money 
and  pay  interest  on  it.  He  was  formerly  Trustee 
of  the  organization  but  resigned. 

The  marri.ige  of  Mr.  Richard  was  celebrated  in 
this  township  October  14,  1869,  the  bride  being 
Mis  Mar3'  Kerr,  a  native  of  Couutj"  Antrim,  Ire- 
land, and  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Kerr. 
Her  father  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  section  of 
the  Emerald  Isle,  where  the  daughter  received  a 
good  education.  She  came  to  Adrian,  ^Slicli.,  in 
1864,  to  the  home  of  her  brothers,  and  having 
come  to  this  neighborhood  on  a  visit,  her  marriage 
with  our  subject  followed.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren— Robert  J.,  Martha  H.,  James  Dorr  B.  and 
Nellie  M.,  all  of  whom  are  still  at  home. 


ARK  M.  BASSETT,State  Senatonis  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Peoria.  He  is  a  no- 
ble  representative  of  our  citizen-soldiery 
■*  to  whose  und^'ing  patriotism,    unyielding 

valor  and  heroic  self-sacrifice,  it  is  owing  that  our 
glorious  banner  still  tloats  its  Stars  and  Stripes  on 
every  breeze  over  a  free  and  undivided  country. 
The  military  record  of  our  subject  wherein  his 
bravery  and  abilit}'  won  him  high  official  rank,  is 
one  which  is  an  honor  not  only  to  liim  and  his,  but 
to  this  his  native  State. 

Mr.  Bassett  was  born  in  Schuyler  County,  111., 
March  27,  1837.  His  father  died  before  his  birth, 
and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Abigail 
Carlock,  died  when  he  was  a  small  boj'.  He 
passed  his  boyhood  days  in   Schuyler  and   Fulton 


Counties,  enjoj-ing  but  limited  educational  means, 
yet,  nevertheless,  attaining  such  proficiency  in  his 
studies  as  to  lay  a  solid  foundation  upon  which  he 
afterwards  erected  the  superstructure  of  his  legal 
knowledge.  He  was  brought  up  to  hard  labor  on 
a  farm.  After  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he 
watched  its  course  with  patriotic  interest  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-three,left  his  agricultural  pursuits 
to  enlist  his  energies  as  an  assistant  in  recruiting 
troops  for  the  army  and  Januar}-  1,  1862,  had  his 
name  enrolled  as  a  member  of  Company  E,  Fifty- 
third  Volunteer  Infantry.  His  coolness  and  cour- 
age on  the  battle  field  and  his  constant  devotion 
to  duty  soon  won  him  the  merited  approbation  of 
his  superiors,  and  gained  him  promotion  from  the 
ranks,  guccessivelj'  as  Sergeant,  Lieutenant  and 
Captain.  His  first  engagement  was  in  tlie  battle  of 
Shiloh.  and  he  took  part  in  the  Siege  of  Cor- 
inth, was  at  Hatchie  and  did  gallant  service  at 
Vlcksburg.  At  Jackson,  Miss.,  he  was  in  the  hot- 
test of  the  fight  July  12,  1863,  and  after  being 
slightlj-  wounded  was  taken  prisoner,  and  then  for 
some  time  he  experienced  the  h.«irdships  and  priva- 
tions of  life  in  the  Rebel  prisons.  He  was  taken 
to  Libby  and  was  one  of  the  one  hundred  and  ten 
who  escaped  from  that  prison  February  9,  1864,he 
being  recaptured  the  fourth  night  out  and  returned 
to  that  horrible  place  of  confinement,  and  with 
sixty  others  was  put  into  a  dungeon.  When  Grant 
was  marching  into  Richmond  they  were  taken  out 
and  sent  to  Danville,  thence  to  Macon,  Ga.,  and 
from  there  to  Charlotte,  S.  C,,  where  they  were  for 
awhile  under  fire  of  one  of  our  guns,  and  from  thct 
city  were  dispatched  to  Columbia,  S.  C.  In  that 
place  nine  prisoners,  Mr.  Bassett  amongst  them,  es- 
caped at  the  hour  of  midnight,  November  10,1864, 
were  out  fift3--two  nights  and  finally  arrived  at 
Knoiville,Tenn.,  January  1,  186.5.  They  reported 
to  the  Secretarj'  of  War  and  were  ordered  to  Jack- 
son, Mich.,  to  assist  in  drafting  men  and  sending 
them  to  the  front.  April  12.  1865.  he  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  army,  having  done  honorable  ser- 
vice for  over  three  long  years. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Bassett  returned  to  his  farm 
labors  and  quietly  engaged  in  rural  pursuits  until 
the  following  year,  when  ambitious  to  enter  the 
professions  and  make  something  more  of  life  than 


U'24.     i^AU.^ 


^/la^pi-^^  r  lyiZy,  t/ujc/^j^ji^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


799 


lie  could  otherwise,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  at  Pekin,  with  Capt.  A.  SV.  Bull,and  after  i)ur- 
suiug  a  thorough  i)ractical  course  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1868.  He  first  established  hiiiiself  at 
J'ekin,  and  four  years  later,  in  1872,  opened  an 
olHce  in  Peoria  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
continued  in  practice  until  1882.  A  man  of  pleas- 
ant address,  ready  tact,  frank  and  ingenuous,  our 
subject  is  very  popular  among  all  classes,  and  thi,', 
together  with  his  great  energy  and  pluck,  has  been 
the  means  of  placing  him  In  a  prominent  position 
in  the  political  and  public  life  of  the  county  and 
State.  Though  this  district  is  strongly  Democratic, 
his  i)opularity  has  carried  him  through  on  a  Ue- 
[jublican  ticket,  and  he  has  been  elected  to  two  of 
the  most  important  offices  within  the  gift  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  In  1884,  he  was  elected  to  the 
Lower  House  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  in 
1888,  to  the  Senate,  and  is  still  State  Senator.  He 
has  made  an  excellent  record  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Assembly,  and  guards  the  interests  of  his 
constituency  with  zealous  care. 

Mr.  Bassetthas  established  an  exceedingly  [ileas- 
ant  home  in  Peoria,  and  to  the  wife  who  presides 
over  it  with  grace  and  cordially  aids  him  in  ex- 
tending its  hospitalities  to  their  many  friends,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  November  22,  18C5.  Mrs. 
Bassett's  maiden  name  was  Anna  E.  Gould,  and 
she  is  a  daughter  of  David  Gould,  of  Michigan. 


^ 


E^^ 


IRAM  H.  PEIRCE.  As  a  manufacturer  of 
brick,  this  gentleman  is  an  important  factor 
in  the  building  industries  of  Richwood 
Township  and  of  the  count}'.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Dau[)hin  County,  Pa.,  born  September  22, 
1826,  the  second  of  the  eleven  children  of  Caleb 
and  Elizabeth  (Rhodes)  Peirce.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  the  same  county  as  himself,  while  his 
mother  was  born  in  Lancaster  Count}',  the  same 
State.  After  marriage  they  settled  in  Dauphin 
County,  where  they  spent  their  entire  wedded  life. 
He  was  a  mason  by  trade  and  one  of  the  first  con- 
tractors on  the  Pennsylvania  Railw.ay. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  man'sestato  in  his  na- 


tive count}-,  and  early  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self, after  first  having  acquired  the  trade  of  brick- 
layer and  mason.  He  followed  that  calling  in  New 
York  City  for  about  twelve  years,  and  in  1855, 
first  came  to  Peoria,  and  established  himself  as  a 
mason.  He  was  thus  eng.aged  until  1855,  when  he 
became  a  contractor  and  builder,  making  a  specialty 
of  jails  and  in  the  course  of  time  erected  five,  one 
in  Peoria  and  others  i!i  different  parts  of  the  State. 
He  also  put  up  the  Board  of  Trade  Building  and 
Monarch  Mills,  and  for  some  years  was  one  of  the 
principal  contractors  of  Peoria.  In  1867,  Mr. 
Peirce  turned  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of 
bricks,  making  Richwood  Township  his  headcpiar- 
ters.  He  is  still  prosperously  engaged  in  that  busi- 
ness and  has  a  yard  with  the  capacity  of  thirty 
thousand  bricks  per  day. 

IMr.  Peirce  was  married  in  New  York  City,  in 
1854,  to  Miss  Harriet  A.  Lockwood,  who  was  born 
in  that  city,  January  17,  1834.  She  bore  him  six 
children,  of  whom  the  following  is  recorded: 
Augusta  is  the  wife  of  Nathan  Giles,  Jr.;  Isabella 
is  the  wife  of  William  Ilotze;  Laura  A.  is  the  wife 
of  Lewis  Ilines;  Joseph  B.  married  Fannie  Brush; 
Hattie  M.  is  the  wife  of  Alexander  Archdale;  Hi- 
ram lives  in  Peoria.  By  Mrs.  Peirco's  death  in 
Richwood  Township,  her  husband  was  dejjrived  of 
a  good  wife,  her  children  (if  a  loving  mother  and 
the  community  of  a  kind  neighbor  and  friend. 

Mr.  Peirce  was  married  to  his  i)resent  estimable 
wife,  January  4,  1870,  the  ceremony  that  made 
them  one  being  solemnized  in  INIetamora,  Wood- 
ford County.  Mrs.  Peirce,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Exira  A.  Speers  had  been  jireviously  married, 
the  name  of  her  first  husband  being  Jeremiah 
Plank.  He  w.is  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  being  a 
membcrof  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois  In- 
fantry. He  died  near  Nicksburg,  ]\Iiss.  There 
was  one  son  born  of  that  marriage,  Delmar  E.,  who 
resides  in  Washington  State.  Mrs.  Peirce  is  a  na- 
tive of  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  her  birth  taking 
place  September  11,  1839. 

A  man  of  keen  forethought  and  an  excellent  in- 
sight into  the  best  methods  of  conducting  his  busi- 
ness, Mr.  Peirce  is  a  man  of  weight  in  this  com- 
munity, and  wields  a  good  influence  in  the  advance- 
ment of  its  financial  prosperity  and  everything  in 


800 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALHUM. 


any  wuy  pertaining  to  the  promotion  of  its  welfare. 
He  possesses  in  a  full  degree  lliose  pleasant  quali- 
ties that  win  friendship,  and  is  highly  regarded  by 
iiis  fellow-citizens.  He  is  activel}'  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party  as  represented  in  this  part  of 
Illinois.  During  his  residence  in  Peoria  he  was  a 
prominent  figure  in  its  public  life,  serving  as  City 
Marshal  for  two  years  and  as  Captain  of  the  Police 
one  3'ear.  showing  himself  to  possess  fine  executive 
ability  and  true  tact  in  both  capacities  and  making 
a  very  desirable  civic  official. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Peirce  is  presented  elsewhere 
in  tiiis  volume,  among  those  of  other  representa- 
tive citizens  of  Peoria  County. 


OHN  G.  S.  BOHANAN  was  a  early  pioneer 
of  this  count}',  and  as  one  of  the  organizers 
of  Logan  Township.of  which  he  has  been  one 
of  the  most  prominent  agriculturists  for  more 
than  half  a  centurj%  his  name  is  indissolublj'  linked 
with  its  history.  He  is  one  of  the  ojdest  settlers 
now  living  within  its  borders,  and  is  held  in  the 
highest  veneration  and  esteem  by  the  entire  com- 
munit}'. 

December  27,  1808,  our  subject  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Niskayuna,  Schenectady'  County-,  N.  Y., 
his  grandfather,  Robert  Bohanan,  having  been  an 
early  pioneer  of  that  part  of  the  Empire  State. 
He  came  from  German}'  in  Colonial  days  with  his 
brother,  who  settled  in  the  South.  He  reared  a 
large  family  of  children  in  his  pioneer  home  in 
New  York,  and  died  there  full  of  \'ears  and  honor. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of  Maj. 
Snell,  who  married  a  Miss  Gill. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Thomas  and  Ann 
(Snell)  Bohanan, were  natives  of  the  same  county  as 
himself.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  served  in  the 
War  of  1812.  In  1834  he  removed  v.-ith  his  fam- 
ily to  this  county  and  became  prominent  among  its 
early  pioneers.  He  entered  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  and  in  the  comfortable 
home  that  he  built  up  here  he  died  after  the  war  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  eight}- -six  years.  He  and  his 
wife  were  devoted  Christian  people  and  were  mem- 


bers, respectively,  of  the  Lutheran  and  Methodist 
Episcopal  Churches.  Six  sons  and  four  daughters 
were  born  of  their  marriage,  wliora  they  named — 
Eliza.  Margaret,  Lizzie,  Caroline,  Robert,  Major, 
William,  Samuel,  John  G.  S.,  and  Edward.  All  the 
children  except  one  daughter  reared  families,  and 
all  came  to  Illinois  except  William,  a  resident  of 
Massillon.  Ohio,  and  Robert,  of  New  York. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  passed  quietly 
on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  was  thoroughly 
drilled  in  all  the  labors  pertaining  to  its  manage- 
ment. At  the  age  of  twenty  he  went  to  Albany, 
the  capital  of  his  native  State,  to  learn  the  trade  of 
a  l)laek8mith  of  Houston  &  GouhL  In  the  spring 
of  1834,  he  came  to  this  State,  b}'  boat,  with  his 
father,  being  two  weeks  ou  the  way.  His  father 
entered  a  large  tract  of  land  and  gave  each  of  his 
children  forty  acres,  our  subject's  being  located  on 
section  13.  He  was  very  industrious  and  improved 
every  moment  and  in  time  acquired  a  valualjle 
property.  At  one  time  he  owned  three  hundred 
acres  of  land,  but  has  sold  until  his  farm  now  com- 
prises one  hundred  acres.  It  is  highly  improved, 
is  under  the  best  of  cultivation  and  is  not  surpassed 
in  fertility  and  productiveness  by  any  in  its  vicin- 
ity. Mr.  Bohanan  is  a  man  of  wealth  and  has 
money  in  the  bank.  He  w.as  one  of  the  organizers 
of  Logan  Township,  and  his  liberality  and  enter- 
prise have  been  potent  factors  in  its  upbuilding. 
For  many  years  he  Ins  been  connected  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  examples  of  his  u[i- 
right  Christian  life  has  been  an  influence  for  good 
in  this  community.  Mr.  Bohanan  has  served  as 
Commissioner  of  the  township.  In  politics  he  is, 
and  always  has  been  a  stalwart  Democrat,  casting 
his  first  vote  for  President  for  Andrew  Jackson. 
While  in  New  York  he  was  prominently  connected 
with  the  militia,  and  was  First  Lieutenant  of  the 
Fifth  New  York  Heavy  Artillei'}'.  His  experience 
and  knowledge  of  military  tactics  proved  very 
serviceable  during  the  late  war,  as  he  took  an  act- 
ive part  in  drilling  troops  to  send  to  Southern  bat- 
tle fields. 

Four  times  has  Mr.  Bohanan  been  married.  Jane 
West,  to  whom  he  was  wedded  in  Albany  was  his 
first  wife.  She  was  daughter  of  Thomas  West,  a 
New  York  farmer.  They  had  two  children — William, 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


801 


now  liviny  in  Corning,  Iowa,  and  Jane,  wife  of 
George  Grazier.  They  lost  foni-  tiiildien  in  the 
burning  of  their  house.  Mrs.  Bohaiian  was  a  de- 
voted member  of  tlie  Kinscopal  Cluucii. 

Mr.  Bohanan's  second  wife  was  Sarah,  daughter 
of  Stephen  Alwood.  Two  children  were  born  of 
that  marriage — Steplieu,  a  resident  of  Canton,  111., 
and  George, who  was  amemlier  of  the  One  Hunilrcd 
and  iMgiith  Regiment  under  Col.  John  Brenner, 
now  of  I'eoria,  and  was  shot  in  Kentucky  and  died 
of  the  wound.  The  third  marriage  of  our  subject 
was  to  Mary  White,  widow  of  Robert  White  of 
Peoria.  She  had  the  following  children:  John  a  res- 
ident of  Peoria;  Samuel, who  lives  in  Iowa;  Robert 
and  Thomas. 

The  maiden  name  of  Mr.  Bohanan's  present  wife 
was  Mary  Blackvvell.  Her  father  was  Col.  Dennis 
Blackwell,  of  Maine,  who  was  an  oflicer  in  the  War 
of  l!Sr2.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bohanan  have  had  four 
children  named  May,  Mella,  and  George;  their  first 
child  dying  in  infancy  unnamed. 


gE^I 


W.ILLIAM  WHITING  wortiiily  represents 
the  old  pioneers  of  this  county,  who  are 
still  living  within  its  limits,  liaving  wit- 
nessed almost  its  entire  growth.  B"or  more  than 
half  a  century  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Kickapoo 
Township,  and  for  many  j'ears  was  active  in  its 
development,  and  is  now  living  in  honorable  retire- 
ment on  the  old  homestead  on  section  7,  whose  fer- 
tile acres  he  redeemed  from  the  wild  [uaiiics  with 
his  own  hand. 

Mr.  Wliiting  is  of  English  birth  and  ancestry. 
His  parents,  William  and  Mary  Ann  (Barfoot) 
Whiting,  were  both  natives  of  Sussex  and  were 
life-long  residents  of  England.  Mr.  Whiting  was 
a  baker  bj-  trade,  but  for  a  good  many  years  he 
was  employed  as  foreman  in  a  brewery. 

Our  subject  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  eight 
children,  and  was  born  in  Sussex,  England,  .Janu- 
ary 31,  1821.  He  lived  in  his  native  land  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  old,  and  then,  ambitious  to 
better  his  condition  and  to  see  more  of  life  than 
he  could  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  he   left   English 


soil  in  April,  18.39,  for  America,  and  .at  last  ar- 
rived in  Peoria  on  the  lOlh  of  the  following  June. 
He  first  worked  out  by  the  month  until  1842,  when 
he  bought  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  7,  Kickapoo 
Township,  and  after  he  had  earned  money  enough 
to  [lurchase  teams  and  farming  utensils,  he  entered 
upon  the  task  of  placing  his  land  under  cidtiva- 
tion  and  of  making  substantial  impi-ovcnionts.  Its 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  are  now  under  ex- 
cellent tillage  and  produce  rich  harvests,  and  the 
place  is  amply  provided  with  neat  and  roomy 
buililings  of  a  good  order  of  architecture.  Mr. 
Whiting  worked  hard  to  place  his  farm  in  its  pres- 
ent condition,  and  having  secured  a  comfortable 
competence,  now  enjoys  it  in  retirement  free  from 
the  cares,  trials  and  hardships  that  beset  his  early 
career  as  a  farmer  in  a  new  country.  It  may 
well  be  his  pleasure  that  while  he  has  done  so  well 
for  himself,  he  has  been  aiding  his  fellow-citizens  to 
place  Kickapoo  Township  on  a  substantial,  financial 
basis. 

In  all  these  years  Mr.  Whiting  has  been  ably  as- 
sisted by  an  active,  capal)le  wife,  to  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriage  June  4,  1818.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Jane  Cummins,  and  her  parents  were  Thomas 
and  Susan  (Stow)  Cummins,  who  died  when  she 
was  quite  young,  in  Portage  County,  Ohio.  They 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  she  was  the  young- 
est. She  was  born  in  Portage  County,  May  11, 
1 826.  Her  pleasant  wedded  life  with  our  sub- 
ject has  been  productive  to  them  of  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Maria,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Zerwick; 
William  T.,  an  attorney  in  Peoria,  who  married 
Eliza  Creeg;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  John  Zerwick,  who 
died  in  Kickapoo  Township,  June  10,  1879;  John 
married  Clara  Chapley,  and  resides  in  Kickapoo; 
Edward,  of  Knox  County,  who  married  Miss  Etta 
Patterson;  Elmer,  Aurilla  and  Seth  Ernest. 

Mr.  Whiting  is  one  of  our  most  substantial  and 
trustworthy  citizens,  and  a  long  and  honorable 
life  entitles  him  to  every  consideration,  and  the 
respect  and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  show  that 
his  fellow-citizens  have  a  just  appreciation  of  his 
worth.  His  public  spirit  shows  itself  in  his  gen- 
erous support  of  all  plans  for  the  advancement  of 
his  adopted  township,  and  in  the  genuine  interest 
that  he  takes  in  educational  matters.     While  hold- 


802 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ing  the  oflice  of  School  Director  he  was  zealous  in 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  devolving  upon  hira. 
In  politics  he  is  a  sturdy'  Republican,  earnest!}- 
believing  that  part}'  to  be  in  tlie  right.  Mrs.  Whit- 
ing, who  shares  tlie  respect  accorded  to  her  hus- 
band, is  a  true  Christian  and  one  of  the  most 
consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


"Mr 


ENRY  LETTP:RMAN.  On  the  opposite 
page  is  presented  a  view  of  one  of  the  finest 
farms  of  Rosefield  Township.  This  is  the 
ij^  property  of  the  gentleman  of  whom  we 
write  and  is  located  on  section  3.  It  comprises  one 
hundred  and  forty-sis  acres  of  fertile,  well- culti- 
vated laud,  a  well-built  dwelling,  barn  and  other 
buildings,  which^mark  it  as  the  home  of  one  who 
appreciates  comfort  and,  having  prospered  in  life, 
can  enjoy  it. 

A  native  of  Prussia,  Mr.  Lctterman  w.as  born 
September  2,  1825.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Cath- 
erine (Black)  Letterman,  reared  five  children — 
Joseph,  Eliza,  David,  Jacob  and  Henry.  The 
daughter,  who  is  now  deceased,  became  the  wife  of 
John  L.  Friling.  Tha  mother,  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  died  in  German}'. 

The  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  America  was 
the  eldest  son,  Joseph,  who  lived  in  Baltimore  a 
number  of  years,  coming  thence  to  Peoria  County, 
III.,  where  he  yet  lives.  David  and  Eliza  came 
over  the  ocean  in  1849,  finally  settling  in  Peoria 
Count}'  also.  Our  subject  served  five  years  in  the 
German  army,  being  in  service  in  1848-49  and 
participating  in  the  battles  of  Ilemsbach,  Bctz,  etc. 
In  the  fall  of  1850,  in  company  with  his  father  and 
brother  Jacob,  he  came  to  the  I'nited  States,  set- 
tling in  Kickapoo  Township,  Peoria  County,  111., 
wliere  the  eldest  brother  was  living.  Jacob  subse- 
quently went  to  Nebraska,  dying  there. 

Our  subject  worked  for  three  years  by  the  month, 
receiving  during  the  first  two  years  $8  per  month 
and  for  the  last  year  $12.  He  then  bought  a  team 
and  operated  rented  land  until  the  fall  of  1864, 
when  he  was  drafted  and  went  to  the  front  as  a 
member  of  Company  E,  Forty-second   Illinois  In- 


fantry. He  was  a  particijiant  in  the  battles  of 
Spring  Hill,  Frankli.i  and  Nashville,  and  at  the 
latter  place  was  discharged,  resuming  the  peaceful 
arts  of  agriculture  as  soon  as  he  could  return  to  the 
North  and  complete  his  arrangements.  In  the 
spring  of  186G  he  purchased  the  land  on  which  he 
is  now  living,  proceeding  to  put  it  under  improve- 
ment as  rai)idl}'  as  circumstances  would  permit. 
Having  been  $24  in  debt  when  he  reached  the 
United  States,  the  success  which  he  has  achieved 
has  been  creditable. 

After  having  kept  bachelor's  hall  upon  his  es- 
tate until  April,  1869,  Mr.  Letterman  won  a  com- 
panion in  the  person  of  Miss  Gertrude  Jeide,  who 
was  born  about  three  miles  from  his  own  birthplace 
and  who  had  come  to  the  United  States  in  1864 
with  her  mother,  a  brother  and  sister.  Mrs.  Let- 
i<.-rmau  is  a  notable  housekeeper,  has  a  kindly  na- 
ture, and  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  as  is  also  her  husband.  Their  happy  union 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  eight 
children,  named  respectively:  Mary,  Louisa,  Liz- 
zie, Katie,  Emma,  Gertrude,  Henry  and  Mina. 


ylLLIAM  P.  SMITH,  whose  pleasant  estate 
is  located  on  section  13,  Akron  Township, 
„  „  has  been  engaged  in  farming  from  his  early 
years  and  is  as  well  acquainted  with  the  details  of  farm 
work  as  any  man  to  be  found  in  a  day's  journey- 
He  is  one  of  those  who  make  of  their  business  both 
an  art  and  a  science,  and  whose  land  bears  upon  it 
all  the  buildings  and  other  improvements  which 
make  up  a  well-regulated  estate.  The  one  hundred 
acres  which  he  owns,  while  not  so  large  .as  to  be 
burdensome  to  manage,  is  of  suflBcient  extent  to 
afford  a  comfortable  income  when  managed  by  a 
thorough  and  progressive  agriculturist.  His  home- 
stead is  represented  by  a  Tiew  on  another  page. 

Mr.  Smith  is  of  Southern  birth  and  parentage, 
although  he  grew  to  manhood  in  Hancock  County, 
Ind.,  whither  his  parents  had  removed  when  he  was 
but  a  lad  and  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1864.  when  he  came  to  this  county.  He  was 
born  in  Pendleton  County,  Ky.,  January  9,  1819. 


Residence  of  Henry  Letterman,5ec.3.RosefieldTp  Peoria  Co  III. 


^:"i^,'^;i^%ff^fT^iS^:i^iaaa?s^^^ 


Residence  OF  W.  P  Smith,5ec.  13.  Akron  Tp.  Peoria  Co  III. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


805 


His  first  home  in  this  comity  was  near  Mossville, 
where  lie  sojouriietl  but  a  year  ere  settling  in  Akron 
Township.  Here  he  has  been  pursuing  his  chosen 
calling,  and  winning  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-men 
by  his  upright  life,  great  intelligence  and  consider- 
ate dealings  with  those  about  him. 

Mr.  Smith  was  fortunate  in  winning  for  his  life- 
companion  a  lady  of  genuine  worth  of  character, 
housewifely  skill  and  pleasing  manners;  she  was 
known  in  her  girlhood  as  Miss  Sarah  Uoberts,  was 
born  near  Lawrenceburg,  Ind.,  September  8,  1822, 
and  bec.Tine  the  wife  of  our  subject  in  Hancock 
County,  that  State,  August  1,  1844.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  have  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom  lived 
to  years  of  maturity,  three  dying  in  Infancy.  Those 
who  grew  u))  are  Araminta,  Klias,  Eliza,  Harriet, 
Jasper  and  Lelilia.  They  have  been  carefully 
instructed  in  manners  and  morals,  and  owe  much 
to  their  worthy  parents,  not  only  for  the  loving- 
care  bestowed  by  all  who  love  their  offspring,  but 
for  the  preparations  which  have  been  made  for  their 
usefulness  in  the  world.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  be- 
long to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
tlicy  have  excellent  standing.  Mr.  Smith  casts  his 
vote  and  exerts  his  influence  for  the  Republican 
party. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  AVilliain  and 
Martha  (Johnson)  Smith,  natives  of  Virginia,  who 
died  in  the  Hoosier  State.  They  had  a  large  family, 
rearing  eleven  children  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. Of  these  our  subject  was  the  seventh  in 
order  of  birth.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Smith  were 
Benjamin  and  Letitia  (Cox)  Roberts,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  Yorlf  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
Mr.  Roberts  died  in  Kansas  and  Mrs.  Roberts  in 
Iowa.  They  had  seven  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Smith  was  the  second  and  is  now  the  only  survivor. 


^OBERT  BOAL,  M.  D.  This  name  will  at 
once  be  recognized  as  that  of  a  physician 
well  versed  in  the  theory  and  skilled  in  the 
^)  practice  of  his  profession,  who-  has  for 
years  enjoyed  a  fine  practice  and  an  exalted  repu- 
tation in  medical  circles.  It  will  be  recognized  also 


as  that  of  one  who  has  been  connected  with  the 
legislative  work  of  the  Statu  and  with  her  benevo- 
lent institutions,  in  every  po.silion  to  which  he  has 
been  called,  performing  the  duties  devolving  upon 
him  with  discrimination,  courage  and  zeal.  No 
resident  of  Peoria  is  more  deserving  of  rui)resenta- 
tion  in  a  BiociHAi'iiicAi,  Ai.iiiui  than  Ur.  IJoal,  the 
main  facts  in  wliose  history  it  is  our  purpose  to 
relate. 

Dr.  Boal  comes  of  excellent  parentage,  being  a 
son  of  Thomas  and  Elizalieth  (Crain)  Boal,  natives 
of  Dauphin  County,  Pa.  The  father  was  a  mer- 
chant who,  having  removed  to  Cincinnati  in  1811, 
conducted  his  business  there  until  1816,  wdien  he 
was  called  from  time  to  eternity.  His  widow  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Dayton,  where  she  became 
the  wife  of  John  H.  Williams,  to  whom  she  bore  a 
daughter,  Eliza  J.  This  daughter  became  the  wife 
of  Judge  Charles  Shcriiian,  of  Cleveland,  a  brother 
of  Gen.  W.  T.  and  Senator  John  Sherman.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Charles  Sherman  were  the  parents  of  two 
daughters,  who  became  the  wives  of  Don  Cameron 
and  Gen.  Miles  respectively. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  of  his 
father's  children  and  was  born  in  Dau|)hin  Count}', 
Pa..  November  15,  1806.  He  had  one  brother, 
William  C,  who  died  near  St,  Charles,  Mo.,  in 
1859,  and  two  sisters — Mrs.  Martha  McEwen,  now 
living  in  Montezuma,  Ind.,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Snyder, 
whose  home  is  in  Lacon,  this  State.  His  father 
dying  when  Robert  was  but  a  lad,  the  latter  was 
taken  in  charge  by  an  uncle,  Robert  Boal,  for 
whom  he  had  been  named.  The  uncle  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Cincinnati,  where  our  subject  received  his 
rudimental  education  in  the  common  schools  and 
prosecuted  his  studies  up  to  the  junior  year  in  the 
Cincinnati  College.  Desiring-  to  make  the  profes- 
sion of  medicine  his  own,  he  then  began  its  study 
with  Dr.  Wright,  of  Reading,  Ohio.  After  a  year 
and  a  half  spent  in  the  oflice  of  that  gentleman,  he 
returned  to  Cincinnati  and  entered  that  of  Profs. 
Whitman  &  Cobb,  both  of  whom  fdled  chairs  in 
the  Ohio  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati.  He  fi- 
nally entered  the  institution  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1828,  immediately  thereafter  begin- 
ning practice  at  Reading,  Ohio. 

Dr.  Boal  remained  in  the  village  mentioned  four 


806 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


yeaif,  after  which  he  opened  an  office  in  Cincin- 
nati, remaiuing  there  until  1836.  For  three  or 
four  years  of  llie  time  he  was  Demonstrator  of 
Anatomy  in  liis  Alma  Mater.  In  1836  he  came  to 
the  Prairie  State,  locating  at  Laeon,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  1865,  at  which  time  he 
changed  his  location  to  Peoria.  In  1844  he  was 
elected  State  Senator  on  the  Whig  tielvet  and  for 
four  j'ears  gave  his  attention  to  the  interests  of 
his  constituency  and  the  State  at  large.  In  1854 
he  was  sent  to  the  House,  re-elected  in  1856,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  session,  in  1857,  was  appointed 
'  by  Gov.  Bissell,  Trustee  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
As\-lura  at  Jacksonville.  To  that  position  he  was 
reappointed  by  Richard  Yates  in  1861,  and  the  ap- 
pointment was  continued  by  Govs.  Oglesby,  Palmer 
and  Beveridge.  the  entire  term  of  his  service  l)eing 
seventeen  years,  during  the  latter  part  of  which  he 
was  President  of  the  Board. 

In  1862  Dr.  Bual  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the 
Board  of  Enrollment  for  the  Fifth  District,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  ardently  pur- 
suing the  duties  pertaining  to  his  profession,  for 
which  he  is  SO  well  qualified  and  in  which  he  takes 
ureat  delight.  He  is  President  of  the  Peoria  Med- 
ical Society  and  ex-President  of  the  State  Medi- 
cal Societ\'  and  a  member  of  the  American  Medical 
Association.  In  1882  he  was  made  President  of 
the  State  Society,  holding  the  office  one  term.  He 
can  justly  claim  to  be  one  of  the  makers  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  to  which  he  has  adhered  without 
a  shadow  of  turning  since  its  organization,  he 
being  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  at  Blooming- 
ton,  in  1856,  that  formed  the  partj'  in  Illinois. 
When  a  member  of  the  legislature  he  and  the  late 
Judge  Stephen  T.  Logan  voted  persistently  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  until  entreated  by  their  favor- 
ite to  cast  their  ballots  for  Trumbull  and  thus  pre- 
vent the  election  of  Mattesou.  Thej-  did  as  they 
were  requested,  and.  thanks  to  the  magnanimit}-  of 
Lincoln,  Trumbull  was  elected. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Boal  and  Miss  Christiana 
W.  St.  Clair  was  celebrated  in  1831,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  happy  wedded  life  of  more  than  half 
a  century.  Mrs.  Boal  crossed  the  river  of  death  in 
June.  1883,  leaving  to  her  dear  ones  that  best  of 


all  legacies — a  record  of  kindly  deeds  springing 
from  a  noble  character.  She  was  the  mother  of 
two  sons  and  one  daughter.  The  first-born,  Charles 
T.,  now  resides  in  Ciiicago,  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale stove  and  iron  business,  his  establishment 
being  known  as  the  Charles  T.  Boal  Stove  Com- 
pany. The  3'ounger  son,  James  St.  Clair,  died  in 
Chicago  in  1888.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession, 
and  for  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  First  Assist- 
ant United  States  Attorney  in  the  Garden  City. 
The  daughter,  Clara  B.,  is  now  living  in  Lacon; 
she  is  the  widow  of  Col.  G.  L.  Fort,  who  repre- 
sented what  was  then  the  Eighth  Congressional  Dis- 
trict of  Illinois,  for  eight  j'ears,  and  who  died 
January  13,  1883. 


i^FLEXANDER    McILREE,  deceased,    was  in 

l\ll  '^^^  '^^y  °"^  ^^  ^^^  most  useful  members  of 
^^>1\  the  farming  community  that  conducted  the 
earlj-  development  of  the  rich  agricultural  resources 
of  Logan  Township,  and  his  name  will  ever  be 
honored  and  venerated  as  that  of  one  of  its  pio- 
neers. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  County  Tyrone.  Ire- 
land, and  was  a  son  of  Archibald  and  Jane  Mcll- 
ree,  who  were  farmers  and  spent  their  entire  lives 
on  their  native  isle.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  their  nine  children:  Andrew,  John,  .Samuel,  Eliz- 
abeth, Mar}-,  Jane,  Archibald.  William  and  Martha. 
John  and  Andrew  died  in  Ireland.  The  rest 
came  to  the  United  States  and  married,  with  the 
exception  of  Jane.  .Samuel  was  the  first  to  come 
to  this  couutiy.  and  he  located  in  Philadelphia; 
William  settled  in  Oregon;  Elizabeth  died  on  her 
waj"  to  Illinois,  and  the  other  three  lived  in  Smith- 
ville,  this  State. 

Alexander  Mcllree  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1831,  he  being  then  in  the  prime  of  early  man- 
hood. He  lived  in  Philadelphia  for  some  years, 
where  he  was  engaged  as  a  dver.  In  1852,  resolv- 
ing to  turn  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  wisely  thinking  that  the  rich  soil  of  the  Prai- 
rie State  was  best  adapted  to  his  purposes,  he 
came  to  this  township  and  settled  on  section  22.  He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


807 


carried  on  his  fanninu  operations  witli  siiill,  and 
was  prosi)erous  in  his  luulertakings,  and  finally 
became  the  proprietor  of  two  liundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  as  well  cultivated  and  finely  im- 
proved as  any  in  the  neighborhood.  Here  his 
deatii  occurred  on  the  12th  of  June,  1.H85,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years.  Thus  w.as  rounded  out  a 
life  that  was  blameless  in  every  respect  and  af- 
forded an  lioiiorable  example  of  truthfulness,  fidel- 
ity and  trustworthiness  in  all  the  departments  of 
life  tliat  he  had  been  called  on  to  fill.  He  was  a 
man  of  firm  religious  nature,  and  in  liiui  the  Ihiited 
Presbyterian  Church  had  one  of  its  most  consist- 
ent members.  Mr.  Mcllree  was  twice  married.  He 
was  first  wedded  to  Jane  Eman,  widow  of  James 
Eman,  her  maiden  name  having  been  Salsbury. 
Two  of  the  children  by  that  marriage  are  now 
living — Samuel  8.  and  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Nathaniel 
B.  Leslie. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  was  with 
Sarah  J.  Toland,  widow  of  George  Toland  and 
a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Sarah  (Gilbreth) 
Watts,  who  were  born  and  died  in  Perry  County, 
Pa.  They  were  farmers  by  occupation  and  religi- 
ously, were  members  of  the  jMetliodist  Ei)iscopal 
Church.  They  had  nine  children:  Mary  A.,  who 
died  when  young;  Sarah  J.;  John,  a  resident  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  served  in  an  Illinois  regiment 
during  the  war;  Emeline,  wife  of  David  Harper, 
of  Pennsylvania;  Andrew,  a  resident  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  served  in  the  war;  Margaret,  deceased, 
wife  of  Adam  Woods,  of  Pennsylvania;  Mitchell, 
who  served  in  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  during  the 
war  and  died  near  Raleigh,  N.  C;  Susan,  wife  of 
George  Kesler,  of  Rock  Valley,  Iowa;  Frederick,  a 
resident  of  Nebraska,  ^'ho  served  in  a  Pennsyl- 
vania regiment  during  the  war;  Maria,  and  Har- 
riet, wiio  died  when  young. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watts  were  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Watts  was  a  son  of 
Frederick  AVatts,  whose  parents  came  from  Ire- 
land. He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  was  twice  married  and  had  eleven  children. 
Mrs.  Watts  was  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Jane 
Gilbreth,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
were  of  Irish  origin. 

Mrs.    Jlcllree    came  to    lyOgan    Township    with 


her  first  husband  in  1851,  and  tliey  made  their 
home  south  of  Sniilhville,  where  he  died  in  1852, 
leaving  her  with  one  ciiild,  Ueorge,  who  subse- 
quently died  at  the  age  of  three  years.  1!\-  her 
marriage  with  our  subject  she  has  two  children — 
Juniata  W.  anil  Cleona  May.  Mrs.  Mcllree  is  a 
true  and  consistent  Christian  and  a  UKmiber  of  tlic 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  her  first 
husband  also  belonged.  She  ovvns  one  hundred 
and  eighteen  acres  left  to  her  by  her  husband,  and 
she  has  a  fine  residence  and  a  very  attractive 
home,  in  which  she  lives  in  the  enjovment  of  the 
esteem  and  respect  of  all  al)out  her. 


■rjpV,lCHOLAS  HOG  AN.  Richwood  Township 
I  ///  I'ossesses  extraordinary  facilities  for  the 
(lii^  manufacture  of  brick,  and  prominent  among 
those  who  have  availetl  themselves  of  the  opportu- 
nities thus  offered  is  this  gentleman, who  is  a  pioneer 
in  the  industry  and  has  built  up  an  extensive  and 
prosperous  business.  Tie  also  gives  attention  to  ag- 
riculture, and  is  the  proprietor  of  a  well-managed 
farm  on  section  33,  where  he  has  a  commodious, 
substantial  home. 

Mr.  Ilogan  was  born  in  County  Kilkennj-,  Ire- 
land, February  2,  1830.  He  remained  on  his.native 
isle  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  and  then,  in 
the  year  1850,  souglit  his  fortunes  on  American 
soil.  He  landed  in  New  York  City  and  worked 
several  months  in  that  place,  and  then  came  to 
Peoria  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  He  found 
employment  as  a  workman  on  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  Railroad,  which  was  then  in  the 
process  of  construction,  and  he  aided  in  its  building 
until  the  following  spring.  He  was  then  employed 
for  two  seasons  for  others  in  making  brick.  After 
that  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  on  his 
own  account  in  1856,  settling  on  the  land  that  he 
now  occupies.  His  yard  is  well  fitted  up  with  all'  the 
necessary  apparatus  for  making  brick  of  a  good 
quality,  and  he  manufactures  from  a  million  to 
fourteen  hundred  thousand  annually.  By  his  thrift, 
frugality  and  unceasing  toil  he  has  placed  himself 
in  comfortable  circumstances,  and  is  the  owner  of 


808 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


valuable  property.  He  has  a  farm  of  eighty-three 
acres  on  section  33,  Kichwood  Township,  on  which 
he  has  erected  a  large  brick  house  and  has  fitted  it 
iij)  in  good  style,  having  besides  other  suitable 
buildings  on  his  place. 

Mr.  Hogan  was  married,  in  Peoria,  to  Mary 
Dunph}',  who  is  likewise  a  native  of  County  Kil- 
kenny. Three  of  their  children  died  when  quite 
young.  They  have  five  children  living:  Kate,  the 
widow  of  James  Rile}";  Patrick;  Ann,  wife  of  El- 
wood  Fry ;  Julia,  wife  of  Patrick  Langon,  end  Marv. 

Mr.  Hogan  is  a  good  business  man  and  stands 
well  in  the  financial  circles  of  the  county'.  His 
l)leasant  face  and  courteous  genialit\' have  won  him 
many  a  warm  friendship,  and  placed  him  high  in 
the  regard  of  the  community.  He  and  his  good 
wife,  are  conscientious  Christians  and  are  true 
members  of  the  Catliolic  Church.  Politically,  Mr. 
Hogan  is  a  firni'supporter  of  the  Democratic  partj-. 

\  AMES  D.  ROSZELL,  who  is  actively  en- 
gaged in  farming  operations  in  Richwood 
Townsliip,  IS  a  native  of  the  county,  and  is 
performing  a  creditable  part  in  the  further- 
ance of  its  material  prosperity.  He  is  a  son  of  Ste- 
phen W.  Roszell,  a  native  of  Virginia.  His  mother 
was  Emilj-  H.  "U'ren,  and  was  also  a  Virginian  b3^ 
birtli.  After  their  marriage  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject settled  in  Tazewell  County  among  its  pioneers, 
and  lived  there  for  several  years.  The}'  subsequent!}' 
came  to  Peoria,  where  Mr.  Roszell  established  him- 
self in  the  grocery  business.  He  is  now  an  honored 
resident  of  Richwood  Townsliip. 

Our  subject  was  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  nine 
cliildreii,  and  he  was  born  in  Peoria,  November  17, 
18.52.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  that  city,  and 
gleaned  a  good  education  in  its  public  schools.  He 
remained  with  his  father  until  his  marriage  in  1876, 
and  then  settled  in  Peoria  Township,  remained 
there  for  four  and  one-half  3ears  and  then  came  to 
his  present  place  of  residence  on  section  21,  Rich- 
wood  Township.  Here  he  has  one  of  the  best  farms 
of  the  neighborhood,  comprising  eighty  acres  of 
land  under  the  best  of  cultivation,  and   supplied 


with  all  modern  improvements,  including  a  fine  set 
of  farm  buildings  and  a  coz}',  attractive  home. 

Mr.  Roszell  was  married  in  this  county  in  the 
town  of  Smithville,  to  Miss  Annie  L.  Bourne,  their 
marriage  being  solemnized  September  4,  1876. 
Mrs.  Roszell  is  a  native  of  Smithville,  born  De- 
cember 7, 1856,  to  Herbert  E.  and  Sarah  (Mclntire) 
Bourne.  Her  father  was  born  in  Hlinois  and  her 
mother  in  Ohio.  Thej^  married  and  settled  in 
Smithville,  of  which  thej'  were  pioneers,  and  where 
he  was  prosjieroush'  engaged  in  farming  until  his 
death  in  1866.  Tliey  had  three  children,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Roszell  was  the  first.  Her  marriage  with  our 
subject  has  been  a  happj-  one  and  has  been  blessed 
to  them  by  the  birth  of  four  children — Bruce  B., 
Erie  D.,  Ada  and  Lyle  AV. 

Mr.  Roszell  is  au  industrious,  frugal,  capable 
farmer,  who,  by  his  constant  devotion  to  his  work, 
which  is  directed  by  wise  discretion  and  good  exec- 
utive abilitj\has  wrought  with  his  own  hands  a  suc- 
cessful career  in  his  chosen  occupation.  A  man  of 
exemplary  habits  and  sound  principles,  he  is  well 
thought  of  b}'  all  the  community.  Politicall}',  he 
lends  his  influence  to  the  Democratic  party.  In  his 
intelligent  discharge  of  the  duties  of  School.  Di- 
rector, which  position  he  has  held  several  years,  he 
has  promoted  the  educational  facilities  of  the  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Roszell,  who  is  in  everj-  respect  a  true 
and  worthy  woman,  is  much  interested  in  and  takes 
an  active  part  in  Suiidav -school  work. 


^OHN  A.  McCOT,  deceased,  was  a  pioneer 
settler  of  Peoria,  and  for  many  years  was 
prominently  connected  with  the  civic  inter- 
ests of  the  city  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
conveyancer,  and  bj'  his  death  this  community  lost 
one  of  its  most  valued  citizens,  who  had  with  true 
public  spirit  sought  not  only  to  promote  its  mate- 
rial prosperity,  but  was  active  in  advancing  all 
schemes  for  its  social  and  moral  improvement. 

Mr.  SIcCoj'  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Pa., 
Februarj-  9,  1810,  and  there  grew  to  man's  estate, 
and  then  ni:>rried  Miss  Eliza  Lindsaj-,  their  mar- 
riage taking  place  in  McConnelsburg,  Apiil  23, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


811 


1833.  She  was  a  native  of  Bedford  County,  wlieic 
she  was  born  April  23,  1816.  The  first  few  3'ears 
of  their  married  life  were  passed  there,  but  In  June, 
1837,  they  turned  their  faces  westward,  liaviiig  re- 
solved to  build  up  a  home  on  the  then  wild  prairies 
of  Illinois.  Their  journey  was  performed  by  stage 
as  far  as  Pittsburg  and  thence  tliey  came  by  water 
to  St.  Louis  and  finally  arrived  at  their  destination 
in  Ihis  part  of  the  country.  They  found  the  coun- 
try rouud  about  in  a  very  wild  condition,  and 
Peoria  scarce  gave  signs  in  the  few  houses  then 
standing  of  its  present  size  and  importance.  Mr. 
McCoy  first  established  himself  in  the  shoe  busi- 
ness which  he  carried  on  successfully  until  he  w.as 
called  from  private  life  to  fill  the  office  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  later  he  came  to  be  conveyancer, 
and  served  in  both  cap.icities  for  manj^  years  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  had  a  good  knowledge 
of  the  law  and  made  a  good  reputation  as  a  Justice 
by  his  uprightness  and  carefulness  in  his  decisions. 
He  was  as  an  incumbent  evcrj^  inch  a  man,  possess- 
ing probity,  true  dignit^r,  high  moral  principles  and 
these,  no  less  than  his  sterling  sense,  sound  intelli- 
gence, and  clear  head,  commandec,!  universal  esteem 
and  regard.  A  terror  to  evil  doers,  others  found 
in  him  a  true  friend  and  wise  counselor.  In  his 
political  beliefs  Mr.  McCoy  was  a  strong  ally  of  the 
Republican  part}-.  A  true  Christian,  his  Cin-istian- 
ity  was  illustrated  by  his  every  day  life.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  was  one  of  the  first  to  identifj'  him- 
self with  that  faith  when  the  few  who  organized 
the  church  worshipped  in  the  courthouse,  and  he 
hcliJcd  largely  in  building  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  in  this  city.  He  was  also  a  great  worker 
in  the  Sundaj^-school.  and  taught  successively  many 
classes  and  many  of  the  active  business  men  of  to- 
day can  look  b.ack  to  the  time  when  they  sat  under 
his  instruction  and  imbibed  wholesome  teachings 
which  have  had  an  effect  in  their  after  lives.  It 
will  be  seen  that  bj^  his  death,  July  9,  1885,  a  citi- 
zen was  removed  from  our  midst,  who  was  .active 
and  influential  in  many  directions  and  to  whom 
the  community  owed  much. 

The  McCoy  family  is  one  of  the  old  and  respected 
families  of  the  cit^'.  Mrs.  McCoy  is  still  living  in 
a  pleasant   home   which  she  aided  her  husband  in 


Iniilding,  at  No.  418  Eaton  Street.  There  thej-  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding  that  marked  the  fiftieth 
milestone  of  a  long  and  happy  wedded  life.  Mrs. 
McCoy  has  lived  here  for  more  than  fifty  j'ears 
and  has  watched  almost  the  entire  growth  of  the 
city.  Six  children  were  born  of  her  wedded  life, 
all  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  James  McCoy, 
a  wholes.ale  grocer  on  South  AVashington  Street, 
(his  brothers  being  connected  with  him  under 
the  firm  name  of  James  McCoy  &  Co.).  A. 
Lindsay,  William,  Sarah,  J.  Alexander  and  J.  C. 
The  mother  can  well  be  proud  of  the  honored  po- 
sition her  sons  have  attained.  A.  L.  married  Miss 
Ida  Weis  of  this  city,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Helen  I.,  Lester  and  Linn. 


\  ^^  AUL  S.  LIETZ.  This  name  will  be  rccog- 
Jl)  nized  by  many  readers  as  that  of  a  rising 
f^  young  architect  of  Peori.a — a  man  who  has 
j  \  already  achieved  marked  success  in  his  line, 
who  bears  the  reputation  of  an  honest,  trustworthy 
business  man,  and  whose  private  character  is  irre- 
proachable. He  is  entire!}'  self  made,  owning  his 
fame  and  success  to  his  own  works,  backed  by  his 
inherited  talent  for  art,  which  h.as  been  of  great 
benefit  in  the  occupation  to  which  he  devoted  him- 
self. We  are  pleased  to  invite  the  reader's  at- 
tention to  his  portrait,  which  is  presented  in 
connection  with  his  personal  sketch. 

i\Ir.  Lietz  is  a  native  of  Louisville,  Ivy.,  born  in 
1858,  and  belonging  toa  family  which  h.as  produced 
artists  and  musicians  of  high  repute.  His  father, 
Theodore  L.  Lietz,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  was 
formerly  an  officer  in  the  Germany  .army.  He  is  at 
present  residing  jn  Milwaukee,  Wis.  He  has  won 
fame  as  an  artist,  while  his  eldest  son,  now  United 
States  Band  Master  at  Vallejo,  Cal.,  has  gained  re- 
nown as  a  musician.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Matilda 
Scheideraantle. 

When  he  of  whom  we  write,  was  five  years  old 
he  went  to  Indianapolis,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools  when  he  had  arrived  at  a  suitable  age, 
afterward  pursuing  his  studies  in  Indiana  Univer- 


812 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sit\-.  After  leaving  college  he  began  the  studj'  of 
architecture  under  Edwin  Maj-,  of  Indianapolis, 
one  of  the  first  of  American  architects.  A  few  of 
the  masterpieces  designed  bj'  this  gentleman  are  the 
Indiana  State  Asylum,  the  State  House,  the  Marion 
County  Court-house,  and  the  Northern  Indiana 
State  Prison.  Young  Lietz  remained  under  his  tu- 
telage eight  years,  imbibing  in  a  great  measure  the 
architectural  conceptions  which  have  made  his 
instruetor  famous. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Lietz  came  to  Peoria,  at  once  as- 
suming a  position  among  the  leading  architects  of 
the  place.  His  works  are  not  confined  to  the  citv, 
but  include  the  Pontiac  Reform  School  building, 
the  hospital  at  Bloomington,  and  manj'  other  prom- 
inent structures  in  the  West.  A  la'-ge  number  of 
the  fine  residences  in  Peoria  are  due  to  his  cre- 
ative genius,  while  the  High-School  building, 
the  J.  H.  Lee  school  building,  the  Reed  school  and 
library  building,  which  arc  pronounced  by  compe- 
tent judges  to  be  among  the  best  school  buildings 
of  the  West,  were  also  designed  bj-  him. 

The  culture,  refinement  and  estimable  character 
of  Miss  Sarah  Albs,  a  native  of  Toronto,  Canada, 
won  the  regard  of  Mr.  Lietz,  which  being  recipro- 
cated, the}'  were  united  in  marri.agc  in  1884.  They 
are  the  happy  parents  of  two  interesting  children — 
Olga  and  Nita.  Mr.  Lietz  is  building  an  elegant 
residence  on  Moss  Avenue  for  a  home,  which  under 
the  control  of  his  wife,  will  undoubtedly  become 
a  favorite  resort  for  the  best  societj-  of  the  city. 


HARLES  H.  KEACII.  The  life  of  this 
gentleman  affords  a  striking  example  of 
i^'  perseverance  and  indomitable  courage  by 
which  serious  reverses  have  been  conquered  and  a 
competence  accumulated.  He  began  his  career  in 
life  with  no  means,  but  by  laboring  industriously 
and  managing  prudently'  he  had  obtained  a  foot- 
hold when  his  residence  was  destro3'ed  by  fire. 
This  catastrophe  onl^-  made  him  the  more  deter- 
mined and  he  struggled  through  it  and  his  other 
discouragements,  finally  becoming  the  owner  of 
three  hundred  and  five  acres  of  land  on  section   1, 


Kickapoo  Township,  and  being  able  to  place  upon 
his  estate  excellent  farm  buildings  and  all  the  im- 
provements which  stamp  it  as  the  home  of  a  suc- 
cessful and  progressive  agriculturist. 

The  f.ather  of  our  subject.  Heurj-  Keach.  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island.  He  married  Lucj'  Ilall,  a 
native  of  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  making  his 
home  in  the  East  until  1846.  He  then  selected  a 
location  in  Peoria  County,  111.,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing j-ear  settled  his  family  in  Radnor  Township. 
They  subsequentl}'  removed  to  Hallock  Township, 
where  the\'  were  living  at  the  time  of  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Keach,  which  occurred  in  Peoria  in  the  win- 
ter of  1888.  The  bereaved  husband  and  father 
is  still  living.  They  reared  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  of  whon  our  subject  is  the  third  in  order 
of  birth. 

The  natal  day  of  him  of  whom  we  write  was 
June  1,  1833,  and  his  birthplace  Hancock,  Mass. 
He  was  quite  3-oung  when  his  father  removed  to 
Renssel.aer  Count\-,  N.  Y.  and  about  thirteen  3'ears 
old  when  the  family'  came  to  Illinois.  He  attained 
to  his  majority  in  Radnor  Township,  remaining 
under  the  parental  roof  until  that  time.  He  was 
married  a  few  months  after  becoming  of  age,  and 
settling  in  Radnor  Township  remained  there  until 
1862.  He  then  removed  to  Kickapoo  Township, 
where  he  has  remained,  engaged  almost  exclusively 
in  farming  and  reaping  the  reward  of  his  pains- 
taking and  persevering  efforts. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride  in  Stephentown,  Rens- 
selear  County,  N.  Y.,  in  November,  1854,  Mr. 
Keach  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Laura 
Jane,  a  daughter  of  William  Doty.  This  lady 
died  in  Radnor  Township,  in  September,  1858, 
leaving  one  son,  William  Edwin,  who  is  now  farm- 
ing in  Kickapoo  Township.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Sammis. 

March  25,  1862,  Mr.  Keach  contracted  a  second 
matrimonial  alliance.  The  ceremon}-  was  per- 
formed in  Peoria,  where  the  bride.  Miss  Marian  A. 
Fash,  was  born  July  8.  1842.  This  union  has 
been  blest  by  the  birth  of  four  children,  viz. :  ElHe 
G..  wife  of  George  Holmes;  Chester  P...  who  mar- 
ried Emma  Slough;  Jessie  I.;  and  Cora  M.,  who 
ilied  when  about  two  years  old.  The  surviving 
children  were  reared  under   the  careful  oversight 


PORTRAIT  ANDDBI06RAPH1CAL  ALBUM. 


813 


of  a  mother  who  possesses  the  nobility  of  chnrac- 
ter  aiul  useful  knowledge,  which  especially  fit  her 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  wife  and  mother,  and 
which  command  the  respect  of  all  who  are  ac- 
quainted with  her  life  and  labors.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Abram  B.and  Georgiettia  V. (Smith)  Fash.the 
former  of  whom  died  in  Peoria  in  August,  1886. 
Mr.  Keach  is  somewhat  independent  in  his  polit- 
ical ideas,  and  exercises  the  right  of  suffrage  in 
behalf  of  the  es|)ecial  principle  which  he  thinks 
most  important  during  an}-  political  campaign,  or 
for  the  candidate  of  whom  his  judgment  most 
approves.  He  has  been  School  Director,  serving 
acceptabl_y  and  promoting  the  interests  of  the 
cause  of  education.  By  the  members  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lives,  he  is  held  in  excellent 
repute  as  neighbor,  citizen  and  agriculturist. 


^^1 LEXANDER  P.  PARR  is  a  son  of  an 
(,@/ull  early  pioneer  of  Peoria  County,  and  hero 
^  the  most  of  his  life  has  been  passed,  and 
since  attaining  manhood  he  has  interested 
himself  in  its  agricultural  development,  and  is  to- 
day a  substantial  farmer,  earr3ing  on  his  occu- 
pation in  Logan  Township. 

Mr.  Parr  was  born  in  Oswego  Count}-,  N.  Y., 
May  13,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Heiress 
M.  (Eno)  Parr.  His  father  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1795,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  New  York.  IMr. 
Parr  had  three  brothers — John,  Joseph  and  An- 
drew—  who  came  to  the  United  States,  and  he  and 
two  brothers.  Andrew  and  Joseph,  coming  directly 
to  tills  county,  lived  and  died  here.  The  fatlicr  of 
our  suliject  came  from  Ireland  to  Canada  and 
thence  to  New  York,  where  he  inarried  and  en- 
gaged in  his  occu[)ation  of  farming.  In  the  fall  of 
1831  he  started  with  his  family  in  a  wagon  from 
New  York  to  take  the  long  and  momentous  jour- 
ney across  the  country  to  the  wild  and  sparsely- 
settled  State  of  Illinois.  For  six  weeks  they  were 
on  the  way,  and  finall}-  arrived  in  Peoria  in  the  fall 
of  tlie  year.  Mr.  Parr  selected  a  location  about 
six  miles  north  of  Peoria,  where  he  resided  until 
1840,  when  lie  removed  to  a  place  one  mile  west  of 


Smithville,  on  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land, 
and  actively  entered  upon  the  pioneer  task  of  pre- 
paring it  for  cultivation.  In  1852  his  labors  were 
brought  to  a  close  by  his  death,  and  the  commu- 
nity was  deprived  of  a  good  citizen.  His  widow 
still  survives  at  an  advanced  age.  She  is  the 
mother  of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  were  reared 
to  maturit}-,  as  follows:  Alexander;  Sarah,  wife  of 
David  Proctor,  who  died  leaving  two  children; 
James;  John,  a  resident  of  Rollins  County,  Kan.; 
Thomas,  a  physician  of  Indianola,  Iowa;  and  Sam- 
uel S.  The  fatlicr  of  our  subject  served  in  the 
Black  Ilawk  War  as  a  teamster,  using  liis  ow-n 
team. 

Alexander  Parr  was  bred  amid  the  primitive 
scenes  of  pioneer  life  in  this  count}-,  and  obtained 
his  education  in  its  rude  pioneer  schools.  He  early 
adopted  the  calling  to  which  he  had  been  bred,  and 
at  one  time  had  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Rosefield 
Township,  which  he  disposed  of  at  a  good  price, 
and  then  purchased  forty  acres  of  his  present  farm. 
He  has  carried  on  his  farming  and  stock-raising 
business  with  discretion,  has  made  money  bj-  his 
operations,  and  is  now  tlie  proprietor  of  one  hun- 
dred and  three  acres,  ten  of  which  are  in  timber; 
he  also  has  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Thomas  County,  Kan.  He  has  made  the  various 
improvements  that  made  this  a  veiy  desirable 
farm,  in  every  respect  himself,  and  has  done  well 
when  we  consider  that  he  started  out  on  his  own 
account  at  the  age  of  twentj--onc,  with  no  other 
capital  than  a  team  and  wagon,  and  the  accumula- 
tion of  his  property  is  the  result  of  downright  hard 
labor. 

By  her  capable  management  of  household  affairs 
the  wife  of  our  subject  lia,s  contriinited  her  share  in 
the  upbuilding  of  their  comfortable  home.  They 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1854.  Mrs.  Parr,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Rachael  M.  Cottingham,  came  of  a  pioneer 
family  of  this  county.  She  v/as  born  in  Hamilton 
County,  111.,  February  26,  1835.  Her  parents  were 
Thomas  and  Lydia  (McNamer)  Cottingham,  the 
former  a  native  of  Mar3-land,  born  near  Snow  Hill 
in  1801,  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Kentuck}-. 
When  he  was  young  Mr.  Cottingham  left  his  old 
home  in  Marvland  to  seek  a  new  home  on  the  for- 


814 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tile  soil  of  Ibe  Bnekej'e  State.  On  the  voyage 
down  the  Ohio  the  father  died,  and  Mrs.  Parr's 
father  then  took  charge  of  the  famil3'.  For  a  time 
he  left  his  mother,  brothers  and  sisters  in  Ken- 
tuekj',  and  proceeded  '  by  himself  to  Hamilton 
Count3',  III.,  and  became  an  early  pioneer  of  that 
section  of  tlie  countr}^  and  was  prominent  there  as 
a  local  minister  and  merchant.  He  married  there, 
and  in  1843  again  became  a  pioneer,  coming  with 
his  family  to  this  county  and  locating  in  Logan 
Township  on  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  re- 
inained  his  home  until  his  death  in  March,  1874. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  McNamer, 
who  married  Kiziah  Proctor,  of  Kentuck3-.  Mrs. 
McMamer  died,  and  was  the  second  one  to  be  bur- 
ied in  Pleasant  Grove,  being  interred  in  the  Mttho- 
dist  Episcopal  Churclyard.  Mrs.  Parr's  parents  had 
eleven  children,  of  whom  the  following  ten  grew 
to  maturity:  John  F. ;  Jeremiah  B. ;  Kiziah  Jane, 
novv  Mrs.  Richardson :  Susan  E.  H.,  wife  of  John  C. 
Kimzy,  now  deceased,  dying  in  Kansas;  Rachael 
M.  A.;  Thomas  V.;  Mary  E.,  who  died  young, 
Sarah  E.;  Martha  E.  V.,  who  died  young;  and 
Eliza  A.,  Mrs.  Hurff.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cottingham 
were  worthy  members  of  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

This  brief  life-record  suffices  to  show  that  he  is  a 
man  of  solid  virtues  and  exemplary  life,  and  is  de- 
serving of  honorable  mention  in  this  work  dedi- 
cated to  the  citizens  of  Peoria  County.  He  and 
his  estimable  wife  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  ate  never  behind  their  fellow- 
members  in  the  good  work  accomplished  by  the 
society. 

T ,^OX.  A.  J.  BELL  is   a  well-known  citizen  of 

Peoria,  honored  for  his  legal  ability,  his 
lo}"alt3^  to  the  flag  during  the  Civil  War, 
and  his  labors  in  journalism  and  the  polit- 
ical arena.  A  man  of  broad  intelligence,  good  con- 
versational powers  and  honorable  character,  his 
friends  are  not  confined  to  the  members  of  his 
profession  or  partj',  but  include  all  who  appreci- 
ate culture  and  uprightness.  He  is  a  native  of 
Madison    County.  Ohio,   born  Maj-   25,   1842.  and 


descendant  in  the  paternal  line  of  an  ancestor  who 
came  from  England  to  Virginia  in  1718.  His 
father,  'William  Bell,  a  native  of  the  Empire  State, 
died  in  1842,  and  five  j-ears  later  his  widow.  Mar^' 
(Wright)  Bell,  came  with  her  son  to  Marshall 
County,  III. 

After  securing  a  fair  common-school  education, 
young  Bell  entered  Lombard  University',  in  which 
his  scholastic  career  was  interrupted  by  the  excite- 
ment incident  upon  the  opening  of  the  Civil  War. 
He  had  scarcely  passed  his  twentieth  birthday  ere 
he  enlisted  in  the  Eleventh  Illinois  Infantrj',  the 
date  of  his  enrollment  being  August  13, 1862.  The 
Sundaj'  after  he  reached  the  regiment  he  partici- 
pated in  a  fight  with  Gen.  Morgan  .at  Rigby's  Hill, 
the  next  heavy  engagement  being  on  the  Talla- 
hatchie River.  Owing  to  an  attack  of  tj'phoid  fever 
young  Bell  did  cot  participate  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg  but  was  on  duty  subsequentlj'  with  his  regiment 
at  Yazoo  City  and  in  several  skirmishes  where  hot 
work  was  done,  but  which,  being  engaged  in  by 
comparatively  few  men,  figure  slightly  in  general 
history.  Mr.  Bell  was  present  during  the  siege 
and  capture  of  Mobile,  took  part  in  the  last  fight 
of  the  war — the  siege  of  Ft.  Blakele\',  and  was 
discharged  July  24,  18G5. 

Immediatelj'  after  the  war  Mr.  Bell  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Clinton,  from  which  place  he  removed  after  a 
year's  residence  to  Lacon.  In  that  town  he  so- 
journed six  years,  removing  thence  to  Peoria  in 
1873.  Here  he  became  political  editor  of  the  Na- 
tional Democrat,  a  position  which  he  filled  two 
j'ears.  In  1880  Mr.  Bell  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate,  and  so  well  did  be  carry  out  the  wishes  of 
his  constituents  and  so  thoroughly  satisfy'  them 
regarding  bis  abilit3'  as  a  legislator,  that  he  was 
re-elected  in  1884.  In  1888  he  was  a  candidate 
for  Lieutenant-Governor  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
but  although  he  made  a  good  race  failed  of  elec- 
tion. In  March,  1889,  he  resumed  editorial  labors, 
taking  a  position  upon  the  Peoria  Herald. 

As  a  journalist  the  logical  mind  and  training  of 
Mr.  Bell  give  his  words  a  force  which  is  added  to 
by  his  effective  use  of  shafts  of  wit;  as  a  legis- 
lator he  endeavored  to  promote  measures  which 
would  increase  the  material  prosperity  of  the  State, 


3IefiSon.,L  .Woodruff 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


HIT 


aid  its  citizens  to  become  better  int'onucil,  and 
give  to  its  poor  or  uaforLunate  better  accommoda- 
tions and  greater  care.  In  comraemoration  of  the 
weary  niontlis  wliicla  lie  spent  at  the  front,  and  the 
dark  (la^ys  of  the  eountr3's  history,  he  is  a  member 
of  tlie  (Irand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Tlie  refined,  accomplished  ladj'  who  presides 
over  the  home  of  Mr.  Bell  is  a  native  of  Marsiiall 
County,  known  in  her  uiaidenliood  as  Miss  Amanda 
Uavis,  whose  marriage  rites  were  celebrated  March 
12,  186G.  The  ha[)py  union  has  been  blest  ity  the 
birtli  of  one  child,  who  bears  the  name  of  Fair}'  K. 


'jEi^EL.SON  L.  WOODRIFF,  whose  portrait  is 
I  1/  Pi'ssented  on  the  opposite  page,  and  who 
ll\ /Zfe,  died  a  little  more  than  a  decade  since,  was 
an  honored  resident  of  I'eoria  for  many  years, 
classed  among  her  most  enterprising  business  men, 
and  i>eaceable,  law-abiding  citizens.  He  was  born  in 
Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  May  24,  IHIfS.  being  a 
son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Woodruff,  who  re- 
moved to  Peoria  in  1834.  The  elder  Woodruff 
was  a  farmer,  and  tin-  youthful  d.ays  of  Nelson  L. 
were  spent  in  the  usual  manner  of  those  reared 
upon  farms.  U|)on  reaching  manhood  he  became 
a  cooper,  following  his  trade  for  some  time  in 
Lower  Peoria,  and  afterward  hnilding  the  first 
canal  boat  used  on  the  Illinois  Canal.  The  boat 
was  named  the  "  Ft.  Clark."  In  1855  Mr.  Wood- 
ruff engaged  in  the  ice  business,  which  has  been 
continued  from  that  d.ate,  his  widow  now  l)eing 
President  of  the  company  which  bears  his  name. 
Mr.  Woo'lruff  w.as  called  from  time  to  eternity 
October  23,  1870. 

Many  an  interesting  incideiit  can  lie  related  b}' 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Woodruff,  and  many  a  word-picture 
<lrawn  of  the  village  of  a  half-century  ago,  so  dif- 
ferent from  the  large  and  flourishing  city  of  to-day. 
She  has  been  a  witness  to  the  growth  of  Peoria 
and  the  development  of  her  multiplied  interests 
since  1835,  during  which  ye.ar  she  was  brought 
hither  by  her  parents.  She  was  born  in  Lnzerne 
County,  Pa.,  .laiiuary  1,  1826,  to  Samuel  and  Lois 
(Brown)  Monroe,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  the 


Ke^'stone  State.  Family  tradition  claims  ihat  all 
the  Monroes  of  the  United  States  are  descended 
from  three  brothers  who  came  together  to  this 
country  from  Scotland  several  genei'ations  ago. 
The  Brown  family  is  of  English  extraction.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  a  miller,  who  after  coming  to  this 
county  purchased  the  mill  built  by  John  Hamlin, 
the  first  in  "  this  section.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Monroe  were  born  eleven  children,  of  whom  four 
are  living,  namely :  Mrs.  F^liza  Brown  of  Peoria; 
Mrs.  Adam  Sholl,  of  Pckin;  James,  of  Limestone; 
and  Mrs.  Woodruff. 

Marriage  rites  were  celebrated  between  Nelson 
L.  Woodruff  and  Jlary  A.  Monroe,  October  15, 
1  84(1.  For  more  than  liiirty  years  they  shared  in 
the  joys  and  sorrows  of  life,  when  death  with  en- 
vious hand  separated  them,  leaving  to  the  widow 
7nany  loving  memories  to  soften  her  grief.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  WoodrutT  seven  children  were  born, 
five  of  whom  are  living.  They  are:  Mrs.  George 
F.  lunerson,  of  Peoria;  Mrs.  N.  H.  McCoy,  of  Chi- 
cago; Mrs.  W.  T.  Irwin,  of  Peoria;  Mrs.  II.  B. 
Morgan;  and  Edward  N.,  Secretary  of  the  Wood- 
ruff Ice  Company,  at  Peoria. 

Mrs.  Woodruff  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
First  Ba|)tist  Chinch,  and  in  the  same  faith  her 
husband  w.as  an  ardent  believer.  Politically,  Mr. 
Woodruff  was  a  stanch  Republican,  and  a  Union 
man  during  the  war.  She  has  displayed  much 
business  .acumen  since  the  death  of  her  husband 
loft  to  her  the  oversight  of  affairs,  which  she  has 
been  conducting  in  a  creditable  manner.  She  has 
many  warm  friends,  not  onl}'  among  her  contempo- 
raries, but  among  those  of  a  later  generation,  who 
heartily  enjoy  her  stories  of  the  olden  times,  her 
genial  courtesy  and  her  trne  womanliness. 


-l-f-l^g^H-'-^^ 


C.  RANDALL.     The  home  of  this  gentle- 
.,  man  and  his  highly  esteemed  wife  and  fani- 

\^/  ily  is  most  attractive  to  .all  lovers  of  home- 
likeness.  The  roomy  old  dwelling,  built  of  stone 
and  brick,  gives  the  observer  the  impression  of 
"four  stories,  all  on  the  ground  floor"  and  satisfies 
him   that  the  builders  wrought  for  the  comfort  of 


818 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  occupants  and  the  varied  needs  of  family  life. 
It  is  surrounded  by  well-tilled  fields  and  an  abund- 
ant sujiply  of  small  fruits,  together  with  all  need- 
ful farm  buildings.  The  seventy-two  acres  which 
comprise  the  estate  are  devoted  to  mixed  farming, 
and  iVIr.  Randall  is  also  much  interested  in  bee 
culture,  which  he  began  twent3'-five  j^ears  since 
without  any  previous  knowledge  of  the  business. 

Mr.  Randall  is  of  highly  respectable  ancestry, 
his  father  being  Elias  Randall,  a  native  of  New 
Vork,  and  his  mother,  Mindwell,  daughter  of  War- 
ren Corning,  of  Now  Hampshire.  Grandfather 
Corning  was  a  Colonel  in  the  AVar  of  1812.  The 
parents  of  our  subject  resided  for  some  time  after 
their  marriage  in  Mentor,  Ohio,  where  the  father 
was  engaged  as  a  carpenter,  cabinet-maker  and 
farmer.  He  l}uilt  and  occupied,  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Garfield  homestead,  which  he  sold  to  the  late 
President  for  $13,000.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randall  re- 
moved to  Illinois  in  1854,  making  their  home  in 
I'eoria,  where  Mr.  Randall  laid  out  and  platted 
Randall's  Addition.  He  speculated  considerably 
in  land  during  his  later  years.  He  breathed  his  last 
in  1  867.  his  wife  surviving  until  1884.  The3' had 
seven  children,  one  of  whom  is  now  deceased. 

Our  subject  is  the  fifth  in  order  of  l)irth  in  the 
parental  family,  having  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light 
June  17,  1830,  in  Lake  C(nuity,  Ohio.  His  youth 
was  spent  in  his  native  State,  and  his  boyhood 
divided  between  attendance  at  the  district  schools 
and  cutting  cord-wood,  timber  and  rails,  pulling 
stumps  and  otherwise  exerting  his  ph}-sical  energy. 
He  finally  became  a  student  in  the  High  .School  at 
Kirtland,  Ohio,  where  he  well  remembers  seeing 
Jose|)h  Smith  and  other  (jroniinent  Mormons,  whose 
temple  was  located  there.  After  having  remained 
with  his  parents  until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he 
liegan  his  own  career  as  a  salesman  of  apple  trees, 
also  spending  about  five  months  in  the  lightning- 
rod  business.  His  labors  l)efore  the  war  were  in 
various  parts  of  the  SDuthern  States. 

Mr.  Randall  next  entered  land  in  Iowa  and  Ne- 
braska, l)ut  taking  the  gold  fever  started  to  Pike's 
Peak.  He  went  only  as  far  as  Omaha,  Neb.,  when 
he  determined  to  return  eastward  and,  making  his 
way  back  to  Illinois,  resumed  his  former  occupa- 
tion  making  trips  to  various  places.      In   1863  he 


married  and  settled  on  section  33,Elmwood  Town- 
ship, Peoria  County,  where  he  has  permanently  re- 
mained. He  owns  seventy-two  acres  of  land,  the 
cultivation  of  which  he  still  superintends.  His 
labors  have  not  been  entirely  confined  to  his  per- 
sonal affairs  but  he  has  acted  for  those  about  him 
as  Pathmaster  and  School  Director,  having  served 
in  the  latter  capacity  six  years.  He  has  voted  the 
Republican  ticket  since  the  organization  of  the 
party,  and  in  connection  with  his  political  views 
recalls  with  pleasure  a  call  made  upon  Abraham 
Lincoln  at  Springfield  at  the  time  of  the  first  elec- 
tion of  the  lamented  martyr.  In  his  \outh  he  was 
identified  with  the  Christian  Church. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  is  a  lady  of  intelligence 
and  generous  nature,  in  whom  he  has  found  a  faith- 
ful helpmate.  She  was  known  in  her  maidenhood 
as  Miss  Elvira  Barstow  and  was  born  September  1, 
1844,  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio.  She  received 
but  a  common-school  education,  but  has  improved 
every  opportunity  to  continue  her  mental  growth, 
and  lia^  been  all  that  a  wise  and  affectionate  mother 
can  be  to  her  children  who  owe  much  to  her  coun- 
sel and  training.  She  and  her  husband  have  taught 
their  sons  and  daughters  to  follow  the  guidance  of 
conscience  and  to  use  as  a  foundation  for  their 
character  the  Golden  Rule. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randall  is  made  up 
of  Lottie,  Nellie  M.,  Daisy  Belle,  Emma,  Willard 
C.  and  Happy  Jim.  The  first-born  taught  four 
ye.ars  at  Wahpeton,  N.  Dak.;  she  became  the  wife 
of  F.  C.  Bohn  and  the  mother  of  a  daughter,  Car- 
lotta  Irene,  who  was  left  motherless  when  two  weeks 
old.  The  dying  hours  of  Mrs.  Bohn  were  cheered 
by  the  faith  of  the  Congregational  Church,  of  which 
she  was  a  consistent  member.  Nellie  and  Daisy 
have  adopted  the  profession  of  teaching,  and  Emma 
h.as  just  been  graduated  from  the  Farmington  High 
School.  They  are  highly  spoken  of  by  the  entire 
neighborhood.  The  nature  of  the  younger  son  is 
fitly  expressed  by  his  name. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Randall  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio.  They 
removed  thence  to  Illinois  in  1846,  lirst  settling  at 
LaHar()e,  Hancock  County,  and  then  moving  onto 
a  farm,  where  they  lived  thirteen  years.  At  the 
expiration    of    that    period    they  came    to    Peoria 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


819 


County',  settling  in  Elmwood  Towiishiii.  wlicre  the 
fatlior,  AVaiTon  llarstow,  died  in  1870.  The  motln'r, 
Eiizabelli  (l'.:itenian)  Bnrstow.  is  still  living,  being 
now  sixty-eight  years  old.  They  had  six  sons  and 
four  daughters,  one  of  whom  is  now  dead.  Mart 
Woodruff,  an  uncle  of  Jlr.  Piarstow,  was  Captain  of 
the  company  at  lAallarpc  which  drove  the  Mormons 
out  of  Hancock  County. 


ml^=i 


~®^" 


ylLIJAM  C.  KDWARDS  is  a  native  of  this 
county  and  is  now  prominently-  identitied 
^  ^  with  its  real  estate  dealers,  who  have  had 
as  much  or  more  to  do  with  the  upbuiMing  of  this 
section  of  the  State  than  any  other  class  of  men. 
lie  is  associated  with  Mar3'  E.  Culver,  and  they 
carry  on  business  under  the  style  of  Culver  ct  P^d- 
wards,  with  their  oflice  in  the  city  of  Peoria. 

Our  subject  was  horn  in  Prineeville,  August  20, 
1858,  and  is  a  son  of  John  D.,  and  P^veline  A. 
(Parker)  Ivlwards,  nativcsof  Brown  County,  Ohio, 
whence  they  came  to  this  county  in  1842.  John 
Edwards  was  in  early  life  a  shoemaker,  but  after- 
ward adopted  the  calling  of  a  farmer,  and  was  one 
of  the  active  pioneeis  of  this  county.  He  and  his 
worthy  wife  had  a  family  of  eight  children  of  whom 
the  following  five  are  living:  Edwin  B.,  an  artist 
in  Peoria;  J.  Oscar,  a  farmer  in  Kansas;  William 
C;  Clarence  D.,  a  farmer  in  Iowa,  and  George  S., 
a  farmer  in  Iowa.  The  three  deceased  are  Charles 
L.,  who  was  drowned  in  the  Illinois  River  in  June, 
18G9,  Alvin  and  I'.va. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  review  was 
given  fine  educational  advantages.  lie  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  ijook  learning  in  the  public 
Schools  of  this  county,  and  completed  his  educa- 
tion at  Valparaiso, Ind.  lie  was  thoroughly  equipped 
for  the  profession  of  a  pedagogue  and  for  nearly 
six  years  taught  school  in  this  county.  He  subse- 
quently entered  the  mercantile  business  as  clerk 
and  for  five  years  was  thus  employed.  He  next  be- 
came advertising  agent  for  the  Journal  and  acted 
in  that  cai)acity  very  satisfactorily  for  one  year. 
August  16,  1889,  our  subject  entered  upon  a  new 
career,  as  on  that  date  he  entered  into    (lartner-ship 


with  Miss  Culver  and  two  others  in  the  real-estate 
business,  the  firm  name  then  being  the  Peoria  Real 
Estate,  Loan  and  Insurance  Exchange:  but  after 
about  six  months  he  and  Miss  Culver  bought  the 
interests  of  the  other  members,  and  changed  the 
name  to  that  of  Culver  &  luhvartls.  They  are 
meeting  with  excellent  success,  often  making  large 
sales  of  realty  and  doing  well  in  the  other  branches 
of  their  business. 

Mr.  Edwards  was  mariied  to  Miss  Dora,  daugh- 
ter of  William  .Simpson,  June  21,  1883,  and  they 
have  established  in  this  city  a  charming  home  that 
is  the  center  of  true  culture  and  a  gracious  hos- 
pitalil\-.  Their  married  life  has  been  rendered 
happier  lij-  the  child  that  has  I>ecn  born  to  them, 
whom  they  have  named  Neta  G. 

Jlr.  Edwards  brings  a  vigorous,  keen  intellect 
and  a  most  excellent  capacity  for  business  to  the 
management  of  his  affairs,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
wide-awake  and  active  of  our  business  men.  He  is 
connected  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Blutual 
Aid  as  one  of  its  leading  members.  He  is  influential 
in  local  politics  as  one  of  the  slanchest  members  of 
the  Republican  ixarty. 


OHN  HALLER  is  a  substantial  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  making  a  specialty'  of  breeding 
Poland-China  hogs,  from  the  sale  of  which 
he  derives  an  excellent  income.  He  carries 
on  his  farming  operations  in  Timber  Township,  of 
which  he  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens,  being  prom- 
inent in  its  public  and  political  life.' 

Mr.  Ilaller  was  born  December  27.  1846,  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany.  His  parents  were  Ludwig  and 
Anna  Maria  (Merktlin)  Hailer,  and  they  were  born 
in  Wurtemberg,  in  the  same  place  as  himself,  in  the 
town  of  Kottweil.  The  subject's  paternal  grand- 
father was  Ludwig  Ilaller,  and  he  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Erederick,  Adam,  Ludwig, George, 
Rosina.  Frederick  and  Adam  came  to  the  United 
States  about  the  year  1836,  and  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania where  they  carried  on  farming.  Frederick 
came  from  there  to  this  county  in  1851.  He  was  a 
married  man  and  leared  a  faniilj-  of  three  sons  and 


820 


PORTE  AIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


throe  daughters.  An  uncle  of  the  father  of  our 
subject  also  came  to  this  county  and  settled  in 
I'ennsyivania. 

The  father  of  our  subject  came  to  tbis  country 
with  liis  entire  family  of  six  children,  and  landed 
in  Peoria  June  14,  1859.  They  were  sixty  days 
on  the  ocean,  and  the  voyage  from  New  Orleans 
by  river  occupied  eight  da3-s  more.  Mr.  Haller 
settled  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Timber  Town- 
siiip  on  an  eightj'-acre  tract  of  wild  land.  He  toiled 
hard  and  after  a  great  deal  of  pioneer  labor  de- 
veloped a  good  farm  and  in  the  comfortable  home 
he  built  up  here  died  in  the  month  of  June,  1878,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  he  having  been 
born  December  2,  1802.  His  wife  who  was  born 
June  6,  180G,  survived  him  until  April  15,  1889, 
when  she  too  passed  away.  The}'  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children  :  Ludwig,  a  resident  of 
Jacksonville;  Mary,  deceased  ;  Fredericka,  deceased  ; 
Rosiua  who  died  young;  George  and  John. 

John  Haller  of  whom  these  lines  are  written, 
grew  to  man's  estate  ou  a  farm,  and  early  learned 
the  rudiments  of  agriculture.  He  acquired  an  ex- 
cellent education  in  the  schools  of  the  Fatherland 
which  has  been  of  benefit  to  him  in  his  after  ca- 
reer. He  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  when  lie  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  this  countrj%  and  was  of 
great  assistance  to  his  father  in  the  work  of  con- 
ducting his  agricultural  interests.  In  the  fall  of 
18G9  he  utilized  his  education  by  entering  the 
teacher's  profession  and  taught  for  eighteen  years, 
and  for  several  winters  attended  school  as  a  stu- 
dent, being  ambitious  to  still  further  increase  his 
book  lore.  He  had  charge  of  one  school  for  eight 
consecutive  years  and  in  the  summer  carried  on 
farming.  Wishing  to  devote  himself  more  exclu- 
sively to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  the  spring  of 
1875,  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  where  he 
now  resides.  He  lias  since  been  busily  engaged  in 
placing  it  under  cultivation  and  improving  it  and 
has  made  of  it  a  choice  farm,  supplied  with  excel- 
lent buildings,  and  all  the  necessary  appliances  for 
tilling  the  soil,  and  from  it  he  reaps  good  harvests, 
and  is  laying  up  a  comfortable  income. 

Mr.  Haller  has  not  been  without  the  assistance  of 
a  capable,  cheerful  helper  in  the  person  of  his  wife, 
to  whom  he  was  married  August  24,  1874.  To  them 


liave  come  two  children — Boyd  and  May.  Mrs. 
Haller  is  a  native  of  this  township  and  county,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Sliadrack  and  Lucy  Ann  (I)oan) 
Scott,  natives  of  Kentucky  and  New  York  and  pio- 
neers of  this  section  of  the  countrj'. 

A  man  of  Mr.  Hallcr's  calibre,  steady  habits.and 
intelligent  mind,  is  useful  in  any  community  and 
this  township  was  fortunate  in  securing  him  as  a 
citizen.  He  has  been  one  of  its  most  valuable  civic 
officials,  has  acted  as  Road  Commissioner  for  six 
years,  was  Supervisor  for  two  years  and  held  the 
position  of  Assessor  of  the  township  six  years.  He 
is  very  prominent  in  Democratic  circles,  and  h« 
attended  county  and  State  conventions. 


ETER  A.  BERGNER.  Probably  no  young 
man  in  Peoria  has  a  more  promising  business 
career  opening  before  him  than  has  the  gen- 
tleman above  named,  who,  with  his  partnen 
is  obtaining  a  fair  share  of  public  patronage  as  a 
dealer  in  dry  goods.  The  establishment  of  Bergner 
&  Potter  is  now  located  at  No.  119  South  Adams 
Street,  and  in  the  orderliness  of  its  arrangements, 
the  neatness  which  pervades  it,  and  its  elegant 
stock  of  well-selected  goods,  is  one  of  the  most 
noticeable  stores  in  Central  Illinois.  The  young 
men  richly  deserve  success  for  the  judgment  they 
have  displaj'ed  in  the  selection  and  the  business  tact 
in  the  disposal  of  their  goods,  and  the  honorable, 
courteous  treatment  which  they  accord  to  their  cus- 
tomers; and  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  they  will 
achieve  the  merited  reward. 

Mr.  Bergner  was  born  in  Leer,  East  Friesland, 
Germany,  December  1,  1862,  being  a  son  of  Charles 
AV.  E.  and  Hilke  (Bonk)  Bergner,  natives  of  the 
same  town  as  himself.  In  1870  the  family  emi- 
grated to  America,  locating  in  Freeport,  III.,  where 
the  father  opened  a  dye  house.  He  is  now  living 
in  Bailej'ville,  engaged  in  the  sale  of  general  mer- 
chandise. His  industrious  habits  and  thrifty  ways 
were  an  excellent  example  to  his  son,  who  inherits 
a  fair  share  of  the  same  traits,  and  has  also  had  to 
assist  him,  good  advice  from  worthy  parents. 


'>^' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


823 


The  sulijoct  of  our  sketch  began  to  work  on  a 
farm  when  twelve  years  okl,  anil  at  the  age  of 
twenty  became  a  clerk  for  William  Walton,  in  Free- 
port,  with  whom  lie  remained  seven  years.  He 
then  spent  one  year  with  .Sliip[)en  &  Block,  at 
Pekin,  after  wiiicli  exi)erie!ice  he  opened  a  Imsiness 
for  himself,  September  15,  1889,  at  No.  1327, 
South  Adams  Street.  The  business  was  removed 
to  its  present  quarters  May   15,  1 «',)(). 

Mr.  Bergner  was  married  at  Pekin,  (October  13, 
1886,  to  ftliss  EmmaA'ekle,  an  intelligent  and  most 
estimable  young  lady,  well  fitted  to  make  a  happy 
home.  The  marriage  has  been  blest  by  the  birth 
of  two  children — Aaron  IL  and  Clarence.  Mr. 
Bergner  i.>.  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
while  his  wife  is  an  equall}-  consistent  believer 
in  the  principles  of  Methodism  and  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination. 
Both  are  endeavoring  to  can-y  their  faith  into  their 
daily  walk  and  conversation,  and  therefore  gain  the 
respect  of  all  who  know  their  lives,  while  their 
social  qualities  win  many  friends. 


^-^M 


fe 


aHARLKS  J.  OFF,  only  member  of  the  lirm 
^  of  C.  .1.  Off  &  Co.,  is  one  of  the  largest 
/  and  most  prominent  wholesale  grocery  deal- 
ers in  Peoria,  also  engaged  as  a  manufacturer  of 
baking  powder  and  grinder  of  spices,  etc.,  and  is 
conveniently  located  at  Nos.  116-118-120  Liberty 
Street,  where  he  does  a  large  and  satisfactory  busi- 
ness. The  success  which  has  attended  tiie  lirm 
since  its  establishment  under  the  present  manage- 
ment, January-  1,  1878,  is  a  rare  compliment  to  the 
business  capacity  and  efficiency  of  its  [irojector.  In 
addition  to  his  city  salesmen  Mr.  Off  emi)loys 
seven  or  eight  men  on  the  road. 

A  native  of  the  Kingdom  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, Mr.  Off  was  born  October  21,  1813,  and 
when  a  boy  of  eleven  years  came  with  his  parents 
to  America.  They  located  in  Peoria,  being  among 
its  early  settlers.  Charles  J.  had  begun  a  practi- 
cal education  in  the  German  tongue  in  his  native 
country  and  completed  his  studies  in  the  city 
schools  of  Peoria.     He  entered  upon    his  business 


careei'  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  as  a  clerk  in  a 
retail  grocer}'  store  in  this  cit}'.  He  was  in  Ciii- 
cago  one  year  during  the  war,  in  the  grocei y  busi- 
ness, and  had  charge  of  the  Commissary  Department 
at  Camp  IJouglas,  which  was  furnis'ieil  with  sup- 
plies by  Mr.  Solomon,  iiis  eni|iloyer,  under  Col.  De- 
land,  now  of  Jackson,  Mich. 

In  tlie  fall  of  18G3,  Mr.  Oh  returned  to  Peoria 
and  entered  the  em|iloy  of  the  grocery  firm  of  11- 
rich  ifc  Ruppelius,  remaining  witii  them  until  Jan- 
uary 1,  1873.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
Messrs.  Henry,  Oakford  and  Fahnest(ick,  which* 
continued  for  five  years  with  profitable  results. 
Mr.  Oft'  then  erected  his  present  store  building  and 
established  his  present  business  which  has  increased 
yearly  to  magnificent  proportions. 

On  January  1,  1890,  Mr.  OIT  enlarged  his  facili- 
ties for  doing  business  by  the  addition  of  twenty- 
four  feet  front  so  that  he  now  has  a  building  of 
seventy-two  feet  front,  and  four  stories  and  base- 
ment in  height,  all  of  which  is  devoted  to  his  busi- 
ness. It  is  situated  in  the  center  of  the  wholesale 
district.  The  spice  and  coffee  mills  were  added  two 
years  from  the  establishment  of  the  main  business, 
Mr.  Off  purchasing  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Miles  the  Peoria 
Chemical  Works.  The  accumulations  of  Mr.  Off 
have  been  the  result  of  his  own  industry  as  he 
started  out  in  life  dependent  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, and  he  furnishes  a  fine  illustration  of  the 
results  of  energy  and  perseverance. 

In  politics  Mr.  Off  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  for  one  3ear  a  member  of  the 
Boaid  of  Supervisors  and  a  member  of  the  Finance 
Committee  of  that  body.  With  this  exception  he 
has  given  his  entire  attention  to  his  business  af- 
fairs. He  has  been  for  many  years  identified  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  having  attained  to  the 
Knight  Templar  and  Thirty-Second  degrees.  He 
is  an  E|)iscopalian  in  religion  and  with  his  estima- 
ble wife  belongs  to  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Peoria. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  Miss  Maggie  Fey,  October  28,  1879,  at  the 
bride's  home  in  this  city.  Mrs.  Off  wjis  born  in 
1855,  in  Kentucky,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  well- 
known  David  Fe}',  the  leading  jeweler  of  Peoria. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Off  are  proud  in  the  possession  of 
four  bright  boys,  namely  :  Charles  David,  Robert, 


824 


rORTKAlT  AND  BIOCUAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


Walter  and  Clifford.  The  family  residence  is  lo- 
cated in  the  noitliern  part  of  the  city  and  forms 
one  of  its  most  attractive  homes. 

A  litliograpliic  portrait  of  Mr.  Off  on  anotlier 
page  claims  the  attention  of  tbe  reader,  among 
other  valuable  features  of  tliis  volume. 


ANFOUI)  R.  PKUKINS,  M.  D.  The  ex- 
tended and  favoralile  reputatioji  of  Dr 
^X\J__M  Terkins  is  not  based  alone  upon  his  suc- 
cessful work  as  a  physician  and  surgeon, 
but  upon  his  meritorious  record  as  a  Union  soldier, 
and  his  agreeable  personal  traits  of  character. 
From  the  beginning  of  his  professional  labors  he 
has  been  successful,  and  in  less  tlian  a  decade  lias 
built  up  tlie  largest  practice  in  Prince ville  Town- 
ship and  vicinity.  He  began  his  work  witli  a  thor- 
ough theoretical  knowledge  of  all  that  pertains  to 
his  profession,  and  luis  increased  his  informati(jn 
from  year  to  j ear  as  further  <levelopments  liave 
been  made  in  medical  science,  and  as  his  own  keen 
observation  has  given  him  advanced  views. 

Some  brief  notes  regarding  the  parental  liistory 
will  lead  to  a  better  understanding  of  the  life  and 
character  of  our  subject.  I  lis  father,  Josiali  S. 
Perkins,  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  iMeiHna  County, 
Ohio,  where  his  birth  liad  taken  place.  He  was  a 
soldier  during  the  War  of  1812.  In  1848  he  re- 
moved to  Jefferson  County,  Wis.,  entered  timber 
land  near  Watertown,  and  undertook  tiie  arduous 
labor  of  clearing  and  improving  a  farm.  Seven 
years  later,  during  tlic  cholera  season  of  185.5,  lie 
and  another  man  seeing  that  people  were  notljuried 
on  account  of  the  dread  of  the  disease,  themselves 
undertook  to  dispose  of  the  corpses.  Mr.  Perkins 
finall}'  was  stricken  witli  tiie  dire  disease  an<l  he 
and  his  second  wife  died  at  the  same  time.  He  was 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many  years.  In  i)oliti(s 
he  was  a  Jackson  Democrat,  and  in  religious  belief 
a  Universalist.  He  had  a  well-informed  mind  and 
during  his  early  days  had  been  a  teacher. 

The  motlier  of  our  subject  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Miss  Elizabeth  Conklin.  Slie  was 
a  native  of  the  Empire  State.  Her  deatli  took  place 


when  our  subject  was  an  infant,  and  tlie  fatiier 
subsequently  married  a  Miss  Brown.  He  of  whom 
we  write  was  the  tliird  child  of  liis  mother,  liis 
brothers  liaving  liorne  the  names  of  Marion  and 
Avery.  Tlie  former  was  drowned  when  a  cliild  in 
Ohio,  and  tlie  latter  gave  his  life  to  his  country 
during  the  Civil  War.  He  had  enlisted  under  the 
first  call  for  troops  in  1861,  being  enrolled  in  Com- 
pany D,  Sixth  Wisconsin  Infantry.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain,  September  14,  18G2,  he  re- 
ceived a  wound,  but  picking  up  the  colors  which  he 
had  dropped,  being  Color  Sergeant,  he  moved  for- 
ward until  a  second  ball  entered  his  head,  causing 
death. 

The, second  union  of  the  father  of  our  subject  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  four  children  :  Andrew  K., killed 
in  the  army;  Mrs.  Cyrena  1\I.  Denton,  of  Waukesha 
County,  Wis.;  I'^liphalet  N.,  who  was  killed  by  the 
kick  of  a  horse,  and  Mrs.  Adelaide  Colwell,  now  of 
Jefferson  Count}',  Wis.  Andrew  enlisted  in  18G3, 
when  about  sixteen  years  old,  in  the  Thirty-sixth 
Wisconsin  Infantry,  which  became  a  part  of  Han- 
cock's corps.  He  took  part  in  all  the  battles  from 
the  liaiiidan  to  the  James  liiver,  and  at  the  lirst 
assault  on  Petersburg  was   fatally  wounded. 

Dr.  Perkins  was  born  in  Medina  Township  and 
county,  Ohio,  February  9,  1845.  He  was  taken 
to  AV'isconsin  when  eighteen  months  old  and  lived 
on  the  farm  until  nine  years  of  age,  at  which  time 
he  was  left  an  orphan.  He  began  working  out  at 
14  a  inonlli,  his  labors  being  gradually  better  i)ajd 
until  he  could  earn  $'J  a  month.  He  managed  to 
attend  school  during  the  winter  seascuis,  working 
for  his  board  in  various  districts,  and  clothing 
liimself  with  the  [iroceeds  of  his  suiiiiiier  labors, 
still  making  his  homo  in  Jefferson  County.  In  Au- 
gust, 1S(J2,  while  yet  in  his  teens,  he  was  enrolled 
in  Company  (1,  Twentietli  Wisconsin  Infantry,  un- 
der Capt.  Miller. 

Young  Perkins  was  mustered  into  tiie  service  at 
Madison  as  a  private  and  sent  at  once  to  Benton 
Barracks,  IMo.  He  took  part  with  his  comrades  in 
various  skirmishes  leading  up  to  the  battle  of  Prai- 
rie Grove  December  7,  1802.  The  boys  then  had 
a  forced  march  to  Van  Buren,  Ark.,  and  after  the 
battle  there  returned  to  Prairie  (irove  and  thence 
through  to  Raleigh,  N.  C,  where   they  emliarkcd 


I'OIM'KAIT  AKD  BIOGUAPIUCAL  ALBUM. 


825 


for  Yicksbiug.  Tliuie  they  took  |)ail  in  the  siege 
and  buttles  until  their  regiment  and  tlie  Nineteenth 
Iowa  were  plaeed  in  eharge  of  the  [irisoners.  When 
the  eaptives  were  paroled  the  Union  soldieis  were 
sent  down  the  river  to  take  part  in  tlie  attack  on 
Port  Hudson. 

Following  this  came  the  contest  at  Lake  Provi- 
dence, the  removal  to  New  Orleans  and  tlie  expe- 
dition up  the  Red  Ui\er  under  (ien.  Banks.  The 
'I'wenlieth  took  part  in  the  tlank  movement,  landing 
at  Pjrazos  Santiago,  and  marching  to  Brownsville, 
where  they  rebuilt  the  forts.  The  expedition  prov- 
ing disastrous,  they  returned  to  the  river  and  pai'- 
ticipated  in  battles  at  Fts.  Morgan  and  Spanish  and 
after  the  taking  of  Mobile  went  to  Galveston, Tex. 
There  our  subject  was  mustered  out  of  service  and 
being  sent  to  Madison, Wis., received  his  discharge  in 
September,  18(35,  being  not  yet  twenty  one  years 
of  age.  He  was  one  of  the  fortunate  number  who 
escaped  wounds  during  the  man}-  months  in  which 
he  was  exposed  to  danger  and  death. 

Returning  to  Jefferson  County,  Wis.,  Mr.  Per- 
kins took  the  money  that  he  had  saved  while  in  the 
army  and  entering  the  [ireparatory  dei)artment  of 
Milton  College,  pursued  the  studies  of  a  scientific 
course  two  years.  His  health  failing,  he  was  ad- 
vised to  abandon  close  mental  work  and  he  engaged 
in  teaching  in  Jefferson  aud  Waukeslia  Counties. 
He  carried  on  pedagogical  work  in  Delalield  seven 
and  a  half  years,  and  in  Palmj'ra  live  years,  holding 
the  position  of  Principal.  During  the  last  live 
years  he  studied  medicine,  his  preceptors  being 
Drs.  Peardon  &  Sherman.  Anatomy  had  been  his 
hobby  for  years,  and  during  all  his  army  life  he  had 
carried  a  text  book  on  ph3siology  and  anatomy 
with  him. 

In  l.S.Sl  our  subject  entered  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Butler  1  niversily,  at  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
and  having  taken  two  courses  of  lectures  was  grad- 
uated in  the  spring  of  LS8;i,  with  a  standing  of 
ninety-five  and  a  half  per  cent.,  the  third  highest 
in  the  class.  He  selected  Monica.  JU.,  as  a  field  of 
labor  and  h.as  all  that  he  desires  to  do,  his  practice 
extending  over  a  r.adius  of  tliirty-five  or  forty 
miles.  He  reached  Monica  with  a  capital  of  pro- 
fessional knowledge  and  fifty  cents  in  money,  to- 
gether with  his  natural  abilities.  He  now  owns  two 


farms,  one  in  Bureau  County  and  one  in  Prince- 
villle  Townshi|),  this  county,  the  whole  comprising 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  also  has  some 
fine  horses. 

Dr.  Perkins  w.as  fortunate  in  winning  fin-  his 
i'omi)anion  a  l:idy  of  relineiiu^nt  and  most  eNtimnbIc 
character,  this  being  Miss  Mary  J.  Lowerre,;i  native 
of  Milwaukee,  Wis.  Her  father,  Robert  S.  Lowerre, 
has  been  engaged  in  mercantile  iiursuits  in  Dela- 
lield, Wis.,  for  years  and  there  the  marriage  was 
celebrated  July  24,  1,SG7.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Per- 
kins have  two  sons,  the  younger  of  whom.  Ldward 
A.,  is  at  home.  The  elder,  Robert  S.,  is  attending 
the  Chicago  College  of  Dental  Surgery,  from  which 
he  expects  to  be  graduated  in  18!»l. 

While  in  Indiana  Dr.  Peikins  was  President  of 
the  Sydenham  Medical  Society.  lie  united  with 
the  Masonic  lodge  at  Palmyra,  Wis.,  when  twenty- 
one  years  old,  and  later  was  identified  with  Lodge 
No.  33,  R.  A.  M.,  in  Juneau  County,  and  a  lodge 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Dela- 
lield. He  is  a  menjjer  of  the  Democratic  party. 
His  manners  are  affable  and  agreeabh^  his  conver- 
sational powers  excellent  and  his  character  honor- 
able and  u|)right. 


|)ENJAMIN  WARREN,  Jk.  The  enterprise 
exhibited  by  this  gentleman  in  the  conduct 
(f^)]Jj  of  li's  Inisiness  affairs  has  been  such  as  lo 
entitle  him  to  the  rcsiiect  of  other  dealers 
and  give  him  a  prominent  pl.ace  in  the  commercial 
circles  of  I'eoria.  He  was  born  in  Lallarpe,  Han- 
cock County,  July  22,  1852,  passed  his  boyhood 
days  in  his  native  place,  and  after  obtaining  a 
good  i)raclical  education,  embarked  in  the  grain 
business  when  twenty  years  old.  Four  years  lalei', 
in  1876,  he  came  to  I'eoria,  continuing  the  busi- 
ness in  which  he  had  jireviously  l)een  engaged  and 
in  which  he  has  become  an  adept.  He  is  connected 
with  the  Board  of  Trade,  of  which  he  was  Presi- 
dent in  1885. 

Mr.  Warren  is  President  of  the  Amerieus  Club, 
and  a  liighlj--respceted  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.     He  has  been  a  Director  of  the  Peoria  Ira- 


826 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


provement  Association  since  its  organization  was 
effected,  and  is  now  President  of  tliat  bodj'.  He 
1ms  never  been  an  as|nrant  for  political  honors,  but 
is  a"wlieel  horse"  in  hcl|)ing  frien<ls  who  do  desire 
political  preferment.  He  no  doubt  inherits  nuieh 
of  his  tact  in  trade,  as  his  father  has  been  engaged 
in  general  merchandising  for  ^-ears.  He  located  in 
LaHarpe  about  18t5,  coming  thence  from  his  na- 
tive .Stale  of  Maine.  In  the  Illinois  town  he  met, 
wooed  and  married  Miss  Portia  A.  JS'utt.  an  Oiiio 
lady  of  estimable  character.  To  his  worthy  i)ar- 
ents  our  subject  owes  nuich  for  their  counsel  and 
watchful  guidance  during  his  earlj'  years. 

An  important  step  in  the  life  of  our  subject  was 
consummated  Februar3^  12,  1879,  it  being  no  less 
than  his  marriage  to  Aliss  Bertha,  daughter  of 
A.  H.  and  Catherine  (Baker)  Day,  her  father  form- 
erly a  merchant  of  Joliet,  but  both  now  deceased. 
Mrs.  Warren  is  a  well-bred  and  well-educated  lad}', 
who  surrounds  her  husband  and  children  with  the 
joys  of  a  happy  home  life,  and  hospitably  entertains 
the  friends  who  gather  beneath  her  roof.  51  r.  and 
Mrs.  Warren  have  three  children — Ella,  Charles  D. 
and  Frank  M. 


ICAJAII  C.  MACY.  Manly  courage  and 
.  energy  are  exemplified  in  the  career  of  this 
li-  gentleman,  whose  days  are  given  to  in- 
dustrious and  well  directed  labors  on  a 
farm  in  Elmwood  Township.  The  estate  consists 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  1,  in  one 
bodj%  forty  acres  of  timber,  and  the  balance  im- 
proved and  devoted  to  mixed  farming.  A  visitor 
will  find  thereon  an  attractive  residence,  commodi- 
ous barns  and  other  needful  structures,  together 
with  all  which  goes  to  make  up  a  well-regulated 
farm  property.  The  dwelling  was  erected  in  1886, 
and  the  new  barn  in  1887,  at  a  joint  cost  of  «2.800. 
A  view  of  his  elegant  residence  will  be  found  else- 
where in  this  work. 

Mr.  Macy  was  born  in  Indiana,  October  14, 
1840,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1853.  His  parents, 
Thomas  and  Sarah  (Petty)  Macy,  were  natives  of 
North    Carolina    and  resided  in   that   State    until 


1828  when  they  took  up  their  abode  in  Indiana. 
Upon  coming  to  Illinois  some  years  later  they  set- 
tled in  Fulton  County,  but  in  185G,  removed  to 
Elmwood  Township,  Peoria  County.  The  father, 
who  was  a  shoemaker  and  farmer,  liveil  until  1874, 
but  his  wife  died  in  18G;).  They  had  eight  children, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  review  received  a  com- 
mon-school education  only,  having  his  own  way  to 
make  from  his  fifteenth  year.  At  that  time  he  took 
charge  of  the  familj',  continuing  at  its  head  until 
he  was  twenty-six  j'ears  old.  In  August,  18C2,  he 
enlisteil  in  Coinpanj'  I.  Seventy -seventh  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  after  serving  five  months  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  illness.  He  then  returned 
to  the  farm,  to  the  cultivation  of  which  he  has  de- 
voted himself  with  unflagging  perseverance.  This 
is  the  more  creditable  as  in  1864,  he  lost  the  thumb 
on  his  right  hand  while  oiling  a  threshing  machioe 
and  in  1874,  he  was  crippled  liy  the  loss  of  his  left 
hand  in  almost  the  same  manner.  While  oiling  a 
threshing  machine  which  was  in  motion  his  left 
hand  was  caught  in  the  gearing  and  so  badl}-  mashed 
that  it  was  necessary  to  amputate  it  above  the 
wrist.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Macy  has  used  a  hook  in 
place  of  the  missing  member. 

The  efiicieut  companion  of  Mr.  Macy,  wlio  has 
shared  in  his  joys  and  sorrows  since  February  28, 
1867,  was  formerh-  ]\Iiss  Rachel  Ruuyon.  Her  par- 
ents, James  C.  and  Nanc}'  (Smith)  Runyon,  na- 
tives of  the  Buckeye  State,  came  to  Illinois  in  1848, 
settling  in  Adams  Count}'.  There  Mrs.  Mac\-,  who 
is  the  eldest  of  five  children,  four  now  living,  was 
born  December  14,  1848.  The  following  3-ear  her 
parents  removed  to  Brimfield  Township,  Peoria 
Count}',  where  she  acquired  a  common-school  edu- 
cation, together  with  much  useful  knowledge  not 
included  in  the  curriculum  of  the  schools.  Her 
mother  died  in  1884,  but  her  father  survives  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, three  now  living  and  named  respectively, 
Mattie  I.,  Harry  A.  and  Clyde  C.  They  form  an 
intelligent  and  interesting  group,  all  having  at- 
tended the  common  school  and  having  been  care- 
fully reared  by  their  good  parents.  Miss  Mattie  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 


Residence  of  Godfrey  Fritz  ,  Sec. 1.  PrincevilleTp,  Peoria  Co. III. 


Residence  of  I\/1,C.Macy,5ec.1.  Elmwood  Tp  Peoria  Co.  III. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


829 


is  a  devoted  attendant  at  the  SundaN'-scliool.  IMi'. 
Macy  lias  alwa^-s  taken  an  interest  in  |)()litics  and 
votes  tiie  Republican  ticket.-  He  lias  served  as 
Township  Collector  two  terms  and  is  at  present 
Director  of  xScliool  District  No.  1.  He  is  classed 
among  the  best  citizens,  not  alone  for  his  industri- 
ous pursuit  of  his  chosen  vocation,  but  on  account 
of  his  fine  character  and  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
those  about  hiiu. 


-^^ 


^>iODFRKV  FUIT/,  isa  fine  rcpreseut.itivc  of 
(l(  ,__  the  earlj'  settlers  of  I'rinceville  Township, 
"^^sJid  who  are  still  identified  with  its  interests. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  farming  here  for  many 
years,  and  has  acquired  a  handsome  property  and 
among  many  well  improved  productive  farnis.none 
are  more  valuable  than  liis,  which  comprises  the 
north  half  of  section  1 . 

Our  subject  is  of  German  birth  and  antecedents. 
His  father  Gotleib  Frederick  Fritz,  a  native  of 
Wurtemburg,  Germany,  was  a  skillful  turner  in 
wood  and  owned  a  shop  in  which  he  carried  on  his 
calling  and  was  besitlcs  the  proprietor  of  some  land 
which  he  cultivated.  He  was  a  man  of  consider- 
able importance  in  liis  community,  and  for  the  last 
fifteen  years  of  his  life  was  a  Constable.  In  his 
religious  views  he  was  a  Lutheran,  and  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  his  church.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  fifty-five  years  in  1831.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject bore  the  maiden  name  of  Magdalene  Gogel 
and  was  also  a  native  of  Wurtemburg.  Her  death 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  occurred  in  1856. 
There  were  eight  children  born  of  her  marriage, 
of  whom  the  following  is  reco'-ded:  Margaret,  Mrs. 
Kneer,  died  at  Kewan9e,Ill.,in  January,  1890;  Got- 
leib died  in  1831  near  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Freder- 
ick died  in  Germany  in  1857;  Fredericka,  Jlrs. 
Saltzer,  died  in  Kewanee  in  April,  1890:  Jacob, re- 
sides in  Germany;  Johannes,  died  in  Germany  in 
1858;  Christian  who  is  in  St.  Louis,  and  Godfrey. 
The  latter,  who  forms  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical review,  was  born  in  Reichenberg,  Wur- 
temburg, Germany,  April  17,  1824,  his  birthplace 
being  near  the  Neckar  River.     He  received  excel- 


lent common  school  advantages  in  his  native  vil 
lage,  being  in  school  from  the  age  of  six  until 
fourteen  years  old.  lie  was  lnought  u|)  in  the  re- 
ligious faith  of  his  fathers  and  was  cai  ly  confirmed 
in  the  church.  In  his  30uth  he  was  apprenticed 
to  a  mason  for  three  3'ears,  learning  tlie  tiade  of 
his  brother.  He  then  did  journey  work  in  his  na- 
tive province  and  pursued  his  calling  there  until 
he  was  twenty-four  years  old.  He  was  doing  well 
at  his  trade,  but  was  ambitious  to  see  more  of  life, 
and  to  try  his  fortunes  in  America,  the  Mecca  of 
so  many  of  his  countrymen,  and  on  the  5th  of  May. 
1848,  he  left  Heilbrunnc  for  Rotterdam,  where  he 
embarked  on  a  vessel  bound  for  this  country. 

After  a  long  and  tedious  voyage  of  fifty-three 
days  Mr.  I*"ritz  landed  in  New  York  City,  July  3, 
and  from  there  made  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Thence  he  went  to  Ciiester  County  in  the  same 
State,  and  was  employed  on  a  farm  for  three 
months.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  went 
to  St.  Louis,  going  by  rail  to  Chambersburg,  and 
from  there  by  stage  over  the  mountains  to  Pitts- 
burg, and  thence  by  boat,  on  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi Rivers  to  his  destination, taking  eighteen  daj's 
for  the  journe3^  In  that  city,  he  worked  in  a  har- 
ness shop  until  the  spring  of  1849,  when  he  re- 
sumed his  trade  as  a  m.asou,  which  he  carried  on 
until  the  following  July.  Cholera  then  being  so 
prevalent  in  that  city  he  came  to  this  State  and 
from  Kingston  in  tliis  county, went  to  Farmington, 
where  he  worked  as  a  mason.  He  made  his  home 
in  Trivoli  Township,  although  he  worked  for  a 
contractor  in  Farmington.  Anxious  to  acquire  a 
better  knowledge  of  the  English  language,  he  went 
to  school  two  winters  in  Trivoli  Township,  at- 
tending five  months  in  all  and  1)3-  diligent  study 
became  quite  proficient  in  the  language.  In  the 
spring  of  1853  he  located  in  this  township,  rent- 
ing a  farm  and  giving  his  attention  to  agriculture. 
In  1854,  he  removed  to  Stark  County  and  farmeil 
on  rented  land  there  for  one  year.  After  that  he 
bought  fort3r  acres  in  Akron  Township,  paying  i!lO 
an  acre  for  the  land;  the  latter  was  iinprovc^d  by 
a  log  house  in  which  he  dwelt. 

Mr.  Fritz  lived  some  ten  3'ears  on  his  Akron 
farm  busily  engaged  in  its  cultivation,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  that   time  sold   it   very   advantage- 


830 


PORTRAIT  AND  HIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ously.  In  1858  he  bought  tbis  section  in  partner- 
siiip  with  (i.  Scheible,  ihe  latter  making  his  home 
here.  Jn  18G3  our  subject  bought  liira  out  and  in 
186  t  moved  on  the  place.  He  has  developed  a  fine 
farm  from  the  raw  prairie,  making  valuable  im- 
provements until  it  has  become  one  of  the  most 
desirable  estates  in  this  part  of  the  county.  In 
1882  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  ad- 
joining his  homestead  for  §8,250,  and  now  has 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  tillable  land 
all  under  the  best  of  cultivation  and  has  five  acres 
in  timber,  and  besides  this  propertj'  he  owns  some 
lots  in  I'rinceville.  Ills  farm  is  well  watered  by 
Mud  Run.  and  is  hedged,  most  of  which  was  done 
by  himself.  lie  built  an  addition  to  the  house 
and  has  fitted  it  up  into  a  commodious  and  con- 
veniently arranged  dwelling,  and  has  substantial 
barns  and  other  outbuildings  on  the  place.  A 
view  of  this  pleasant  liomestead  is  presented  on 
another  [lage.  Beautiful  groves  and  an  orchard 
adorn  the  place,  and  everything  about  it  is  well 
ordered.  Me  raises  abundant  harvests  of  corn  and 
oats  in  his  fertile  fields,  and  gives  much  attention 
to  raising  and  feeding  cattle,  shipping  a  car-load 
each  year,  and  has  a  fine  lot  of  hogs,  and  eighteen 
head  of  horses,  using  five  teams  to  operate  his 
farm. 

April  7,  185'2,  was  the  date  of  our  subject's 
marriage  to  Miss  Louisa  Wieland,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  in  Trivoli  Township.  She  was  a 
native  of  the  same  town  as  himself  and  came  from 
(iermany  to  America  in  1849.  She  was  in  Chester 
Connt^-,  Fa.,  for  three  years,  and  then  came  to  this 
Slate.  Her  death  occurred  here  September  21, 
1884,  and  was  a  severe  blow  to  her  family  and 
many  friends.  She  was  a  good  and  true  woman 
and  left  behind  her  the  memory  of  a  life  well 
spent. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  was  fruitful  of  nine 
children,  namely:  Mary,  wife  of  J.  Wolfe,  of 
Whiteside  County,  III.;  JIargaret  S.,  who  died 
November  9.  18G4;  Caroline  F.,  who  died  August 
14,  1874;  Christian  F.,  who  died  August  30,  1874; 
Charles  H.,  a  farmer;  Joseph  G.,  and  William  F. 
at  home  with  their  father ;  Louisa  F.,wife  of  J.  Stein- 
man,  of  Johnson  County,  Kan;  and  Godfrey  W., 
who  married  Catherine  Nies,  a  native  of  Germany. 


During  his  long  residence  here  Mr.  Fritz's  hon- 
orable course  in  life  has  been  such  as  to  win  him 
universal  respect  and  he  is  a  great  favorite  with 
all  who  have  come  under  the  genial  inttuence  of 
his  guileless,  manly  character,  his  pleasant,  helpful 
ways,  and  his  unswerving  adherence  to  the  right. 
He  has  long  mingled  in  the  public  life  of  the  town- 
ship, and  his  fellow-citizens  have  found  him  to  be 
a  safe  counselor  and  a  good  worker  in  the  various 
offices  he  has  held.  He  has  been  School  Director 
for  years  and  School  Trustee  for  several  terms, 
and  has  often  been  Supervisor  of  Roails.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Princeville  Grange  and  belongs 
to  the  Detective  Thief  and  Mutual  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  Is  not 
radical  in  his  views.  Religiously  he  is  a  Luth- 
eran and  faithfull}'  and  liberally  supports  his 
church.     He  has  been  a  petit  juryman. 

AMES  WICKWIRK,  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  respected  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  was  an  early  pioneer  of  Trivoli 
Township,  with  whose  interests  he  has  been 
closel3'  connected  for  many  j'ears  .as  one  of  its  most 
practical  and  successful  farmers  and  stock-raisers, 
and  here  he  is  passing  the  closing  3'ears  of  a  long 
and  useful  life  in  retirement  in  one  of  its  most 
pleasant  homes. 

errant  Wickwire.  father  of  our  subject  was  born 
in  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  August  7,  1781,  at 
South  Farms.  Ills  f.ither,  James  Wickwire,  was  also 
a  native  of  that  State,  where  he  carried  on  business 
as  a  tanner  and  currier,  until  his  death.  He  reared 
a  large  family,  and  two  of  his  sons — Barnes  and 
Alvin,  enlisted  for  five  3'ears  in  the  Regular  Uni- 
ted States  Army  and  took  part  in  the  War  of  1812. 
The  Wickwires  trace  their  ancestr3'  back  to  the 
Morehouse  famil3'  of  Scotland.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  a  shoemaker  b3'  trade  and  also  followed 
farming  in  his  days.  In  1807,  he  moved  to  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,and  located  in  Florence.  He  bought 
a  farm  of  seventy  acres  north  of  Camden,  improved 
it  and  engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  he  retired. 
Our  subject  went  to  bring  him  here   and  brought 


PUUTUAIT  A^'l)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


831 


him  as  far  as  Southport,  where  tliey  stopped  at.  the 
bouse  of  one  of  bis  sons,  where  lie  was  stricken  with 
paralysis  and  dieil  October  20,  1858,  at  tlie  age  of 
seventy-seven  j'ears.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State 
militia  tliat  \fas  called  out  at  Saclictts  Harbor  in  the 
W;ii(ir  1812.  lie  was  a  Congregationalist  in  religion 
and  11  Dtmoerat  in  politics. 

JIary  Throop,  mother  of  our  i>uli3ccl,  was  born 
December  8,  1782,  in  Litchfield,  C'oiui.,  and  was  a 
daugliler  of  Benjamin  Throop,  a  native  of  that 
Slate,  and  a  fanner  and  mill  owner.  He  was  of 
French  descent.  The  mother  came  here  and  died 
at  the  home  of  a  son  in  Orion  Township,  Fulton 
County,  February  12,  18G0.  Siie  had  ten  children, 
one  of  whom  died  when  a  babe;  the  others  were 
named:  IMaiy,  James,  Benjamin,  Sarah,  Deborah, 
Alvin,  Horatio,  Sabrina  and  Merrilt. 

James  WicUwire,  was  born  near  Florence  in 
Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  February  1,  1808.  Reared 
on  a  farm  he  used  to  help  burn  brush,  drive  oxen, 
plow  and  cutgrain  with  a  sickle.  He  was  educated 
ill  the  subscription  schools  and  had  to  ride  on 
horseback  a  distance  of  three  miles  to  the  school- 
house.  When  he  was  twenty  years  old  he  left  home 
to  serve  an  ap[)rcnticcship  to  the  trade  of  carpen- 
ter. He  subseqnentl}-  worked  at  lliat  and  at  farm- 
ing, buying  sixty  acres  of  laml.  But  it  was  stony 
and  hard  to  cultivate,  so  he  sold  it  and  in  1833 
took  a  trip  to  Michigan,  going  by  canal  to  Buffalo, 
and  l)y  boat  to  Detroit  and  thence  set  out  on  foot 
through  the  wilderness  of  Oakland  and  Shiawassee 
Counties.  But  he  found  the  counliy  too  mucli  in- 
feste<l  with  ague  and  returned  huiuc.  The  next 
spring  lie  came  here,  traveling  by  wati'r  to  C'leve- 
lanil,  thence  on  the  canal  tu  l\)rtsuioutii,  wlience  he 
went  to  Cincinnati,  and  from  Uicri'  liy  river  to  St. 
Louis  and  to  Peoria,  which  he  found  a  small  place 
of  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  inhabitants. 
He  was  three  weeks  and  five  days  in  performing 
the  journe}'  hitlier,  arriving  June  3,  1834.  He  lo- 
cated in  Peoria,  and  engaged  in  carpentering.  In 
1835  he  helped  raise  the  cupola  on  tiie  old  court 
house.  June  25,  1835,  he  entered  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  7,Trivoli  Town- 
ship, from  the  Government.  The  settlers  in  the 
township  at  that  time  were  Alonzo  Green,  Joel 
Brown,  James,  Dav  id  and  Isaac  Harkness,  two  of 


the  Clark  family  and  Eli  Wilson.  Our  subject  had 
helped  build  the  jail  in  Penria.  and  here  he  erected 
a  small  frame  house  the  timber  for  which  he  luid 
hewed  and  split  himself,  and  he  drove  everv  nail. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wickwire,  were  tiie  first  couple 
ever  married  in  this  township,  and  the  ceremony 
that  made  them  one  was  performed  May  17,  1837, 
iu  the  home  in  which  the}'  now  live,  bj'  the  Rev. 
George  Sill.  iMrs.  Wickwire's  maiden  name  was 
Julia  Wilson,  and  her  father  was  Eli  Wilson,  a  na- 
tive of  Ilarwinton,  Conn.  Her  grandfather,  also 
bearing  that  name,  was  a  farmer  of  English  ex- 
traction, born  in  that  old  New  England  State  of  a 
prominent  family.  The  father  was  educated  in 
Yale  College  and  in  1818,  settled  in  the  wilds  of 
t)neida  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  cleared  a  farm, 
and  also  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  schools  besides 
being  a  teacher  of  vocal  music  and  a  leader  of  the 
choir.  In  1834,  he  came  to  this  county  with  his 
family  at  the  same  time  that  our  snljject  came,  ar- 
riving in  Farmington  in  a  prairie  schooner,  June  1. 
He  became  wealthy  and  ilie  owner  of  several  hun- 
dred acres  of  land.  He  was  connected  with  the 
educational  interests  of  the  township  and  was  a 
Whig  in  politics  and  a  Congregalionalist  in  religion. 
During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  lived  retireil 
until  his  death  at  the  age  of  eight^'-live  in  1875. 
His  wife  was  named  Julia  Candeeandsho  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  a  daughter  of  David  Candee,  a 
large  and  wealth j'  land-owner  of  that  State.  Slie 
died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years.  Mrs. 
Wickwire  was  one  of  eight  children  and  was  born 
September  22,  1817,  in  Connecticut.  She  was  well 
educated  and  was  a  teacher  by  [irofession  and 
taught  the  first  school  ever  taught  in  Farmington, 
which  was  conducted  in  the  rudest  of  school-houses. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Wickwire  bought  this  present  place 
of  his  wife's  father,  and  has  since  made  many 
valuable  improvements.  His  residence  is  a  large 
stone,  two  and  one-half  story  house,  28x5G  feet, 
which  lie  completed  himself,  and  he  has  two  sub- 
stantial barns,  one  30x50  feet,  and  other  necessary 
buildings.  The  farm  is  fenced  and  is  well  drained 
with  sixteen  thousand  tiles,  and  has  fine  orchards 
and  groves.  He  gave  one  acre  of  his  land  for  the 
schoolhouse.  Mr.  Wilson  and  Ed  Harkness  laid 
out  a  town  which  included  part  of  his  farm,  calling 


832 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


it  Harkness.  But  it  is  now  extinct  and  our  subject 
lias  bought  baclv  the  lots  that  he  sold.  He  has  rented 
his  farm  since  1875,  and  it  is  now  under  the  man- 
agement of  his  son.  Mr.  Wickwire  is  justly  con- 
sidered one  of  our  best  citizens:  he  has  been  As- 
sessor for  one  j'ear,  Commissioner  of  Highways 
several  years  and  has  been  Township  School  Trus- 
tee for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
I'nion  League  during  the  war,  and  before  that  time 
was  an  active  Abolitionist  and  was  a  conductor  on 
the  underground  railroad  and  led  many  a  negro  to 
Rochester,  on  the  Sj.oon  River,  on  their  wa^'  to 
Canada  and  freedom.  He  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
voted  for  W.  H.  Harrison,  in  18-10,  and  for  his 
grandson  in  1888. 

Mr.  Wickwire  and  wife  have  had  three  children; 
Mary  E. ;  Maria,  who  died  when  four3'ears  okl,  and 
Charles  W.  Mary  married  C.  E.  Pettit,  of  Henry 
County,  and  died  there  leaving  a  family  of  five 
children,  four  living. 

Charles  W.  Wickwire  was  born  in  Trivoli  Town- 
s'.iip,  on  the  old  homestead  December  31,  1846.  He 
was  well  educated  in  the  )>ublic  schools  and  in  Lom- 
t);ird  University  at  Galesburg.  When  he  was  seven- 
teen years  old,  he  enlisted  May  2, 1864,  in  the  One 
ilundredlli  and  Tiiirly -second  Hlinois  Infantry,  in 
Company  1),  aud  was  mustered  in  at  Chicago,  as 
Cor[)oral.  He  was  sent  witli  his  company'  to  Cairo, 
and  thence  to  Columbus,  Ky.,  where  he  engaged  in 
skirmishes  and  did  guard  duly  and  was  similarl}- 
engaged  in  Tennessee.  He  was  sent  to  Chicago  to 
be  mustered  ont,when  Gen.  Forrest  began  his  depre- 
dations in  theSjuth,  and  he  was  then  dispatched  to 
.St.  Louis  whence  he  returned  to  Chicago,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  October  17,  1804. 

Mr.  Wickwire  remained  at  home  until  his  mar- 
riage October  11,  1870,  to  Miss  Almeda  Beals,  a 
native  of  Clinton  Count>'.  Ohio,  and  a  daugiiter  of 
.Jesse  and  Mar}'  A.  (liowen)  Beals.  Her  parents 
came  here  in  ISfiG,  from  their  old  home  in  New 
A'ienna,  Ohio,  and  located  at  (ialesburg.  Mr.  Beals 
was  out  of  iiealth  when  he  came  to  Galesburg,  and 
died  in  that  city.  His  widow  still  resides  there. 
Mrs.  Wickwire  was  a  graduate  of  Lombard  in  the 
class  of  '68,  and  was  teaching  when  she  first  met  our 
subject.  In  1874,  he  went  to  Central  America  and 
remained  there  a  year,  then  returned  home  and    in 


1876,  bought  a  farm  adjoining  the  old  homestead 
and  lived  there  until  1877.  when  he  removed  to 
Prairie  City,  Jasper  Count}',  Iowa.  He  bought  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  improved  aud  fenced  it  dur- 
ing his  residence  there  of  five  \'ears.  In  1882,  he 
sold  that  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Prairie  City, 
where  he  managed  a  meat  market  and  engaged  in 
the  stock  business  until  he  returned  to  his  old  home, 
and  in  1883  he  located  on  his  father's  farm  and  has 
since  carried  it  on  with  excellent  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Wickwire  have  four  chil- 
dren: Jessie  W.  attended  the  High  School  at 
Farmington  two  years  and  was  then  a  student  at 
Lombard  University,  until  she  left  to  engage  in 
teaching  when  seventeen  years  old,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  beit  teachers  in  Trivoli  Town- 
ship; the  names  of  the  others  are — Lila  J..  Alice 
W..  and  John  W. 


"-^3- 


\f  ACOB  WACHENHEIMER.  There  are  per. 
haps  few  young  men  in  the  Stale  of  Illi- 
nois more  successful  in  his  vocation  than 
Jacob  Wachenlieimer,  and  certainly  none 
who  has  the  details  of  the  insurance  business  more 
thoroughly  at  his  command.  He  has  been  bred  to 
the  business,  having  first  engaged  in  it  when  but 
sixteen  3'ears  old,  and  his  schooling  in  large  ollices 
has  proved  of  great  value.  He  is  deserving  of 
honorable  mention  in  this  volume  as  a  business  man 
of  ability  and  honor,  and  likewise  for  his  manly 
character  and  general  intelligence. 

The  birthplace  of  JMr.  Wachenhcimer  was  in  the  • 
city  of  New  York,  March  14,  1855.  He  is  the  son 
of  Abraham  and  Fanny  (Lev}')  Wachenheimer,  and 
has  three  brothers  and  sisters.  These  are :  Marcus, 
a  merchant  in  Vicksburg,  Miss.;  Julius,  a  whole- 
sale liqvior  dealei  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.;  and  Bes- 
sie, wife  of  James  Louchien,  of  New  York.  The 
father  was  a  merchant  in  the  American  metrop- 
olis, whence  he  removed  to  Peoria  in  1858.  At 
the  time  of  his  death,  December  24,  1874,  he  was 
in  the  Government  employ  as  storekeeper.  His 
widow  died  in  Peoria  in  1870. 

Our  subject  was  well  schooled  in  his  earl}-  years 


w 


Q/,<^,yv/ju 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


835 


and  at  the  age  of  lifteon  enteii'd  a  dry-goods  stove 
as  cloik.  A  year  later  be  entered  the  office  of 
Robinson  ife  Callender,  insurance  agents,  witliwliom 
he  remained  some  three  years.  He  was  liien  called  to 
Philadelphia  as  Assistant  to  the  Manager  of  the 
Franklin  Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  remained 
there  six  years.  On  the  death  of  ^Ir.  Robinson,  in 
1880,  Mr.  AVaclienhcimer  resigned  his  position  in 
Philadelphia,  returning  to  Peoria  to  become  a  |iart- 
ner  with  Eliot  Callander  and  manager  of  the  larg- 
est agency  in  the  State  outside  of  Chicago.  They 
make  a  specialty  of  securing  large  lines  of  insur- 
ance. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride,  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
June  1.5,  ]87(),  Mr.  Wachenheimer  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Susie  E.  Hood,  a  charming 
young  lady  of  culture  and  refinement  who  has  lie- 
come  very  popular  in  Peoria.  Mi'.  Wachenheimer 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  one  of 
the  few  who  liave  taken  tlie  thirtj'-second  degree. 
His  political  adherence  is  given  to  the  Repul)lican 
party. 


^ILLIAM  C.  H.  BARTON,  a  man  of  wealth 
and  one  of  the  largest  landowners  in  Peoria 
County,  is  the  proprietor  and  founder  of 
Bartonville.  His  name  is  indissolulil^'  associated 
with  the  growth  and  progress  of  Peoria  County,  al- 
most from  its  origin,  .as  he  has  always  been  fore- 
most in  all  enterprises  to  promote  its  development, 
and  there  has  been  no  scheme  evolved  to  advance 
the  business  and  social  interests  of  Limestone  Town- 
ship, where  he  makes  his  home,  with  which  he  has 
not  been  prominently  connected.  He  has  also  been 
a  conspicuous  figure  in  )iublic  life,  and  h.<js  held  of- 
fices of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  has  been  largely 
identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  the 
county  and  owns  one  of  the  finest  farms  to  be  found 
in  this  part  of  the  Slate. 

Mr.  Barton  is  a  native  of  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born  May  14,  1818,  to  A'incent  and 
Mary  (Wright)  Barton.  The  famil}' on  the  Bar- 
ton side  was  related  to  Gen.  William  H.  Harrison, 
and  our  subject  was  named  for  him  and  for  his 
brother  C'oatsworth,   the  former   being   then  but  a 


Lieutenant  in  the  army.  The  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject were  of  old  Virginia  slock  and  were  married 
in  Ohio.  He  was  seven  years  of  age  when  they 
came  to  this  State  and  to  Peoria,  then  but  a  trad- 
ing-post. There  was  one  store  hero  and  two 
in  the  village  of  Wesley,  then  a  larger  and  more 
important  place  than  Peoria,  and  where  the  Bar- 
tons and  their  neighbors  had  to  go  to  do  the  most 
of  their  trading.  A  Frenchman  by  the  name  of 
Crozier  kept  a  little  trading  store  in  Peoria  for  the 
sale  of  such  articles  as  he  could  barter  with  the  In- 
dians. 

Our  subject  has  a  distinct  remembrance  of  the 
red  men  who  once  made  their  home  here,  and 
knew  Shackle,  who  had  a  large  family  and  used  to 
camp  on  the  hills  opposite  Peoria,  a  little  above 
the  town.  Old  Shabbona,  with  his  family,  used  to 
camp  just  below  where  Mr.  Barton  now  lives,  so- 
journing there  several  winters.  The  squaws  were 
very  virtuous,  as  to  lose  their  ch.astity  was  to  have 
their  noses  cut  off,  and  'Sir.  Barton  can  remember 
seeing  several  who  had  been  thus  punished.  The  In- 
dians here  were  mostly  I'ottawafomies,  a  few  Sauks 
and  Foxes,  .and  an  occasional  Ottawa.  To  illus- 
trate the  Indian  character,  Mr.  Barton  tells  the 
following  stor)':  '-At  one  time  an  Indian  killed  a 
Frenchman  at  the  ferry  where  the  bridge  now 
stands,  and  he  w.as  arrested  and  given  a  trial  and 
sentenced  to  be  hanged.  A  Mr.  .lohn  L.  Bogardus 
was  the  only  lawyer  here  at  the  time,  and  was 
Court  Constable  and  Slieriff,  and  also  -Judge  of 
the  Court,  and  in  his  capacity  of  Sheriff  he 
was  given  the  custody  of  the  prisoner  for  safe 
keeping.  He  had  no  room  in  which  to  imprison 
him  as  his  house  was  but  a  small  log  cabin,  and  he 
had  to  allow  him  to  sleep  in  the  corn  crib.  'J'he 
Indian  made  no  attempt  to  effect  an  escape.  Mr. 
P.ogardns  thought  to  put  him  to  good  use,  and  set 
him  to  work  in  his  garden  to  pull  weeds.  That 
was  too  much  for  the  Indian,  who  ran  away  and 
was  never  heard  of  afterw.ard.  He  could  stand  it 
to  be  hanged,  but  drew  the  line  at  work." 

The  parents  of  our  subject  died  in  1834,  one  in 
August  and  the  other  in  December,  an<l  arc  now 
lying  sleeping  their  last  sleep  near  Mossville,  where 
they  owned  a  farm  at  the  time  of  their  death.  Our 
subj(>ct  has    lived  within    six    miles   of   Peoria  and 


836 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


much  of  the  time  in  the  town  since  he  came  here 
more  than  half  a  century  ago.  As  a  bo.y  he  traded 
with  the  Indians,  which  was  an  easy  matter  if  one 
could  secure  a  jug  of  whisky.  There  were  no  schools 
in  or  about  the  town,  though  once  in  a  while  some 
one  would  start  a  subscription  school,  so  that  he 
was  twenty  j'ears  of  age  before  he  obtained  any 
schooling,  with  the  exception  of  three  weeks  he 
went  to  a  Mr.  Ward,  who  opened  a  school  in  a 
small  log  cabin  on  the  ground  where  our  subject's 
house  now  stands.  In  182G  a  iNIrs.  Clark  started  a 
sciiool  in  a  little  log  house  on  Farm  Cieek,  in  Taze- 
well Coui:t3\  She  conducted  it  for  awhile  with  good 
success,  and  then  a  number  of  Mormons  came  and 
got  so  many  to  join  them  and  go  back  to  Missouri 
that  the  school  was  broken  up  for  want  of  sup- 
port, and  the  teacher  married  a  jNtonnon  1)3'  the 
name  of  Cooper  aud  went  away  with  him. 

Our  subject  went  to  a  school  on  LaSalle  Prairie 
in  1838-39,  taught  by  Mr.  Archibald  ijayborn.  Af- 
ter leaving  school  he  went  into  the  lumber  l)usiness 
upon  the  Kickapoo,  and  subsequently-  bought  a  mill 
in  Peoria,  located  on  the  river  near  the  Moss  dis- 
tillery. This  lie  operated  for  three  yeais  and  then 
sold  out  to  Capt.  INIoss  in  1847.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  along  the  Kick- 
|)oo  River  Bottoms,  comprising  one  thousand  acres, 
which  he  had  purchased  for  the  timber.  He  felled 
the  trees  standing  on  it,  manufactured  the  log's  into 
lumber  at  his  mill,  and  then  located  on  the  land 
thus  cleared  and  commenced  to  place  it  under  cul- 
tivation. He  can  truly  say  that  he  has  made  four 
hundred  acres  of  fine  farming  land  from  the  pri- 
meval forest.  He  now  owns  about  six  hundred  iicres, 
having  sold  some  four  hundred  acres  to  his  brother. 
His  farm  comprises  two  hundred  aud  lift}'  acres  of 
the  finest  bottom  land  in  the  world.  It  is  surpa,ss- 
ingly  productive,  and  under  judicious  tillage  yields 
him  fine  harvests  and  a  solid  income.  He  has  pro- 
vided  it  with  substantial,  roomy  and  well-appointed 
buildings,  and  first-class  machinery,  and  ever\-thing 
about  the  place  wears  the  air  of  thrift  and  shows 
the  best  of  management. 

yiv.  Barton  was  married,  in  1850,  to  Miss  Mary 
Ann.  daughter  of  Isaac  Kicketts.  of  Peoria.  Her 
family  came  to  this  county-  from  Indiana  and  were 
pioneers   of   tliis    region.     Mr.   and    Mrs.  Barton's 


pleasant  wedded  life  has  been  productive  to  them 
of  three  children:  Harry  Spencer,  a  farmer  on  his 
father's  farm,  is  married  and  has  one  child,  Pearl; 
Nancy  J., wife  of  Samuel  Brewer,  of  Shelby  County, 
has  two  cliildren;  William  Warren  is  at  home  with 
his  parents.  They  were  all  given  excellent  educa- 
tions in  the  public  schools  and  the  boys  are  gradu- 
ates of  the  commercial  college  at  Peoria. 

A  residence  here  of  more  than  sixtj-  j'ears  has 
given  Mr.  Barton  the  advantage  of  witnessing  al- 
most the  entire  growth  of  the  county  in  whose  de 
velopment  he  has  so  ably  assisted,  and  his  name  is 
connected  with  many  a  worthy  enterprise  to  pro- 
mote the  the  welfare  of  the  communitA'.  He  has 
a  wide  and  extensive  acquaintance,  and  the  con- 
duct of  his  life  has  been  such  as  to  win  him  the  re- 
spect and  regard  of  all.  His  fellow- citizens  have 
honored  him  by  electing  him  to  various  offices  of 
trust,  which  he  has  filled  with  characteristic  fidel- 
ity and  abilitj'.  He  has  served  two  terms  as  Super- 
visor of  the  town,  being  a  member  of  the  Board  at 
the  time  the  new  courthouse  was  built,  and  in  this 
connection  we  m.aj"  remark  that  when  a  joung  man 
he  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  old  courthouse. 
He  has  been  Director  of  schools  and  School  Trustee 
for  the  past  Iwentj-  years,  and  to  his  faithful  work 
the  town  is  greatlj-  indebted  for  its  present  excel- 
lent school  system.  In  his  early  years  Mr.  Barton 
was  a  AVhig,  and  on  the  formation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  naturallj'  took  his  place  in  its  ranks, 
aud  has  been  in  the  line  ever  since.  He  cast  his 
first  vote  for  William  H.  Harrison  .and  supported 
the  grandson  of  that  gentleman  at  the  time  of  his 
election  in  1888. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  liarton  is  presented  on  another 
page. 


LBERT  G.  POWELL  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  best  known  settlers  of  HoUis  Town- 
'  ship,  to  which  he  came  in  August,  1837. 
At  that  time  the  only  residents  of  the 
township  were  Messrs.  Thomas  .and  Topping,  two 
Englishmen,  who  had  come  hither  in  1836;  John 
Dnllield.  who  lived  on  section  20,  and  John  Essex 
aud  Xat   Richardson,  who  lived  upon   the  hill.   All 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


837 


these  have  passed  to  the  bourne  from  which  no 
tiavelei-  returns.  A  few  years  later  AVilliani  S. 
and  Mary  II.  ( Davis)  Powell,  the  parents  of  our 
subject,  also  came  hither  accompanied  by  their  two 
sons — Isaac  and  Abraham,  their  son-in-law,  Kobert 
Buchanan,  and  a  IMr.  .Tames  .Tones.  These  are  all 
now  deceased,  the  last  to  [lass  away  having  been 
Aliraham,  who  breathed  his  last  in  October,  1889. 
The  I'owell  family  is  of  AVelsh  extraction  and 
the  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Loudoun 
County,  \ix.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
as  was  also  his  brother  Charles,  who  was  killed  at 
tHe  siege  of  Norfolk.  After  his  marriage  he  made 
his  home  in  Guernsey-  County,  Ohio,  until  1844, 
when  he  followed  his  son  to  Illinois.  He  of  whom 
we  write  was  born  iu  Cambridge,  the  count}-  seat 
of  Guernse}-  County,  July  16,  1818,  and  was  nine- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  came  to  what  was  then 
the  Wild  West.  It  took  a  letter  over  a  week  to 
reach  Ohio,  whither  it  now  goes  in  less  than  twent}'- 
four  hours,  and  the  carriage  of  it  cost  twenty-five 
cents.  During  the  tirst  few  years  of  Mr.  Powell's 
residence  here,  Peoria  was  Tnit  a  handet  with  two 
or  three  stores,  that  of  Griswold  and  Cortenius,  on 
what  is  now  Water  Street,  being  the  first  and  most 
important,  an  1  another  being  oi)cned  by  a  ]\Ir. 
Varis.  JNIilling  was  done  at  Hale's  JNIills,  ujion  the 
Kickapoo  Kirer. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  with  his  father,  and  worked  at 
it  many  j-ears.  Some  twenty  years  ago  he  aban- 
doned it  and  settled  uiion  land  which  was  then 
covered  with  forests,  but  which  he  has  cleared  and 
made  into  a  line  estate.  It  compri--es  two  tracts  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty-seven,  and  eighty  acres  re- 
spectively', the  entire  four  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  acres  lying  within  a  range  of  two  miles.  His 
son  Crant  is  now  his  chief  assistant  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  estate,  the  father  feeling  that  his 
years  and  long  labors  entitle  him  to  a  certain  with- 
drawal from  the  cares  of  life.  He  is  bj'  no  means 
inactive,  however,  but  does  a  fair  share  of  mental 
and  physical  work. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Powell  was  celebrated 
iu  October,  1841,  his  bride  being  Miss  Eliza  .Jones, 
who  bore  him  three  children.  Of  these  Smith  is 
now   deceased,  having    died  at  the    age    of    forty 


years;  John  is  now  living  in  Hilton,  this  State,  is 
married  and  has  four  children;  Emily  is  tlie  wife 
of  .lohn  A.  Calhoun,  of  HoUis  Township,  her  fam- 
ily consisting  of  ten  children.  The  mother  of  these 
three  children  having  been  removed  bj'  death,  Mr. 
Powell  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance  in 
18G5.  He  won  as  his  wife  Mrs.  Margaret  Starts, 
who  has  borne  him  tive  children — Charles  Grant. 
Maggie,  Scott.  Albert  and  Walter,  all  of  whom 
are  3et  at  home.  Mrs.  Margaret  Powell  is  the 
mother  of  three  children  by  her  former  marriage. 
They  are:  Melissa;  Mary,  wife  of  Walter  Ilought- 
aling,  of  Warren  County.  Iowa,  .and  the  mother  of 
two  children;  and  Hugh,  also  of  Iowa,  who  mar- 
ried a  Kansas  lady  and  has  two  children. 

Mr.  Powell  is  a  Kcpublican  and  a  member  of 
the  I^a  Marsh  15aptist  Church.  He  was  the  first 
Assessor  of  Hollis  Township,  Init  has  taken  no  act- 
ive part  in  public  affairs  since  those  early  days. 
All  intelligent  and  law-abidinij  citizen,  honorable 
in  his  dealings  with  humanity  and  kindly  in  his 
domestic  relations,  he  is  highly  regarded  by  those 
who  know  him,  irrespective  of  the  esteem  which 
his  labors  as  a  |)ioneer  have  earned. 


?-*^ -^ 


m 


"\f]OHN  P.  WILEY  is  numbered  among  the 
skillful  and  business  like  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers,  who  are  active  in  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Logan  Township.  Horn  Sept- 
ember "22,  18.35,  he  is  a  native  of  Piqua,  Ohio,  and 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (McCullougli)  Wiley. 
His  father  was  born  in  .luniata  County,  Pa  ,  Octo- 
ber 21,  1810,  and  his  mother  in  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  October  2i),  LSO'.I,  He  w.as  a  son  of  -Tohu 
Wiley,  who  w.as  a  farmer  and  served  in  the  War  of 
1 812,  .as  a  Major.  About  1812,  he  settled  amongst 
the  pioneers  of  Miami  County.  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
his  remaining  d,a3S  on  a  f.arm.  He  acquired  wealth 
and  gave  to  each  of  his  sons  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  still  proprie- 
tor of  two  hundred  .acres.  He  had  three  sous  and 
one  daughter,  Samuel,  William,  John  and  Margaret. 
Samuel  and  John  left  families.  The  grandfather 
'of  our  subject  was  a  memlier  of  tlie  .Vssociatc  Re- 


838 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


form  Cbureli,  now  tlie  United  Presliyteriau  Cliuicli. 
lie  was  the  son  of  one  Samiu^l  Wile\%  who  served 
throughout  the  Re%'olutionar3-  War. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  the-  daughter  of 
John  ^IcCuUough  and  her  mother's  maiden  name 
was  McClung.  Her  parents  removed  to  Ohio  in 
the  early  days  of  its  settlement,  and  became  pio- 
neer farmers  of  Adams  County.  Later  they  re- 
moved to  Shelby  County,  where  her  father  was 
engaged  as  a  merchant.  They  had  eigiit  children, 
named  Samuel,  James.  Sarah,  Eliza,  Jlarv,  John. 
Thomas  P.,  and  Hadassah,  all  of  whom  married 
and  reared  children  except  James. 

Samuel  Wile}',  father  of  our  subject,  was  two 
years  old  when  his  parents  left  their  old  home  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  sought  a  new  one  in  the  pri- 
meval wilds  of  Ohio,  and  there  he  was  bred  to  the  life 
of  a  farmer.  He  came  to  this  county  in  a  wagon 
In  1852  and  w.as  three  weeks  on  the  way.  He  se- 
lected a  tract  of  one  iiundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
wild  land  on  section  3,  and  here  dwelt  until  death 
called  him  hence  February  14,  1877.  His  wife 
survived  him  until  October  29,  1888,  when  she  too 
joined  the  great  majority-.  They  had  six  children: 
Hadassah  J.  wife  of  Ste  wartGlasgow,  of  Logan  Town- 
shi|);  John  P;  William, of  LoganTownship  who  served 
in  the  war;  James  P.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years;  Samuel  M.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years;  and  Joseph  I.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years.  Their  parents  were  among  the  prom- 
inent members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Churcli 
of  Logan  Townshi]).  in  whose  organization  they 
assisted. 

Receiving  his  book  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  his  training  as  a  farmer  ou  the  old 
homestead,  our  subject  grew  to  stalwart  manhood 
and  afforded  his  father  great  assistance  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  agricultur.ll  interests  until  the  age 
of  twenty-three,  when  he  started  out  for  himself, 
as  a  renter  of  a  farm.  In  1877  he  made  his  first 
purchase  of  land,  buying  at  that  time  eighty-eight 
acres  of  his  homestead.  In  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber, 1889,  he  located  where  he  now  resides  at  Ilau- 
nah  Station,  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  belonging  to  his  wife.  He  has  shown  himself 
to  bo  a  first-class  farmer  in  every  respect,  tilling 
his  field  aftcy  the  best  methods,   having   neat  and 


substantial  buildings,  and  the  best  of  farming  ma- 
chinery and  keeping  everything  about  his  place  in 
good  order. 

A  veteran  of  the  late  war,  our  subject  won  a 
'  military  record  as  a  brave  and  capable  soldier,  of 
which  he  and  his  may  well  be  proud.  August  14, 
18C2,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Seventy -seventh 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  took  an  active  part  in  many^ 
battles  and  skirmishes,  showing  himself  to  be  a 
cool  and  courageous  in  the  face  of  danger,  and  ever 
ready  to  do  his  duty  ou  ever}'  occasion  and  prompt 
in  the  discharge  of  it.  He  w.as  present  at  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg,  was  at  the  battles  of  Arkansas  Post, 
Magnolia  Hill,  Champion  Hills,  and  Big  Black 
River.  His  regiment  accompanied  Banks  on  the 
Red  River  Expedition  and  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Kane  River  and  Sabine  P.ass.  They  met  the 
enemy  at  Ft.  Gaines  and  at  Ft.  Morgan;  were  active 
in  the  capture  of  Spanish  Fort;  and  fought  their 
last  battle  at  Whistler's  Station.  Soon  after  enter- 
ing the  service  our  subject  was  selected  by  his 
superior  officer  as  well  qualified  for  the  post  of 
Sergeant.  He  was  afterwards  promoted  to  be  Or- 
derly .Sergeant  and  .icted  in  that  capacity  the  last 
year  he  was  in  the  army.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged July  10,  1865,  at  Mobile,  Ala.  His  servi- 
ces during  the  war  are  now  commemorated  by  his 
connection  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
In  every  department  in  life  he  h.as  shown  himself 
to  be  eminently  trustworthy,  acd  no  citizen  of  this 
township  is  regarded  with  greater  confidence  and 
honor  than  he.  He  and  his  wife  are  people  of  social 
prominence  and  religiously  are  identified  with  the 
United  Presbj'terian  Church  as  two  of  its  most 
zealous  members. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiley  were  united  in  marriage 
February  13,  1879,  and  they  have  an  adopted 
daughter,  Jessie  M.  Beard.  Mrs.  W^iley's  maiden 
name  was  Mary  E.  Runkle,  and  she  was  born  on 
the  homestead  where  she  now  resides  June  2,  1839, 
being  the  daughter  of  John  I.  and  Mary  (Herring- 
ton)  Runkle,  who  were  early  pioneers  of  this 
county.  Her  paternal  grandf.ather,  John  Runkle, 
was  born  in  1 756,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  His 
wife's  maiden  name  w.as  Magdaline  Van  AVort. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  Runkle,  who  was  a  native  of 
the  Empire  State,  and  was  the  son  of  another  John 


^  -T;-;^-. 


^^^ 


^'^'^ 


€ 


i 


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$ 

K 


i^l,ri(iy-rv\kiy^  J^'^Jl/ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


841 


Runkle,  who  came  fiotii  German}-  to  this  country  in 
Colonial  times.  The  A'anWorts  came  from  Hol- 
land. Mrs.  Wiley's  grandfather  died  February  17, 
1813.  Ho  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  Cluirch  in  which  he  was  an  Elder.  The 
following  are  the  children  born  to  him  and  his  wife: 
Elizabeth,  born  1797;  Mary,  1798;  John,  October 
1,  1800;  Elder,  Auo;ust  19,  1802;  Bari)ara,  Decem- 
ber 10,  1805;  Henry,  November  14,  1807;  Corne- 
lius, .lanunry  19,  1810;  and  Ann,  December  14, 
1812. 

.Mrs.  Wiley's  father  was  born  in  Albany  County, 
N.  Y.,  October  1,  1800,  and  was  the  first  of  the 
family  to  come  West,  two  of  his  brothers  coming 
later,  Cornelius  and  Henry,  settling  in  Knoxvillc, 
Knox  County,  and  Elder  coming  later  still,  located 
in  the  same  county.  John  Runkle  came  to  Logan 
Township  in  1833,  by  stage  and  water.  He  entered 
a,  tract  comprising  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  wild  piairie  land  on  sections  2  and  11,  and  in 
the  years  that  followed,  by  hard  pioneer  labor  im- 
proved a  valuable  farm.  At  his  death  here,  Au- 
gust 24,  1889,  one  of  the  most  venerated  pioneers 
passed  to  his  reward.  He  was  twice  married  and 
by  his  first  wife  had  seven  children,  of  whom  the 
following  four  grew  to  maturity-:  John,  a  resident 
of  Vulia  County,  Cal. ;  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Alfred 
Shepherd,  of  Harvey  County,  Kan.;  Sar.ah,  wife  of 
Moses  Beccher,  of  Peoria,  and  Mary  E.  His  first 
wife  died  April  2,  1842.  He  took  for  his  second 
wife  Mrs.  Fannie  Dusenberry,  and  by  that  marriage 
had  one  child.  Catherine  C,  wife  of  John  Nisley, 
of  Knoxville.    His  second  wife  died  April  C,  1883. 


»r^*^-' 


£^ 


-^f^- 


*.f^Os£-' 


"71  BRA  HAM  FRYE.  Peoria  County  is  greatly 
(@/j||    indebted  for  its  present  wealth  and   high 

///  IL  standing  to  the  sturdy,  intelligent,  enler- 
(^  prising  tillers  of  the  soil,  who  have  been 

instrumental  in  devi^loping  its  vast  agricultural 
resources.  As  a  worthy  member  of  its  farming 
poi)ulation  who  has  contrilnited  his  quota  towards 
its  advancement,  it  gives  us  pleasure  to  present  to 
the    readers  of  lliis  volume,  a  brief   review   of    the 


life  of  Abraham  Frye  whose  portrait  is  shown  on 
the  opposite  page.  A  representative  of  an  honored 
pioneer  family,  he  lias  himself  performed  the  i)io- 
neer  task  of  reclaiming  from  the  hand  of  Nature  a 
farm  which  is  finely  located  on  section  29,  Rich- 
wood  Township,  and  is  in  all  points  one  of  the 
most  desirable  in  the  neighborhood. 

Benjamin  Frye,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Sliafer,  was  also  of 
Pennsylvania  birth.  Her  father,  Thomas  .Sliafer, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionar}'  AVar.  The  par- 
ents of  our  subject  married  and  settled  in  Washing- 
ton County,  Pa.,  and  lived  there  until  1839.  In 
that  year  they  became  pioneers  of  this  county,  and 
early  settlers  of  Richwood  Township.  Here  they 
lived  for  more  than  forty  years,  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all.  Their  last  days  were  passed  in 
Hinsdale,  Cook  County.  They  had  nine  children, 
of  whom  the  two  eldest  died  when  quite  young, 
seven  growing  to  maturity. 

Our  subject  was  the  fourth  child  of  the  family 
and  was  born  in  Washington  Count}',  Pa.,  July  11, 
1814.  His  boyhood  was  passed  in  his  native  eoxmty, 
on  his  father'.?  farm.  In  1838  in  the  opening  j'ears 
of  a  vigorous  manhood,  he  came  to  Peoria  County, 
and  at  once  identified  himself  with  its  thrift}-,  ener- 
getic pioneers.  He  engaged  chiefly  in  farming  in 
Richwood  Tovvnship  and  now  has  a  fine  farm  of 
eighty  acres  on  section  29,  which  is  under  excellent 
tillage  and  is  jirovided  with  a  good  set  of  farm 
buildings,  suitable  machinery  and  all  things  nec- 
essary for  carrying  on  farming  properly. 

Mr,  Frye  came  to  Illinois  a  single  man,  but  he 
was  not  long  in  finding  a  helpmate,  and  on  the- 
25th  of  February,  1840,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  F^leanor  Campbell,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
She  bore  him  four  children:  Benjamin  D.,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Radnor  Township;  Mary  E. ;  Josephine 
and  Caleb  B.,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy.  .Septem- 
ber 20,  1848,  Mrs.  Frye  departed  this  life,  while 
yet  in  the  prime  of  womanhood. 

Mr.  Frj^e  was  married  a  second  time  in  I'eoria, 
January  27, 1853,  taking  Margaret  Belford,a  native 
of  Ohio,  as  his  wife.  They  have  had  the  following 
seven  children:  Frank  P.,  Emma  C,  wife  of  John 
AVeber,  Andrew  D.,  Ida  M.  wife  of  ('.  Eugene  Don- 


842 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ton ;  Richard  Yates  who  rlied  September  23, 1873,  at 
the  age  of  nirie  ^ears;  William  E,  and  Harvey  L., 
the  hitter  deceased. 

During  a  resi(]ence  in  this  countj^  of  more  than 
half  a  century,  our  subject  has  become  well-known, 
and  none  know  him  but  to  respect  him  for  the  ex 
cellence  of  his  character,  and  for  the  possession  of 
tiiose  trait,';,  such  as  tenacity  of  purpose,  thrift  and 
industry,  that  have  enabled  him  to  overcome  all 
the  obstacles  that  the  early  pioneers  of  this  Stale 
had  to  contend  with,  and  have  also  placed  him  in 
comfortable  circumstances.  Mr.  Frye  is  not  an 
office-seeker,  though  he  is  iiitiMcsted  in  public  affairs 
and  has  serveil  with  credit  in  some  of  the  school 
offices.  Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  sup- 
[lorting  his  party  by  voice  and  vole. 


-^^-% 


^p?l  AIN  ROBINSON  BLACK.  The  subject  of 
'if  <^w}  '''''^  sketch  is  a  native  of  Guernsey  Count3', 
"^^^  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  May  23, 1823.  He 
was  reared  in  his  native  place  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  to  which  he  has  added  by 
reading  and  observation  until  he  is  able  to  hold 
his  own  in  any  company.  When  twent^'-one  years 
of  age  he  left  home  and  removed  to  IVoria 
Counljr  where  he  settled,  choosing  Hollis  as  the 
place  of  his  future  residence.  He  is  the  son  of 
Joseph  and  Eliza  (Hutchinson)  Black,  natives  of 
Virginia,  who  migrated  with  their  respective  fami- 
lies to  Oliio  in  llieir  youth.  They  grew  to  matu- 
rity in  their  adopted  State  which  was  also  the  scene 
of  their  marriage  and  death.  They  had  a  famil3' 
of  eleven  children.  One  sister  married  and  re- 
moved to  Coles  County,  Ohio,  where  she  died. 

Our  subject  will  ever  remember  his  first  months 
in  Hollis,  for  soon  after  his  arrival  he  met  and  re- 
newed his  acquaintance  with  Miss  Susan  M.Powell, 
whom  he  had  previously  known  in  Ohio  and  who 
was  destined  to  exert  the  greatest  influence  over 
his  future  life.  Their  friendship  ripened  into  that 
mutual  esteem  which  should  precede  matrimony 
and  accordingly  their  nuptials  were  celebrated  in 
1819,  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents  amid  the 
good   wishes    of  hosts  of  friends.     Mrs.    Black    is 


a  sister  of  A.  J.  Powell,  a  sketch  of  whose  life 
found  elsewiiere  in  this  Album. 

Mr.  Black  is  a  carpenter.  He  commenced  to 
learn  his  trade  with  Mr.  Powell,  but  finished  it 
with  Mr.  Adams  after  removing  to  Peoria,and  dur- 
ing the  first  year  of  his_  married  life  his  wife  re- 
mained under  her  father's  roof  while  our  subject 
worked  at  his  trade  in  the  village  of  Farmington. 
The  first  farm  which  he  bought  was  located  on 
Maple  Ridge  and  that  was  his  home  until  1858, 
when  he  sold  anil  moved  to  the  place  where  he  now 
lives,wlicre  his  first  purchase  of  eighty  ai;res  was  of 
land  but  little  cultivated.  He  improved  it  as  rap- 
idly as  possible  and  some  time  afterward  liought 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres  adjoining,  but  lying 
on  tiie  other  side  of  the  road  in  Timber  Township. 
He  has  labored  diligently  and  by  his  own  efforts 
has  brought  his  place  under  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. 

During  tiie  time  Mr.  Black  was  employed  at  his 
trade  he  erected  a  great  many  fine  buildings,  the 
chief  of  which  were:  the  large  house  on  tiie  poor 
farm  of  Peoria  County,  the  "Mason  House"  of  Ful- 
ton County,  and  some  fine  residences  in  the  towns 
of  Kingston  Mines  and  Glasford.  Seven  children 
blessed  their  union,  six  of  whom  grew  to  maturity 
as  follows:  Theodore  died  in  infancy;  Miss  Cora 
is  a  young  lady  at  home  with  her  parents;  Lj'dia 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  A.  Brown  of  Peoria;  Charlie, the 
fourth  child,  is  a  young  man  of  much  ability,  a 
graduate  of  Brown's  Commercial  College,  lie  has 
received  a  good  education  and  occupies  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  community,  having  been  High- 
way Commissioner.  He  is  a  dealer  in  fine  stock, 
a  business  which  he  handles  to  a  good  advantage; 
Corda  is  also  at  home  with  her  parents,  she  and 
Lydia  are  graduates  of  a  school  in  St.  Louis; 
Lincoln  is  married  and  lives  in  Chicago  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business;  Judson, 
twin  brother  of  Lincoln  is  still  at  home ;  spent  some 
time  in  a  dry  goods  store.  Thej'  area  fine  family 
and  enjoy  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all.  Mr.  Black 
and  his  entire  family  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  La  IMarsh  Baptist  Church  and  are  liv- 
ing consistent  and  useful  Christian  lives. 

Our  subject  is  a  believer  in  the  principles  of  the 
ReiHiblican  party  and  Lakes  a  lively  interest  in  mat- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


843 


turs  pertaining  thereto.  His  ability  and  integritj' 
have  been  recognized  and  eniplt>yi'd  in  various 
ways.  He  was  Gov'ernnienl  Store-ixeeper  for  seven 
years  in  Peoria  and  gave  excellent  satisfaction; 
was  Justice  of  tlic  Peace  for  Iweiity  yctirs  and  Ims 
also  served  liis  tow)isliip  in  the  capacity  of  Asses- 
sor. He  is  entcrprisinii'  and  alwa^'s  on  the  lookout 
for  iniproveinents  and  possesses  good  judgment  in 
liusiness  affairs.  He  was  the  first  man  to  introduce 
into  the  coui.ty  an  im|)orled  Suffolk  boar;  he  also 
luouyht  into  tlie  township  the  first  Short-horn 
liiiUs,  and  tlie  first  i)urc  bred  full-blood  imported 
iiorsc  of  Belgian  stock.  In  liS()2  he  purchased 
an  imported  pure  blood,  thorough-l)red  Mor- 
gan lior.se.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  line  hor- 
ses as  well  as  in  other  fine  stock. 


UOUBKT.  In  the  biographical  history  of  this 
county  tlie  name  of  this  gentleman  occu- 
pies a  [)rominent  place  among  those  of 
its  most  sagacious  and  able  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers,  who  have  been  connected  with  its  inter- 
ests since  the  early  pioneer  days.  While  using  his 
influence  to  advance  the  developinent  and  financial 
standing  of  this  region,  he  has  acquired  a  hand- 
some fortune  and  is  classed  among  the  wealthiest 
men  of  his  community.  He  has  a  large  and  well- 
ordered  farm  in  Limestone  Township,  and  is  the 
owner  of  one  of  its  most  attractive  homes. 

Mr.  Doubet  is  of  French  birth  and  antecedents 
and  Ciime  to  this  country  in  1837,  when  he  was 
twelve  years  of  age,  with  his  father,  Joseph  Doubet, 
wlio  settled  abont  a  mile  from  where  our  subject 
now  lives,  in  Kickapoo.  Wiien  they  first  came  here 
there  were  but  few  settlements  in  the  county.  Deer 
and  prairie  chickens  were  plentiful  and  with  wild 
turkeys  formed  the  staple  meat  of  the  pioneers. 
Prairie  wolves  abounded  and  made  night  hideous 
ivith  their  iiowls.  A  perfectly  vviiite  wolf,  which 
is  a  tare  animal,  used  to  be  seen  quite  often  in  this 
neighborhood  and  was  afterward  killi'd  by  poison 
and  his  body  found  in  thfe  vicinity.  Wild  turkeys 
used  to  venture  even  to  the  coi'n  cribs  of  the  pio- 
neers and  eat  the  cum,  and  game  was  so  abundant 


that  Jack  Johnson  killed  in  one  winter  a  large 
quantity,  as  he  was  an  extra  good  shot  and  many 
a  time  brought  down  a  prairie  chicken  with  his 
rille  while  it  was  on  the  wing. 

The  pioneers  conducted  their  work  after  the 
most  i)riraitive  methods.  In  those  days  they 
used  to  mow  altogether  with  the  scythe,  and  cradle 
all  their  grain,  anil  when  it  was  ready  for  thresh- 
ing .jjut  it  on  the  ground  and  drive  the  horses 
over  it,  as  there  was  no  machinery  of  any  kind  in 
use.  The  people  were  clad  in  homes|iun  that  was 
the  product  of  the  womenkind.  Mrs.  Doubet,  when 
young,  was  very  skillful  in  weaving  and  spinning 
and  coloring  the  cloth  thus  made,  and  making  it 
into  jeans,  casiuct  and  gingham,  and  she  also  made 
woolen  cloth,  which  was  used  for  dresses.  She  was 
likewise  an  expert  in  the  mamifactnre  of  linen, 
and  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  process. 
First  the  flax  was  pulled  and  dried  and  bound  in 
small  bundles,  which  a  man  could  take  in  his  hand 
and  about  twelve  of  tliem  were  put  together  in  a 
shock.  These  would  set  in  the  field  till  cured,  and 
her  father  would  then  take  the  bundles  down  to  the 
Kicka[)00  Creek  and  immerse  them  in  water,  leav- 
ing them  six  weeks,  when  the  (lax  thus  treated 
would  be  taken  out  and  spread  to  dry  and  then 
bundled  together  again.  After  that  he  would 
take  each  bundle  to  a  machine  which  he  had  made, 
in  which  four  teeth  fitted  into  the  grooves  between 
three  teeth  on  the  reverse  side.  This  would  b'reak 
the  stalk,  and  the  next  process  was  to  take  a  board 
on  edge  and  hold  the  fibre  over  it,  and  then  with  a 
large  wooden  knife  pound  or  thresh  the  wooded  part 
out  of  the  linf.  After  this  the  women  of  the  house- 
hold took  the  flax  in  hanks  as  the  father  put  it 
into  twists,  and  next  came  the  hackling  process 
when  the  lint  was  taken  by  the  women  and  drawn 
through  the  combing  machine,  which  was  an  in- 
verted comb  of  steel  teeth  about  four  inches  long, 
set  in  rows,  each  alternate  row  breaking  the  joint 
of  tlie  one  in  front,  there  being  eight  or  ten  rows 
with  about  fifteen  or  twenty  lengthwise,  eighteen 
to  twenty  inches  long,  this  being  fastened  with  a 
chain  to  their  machine.  From  this  the  flax  wotdd 
come  in  large  silken  skeins,with  each  particular  fibre 
lying  side  b\'  side,  and  from  this  they  made  thread  to 
sell,  which  supplied  the  whole   neighborhood,  and 


8U 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


also  manufactured  cloth  for  sheets,  pillow  eases, 
towels,  summer  clothing,  and  mixed  with  cotton 
for  the  women's  wear.  They  often  colored  their 
cloth  gaiU'  with  different  varieties  of  bark.  For 
yellow,  they  used  hickory  bark  witli  copperas;  for 
blue,  chamber  lye  and  indigo;  butternut  for  brown; 
for  green,  peach  leaves  and  alum;  and  for  red  they 
had  to  buy  ma(hler  from  the  stores. 

Our  subject  was  well  educated  in  his  native 
France,  his  father  having  been  a  teacher.  After 
coming  to  this  connly,  ho  was  sent  out  to  work  and 
the  self-reliant,  manly  lad  became  independent  early 
in  life.  By  his  marriage,  January  18,  1849,  to  Har- 
riet Slane  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  secure  a  good 
wife,  whose  intelligence,  quickness  and  natural 
al»ilily  have  been  no  unimportant  factors  in  the 
attainment  of  the  wealth  that  is  the  fruit  of  their 
united  labors. 

Mrs.  Doubet  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Ma- 
hala  Slane,  of  Hampshire  County,  Ya.  They  re- 
moved from  their  native  State  to  Guernsey  County, 
Oiiio,  where  they  were  married,  and  there  four 
children  were  born  to  them.  In  the  old  days  of 
muster  Sir.  Slane  was  a  fifer  in  a  militia  regiment, 
and  when  the  war  broke  out  he  was  importuned 
by  the  men  of  the  regiment,  with  whom  he  was  a 
sreat  favorite,  to  enlist  in  the  army,  and  his  name 
was  enrolled  an)ong  the  volunteers  of  the  Seventy- 
seventh  Illinois  Infantr}',  at  Peoria,  and  for  sis 
months  he  did  good  service  at  the  front.  But  he 
was  too  old  for  the  hardships  of  armj^  life,  and  was 
taken  sick  and  was  honorably  discharged.  He  died 
in  February,  1885,  leaving  behind  the  record  of  an 
honoral)le,  upright  life,  well  spent'.  His  widow 
now  makes  her  home  in  lloscfield,  and  draws  a 
jiension  on  account  of  his  connection  with  the 
army. 

After  marriage  our  young  couple  began  their 
wedded  life  in  a  log  cabin  on  the  same  place  where 
they  now  live.  They  originally  owned  but  eighty 
acres  of  land,  but  have  added  to  it  until  now  the 
farm  comprises  four  hundred  acres,  all  of  which  is 
under  the  plf>w  and  has  been  brought  to  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation,  and  is  supplied  with  many 
valuable  improvements.  The  house  in  which  they 
live  was  built  in  1857,  and  is  a  neat  and  comfort- 
ably furnishcil  residence.     A  new   barn   has    been 


recently  erected  and  there  are  other  necessar3' 
outbuildings.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doubet  have  had  ten 
children, of  whom  the  following  is  recorded:  George 
LaFayette,  a  farmer  of  Knox  County,  is  married 
and  Ins  four  children;  .lames  H.  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years;  Joseph  D.,  of  Knox  County,  is  mar- 
ried and  has  seven  children;  Eliza  is  the  wife  of 
William  Guy,  of  Carroll  County,  Iowa,  and  they 
have  one  child;  Isabel  M.  is  the  wife  of  Edmund 
Secretan,  a  farmer  of  Kickapoo  Township,  and 
thej'  have  one  child;  IJebecca  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one;  Delilah  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen; 
John  is  at  home;  Charles  E.  is  the  last  in  order  of 
birth.  All  the  children  were  well  educated  for 
their  opportunities  and  are  bright  and  useful  citi- 
zens, and  are  well  settled  in  life. 

Mr.  Doubet  possesses  sound,  roundabout  com- 
mon sense,  a  keen,  resolute  nature,  a  marked  fac- 
ulty for  practical  work,  and  these  attributes,  to- 
gether with  his  financial  sagacity,  have  led  him  on 
to  fortune.  His  reputation  for  honesty  and  gen- 
eral integrity  is  good  and  he  stands  well  with  his 
neighbors  and  fellow-citizens.  F"or  a  number  of 
years  Mr.  Doubet  has  been  connected  with  the 
School  Board  as  Director,  and  has  actively  inter- 
ested himself  in  educational  matters.  He  belongs 
to  the  Democratic  school  in  politics.  He  was 
reared  a  Catholic,  but  has  broken  away  from  the 
church  and  does  not  affiliate  with  any  denomi- 
nation. 

■• — i^^m- — ■ 

RITZ  JIOLCniN  has  a  fine  farm  on  section 
]  30,  Richwood  Township,  which  he  devotes 
_  to  dairy  purposes,  and  is  doing  a  thriving 
business  in  that  line.  He  was  born  in  Germany, 
January  22,  1814.  He  was  reared  under  (ierraan 
institutions,  receive<l  his  education  in  the  excellent 
public  schools  of  his  native  land, and,  in  accordance 
with  its  laws,  served  two  years  in  the  Prussian 
Army.  He  remained  in  the  Fatherland  until  tli^^ 
fall  of  1868,  wlien,  ambitious  to  improve  his  con- 
dition anil  build  up  a  comfortable  home,  he  boldly 
resolved  to  try  his  fortunes  in  America.  After  a 
prosi»erous  voyage  he  landed  in  New  York  and 
came  directly  to   Peoria    County,  and    for    fifteen 


Residence  of  Daniel  Klinck,5ec. 23. PrincevilleTp.Peoria  Co, III. 


Residence  of  Harrison  Harlan, 5fc.22.&23.  RadnorTr  Peoria  Co.I  ll. 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


8i; 


years  was  employed  in  a  brick  yard  in  North  Peo- 
ria. He  liad  carefully  saved  his  earnings,  and  af- 
ter tiiat  engaged  in  the  dairy  Ijiisine.ss,  eontiiuiiiiii' 
to  live,  however,  on  Elizabeth  Street,  North  I'eo- 
I'ia,  until  June,  18'J0.  In  that  month  he  removed 
to  Rieh\vot)d  Towushii),  liaving  here  a  good  farm 
of  eighty  aeres,  on  which  he  I'as  erected  a  neat  set 
of  buihlings.  lie  operates  quite  a  large  dairy  and 
sells   his  products   in  Peoria  at  a  good  profit. 

Mr.  Molchin  \v;is  married  in  Germany  in  the 
sp'ringof  18(i8,lo  Miss  Bertha  Rauteidjcrg.  She  was 
like  himself,  a  native  of  (Jermany  and  was  born  in 
August.  1813. 

In  the  death  of  this  good  and  true  wife  at  their 
home  on  Klizabi}tli  Street,  May  7,  1885,  Mr.  iSlol- 
chin  sustained  a  severe  loss.  She  was  a  most  cx- 
einplar}'  woman,  worthy  of  the  respect  anil  esteem 
called  forth  by  her  kindness  of  heart  and  other 
personal  qualities,  and  she  hail  many  warm  friends 
who  mourn  her  untimely  death.  She  was  a  woman 
of  rare  Christian  nature,  and  in  her  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Church  found  a  valued  member. 
Three  children  were  born  to  our  subject  of  his 
pleasant  wedded  life:  Mary  L..  Hannah  K.  and 
Helen  F. 

Mr.  Molchin  has  dis[)!ayed  excellent  judgment 
and  good  business  talent  in  the  management  of  his 
interests  and  has  placed  his  farm  in  the  best  pos- 
sible shape,  its  substantial  buildings  and  other 
valuable  improvements  showing  well  his  thrift 
and  industry.  He  has  [)roved  to  be  a  good  citi- 
zen of  his  adopted  country  and  in  all  his  relations 
has  borne   himself  as  an  lionest  upright  man. 


-SJIfci. 


■^f— 


^- 


AVID  I.  FINCH.  This  gentleman  was 
appointed  United  States  Storekeeper  in 
Peoria,  August  1,  1889,  and  commenced 
work  September  1,  being  the  first  to  as- 
sume the  duties  of  that  ollice  in  the  i''ifth  District 
of  Illinois.  He  is  discharging  his  duties  to  the  en- 
tire satisfaction  of  bis  superiors,  as  he  has  those  of 
other  positions  which  he  has  held  in  times  past. 
His  integrity  is  vouched  for  by  Judge  Hopkins, 
Julius  Starr,  and  other  well-known  citizens,  and  he 


enjoj's  the  respect  of  his  fellow-men.  His  life  pre- 
sents an  excellent  exam[il(;  of  devotion  to  duty  an<l 
regard  for  principle,  well  worth}'  the  imitation  of 
others.  As  a  prominent  citizen  we  arc  pleased  to 
present  his   bitigrnphy  and  portrait  on  these  pages. 

Counei'ticut  claims  our  subject  as  one  of  her  sons, 
his  birth  having  taken  [dace  at  (Jreenwich,  June  2, 
1841.  His  parents,  Gilbert  P.  and  Alalhea  P.(Peck) 
Finch,  were  also  born  in  Connecticut.  Their  loy- 
alty to  their  country  was  manifested  bj-  sending 
four  sons  into  the  Held  during  the  Civil  War,  one 
of  them  giving  his  life  for  his  country.  He  was  a 
memlfcr  of  the  Ninth  Iowa  Infantry,  and  was  fa- 
tally wounded  at  Pea  Ridge.  Another  was  mus- 
tereil  out  as  Lieutenantiu  the  Eighteenth  Michigan 
Infantry,  while  our  sul)ject  and  his  youngest 
brother  belonged  to  the  Tenth  Connecticut  Infantry. 

The  boyhood  of  Mr.  Finch  was  passed  as  an  in- 
mate of  the  parental  home,  his  time  being  occupied 
in  attendance  at  the  public  schools  and  au  academy, 
and  in  the  recreations  and  home  duties  suited  to  his 
jears.  AVhen  sixteen  years  old  he  started  in  life 
for  himself  in  the  cmplo}'  of  Brooks  Bros.,  an  old 
and  i)roniiuent  New  York  firm,  for  whom  he  was 
working  when  the  first  gun  was  tired  in  the  Civil 
War.  Being  a  minor,  he  was  not  able  to  enter  the 
army  at  once,  as  he  desiretl  to  do,  but  in  Septem- 
ber, 1861,  his  wish  was  gratified  by  the  attachment 
of  his  name  to  the  muster  roll  of  Company  I,  Tenth 
Connecticut  Infantry.  The  enrollment  took  place 
at  Hartford,  whence  the  regiment  was  sent  to  An- 
napolis, Md.,  and  down  the  Chesapeake  Coast  with 
(■len.  Burnsides. 

Young  Finch  first  entered  the  smoke  of  battle 
at  Roanoke  Island,  ■ftdiere  the  colonel  was  killed, 
the  next  engagement  being  at  Newburn,  during 
which  fight  our  subject  was  twice  struck  by  balls. 
The  battle  of  Kingston  followed,  where,  out  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty-six  men  who  entered  the 
contest,  seventeen  were  killed  and  nearly  one  hun- 
dred wounded  or  missing.  This  was  a  severe  loss 
to  the  regiment,  but  the  de|)leted  ranks  entered 
into  the  next  battle  with  even  greater  vigor.  While 
Mr.  Finch  was  not  wounded  at  Kingston,  the  blank- 
ets in  which  he  was  wra[)ped  were  riddh^l  with 
canister  shot.  White  Hall  and  Goldsboro  were  the 
next  heavy  engagements  in  which  our  subject  par- 


848 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAFIUCAL  ALIUM. 


ticipated,  the  intervening  lime  being  occupied  in 
Ihe  man^-  duties  belonging  to  camp  and  campaign 
life.  Tlie  climate  seriouslj'  affected  the  health  of 
Mr.  Finch  and  he  finally  became  so  ill  that  he  was 
discharged  May  27,  1863.  He  still  feels  the  effect  of 
the  weary  months  during  which  his  life  was  so  stir- 
ring and  onerous. 

Returning  to  his  liotBe  in  Connecticut  Mr.  Finch, 
as  sonn  as  his  health  was  sufliciently  imiiroved,  re- 
sumed the  position  in  which  the  call  to  arms  had 
found  him,  but  after  a  time  he  came  West  and  be- 
came clerk  in  a  railroad  office.  He  received  a  pro- 
motion, held  a  position  on  tlie  Hlinois  Central  and 
finally  was  with  the  Toledo,  Peoria  ifc  Warsaw  Road 
as  conductor.  He  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose  his 
arm,  luit  could  not  be  induced  to  give  up  the  train 
and  continued  in  active  business  until  chosen  to 
conduct  the  Government  affairs  in  which  he  is  now 
engaged.  He  is  identified  with  the  Masonic  Lodge 
Xo.  15;  with  Bryner  Post,  No.  67,  G.  A.  R..  and 
with  the  A.  O.  U.  AV..  No.  15.  His  religious  belief 
finds  expression  through  theCongregational  Cluirch. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Finch  and  Miss  Sarah  M. 
McFatrich  was  celebrated  at  tlie  bride's  home  in 
1868.  Slie  is  a  native  of  AVisconsin,  but  was  reareil 
in  Illinois.  Iler  intelligence,  womanly  accomplish- 
ments and  sterling  character  are  such  as  to  entitle 
her  to  respect  and  make  her  an  efficient  home-keeper 
and  niemlier  of  society.  She  has  borne  her  hnsl)and 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living  and  still 
gladden  their  jiarents'  hearts  by  their  presence  in 
tlie  home.  Tl.e  names  of  the  children  are  George 
II.  Louis  W..  Frederick  1*.  (deceased)  and  Fanny  A. 


OHN  n.  VANARSDALE.  This  gentleman 
is  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  of  Peoria  County;  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing members  of  the  Grange;  is  generally 
prominent  socially  and  politically,  and  in  him 
Kickapoo  Township,  where  he  has  a  large  farm 
and  a  beautiful  home,  finds  one  of  its  most  valued 
and  public-spirited  citizens. 

Henry   L  Vanarsdale,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and   his  mother,  whose 


maiden  name  was  Sophia  G.  Brown,  was  also  born 
in  that  State,  a  native  of  Somerset  County.  They 
married  and  settled  in  that  count}-,  where  he  died 
in  1834.  The  mother  of  our  subject  came  to  Mason 
County,  111.,  in  1849,  and  her  death  occurred  there 
in  1878.  She  had  a  family  of  three  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  was  the  second.  He  was  born 
in  Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  July  4.  1832.  and  ac- 
companied his  mother  to  this  State  when  he  was 
about  seventeen  years  old.  After  coming  here  he 
first  w-orked  out  by  the  month  on  a  farm  for  18 
per  mouth,  and  was  thus  engaged  for  one  5-ear. 
After  that  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Mason 
County,  and  was  engaged  in  its  cultivation  until 
March,  18C5.  He  then  sold  out  his  farm  there, 
and  coming  to  Peoria  County,  settled  on  section 
10,  Kickapoo  Township,  and  on  this  farm  he  has 
lived  ever  since.  He  owns  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is  under  the 
best  of  cultivation,  and  is  arapl}-  sripplied  with 
roomy  and  conveniently-arranged  buildings,  and 
farming  machinerj-  of  the  best  models,  and  is  in 
every  respect  one  of  our  best  conducted  and  best 
improved  farnis,  and  by  the  e.vercise  of  sound 
judraent.  fine  capacity  for  business,  and  good  man- 
agement in  all  directions,  our  subject  derives  a 
handsome  income  from  the  rich  harvests  that  he 
reaps  from  its  fertile  soil. 

In  the  upbuilding  of  the  attractive  home  that 
ho  Las  established  here,  Mr.  Vanarsdale  has  had 
the  cheerful  co-Oi-eration  of  a  wife  wlio  is  in  every 
seiise  a  true  woman.  They  were  married  June  6, 
1856,  and  of  their  happy  wedded  life  six  children 
have  been  born,  five  of  whom  are  living:  AVilliani 
O.  is  a  banker  in  Burton,  Kan.;  Hattie  B.  is  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Gordeu,  of  Kickapoo  Township; 
Laura  A.  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  Wilson,  of  Peoria; 
Charles,  who  lives  at  home,  and  Carrie  W. 

It  gives  us  pleasure  to  place  on  the  pages  of  this 
volume  the  outlines  of  the  life  and  v.-ork  of  John 
Vanarsdale,  who  has  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
been  prominently  identified  with  one  of  the  lead- 
ing interests  of  the  county,  and  is  invaluable  as 
a  citizen  whose  earnest  public  spirit  is  a  potent  fac- 
tor in  forwarding  all  plans  for  public  improve- 
ment. He  is  a  straightforward,  manly  man,  the 
soul  of  honor  and  integrity,  possesses  sound   Intel- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


849 


lect  and  force  of  character,  far-seeing  and  sagacious 

hiisincj^s  qiKilitios,  and  is  progressive,  enteri)rising 
and  systematic  in  tlie  conduct  of  liis  affairs.  He  is 
a  loading  member  in  tlie  (irange,  has  held  most 
all  the  offices  of  the  local  Grange,  and  is  also  one  of 
the  committee  of  the  State  (i range,  and  has  acted  as 
(k'lieral  State  Agent  much  of  the  time.  He  takes 
an  intelligent  interest  in  the  political  att'airs  of  the 
countrj-,  keeping  himself  well  posted  in  that  re- 
spect, and  is  a  conspicuous  figure  in  Uie  Repub- 
lican party  of  this  locality.  Socially,  he  is  a  valued 
uuMuber  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  While 
holding  the  otlice  of  School  Director  he  sought  to 
promote  the  educational    advantages   of  the   town- 


shii). 


,*r^-^ 


'^^^:^^^f?5<-^- 


ij^^^UOMAS  F.  KYLE  is  numbered  among  the 
young  men  of  energy  and  enterprise  who 
are  aiding  in  carrying  on  the  great  agricnl- 
tiiral  interests  of  Logan  Township.  He  was  born 
February  1,  1857,  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Elinor  (Mclntjre)  Ivylc.  who 
were  natives  respectively  of  Ireland  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  George  Mc- 
Intyre,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland. 
He  was  the  father  of  five  sons  and  two  daughters, 
namely:  Mathe^v,  Joseph,  James,  George,  John 
(all  of  whom  married  and  reared  families  except- 
ing George),  Elinor;  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Herbert 
I'.ouran.  The  subject's  father  came  to  the  United 
States  about  fifty  years  ago,  and  he  also  had  two 
brothers  who  became  citizens  of  this  country  and 
died  unmarried. 

Mr.  Kyle  lived  in  various  [)laces  in  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio,  and  finally  married  -in  the  latter  place 
and  established  a  home  among  its  pioneers  and 
there  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he 
came  to  this  State,  casting  in  his  lot  with  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  He  lived  in  the  place 
where  he  first  located  until  the  following  spring, 
and  then  removed  to  section  7,  Logan  Township, 
where  he  (jurchased  one  hundred  and  three  acres 
of  land.  Busy  years  followed,  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged in  developing  and  improving  his  farm,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  July  2,  1884,  at  the  age 


of  seventj'-two,  he  had  it  in  a  fine  condition.  His 
wife  died  just  before  he  did,  April  "2,  1.S84,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-eight  years.  They  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  nimeh':  Robert  J..  William  (i., 
James,  Thomas  F.,  Josei)h  (living  in  Kansas),  Al- 
bert, Mar}'  and  Charles.  The  latter  ilicd  at  the 
age  of  eight  years. 

As  our  suliject  was  Ijrcd  on  a  farm,  he  acquired 
a  sound,  practical  knowledge  of  agriculture  in  all 
its  branches.  His  education  was  gained  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  thus  equipiied,  he  early  started 
out  in  life  for  himsi'lf  when  he  olitaiued  his  ma- 
jority, and  for  two  years  was  employed  by  the 
month.  After  his  marriage,  December  G.  IS.-^l,  he 
located  on  a  farm  of  eightv  acres  w'ith  his  brother 
in  Trivoli  Townshi|).  In  the  spring  of  1888  he 
settled  on  his. farm  on  section  17,  h;iving  then  one 
hundred  acres  of  land,  having  (lurchased  in  the 
first  place  eighty  acres  adjoining.  He  has  here  an 
excellent  farm  leplcte  with  every  convenience  for 
carrying  C)n  agriculture  advantageously  and  sup- 
plied with  neat  farm  buildings.  He  jjossesses  the 
requisite  energy,  stability,  and  capacity  for  con- 
tinued labor  that  are  so  necessar}'  in  the  pnrsuit 
of  any  calling  if  one  would  be  successful  in  life, 
and  he  is  doing  well  in  the  management  of  his  af- 
fairs. He  is  a  sturdy  Democrat  in  his  political 
views.  He  has  served  as  Constable,  and  was  found 
to  be  a  vigilant  and  useful  officer.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ivyle  have  two  children,  named  Claude  F.  and 
Jay  T. 

^ .^^ ^ 


ALPH  NEEDHAM  BAILEY.  Among  the 
young  citizens  of  Peoria  who  are  manifest- 
ing a  creditable  degree  of  enterprise  and 
\^  proficiency  in  the  work  to  which  they  give 
their  attention,  the  gentleman  above  named  de- 
serves mention.  He  is  quite  young,  having  been 
born  September  19,  1866,  in  Sycamore,  DeKalb 
County.  His  parents,  Oliver  J.  and  Mary  E. 
(Needham)  Baile}',  were  born  in  the  Empire  State. 
They  removed  to  Chicago  when  Ralph  was  about 
six  years  old.  sojourning  in  the  metropolis  about 
two  years,  then  removing  to  Springfield,  111.     Af- 


850 


PORTRAIT  AND  MOGRAPIIICA-I.  *ALnUlSr. 


ter  remaining  there  a.  sliort  time  they  located  in 
Peoria.  Here  our  subject  obtained  liis  education, 
first  attending  the  public  sciiools  and  subseciuenll^- 
taking  a  six  niontlis'  course  at  Parish's  Business 
College,  now  Brown's  College. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  young  Bailey  took 
a  position  in  a  produce  and  commission  house  at 
East  Saginaw,  Mich.,  also  having  an  interest  in  the 
establishment.  After  six  months  experience  he 
sold  out,  and  returning  to  Peoria  took  a  position 
with  Fred  S.  Tucker,  in  the  furniture  business.  We 
next  find  liim  assistant  book-keeper  in  the  loan 
ofHce  of  Bourland  (fc  Bailey.  I-'or  the  past  two 
3'ears  he  has  been  in  charge  of  his  father's  farm 
work,  and  from  the  amount  of  stock  in  which  he  is 
interested  might  well  be  denominated  a  stock 
farmer.  He  is  a  Republican,  ever  ready  to  cast  his 
vote  for  the  piinciples  whicl\  he  believes  demandeii 
by  the  interests  of  the  nation.  Intelligent  and  of 
manly  character,  he  is  looked  upon  with  esteem 
and  gives  promise  of  winning  a  high  reputation  in 
business  and  social  circles  as  he  advances  to  a  ri[)cr 
age. 

An  important  stej)  in  tlie  life  of  a  young  man  is 
his  choice  of  a  companion,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to 
the  friends  of  Mr.  Bailey  to  know  that  his  has  been 
a  fortunate  one.  He  won  for  his  wife  Aliss  Mary 
Dennisou  Culver,  wlio  was  born  in  Peoria,  March 
13,  1866,  and  became  the  wife  of  our  subject  Sep- 
tember 4,  1885.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Edwin  D. 
and  Martha  A.  (Dennisou)  Culver,  natives  of  tiie 
State  of  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bailey  iiave 
two  interesting  children — Louise  and  Martha.  Mr. 
Bailey  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


]OHN  W.  SMITH,  born  and  reared  in  this 
county,  is  now  actively  aiding  his  feUow- 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  in  the  great  woi  k 
(^^  of  carrying  on  its  immense  agricultural  in- 
terests. He  lias  a  farm  in  Logan  Township,  the 
place  of  his  birth,  which  compares  well  with  any 
other  in  its  vicinity  in  regard  to  improvement  and 
cultivation,  and  which  is  represented  b}'  a  vien'  on 
another  page. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  June  19, 1843,  at  the  parental 


homestead  on  section  17,  Logan  Township.  His  par- 
ents,who  were  pioneers  of  this  section  of  tlie  country, 
were  Benjamin  I),  and  Martha  Ellen  (Uichards^on) 
Smith,  natives  respectively  of  liuckingliam  County, 
Va.,  and  of  Ohio;  the  former  was  born  in  the  month 
of  September,  1815,  and  was  the  only  member  of 
his  family  to  come  to  this  county.  When  he  was 
a  young  man  he  left  his  native  Virginia,  and  ac- 
companied his  brother  James  to  Highland  County, 
Ohio.  There  he  met  his  future  wife  and  w.'is  mar- 
ried. He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  followed 
it  until  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  when  he  gave  his 
attention  exclusively  to  farming.  He  eaine  to  this 
county  with  James  Richardson,  a  sketch  of  whose 
life  appears  in  this  volume.  He  purchased  twenty- 
nine  acres  of  land  on  section  ID,  Logan  Townshi[>, 
which  he  later  increased  to  thirty-nine  acres,  and 
before  his  death  had  acquired  two  hundred  and 
twenty-six  acres  of  fine  farming  land. 

June  25,  1883,  Mr.  Smitli  passed  to  eternal  rest, 
leaving  behind  him  a  worth}-  record  as  a  pioneer, 
as  a  citizen,  father,  husband  and  neighbor.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  became  the  father  of  ten 
children.  The  children  of  his  first  marriage  were  : 
James  R.,  who  died  in  infancy;  John  W.;  George, 
who  died  when  quite  young;  and  Thomas  C.  His 
first  wife,  who  was  a  good  and  true  woman,  and  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  died 
in  1847.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Nauc\-  15.  Tur- 
bett,  nee  AIcKinney,  widow  of  Thomas  Turbett 
and  daughter  of  David  and  Martha  (Goudy)  Mc- 
Kinney.  She  was  a  member  in  good  standing  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  died  May  18, 
1890.  She  was  the  mother  of  six  children,  namely: 
Benjamin  F.,  who  died  in  Missouri;  Charles  W., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen;  David  H..  a 
resident  of  Sumner  Count}',  Kan.;  Julia  A.,  wife 
of  John  H.  Finley,  of  Page  County,  Iowa;  Raphael 
H. ;  and  Jula  H.,  who  died  j'oung. 

Passing  liis  bo3'hood  on  a  farm,  our  subject 
learned  all  about  farming,  and  iu  the  local  schools 
gained  a  good  education.  He  remained  at  home 
until  his  marriage,  and  after  that  important  event 
in  his  life  located  on  section  15.  After  living  there 
three  j'ears  he  purchased  his  p\'esent  farm,  which 
comprised  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  now  under 
excellent  cultivation    and    improved.      When   he 


Residence  OF  John  W.Smith, 5ec. 15.  LoganTr  Peoria  Co.  III. 


-  ^-=7.=tiv>-«*»■-'V*li^rf*?,^,-;-r7.„3t^.V,S»*»•«K-i!fi^'«^  «.'^  ,-b.T^,--./J,^- .  -  ^;^i-«*-,^S>i;vfri*iJ»<.  r>.-  r^W^^Tt^SfcJSSt^^^fe^ 


Residence  of  Thomas  Catton.Sec.H.BrimfieldTp.  Peoria  Co. 111. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


853 


st;irto(]  out  in  life  his  sole  |)ossessioiis  were  a  horse 
;ui(I  saddle.  He  now  has  one  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
his  native  lowuslii[i. 

February  12,  I.SGH,  was  the  date  of  the  marriage 
of  our  subject  with  Miss  Hadassah  .lane  Patten. 
She  Is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
E.  and  Martha  Ann  (Fluley)  Patten.  Mrs.  Smith  is 
a  woman  of  fine  [jcrsonal  character,  kind,  thought- 
ful and  attentive  to  others,  and  in  her  the  I'Dited 
Presbyterian  Church  linds  one  of  Its  best  workers 
and  most  consistent  members.  Six  children  have 
been  born  of  her  marriage  with  our  subject,  whom 
they  have  named  Martha  K.,  Nettie  B.,  Nora  Jane, 
Sarah  Harriet,  AVilllam  Uufus  and  Clarence  Klder. 
Martha  and  Nettie  are  deceased. 

In  his  whole  course  in  life  our  subject  has  shown 
himself  to  be  a  loyal  and  patriotic  citizen.  During 
the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  he  offered  his  ser- 
vices to  his  country,  and  Deeeniber  15,  1861,  his 
name  was  enrolled  as  a  member  of  Company  C, 
Fifty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry.  He  and  his  com- 
rades met  the  enemy  at  Ft.  Donelson  and  atShiloh. 
Ho  discharged  his  duties  with  fidelity,  and  showed 
excellent  qualities  as  a  soldier,  but  was  oliliged  to 
leave  the  army  on  account  of  ill-health,  and  on 
Ai)ril  22,  1862,  was  honorably  discharged.  Feb- 
ruar3'  12,  1865.  he  re  enlisted  and  became  connec- 
ted with  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  honor.abl}'  discharged 
January  25,  1866.  He  is  a  man  of  good  Informa- 
tion, having  a  clear,  intelligent  mind.  In  politics 
he  stands  firmly  with  the  Repulilican  party. 


S)HOMAS  CATTtJN  has  been  actively  in- 
terested in  agricultural  pursuits  in  this 
county  since  the  opening  years  of  his  man- 
hood, and  in  the  course  of  time  has  developed  a 
good-sized  farm  in  Brinifield  Township,  pleasantly 
located  on  section  11,  whose  well-tilled  fields,  and 
many  substantial  improvements  constitute  it  one  of 
the  best  ordered  farms  in  the  locality.  He  h.as  a 
commodious  residence  a  view  of  which  is  presented 
in  connection  with  this  sketch.     In  performing  for 


so  many  years  these  arduous  duties  Mr.  Cation  has 
fairly  earned  the  title  of  a  pioneer   of  this   region. 

Mr.  Catton  was  horn  In  Lincolnshire,  England, 
In  the  month  of  .Tanuary,  I  !S;i5,  his  parents  being 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Clark)  Catton,  both  natives  of 
the  mother  country.  He  vFas  reared  on  his  native 
soil  and  when  about  eighteen  years  old  boldly  ven- 
tured forth  from  his  old  home  in  1853,  and  ac- 
companied by  his  brother,  Holland,  set  sail  across 
the  broad  waters  of  the  Atlantic  to  find  at  least  a 
competence  and  build  up  a  home  fur  himself.  He 
took  passage  at  Liverpool  on  a  sail  vessel,  and  af- 
ter a  voyage  of  three  weeks  and  five  days  landed 
in  New  York  City  and  thence  came  directly  to 
Peoria  County,  whither  his  brother  William  had 
preceded  him  one  year. 

For  a  few  months  Mr.  Catton  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  until  he  became  acquainted  with  the  methods 
of  carrying  on  agricultural  ijursuils  in  this  country 
and  then,  in  partnershq)  with  his  brother  William 
he  farmed  for  a  number  of  years  as  a  renter.  He 
linallj'  became  a  land-owner,  purchasing  a  place  in 
Brinifield  Township,  and  now  has  in  his  posses- 
sion two  hundred  and  fort}'  acres  of  as  fertite  land 
as  is  to  be  found  in  all  the  region  round  about.  It 
is  cultivated  by  the  best  of  methods,  is  su})plicd 
with  ample  buildings,  and  every  needed  appliance 
for  carrying  on  farm  work.  Oifi-  subject  began 
life  in  this  country  with  no  means,and  has  acquired 
his  property  by  the  exercise  of  those  faculties  of 
thrift,  prudence  and  acute  judgment  which  insure 
success  in  any  walk  in  life.  Feeling  anxious  to 
revisit  the  scenes  of  his  youth,  Mr.  Catton  started 
for  his  old  home,  March  17,  1866,  and  spent  sev- 
eral months  there.  During  that  time  he  met  the 
lady  who  was  to  be  his  bride.  Accordingly  on  Sep- 
tember 8,  1866,  he  contracted  a  matrimonial  alli- 
ance with  Miss  Jane  H.  Butler,  who  is,  like 
himself,  a  native  of  England,  having  been  born  in 
Lincolnshire,  January  30,  1845.  On  Mondiy,  Se|)- 
tcmber  11,  1866,  they  departed  for  their  home 
across  the  waters.  Mrs.  Catton  is  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Butler,  who  were  of  English 
birth  and  .'intecedents.  Six  children  have  been  bovn 
of  her  union  with  our  subject,  namely:  Ada  Ann, 
wife  of  Andrew  Whittaker,  of  Miilbrook  Township: 
Herbert    Edward,  Lorado  Butler, 'Thomas   Frank- 


854 


POUTUAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALP.LM. 


iiii,  Lena  Elizabeth  ami  William  Artluir.  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Cattoii  and  tlieir  oldest  datightei-  arc  con- 
sistent membtrsof  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at   Hrimfk'ld. 

Mr.  Catton.takt'S  a  warm  interest  in  everything 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  P.riintield  Towship, 
and  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  all  schemes  that  will 
in  any  way  enchance  its  prosperity.  Politically, 
ho  is  a  Republican  and  his  part)-  lind  in  liim  a  warm 
supporter,  lie  is  well  liked  in  this  community 
and  his  neisrliboVs  find  in  him  a  true  friend. 


I    F.  SLONE,  an  honored  veteran  of  tlie  late 
war,    is    well    known   throughout    Trivoli 
and  adjoining  townships  as  an     able  aiic- 
(^  tioneer  and  a  practical   farmer.     He  was 

born  in  Goshen,  Clermont  Count\-,  Ohio,  March 
1().  1829.  His  parents  were  William  and  Rachael 
(Cramer)  .Slone  natives  respeotivelj-  of  ^^'arren 
County,  Ohio,  and  Butler  County,  Ky. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  suliject,  .lere- 
miah  Cramer,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  was  a 
pioneer  farmer  of  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  died.  Mr.  .Slone's  paternal  grandfather,  AVill- 
iam  Slone,  came  from  Ireland  to  this  country  and 
took  up  his  abode  in  Pennsylvania,  whence  he 
went  to  Hamilton  Count)',  Ohio,  and  thence  to 
Warren  County,  in  the  same  State.  He  went  to 
Cincinnati  when  it  was  nothing  but  a  fort  built  for 
defense  against  the  Indians,  and  he  was  an  actor  in 
the  French  and  Indian  War,  under  Gen.  Anthony 
Wayne,  of  whom  he  was  a  great  admirer.  From 
Warren  County  he  went  to  Clermont  County,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers,  only 
three  or  four  families  having  preceded  him.  He 
constructed  a  log  shanty  in  the  wilderness  for  a 
habitation,  and  in  the  course  of  years  became  pros- 
perous, and  was  the  possessor  of  four  hundred 
acres  of  land,  and  to  each  of  his  eight  children 
gave  a  fifty-acre  tract.  He  was  very  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  and  had  the  honor  of  naming  the 
township  in  which  he  lived,  and  conferred  upon  it 
the  name  of  AVayne.  in  commemoration  of  his  old 
friend  and  general.     He  was  a   Hard-shell  Baptist 


in  religion,  and  a  Democrat   in    politics.     He   died 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eightv  years. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  the 
primeval  forests  of  Clermont  County.  He  started 
out  in  life  as  a  farmer,  but  subsequently  became 
a  merchant,  carrying  on  bis  business  on  the  Mar- 
tinsville and  Cincinnati  Road,  and  he  also  erected 
a  hotel  there,  which  was  the  best  place  in  the 
county  for  a  [lublic  house  of  entertainment,  as  so 
many  travelers  passed  that  way.  He  had  at  one 
time  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  but  was  unfortu- 
nate and  lost  some  of  his  property.  In  185G  he 
sold  out  and  came  to  Illinois,  and  bought  a  farm 
in  Knox  Count)',  seven  miles  from  Knoxville,  and 
improved  his  homestead  from  a  tract  of  wild  prai- 
rie to  a  substantial  farm,  comprising  eighty  acres 
of  land.  He  disposed  of  that  place  in  1.S64,  and 
went  to  Iowa,  where  he  lived  but  one  year.  In 
18G5  he  came  from  there  to  Trivoli  T'ownship,  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  23,  where 
our  subject  now  lives,  and  in  the  home  that  he  es 
tablished  there  his  life  of  eighty-one  years  was 
brought  to  a  close  in  1870.  He  was  a  stanch 
Democrat,  and  a  consistent  memlier  of  the  I'nited 
Brethren  Church.  During  his  residence  in  Ohio  he 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  twenty  years.  His  wife 
departed  this  life  in  the  spring  of  1885,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three  years.  She  made  her  home  with 
our  subject.  She  was  a  meml)er  of  the  liaptist 
Church.  To  those  worth)-  people  six  children 
were  born:  William,  an  attorney  and  merchant  at 
Winfield,  Kan.;  F.  G.,  a  resident  of  Clinton,  Ohio; 
A.  F.;  J.  D.,  living  in  Shelby  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  gardening;  Samuel  JNL,  who  died 
in  the  home  of  our  subject;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Young, 
of  Oregon.  F.  G.  enlisted  in  1862  in  the  Seven- 
tieth Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  Captain  of  Company 
K,  till  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  on  ac- 
count of  physical  disability. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  early  set  to 
work  on  his  father's  farm,  and  from  the  age  of  nine 
years  had  to  plow-  and  perform  other  hard  labor. 
He  attended. both  the  subscription  and  free  schools 
and  gained  a  fairly  good  education.  When  he  was 
twenty-one  j'ears  old  hejeft  home,  and  for  awhile 
was  engaged  in  farming  as  a  renter.  Two  years 
later  he  went  into  business  as  a  huckster,  and   for 


PORTRAIT  AND   UlUGUAriUCAL  ALIJUM. 


855 


tlie  next  three  years  maile  a  good  rleal  of  money 
liy  liis  operations.  In  the  fall  of  1855  he  aljan- 
(loned  that  business  and  came  to  TUiuois  with  a 
team  and  wiii^'on,  ci'ossing  the  Wabash  at  Terre 
Haute,  and  the  Illinois  at  Pekin,  and  thence  pro- 
ceeding to  Auington,  where  he  wintered.  In  the 
spring  he  began  farming  at  that  place,  but  at  the 
end  of  a  year  he  rented  land  four  miles  west  of 
there.  A  year  alter  tliat  he  went  to  Galesburg,aud 
for  three  years  carried  on  agriculture  near  that 
city. 

Our  subject  was  living  there  when  the  war  broke 
out,  and  August  II,  1SG2,  he  threw  aside  all  per- 
sonal considerations  and  volunteered  to  defend  the 
old  flag,  and  at  Springfield  was  mustered  in  as  a 
private  in  the  Seventh  Illinois  Cavahy,  Corapanj- 
K,  and  joined  his  regiment  at  Corinth,  and  the 
next  morning  first  faced  the  enemy  in  the  seco:.d 
battle  fought  at  that  place.  He  was  present  at 
Coffeeville,  fought  gallantly  at  CoUerville,  and 
from  there  went  lo  take  part  in  the  Salem  fight, 
where  his  regiment  was  badly  defeated.  Our  sub- 
ject next  met  the  rebels  at  Red  Uank,  and  then 
saw  some  hard  fighting  on  the  Tallehatchie  River 
and  at  Franklin  and  Nashville.  From  there  he  and 
his  brave  coniiades  were  dis|)atched  to  Jlississippi 
near  Jeff  Davis'  oltl  home. and  were  set  to  guard  the 
road.  The  men  were  finally  sent  back  to  luka, 
and  thence  to  Decatur,  Ala.,  where  Mr.  Slonc 
was  mustered  out  July  12,  liSfio,  having  fought 
long  and  well,  lacking  twenty-nine  days  of  three 
years  service  in  the  army,and  his  war  record  shows 
him  to  have  acted  with  true  courage,  faithfulness 
and  capability  whenever  and  wherever  placed  dur- 
ing all  that  trying  time.  lie  was  paid  off  and  dis- 
chargeil  at  Nashville.  While  in  the  service  he  was 
near  his  brother  for  a  month  or  two.  In  the  first 
fight  that  he  took  part  he  had  a  narrow  escape 
from  death,  as  two  bullets  were  shot  through  his 
coat. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Slone  removed  to  Iowa,  and 
ill  Warren  County  worked  out  by  the  mouth  until 
November,  18G5,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois  and 
located  in  Trivoli  Township.  He  farmed  his  fath- 
er's place  until  his  mother's  ileath,  and  in  1885 
bought  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs,  and  now 
has  the  whole  quarter  section  in  bis  possession.     It 


is  under  excellent  imiM-ovement,  is  all  tillable,  and 
watered  by  a  branch  of  the  Copperas,  is  a  good 
stock  farm,  and  is  devoted  partly  to  that  purpose, 
and  partly  to  raising  grain.  Mr.  Slone  used  to 
engage  quite  extensively  in  buying,  feeding  and 
shipping  stock,  but  does  not  now,  as  he  does  not 
consider  that  it  |)a}s.  Ever  since  he  was  eighteen 
years  old  he  has  acted  as  an  auctioneer,  and  is  still 
conducting  that  business  to  quite  an  extent  in  this 
vicinity. 

Mr.  Slone  and  Miss  Lydia  Graham  were  mar- 
ried in  Clinton  Count}',  Ohio,  in  1850.  She  was  a 
native  of  that  part  of  the  country,  and  there  died, 
leaving  one  child,  Catherine  M.,who  married  Lean- 
der  Cramer,and  died  in  Trivoli  Township.  The  sec- 
ond marriage  of  our  subject  was  solemnized  in 
Warren  County,  Iowa,  Sejiteinber  17,  18(15,  when 
he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Margaret  Battou.  She 
was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  when  a  girl  was 
taken  to  Iowa  and  there  grew  to  womanhood.  Her 
marriage  with  our  subject  has  been  blessed  to  them 
by  the  birth  of  six  children,  of  whom  two  are  liv- 
ing: C<eorge,  a  resilient  of  Peoria;  and  Oscar  H.,  at 
home  with  his  parents. 

Mr.  Slone  is  identified  with  the  public  and  po- 
litical life  of  his  township,  and  never  hesitates  to 
do  what  he  can  for  its  advancement.  He  has  held 
local  olHces.  and  when  he  was  constable,  which  po- 
sition he  filled  twelve  years,  he  was  an  alert  guard- 
ian of  the  public  peace.  He  is  one  of  our  most 
intelligent  School  I)ireclors,aud  has  been  a  member 
of  the  School  Board  nearly  ever  since  he  came 
here.  His  political  sentiments  are  in  accordance 
with  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
he  has  taken  part  in  its  councils  as  a  delegate  to 
count}'  conventions. 


^z 


|/__^  ENRY  KNOX  SIKES.     A  worthy  scion  of 
1^  a  noble  family,  the  gentleman  above  named 


is  pursuing  his  coarse  in  life  in  a  manner 
that  indicates  his  full  concurrence  in  the 
spirit  of  the  motto  "Noblesse  oblige."  In  inherit- 
ing sterling  traits  of  character  from  his  progenitors 
and  having  had  them  strengthened  by  wise  advice 


856 


PORTRAIT  AND  r.U  )( IKA  I'HICAL  ALI5UM. 


and  instruction,  he  is  filled  to  act  well  liis  part 
in  life  and  extend  the  family  Lon^r  and  influence. 
For  some  time  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Peoria, 
and  during  a  few  j'cars  past  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  an  insurance  agent  and  general  solicitor  at 
No.  214  South  Madison  Avenue. 

Mr.  Sikes  was  born  in  Mercer,  Me.,i\Iay  8,  1841, 
being  a  son  of  Oren  and  Julia  Knox  (Thatcher) 
Sikes.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  ot  Judge  Ebene- 
zer  Thatcher,  sister  of  Rerir  Admiral  Ileiu  v  K.  That- 
cher, and  granddaughter  of  Gen.  Henr^-  Knox,  the 
first  Secretary  of  War  of  the  United  States,  and 
Chief  of  Artillery  on  Gen.  W.ashington's  Staff. 
Our  subject  now  has  the  bit  that  was  in  the  mouth 
of  three  different  horses  shot  under  Gen.  Knox  at 
Trenton,  December  26,  1776.  Oreu  Sikes  was  an 
orthodox  clergyman,  of  the  body  now  called  Con- 
gregationalists.  at  Bedford,  Mass.,  continuing  min- 
isterial labors  until  his  death,  which  occurred  when 
our  subject  was  quite  small. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  young  Sikes  at- 
tended school  in  Maine  and  also  at  Fall  River,  Mass., 
whence  he  went  to  Now  York  and  entered  a  business 
house  as  clerk.  AVhen  the  war  first  broke  out  he 
was  desirous  of  entering  the  armj',  but  being  taken 
with  the  smallpox  he  w.is  unable  to  do  so;  his 
health  having  been  fully  restored,  in  August,  1862, 
he  entered  Troop  G,  First  New  York  Mounted 
Rifles,  the  regiment  being  under  the  command  of 
Col.  C.  C.  Dodge,  of  the  firm  of  Phelps,  Dodge  & 
Co.,  of  New  York,  and  the  troop  led  bj-  Capt. 
Oberteuffers.  Mr.  Sikes  served  in  the  same  com- 
pany and  regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
attached  to  the  Army  of  East  Virginia  and  mainly- 
occupied  in  scouting  and  raiding  with  his  comrades, 
who  were  given  this  independent  work  of  a  nature 
s()ecially  adapted  to  their  organization.  They, 
however,  took  part  in"  the  engagements  at  Rich- 
mond, Petersburg,  and  the  closing  of  the  battle  of 
Five  Forks.  Mr.  Sikes  received  a  severe  Injury 
from  which  he  will  never  recover. 

Mr.  Sikes  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  in 
November,  1865,  and.  returning  to  the  Bay  State, 
obtained  an  interest  in  a  shoe  business  at  Lynn. 
Thence  he  removed  to  VIneland,  N.  J.,  remaining 
there  three  and  one-half  years  engaged  in  business 
and  going  thence  to  Stanford,  Dutchess  County, 


N.  Y.  In  that  city  he  sojourned  ten  years,  work- 
ing for  the  railroad  company,  and  coming  to 
Peoria,  with  the  Chicago,  Burlington  <fe  Quincy 
Railroad  Company.  He  gave  up  the  work  at  last 
to  enter  the  employ  of  the  Western  Union  Tele- 
graph Company,  and  three 3-ears  later  retired  almost 
entirely  from  business  on  account  of  the  sickness 
and  death  of  his  wife  and  daughter.  Still  later  he 
became  interested  in  general  soliciting  and  insur- 
ance, to  which  be  has  in  recent  jears  devoted  his 
attention. 

Mr.  Sikes  was  Sanitary  Inspector  of  Peoria,  and 
has  held  oflices  in  various  places,  such  as  City  Cltik 
of  Stanford,  N.  Y.,  etc.  In  the  Union  Veteran  Club, 
a  large  organization  of  old  soldiers,  he  held  the  of- 
fice of  Secretary-  three  years.  He  has  been  Adju- 
tant in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  his  mem- 
bership coming  by  inheritance  through  Admiral 
Thatcher,  and  also  b}'  general  vote  on  character. 
Of  the  social  fraternities,  he  holds  membership  in 
the  Masonic  order,  the  Independent  C>rder  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 

Besides  the  relic  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
sketch,  Mr.  Sikes  has  a  solid  mahogany  bureau  and 
secretary,  eight  and  a  half  feet  high  and  ri(^hly 
carved,  which  was  formerly  owned  and  used  by 
Louis  XVI  of  France  and  occupied  a  place  in  the 
Tuilleries.  After  the  sacking  of  the  palace  in  1  786 
Gen.  LaFayette  secured  the  piece  of  furniture  and 
sent  it  to  Gen.  Knox,  from  whom  it  has  been 
handed  down  to  our  subject.  Mr.  Sikes  also  has  a 
portion  of  a  set  of  French  china  dishes  made  for 
Gen.  Knox,  ornamented  with  the  coat-of-arms  of 
the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  and  the  initials 
H.  L.  K.,  for  Henry  and  Lucy  Knox.  The  present 
owner  has  a  just  appreciation  of  the  value  of  tbese 
remarkable  relics  and  a  due  regard  for  his  geneo- 
logical  tree. 

At  Brookl3'n,N.  Y.,  August  7,  1865,  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Inskip,  Mr.  .Sikes  was  married  to  Margaret  A., 
daughter  of  Joshua  Terry.  The  bride  was  born 
February  5,  1837,  was  well  educated,  and  possessed 
the  noble  traits  of  character  which  won  and  held 
deep  regard.  Her  father  w.ts  for  many  years  a 
shipsmith,  owning^  and  operating  a  large  shop  in 
which   all  kinds  of  Iron  work  of  vessels  was  done. 


//.  cd  .  J/iim/^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOCiRAPIIlCAL  AL15UM. 


859 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sikes  two  children  were  born- 
Lillian  Tlialclier.  who  died  in  this  city  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  when  devcUipiiig  into  a  charming 
womanhood  ;  Waldo  Henry  K.,  who  was  l)orn  on 
tlie  .'id  of  .lanuary,  1876,  i.s  still  pursning  his  stud- 
ies in  school.  BIrs.  Sikes  was  called  from  time  to 
eternity  in  May,  1887,  less  than  two  years  after  the 
death  of  iier  daugiiter.  Mr.  Sikes  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Congregational  Churcli,  his  young  son 
also  being  identified  with  that  religious  society. 


y^TLLIAlM  S.  TITRBI<:TT.  Among  the  por- 
traits and  biographical  records  of  promi- 
nent and  pioneer  citizens  of  Peoria  County 
tliat  of  Mr.  Turbett  is  presented.  He  belongs  to 
a  pioneer  family-,  and  is  descended  from  worthy 
ancestors.  Tracing  his  lineage  back  a  few  genera- 
tions, we  find  that  John  Turbett  and  Priscilla 
Moore  were  married  in  the  North  of  Ireland, 
April  22,  1723,  and  had  the  following  children: 
Matthew,  Esther,  .lames,  Nathan,  Jonathan,  John, 
William,  Thomas  and  Samuel.  Thomas  was  born 
January  20,  1741,  and  died  June  12,  1820,  aged 
sevent^'-nine  year.s.  He  was  married  to  Jean 
Wilson,  who  died  June  15,  182G,  when  sixty-eight 
years  of  age. 

A  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  Thomas  Turbett, 
the  paternal  grandfather  of  William  S.,  came  to 
America  duiing  Colonial  days,  settling  £mong  the 
l)i()neers  of  Pennsylvania.  When  the  AVar  of  the 
Revolution  broke  out  he  entered  the  arm}',  becom- 
ing Colonel  of  his  regiment.  His  wife,  who  was  a 
n.ative  of  Scotland,  bore  him  eleven  children, 
named  .as  follows:  John.  Thomas,  James,  Samuel, 
(ieorge,  Stewart,  William,  Nancy,  Mary,  Esther 
and  Priscilla.  Three  of  the  sons  were  early  set- 
tlers of  Ohio,  one  of  Fairfield  County  and  two 
of  Richland  County.  Col.  Thomas  Turbett  and  his 
brother  James  were  the  only  mouibers  of  tlie  fam- 
ily who  came  to  America. 

Concerning  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Ihe 
follf)wing  is  quoted  :  "Col.  Thomas  Turbett  was  a 
remarkable  man  in  his  day.    Ills  name  ajipearcd  on 


the  tax  lists  of  Milford  Township  as  early  as 
1774.  He  started  the  first  tanyard  in  the  present 
Juniata  County,  and  most  probably  the  first  west 
of  the  Kittatinny  Mountains.  The  tanyard  is  on 
the  lax  list  of  1778.  He  took  an  active  part  dur- 
ing the  RevoUitionary  \\'ar  anil  rose  to  the  rank  of 
Colonel  of  Militia.  He  alw.ays  contended  that  the 
service  he  rendered  his  country  in  that  great  day 
of  trial  and  distress  was  no  more  than  the  plain, 
conimon  duty  of  any  and  every  citizen.  It  is 
related  that  at  the  battle  of  Princeton,  a  British 
ofneer  ivas  loudly  calling  u[)on  the  rebels  with  a 
profusion  of  terril)le  oaths  to  surrender.  Col. 
Turbett  was  not  in  that  business  at  that  time,  so 
he  laid  a  rifio  on  the  fence  and  killed  the  British 
oflicer." 

When  a  3'onng  man,  John  Turbett,  the  son  of 
this  brave  Revolutionary  officer,  left  his  native 
Pennsylvania  and  became  a  pioneer  of  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  married.  In  18211  he  re- 
moved to  Fayette  County,  that  State,  and  during 
the  sojourn  there  our  subject  was  born,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1831.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother 
was  Nancy  Beaty.  In  the  fall  of  1840  John  Tur- 
bett, accompanied  by  his  family,  came  to  Illinois 
and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Logan 
Township,  which  his  sons  imi)roved  while  he  car- 
ried on  his  business  as  a  tannei.  He  established 
the  first  and  only  tannery  in  this  township,  and 
was  one  of  the  substantial  (ulizens  of  the  place.  His 
death,  which  occurred  January  23,  1847,  at  the 
age  of  nearly  sixty-four  3'ears,  was  a  serious  loss 
to  the  industrial  and  material  interests  of  his  town- 
ship. His  wif(i  survived  him  until  December  7, 
18G2,  when  she  too  was  called  hence.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Beaty,  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try* from  Ireland,  and  was  an  early  set'.ler  of  Ohio. 
He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Jane  Gray,  who 
left  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  and  afterward  to 
Elizabeth  Banker,  who  had  seven  children.  Mrs. 
Tnibclt  was  a  woman  of  true  Christian  si)irit,  and 
was  an  esteemed  mendier  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church.  She  and  her  husband  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  namely:  Thomas,  who  died, 
leaving  a  widow  and  one  child;  Jane,  who  ilicd  in 
Ohio;  Priscilla,  John  B.,  Anna  Eliza,  Nancy  E., 
Mar^'  B.,  Hannah  M.,  William  S.  and  James  A. 


860 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Our  subject  grew  up  in  the  iiionecr  home  of 
Iiis  parents,  and  like  every  farmer's  lad,  was  drilled 
in  all  tliat  jiertains  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
was  given  the  advantages  of  a  common-school 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  was  well 
cquipiied  to  start  out  in  life  on  iiis  own  account, 
and  in  ISf)?  he  and  his  youngest  brother,  James, 
[)urcliased  eighty  acres  of  land,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  has  worked  hard,  and  his  lal)ors  have 
been  so  guided  l)y  discretion,  prudence  and  sound 
judgment  that  he  has  done  well  in  the  prosecution 
uf  liis  calling,  and  has  here  one  of  the  finest  im- 
|)roved  farms  in  this  section  of  the  country-.  He 
onus  two  liundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land  where 
he  lives,  and  has  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
(if  land  on  tlie  western  part  of  the  section.  He  is 
very  profitably  engaged  as  a  breeder  of  thorongh- 
bnd  Hambletonian  and  Norman  horses,  having  a 
line  herd  of  them.  When  he  commenced  farming 
operations  on  his  own  account  he  scarcely  owned 
a  ly thing  beside  his  team  and  wagon,  and  from  that 
small  beginning  has  built  up  his  present  valuable 
pi(.iporty. 

Mr.  Turbett's  fellow-citizens  find  in  him  a  man 
whom  they  can  trust,  his  credit  being  alwaj^s  good 
in  financial  circles,  and  his  word  never  doubted. 
No  one  is  more  interested  than  he  in  pushing  for- 
ward the  i>rosperity  of  Logan  Township,  and  the 
liart  that  he  has  taken  in  its  development  will  al- 
ways be  noted  in  any  mention  of  the  history  of  this 
localit}'.  In  politics  he  has  ever  favored  the  policy 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  cast  his  first  vote 
for  President,  for  PVanklin  Pierce. 


Vli  ACOB  LINCK,  manufacturer  of  liarness  and 
horse  collars  at  Trivoli,  is  known  widely 
throughout  Uie  county,  and  is  liked  by  every 
one  for  his  good  nature  and  his  genialitj'. 
He  is  still  doing  business  in  the  old  shop  that  he 
established  here  many  years  ago  and  is  now  inde- 
pendent and  well-to-do. 

Our  suliject  is  of  (Jorman  biilli  and  antecedents. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Linck,  wlio  was   born  in  the 


Grand  Duchy  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany.  The 
father  was  orphaned  at  an  early  age,  and  wlien 
quite  young  was  set  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  tailor 
but  could  not  endure  the  confinement  and  left  that 
to  engage  as  a  grain  dealer  in  the  village  of  Walil- 
heim,  and  there  Iiis  death  occurred  in  1842  while 
he  was  yet  in  life's  prime,  he  being  but  forty-four 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  devoted  Christian  and  a 
member  of  the  Protestant  Church.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ann  M.  Mack,  was  born  in  lelbe- 
sheim,  in  a  Rhine  Province  of  r>avaria,  and  came 
to  America  with  our  subject  and  spent  the  remain- 
der of  her  life  with  her  children,  dying  in  the  home 
of  the  son  of  whom  we  write  in  1868,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years. 

To  these  worthy  people  were  born  six  children 
of  whom  the  following  is  the  record:  Jacob,  our 
subject;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Seltzer,  died  in  Trivoli 
Township;  Philip  died  at  Ft.  Worth,  Tex.,  in 
1886;  Frederick  died  in  Trivoli;  Pollen,  Mrs.  Nei- 
derlander,  lives  in  Pekin ;  Henry  died  while  in  the 
army.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Third  Illinois 
Cavalry,  enlisting  in  1862,  at  Pekin,  and  lie  died 
of  sickness  contracted  on  the  battle  field.  He  was 
in  a  hospital  at  Memphis,  and  was  transferred  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  but  just  as  he  got  to  the  wharf  ex- 
pired. Philip  was  also  a  soldier,  a  member  of  the 
Fourteenth  Illinois  Cavalry.  He  enlisted  in  1863, 
at  Peoria,  assisted  in  getting  up  a  company  of  which 
he  was  appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  and  served  as 
such  until  his  resignation. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  in  Wahl- 
lieim,  Germanj',  June  24,  1830.  He  had  excellent 
school  advantages  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  was 
apprenticed  for  a  term  of  three  years  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  harness-maker  in  the  city  of  Alzey.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  traveled  as  a  journey- 
man for  five  years  through  Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau, 
Baden,  Bavaria,  Prussia,  Austria  and  Poland.  In 
1852  he  opened  a  shop  of  his  own  in  his  native 
place  and  conducted  a  successful  business  there  for 
four  years.  The  remainder  of  his  family  had  made 
up  their  minds  to  come  to  America  and  though  he 
was  doing  so  well,  they  prevailed  upon  him  to  ac- 
company them,  and  in  September,  1856,  they  left 
Havre  on  the  good  ship  "Caroline,"under  Capt.  Dow 
and  six  weeks  later  landed  in  New  York  in  Novem- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


8G1 


ber.  They  made  tlieir  way  to  this  county  and  to 
Trivoli  Township, wliere  tliey  remained  over  winter. 

In  tiie  spring  Mr.  Linciv  went  to  Peoria,  and  was 
employed  there  as  a  journeyman  for  one  year. 
Ft'bruary  11,  1858,  he  oi)ened  a  shop  and  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  harness  and  horse  col- 
lars in  Trivoli.  He  did  not  intend  to  stay  here, 
but  did  not  care  to  be  idle  wliile  he  was  waiting- 
for  some  other  opening.  Bui  ho  diil  so  well  iiere 
that  lie  finally  decided  to  remain  permanently  and 
he  has  since  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  business, 
employing  from  one  to  three  liands  beside  himself 
and  for  three  or  four  3'ears  lias  manufactured  col- 
lais  for  the  Peoria  market.  He  is  now  the  oldest 
liusiness  man  in  the  place  and  has  one  of  the  pleas- 
antest  homes  in  the  township.  The  residence  which 
he  built  himself  is  neat  and  commodious  and  he 
has  eiglit  acres  of  land  in  the  village.  lie  owns 
besides  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  improved 
land  in  Antelope  Count}',  Neb.,  and  since  1885,  has 
owned  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  in  this  town- 
ship, which  lie  rents. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Agnes 
Haas  took  place  in  Trivoli  October  7,  1862.  She 
was  born  in  Baden  in  the  village  of  Overbergen, 
and  is  a  daugiiterof  Roman  Haas,  who  came  lo  this 
country  iu  18C7.  Her  mother  died  in  (lermany. 
Her  father  made  his  home  with  his  children,  a  part 
of  the  time  with  her,  and  a  part  of  the  time  with 
a  daughter  in  Woodford  County,  where  he  died. 
Mrs.  Linck  came  to  America  with  an  uncle  wlu)  lo- 
cated in  Woodford  Count}-. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linck  have  three  children:  Emma, 
Henry  C.  and  Otto  B.  Kmma  is  the  wife  of  E.  E. 
IIar<ling,  an  attorney  at  Elmwood;  Henry,  who  is 
in  the  harness  business  with  his  father,  is  well  edu- 
cated, liaving  been  a  student  of  the  Western  Busi- 
ness College,  at  Cialesburg;  Otto,  though  only 
lifteen  years  of  age,  is  one  of  the  most  advanced 
scholars  of  the  place  and  already  holds  a  teacher's 
certificate. 

.Mr.  Linck  is  a  Master  Mason  at  Farmington.  He 
is  influential  in  township  affairs,  and  has  been 
School  Director.  He  was  instrumental  in  getting 
the  old  I'eoria  and  Farmington  Railroad  here,  lend- 
ing his  Influence  to  the  company,  and  subscribing 
^100   towards  the   project.     He  is  a  true-blue  Re- 


publican, is  prominent  in  the  councils  of  l;is  part}', 
and  has  been  delegate  to  county  and  Congressional 
conventions.  He  is  a  man  of  earnest  religious  na- 
ture and  holds  to  the  faith  of  the  Evangelical 
Church.  He  also  was  Postm.aster  for  fifteen  years, 
until  the  office  was  removed  f.o  lower  i'rivoli. 


^^ 


-f— 


\|7  OUIS  PHILIP  WOLF.  This  worth} 
il  (©  dant  of  a  cultured  family  has  becc 
jl^Vi  known  in   Peoria  and   throughout 


OUIS  PHILIP  WOLF.    This  worthy  descen- 

L'onie  well 
the  sur- 
rounding country  by  reason  of  his  connection  with 
journalism.  He  is  a  man  of  deep  and  varied  knowl- 
edge, jiarticularly  able  as  a  linguist,  and  was  for 
some  years  connected  with  the  educational  work  of 
the  State  in  a  somewhat  ]iromiiient  manner.  He 
has  done  much  toward  enlightening  the  foreign- 
born  regarding  their  duties  as  citizens  of  a  great 
Republic,  and  were  this  the  extent  of  his  labors, 
would  well  deserve  recognition  ami  remembrance. 
His  other  claims,  however,  are  established,  as  will 
be  seen  by  a  perusal  of  the  panigraphs  below. 

Mr.  Wolf  was  born  in  Nassau,  ficrmaiiy,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1851,  his  parents  being  Carl  and  Katheritia 
(Lorsbach)  Wolf.  For  more  than  a  century  his 
forefathers'  were  prominent  teachers,  honored  by 
the  Government  with  decorations  for  their  skill  as 
instructors,  and  likewise  for  their  horticultural 
tastes  and  actptirements.  It  is  therefore  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  our  subject  was  well  fitted  for 
pedagogical  labor,  and  that  when  he  chose  to  em- 
bark in  tiiat  calling,  he  excelled.  He  obtained  a, 
good  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  land, 
which  he  was  led  lo  leave  on  account  of  his  love  of 
independence. 

Coming  to  America  iu  1868,  Mr.  Wolf  took  up 
the  first  oecup.ation  which  came  to  liaud.  that  being 
labor  on  a  raft  on  the  Mississippi  River.  As  soon 
as  [lossible  he  secured  a  position  more  in  keeping 
with  his  abilities,  becoming  interpreter  and  teacher 
of  modern  languages  in  the  German-American  In- 
stitute of  Chicago,  and  subsequently  filling  a  i)osi- 
tion  in  the  Acaderaie  Francaise.  After  a  time  Mr. 
Wolf  organized  a  private  school  where  he  taught 
Germans  the  English   language,  and  their  duties  as 


862 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


American  citizens,  making  a  specialty'  of  tlie  latter, 
his  lecUircs  being  iiiglily  spoken  of  by  all  who 
heard  llieui. 

Abandoning  the  profession  for  which  he  was  so 
eminently  qualified,  Mr.  Wolf  embarked  as  corres- 
pondent for  various  papers,both  American  and  Ger- 
man, his  first  literary  communications  being  pub- 
lished in  a  Cincinnati  journal.  In  1875  he  started 
a  [laper  of  his  own  at  Lincoln.  111. — the  Volkufreund 
— it  being  the  only  German  Republican  paper  in 
the  Slate.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  Peoria,  tak- 
ing a  [)Osition  as  editor  on  the  Zeitang^  and  in  1879 
establishing  tiie  Sonne,  which  he  is  still  managing. 
This  paper  has  met  with  remarkable  success,  win- 
ning its  position  on  its  inherent  merits,  being 
strictly  independent  in  politics.  It  now  has  a  daily, 
weekly  and  Sunday  edition,  for  each  of  whicli  the 
subscription  list  is  highly  gratifying. 

The  scholarship  of  Mr.  Wolf,  Ids  understanding 
of  the  needs  and  desires  of  those  of  his  own  nation- 
ality, his  tliorough  sympathy  with  American  insti- 
tutions, each  gives  him  a  special  fitness  for  editorial 
work,  as  he  can  judge  better  than  many  to  what 
items  of  information,  what  discussions,  and  what 
literary  work  to  give  a  place  in  his  publication. 
His  own  pen  is  a  trenchant  weapon  in  behalf  of  all 
that  is  elevating  and  civilizing,  and  is  equally  po- 
tent in  words  of  disapproval,  cundemnation  and 
judgment. 

In  his  personal  views  and  his  use  of  the  right  of 
suffrage,  Mr.  Wolf  is  a  pronounced  Republican. 
His  name  was  once  brought  out  by  the  German 
press  of  the  State,  for  Secretary'  of  State,  but  he 
was  averse  to  making  a  political  race.  He  is  very 
popular  among  those  of  his  own  nationalit3'  as  is  in- 
dicated by  an  ovation  given  him  on  the  occasion 
of  his  last  visit  to  his  native  land,  which  was  such 
as  had  perhaps  never  been  extended  to  another  resi- 
dent of  Peoria.  He  h.as  made  several  trips  to  Ger- 
many and  the  greater  part  of  Europe,  since  lie  be- 
came an  American  citizen,  each  making  him  a  more 
(onfiimcd  Republican  than  before. 

Much  of  the  success  of  the  Sonne  is  due  to  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Wolf,  who  has  proven  herself  an  effi- 
cient helpmate  in  his  financial  affairs  as  well  as  a 
charming  companion  in  home  life.  She  is  a  native 
of  Germany,  bore  the  maiden   name  of    Augusta 


Klifus,  and  for  3-ears  was  a  resident  of  St.  Peters- 
burg, Russia.  She  is  highlj'  accomplished,  is  an 
excellent  writer,  and  a  capable  financier,  as  her 
counsel  in  the  man.agement  of  the  Sonne  has  demon- 
strated. 


OL.  JOHN  WARNER.  While  Col.  Warner 
h.as  many  qualities  which  make  him  deserv- 
'  ing  of  mention  in  a  Biographical  Album, 
his  chief  claim  to  distinction  is  his  eminent  public 
spirit.  He  has  undoubtedly  done  more  in  behalf 
of  public  works,  street  improvements,  etc.,  than 
any  other  citizen  in  Peoria,  and  it  was  well  for  the 
raunicipalit3'  that  the  (dtizens  recognized  his  abil- 
it}',  and  kept  him  in  the  Mayor's  chair  during  quite 
an  extended  period. 

Mr.  Warner  was  born  in  Perry  Couutj',  Ohio, 
October  11,  1830,  being  one  of  the  six  sons  and 
two  daughters  comprising  the  family  of  Joim  B. 
and  Esther  (Gordon)  Warner.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  and  his  mother  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  business  of  the  former  was  that  of  an 
hotel-keeper,  and  a  general  contractor  for  railroad 
and  canal  work.  Besides  oui- subject  the  survivors 
of  the  family  circle  are  Bennett  O.,  now  in  the  liv- 
ery business  in  Peoria;  Henry,  Government  Ganger 
in  that  city  ;  William  G.,  also  residing  there;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  R.  M.  Cox;  and  Orlando.  The  father 
I'emoved  to  Peoria  with  his  family  in  1846.  dying 
here  in  JLarch,  1863.  He  was  host  of  the  Clinton 
House,  and  served  in  the  public  capacities  of  Asses- 
sor. . Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Alderman. 

After  acquiring  his  education,  .Tolm  Warner  be- 
gan his  career  in  life  as  a  clerk,  and  during  the 
eight  3-ears  of  his  labors  in  that  c.ipacity  became 
well  actpiainted  with  the  details  of  business  life  and 
management,  lie  then  embarked  in  the  sale  of 
clothing  and  gentlemen's  furnishing  goods  which 
he  continued  until  after  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  War,  when  his  lovalty  led  him  to  the  front. 
He  entered  the  arm3'  in  August,  1862,  as  Colonel 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois  Infantr3', 
and  until  his  discharge  in  March,  1864,  did  gallant 
service  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  The  most  im- 
portant battles  in  which  he  participated  were  Chick- 


ifli,K  Juy  i/^^ 


^L^i^&u 


r 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


8C7 


asaw,  Arkansas  Post,  and  those  of  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg.  After  his  return  to  civil  life,  Col. 
Warner  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
liquor  business  with  Spear  it  Co. 

In  1874,  Col.  Warner  was  first  elceted  Mayor  of 
Peoria  occupying  the  mayoralty  ten  years,  a  longer 
time  tiian  any  other  incumbent.  In  1883  he  was 
apiiointed  Postmaster,  but  after  a  year  resigned  the 
office.  At  jircsent  he  is  General  Inspector  of  the 
Water  Works,  his  constituents  not  being  willing  to 
allow  him  to  retire  to  private  life.  While  Mayor 
he  organized  the  fire  department  into  a  metropoli- 
tan body,  uniformed  the  police  force,  and  anthor- 
ized  the  erection  of  the  Library^,  Work  House,  and 
various  public  works  of  the  city.  The  buildings 
now  stand  as  a  monument  to  his  intertst  in  Peoria 
and  her  [jeople,  and  will  perpetuate  his  memory  as 
long  as  the  ravages  of  time  allow  them  to  remain. 
Col.  AVarner  is  a  leading  politician,  giving  his  snf- 
frage  to  the  Democratic  paity.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

The  lady  who  i)resides  over  Col.  Warner's  home 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Simms,  and  be- 
came his  wife  in  18,)t.  They  are  the  [larents  of  the 
following  children:  .John  A.,  who  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  fire  department  for  the  past  eight  years; 
Cora:  Ddllie,  wife  of  Frank  Buell,  of  Chicago; 
Etta,  wife  of  W.  B.  Miser,  clerk  for  Pardee,  Wilts 
(fe  (;o.;  Harry,  whose  home  is  in  Colorado;  Molly, 
wife  of  W.  !•■.  Bryant,  a  ckik;  and  Daisy, at  home. 
Col.  Warner  and  his  family  have  high  rank  in  the 
society  of  Peoria,  displaying  good  breeding,  intel- 
ligence, and  a  genial  spirit,  which  are  not  without 
iheir  due  effect  upon  their  associulis. 


m 


if' 


OEL  BLAKESLEY.  Among  the  old  settlers 
of  Peoria  County  none  are  more  ileserving 
of  recognition  in  a  Biographical  Alhum 
than  Joel  Blakesley',  who  for  more  tiian 
half  a  century  has  been  connected  with  the  best 
interests  of  this  section.  In  early  years  he  gave 
of  his  uunlal  and  physical  strength  to  aid  in  the 
development  of  her  material  resources,  ever  mani- 
festing a  desire  to  assist  also  in  all  that  would  ad- 


vance the  growth  of  the  connty  in  wealth  and  cul- 
ture. A  leisurely  tour  of  the  world  in  the  pro- 
gress of  which  he  made  detours  as  curiositj' 
prompted  or  love  of  adventure  dictated,  h.as  been 
supi)lemented  by  numerous  trips  throughout  his 
native  land,  every  State  having  been  visited  save 
North  and  South  Carolina.  His  extensive  travels 
have  familiarized  him  with  many  people,  whose 
customs  and  peculiarities  form  tiie  topic  for  most 
enjoyable  conversations. 

In  1668  three  brothers  of  the  name  Blakeslee,  as 
it  was  then  spelled,  came  to  Ameiicafrom  England 
where  they  had  been  workers  in  iron.  From  these 
sprang  all  of  the  name  now  in  this  country.  One 
of  their  numl)er  located  in  Plymouth  Hollow,  now 
Thumasville,  Conn,,  and  there  it  was  that  David, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born.  He  married 
Sarah  Bailey,  to  them  being  born  nine  children. 
Of  these  Mrs.  Wealthy  Simmons  and  he  of  whom 
we  write  arc  the  only  survivors.  Thinking  to  bet- 
ter his  condition  David  IM.akesley  forsook  the  hdls 
of  Connecticut  for  those  of  Oneida  County,  N.  Y., 
and  there  his  son  .Tool  was  born  May  20,  1814. 
The  lad  found  it  tough  work  farming  among  the 
stones  of  Oneida  County  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years  went  to  the  home  of  his  ancestors,  there  en- 
gaging in  labor  in  the  Setli  Thomas  Clock  Fac- 
tory. 

After  laboring  there  for  two  years  young  Blakes- 
ley  took  up  the  same  employment  in  Winsted, 
whence  he  departed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  after  a  so- 
journ of  two  years.  He  was  still  engaged  in  the 
clock  works  and  in  the  progress  of  his  employment 
lias  aided  in  making  thousands  of  clocks.  In  1836 
his  love  of  sight  seeing  and  somewhat  adventurous 
spirit  led  him  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  where,  finding 
no  clock-making,  he  contented  himself  with  what- 
soever his  hands  found  to  do.  He  worked  at 
wood  chopping,  rough  cari)entering  and  farming, 
for  fifty  cents  a  day,  and  at  this  figure  he  says  he 
put  in  many  a  faithful  day  without  a  thought  of 
striking. 

In  the  prairie  lands  of  this  county  Mr.  Blakes- 
ley  learned  the  lesson  of  love  and  having  wooed 
and  won  Amy  Deuel,  of  Elmwood.they  were  mar- 
ried June  28,  1837,  and  lived  happily  together 
until  the  death  of    Mrs.  Blakesley    February    20, 


868 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1879.  That  lady  was  born  in  Delaware  Conntj', 
Ohio,  Decemljer  9,  1813.  Her  father  was  a  ph}'- 
sician  who  died  when  she  was  but  ten  da3-s  old, 
leaving  four  sons  and  two  daughters  to  the  care 
of  the  widowed  mother.  When  twenty  j'ears  of 
age  Mrs.  Blakesley  came  to  the  West  with  a 
brother,  making  the  distance  by  teams  in  three 
weeks.  Of  quiet  demeanor,  a  lover  of  order, 
benevolent  and  hospitable,  she  was  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  her  and  her  memory  is  respected  bj' 
many  who  mourn  her  loss.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Blakesley  were  born  seven  children,  four  of  whom 
are  now  living.  These  are  Mrs.  Mary  Darby,  a 
widow  whose  home  is  at  Elmwood;  Sarah,  wife  of 
J.  B.  Tompkins,  a  resident  of  Peoria;  Henr3-,  a  far- 
mer at  Peabody,  Ivan.;  and  Emil^-,  wife  of  C.  D. 
Clark,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Peoria.  A  portrait 
of  Mrs.  Blakesley  is  shown  on  another  |)age  to- 
gether with  that  of  our  subject. 

The  winter  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Blakeslej'  car- 
ried a  cliain  during  the  preliminary  survej'  for  the 
Peoria  &  Oquawka  Railroad,  now  the  Central  Iowa, 
and  the  nest  summer  contracted  for  a  mile  of  that 
road.  The  succeeding  fall  hi;  made  some  improve- 
ments on  an  eighth-acre  tract  in  Trivoli  Town- 
ship, i'nd  in  1839  having  disjiosed  of  it,  moved  to 
Elmwood  where  he  lived  until  coming  to  Peoria 
in  lb64.  At  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blakes- 
ley on  the  border  of  the  settlement,  numerous 
travelers  called,  claiming  hospitaliti'  and  lodging. 
Although  the  facilities  were  limited,  no  one  was 
turned  awa}',  for  in  those  days  a  visitor  from  the 
great  world  without  w^as  welcomed  as  a  bearer  of 
fresli  news  and  good  compau}',  while  he  remained. 

During  liis  active  life  Air.  Blakesley-  was  exten- 
sively eng.aged  in  farming,  stock-raising  and  stock- 
dealing.  He  lived  on  one  farm  in  Elmwood  for 
twenty-five  years.  In  all  his  business  career  he  was 
successful,and  accumulated  a  com])etenC3^  for  his  de- 
clining years. 

In  the  winter  of  1810-41  Mr.  Blakesley  felt  it 
his  dut^'  to  visit  his  aged  parents  in  New  York, 
which  he  did.  making  the  trip  on  horseback.  In 
1868-69  he  visited  California,  via  the  Isthmus, 
merely  to  see  the  land  of  gold  and  satisfy  his  cu- 
riosit3'.  Returning  overland  he  endured  much  hard- 
ship, as  the  winter  was  a  severe  one  and  Sve  hun- 


dred miles  of  the  distance  had  to  be  crossed  by 
stages.  At  Salt  Lake  City  they  were  snowed  in 
eight  da3-s  and  for  three  da3-5  after  reaching  the 
railroad  were  unable  tc  make  more  than  five  miles 
a  da3'  owing  to  the  drifts.  During  this  time  pro- 
visions became  scarce  and  high  prices  consequentl3' 
ruled.  A  cup  of  coffee,  a  piece  of  tough  beef  and 
a  biscuit  cost  one  dollar.  The  next  3'ear  Mr. 
Blakesle3'  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  confining  his 
visit  to  England,  France  and  Ireland.  P]n  route 
he  was  in  a  terrific  gale  on  the  Atlantic  which  to- 
tally wrecked  a  vessel  attendant  upon  the  one  in 
which  he  took  passage,  nothing  being  saved  nor  a 
life  spared  on  the  attending  boat. 

In  1874-75  Mr.  Blakesle3'  made  a  circuit  of  the 
globe,  starting  westward  b3-  way  of  .San  Francisco. 
His  course  was  a  irregular  one  as  his  curiosit3' 
prompted  him  to  deviate  from  the  ordinar3'  or  di- 
rect line  of  travel.  He  visited  now  the  Japanese, 
now  the  Chinese  ports,  thence  to  Singapore,  and 
from  there  to  Penang,  the  great  spice  island,  thence 
to  Burmah,  and  Allahabad,  the  stronghold  of  the 
British  forces,  and  continued  from  there  to  Bomba3-. 
He  crossed  Hindostan  from  Calcutta  to  Benares, 
touching  the  head  waters  of  the  Ganges  amid  the 
ITiinala3as,  and  crossing  again  to  Bombw, where  he 
took  passage  for  Suez.  Thence  he  traveled  b3' 
rail  to  Cairo  and  Alexandria,  and  from  that  place 
to  Joppa  and  the  Hol3'  Land,  wherein  he  visited 
Jerusalem  and  many  points  of  interest  hallowed  113' 
recollections  of  the  Savior's  life.  During  the  pro- 
gress of  his  tour  Mr.  Blakesle3'  touched  at  Naples 
and  Rome,  and  traversed  much  of  the  Italian  in- 
terior, looking  upon  the  beauties  of  art  and  archi- 
tecture at  Florence,  Milan  and  other  points.  Thence 
he  passed  to  the  wonderful  Alpine  regions  of 
Switzerland,  and  after  revisiting  Paris,  London 
and  Liverpool  returned  to  America.  The  trip  was 
full  of  excitement  and  was  well  worth  the  cost  of 
making,  which,  in  answer  to  a  question  often 
asked,  we  ma3'  state  was  about  §1700. 

January  1, 1880,  Mr.  Bl.akesley  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mrs.  John  Babcock,  an  educated,  cul- 
tured and  refined  woman,  well  fitted  to  enio3'  with 
him  the  pleasures  of  travel  and  all  the  comforts, 
and  even  luxHries,with  which  they  are  surrounded. 
Thc3'  occupy  a  pleasant  home  on  a  bluff  overlook- 


PORTRAIT  AJv^i)   lilUUKAPlllCAL  ALUUM. 


8cy 


injj  muuli  of  Piori:).  liaving  the  (-•(>iii|ianionship  of 
a  large  c-irclo  of  fiicn  Is.  Tlie  suiiiuu'i-  after  their 
niarriigu  nas  pnsse>l  in  Michigan  and  several  since 
iiave  been  spent  in  sight-seeing. 

Polilicaliy,  Mr.  Blakesley  was  originally-  a  Whig, 
but  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  part}' 
became  iilentilieil  with  its  princijiles  and  is  a  stanch 
sup()orter  of  its  candidates  and  platform.  During 
the  late  war  he  was  a  strong  Union  man.  He 
voted  for  (ien.  Harrison  in  1836  and  1840,  and  also 
was  [)roud  to  cast  his  vote  for  the  grandson  of  that 
famous  general,  in  1888.  Religiously,  he  is  an 
E()iscopalian,  while  his  wife  holds  meinbersiiip  in 
the  Baptist  Church. 

ENRY  T.  FAHNESTOCK.     There  is  prob- 

Ji)  ably   no  farm   in   Trivoli  Township  which 

'■^/iy    presents  a  more  attractive  appearance   than 

sE^  that  own^d  and  occupied  b^-  our  subject. 
It  consists  of  eiglit3'  acres  on  section  16,  which 
have  been  thoroughly  improved,  no  waste  land 
bi  ing  found  u[ion  the  estate,  but  every  rod  being 
maile  productive,  or  set  apart  for  some  proper  pur- 
|)Ose.  It  is  fenced  in  convenient  flelds,  the  parts 
oorderingon  the  road  being  outlined  by  hedges,  tiles 
having  been  put  in  wherever  drainage  was  nec- 
«'ssary,  and  orchards,  groves  and  small  fruits  made 
use  of  as  adornments  and  sources  of  remuneration. 
The  dwelling  is  more  than  ordinarily  well  built, 
convenient  and  attractive,  is  accouii)anied  hy  good 
outbuildings,  and  surrounded  by  a  grove  of  hard 
maiilo  trca?.  The  latest  improved  machinery  is 
used  in  the  work  of  the  estate,  and  the  two  teams 
are  first-class  English  draft  horses. 

The  Fahnestock  family  is  traced  through  past 
centuries  to  Rupert  ^'on  Fahnestock,  who  was 
made  a  Baron  of  the  Roman  Empire  by  Robert  of 
JCormandy,  who  was  in  power  about  the  middle  of 
the  eleventh  centur}-.  Through  some  of  the  noble 
families  of  Prussia  the  line  has  descended  to 
Laborius  Fahnestock,  of  Prussia,  whose  son, 
Diedricli,  was  boin  in  ^\'estllhalia,  and  emigrated 
to  America  in  172(i,  settling  near  Ephratali,  Pa. 
The  next   in   tiie   line  was  Casi)er,  a  native  of  the 


Kej-stone  State,  and  following  him,  Charles,  who 
was  born  in  Chester  County,  February  1,  1761, 
married  Susan  Smith  .and  reared  fourteen  chiUlren. 
One  of  this  large  farail}-  was  anotlier  Charles,  also 
born  in  Chester  Count}',  who  took  up  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming,  becoming  the  owner  of  a  large 
tract  of  land.  He  also  had  two  hotels  on  the  turn- 
pike between  Philadel[)lna  ami  Lancaster,  where  he 
entertained  guests  and  changed  the  horses  of  the 
stage  route.  One  of  the  hotels  was  the  Warren 
Inn,  spoken  of  in  T.  B.  Read's  great  work,  the 
'•AVagoner  of  the  Alleghanies;"  the  other  was  lo- 
cated near  the  Paoli  Monument. 

The  next  in  the  dircK't  line  of  descent  was  Will- 
iam Fahnestock,  born  in  Chester  County,  March 
21,  1808.  He  carried  on  the  Warren  Inn  for  some 
years,  coming  into  [)osscssion  of  it  on  the  death  of 
his  father.  Reared  on  a  farm,  when  tin;  building 
of  the  railroad  lessened  his  business  on  the  stage 
route,  he  sold  the  inn  and  located  on  a  farm  near 
Faggs  Manor.  He  operated  one  hundred  acres  or 
more  until  1854,  when  he  brought  his  family  to 
Illinois,  locating  at  Brunswick,  this  county,  becom- 
ing the  possessor  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
acres  of  land,  which  he  developed  into  a  line  farm. 
He  was  one  of  five  who  bought  the  site  of  the 
Brunswick  church  and  cemetery,  assisted  in  erect- 
ing the  building  and  deeded  it  to  the  Presbyterian 
tieneral  Assembly.  He  was  a  pillar  in  the  church, 
and  Ruling  Elder  until  his  death.  After  the  war 
he  voted  the  Republican  ticket.  His  death  took 
place  ill  the  spring  of  1881,  when  he  was  sevent}'- 
three  years  old. 

The  wife  of  William  Falinestock  was  Ann  Eliza- 
beth Ernst,  who  was  born  in  Potlsville,  Pa.,  her 
father  being  a  merchant  in  that  town  and  vicinity 
until  his  deat'i.  Her  brother,  William  Ernst,  now 
a  prominent  banker  of  Covington,  K3'.,  is  one  of 
the  Revision  Committee  of  the  Presbyterian  Creed. 
Mrs.  Fahnestock  was  called  hence  in  1877,  after  a 
life  well  spent.  To  this  worthy  couple  ten  children 
were  born — Charles,  AVilliam,  John,  Amelia,  Alfred, 
Fred,  Ileniy  T.,  Lizzie,  Walter  and  Edward.  The 
seventh  member  of  the  fraternal  band  is  the  subject 
of  this  notice. 

Charles  Fahnestock,  the  oldest  member  of  this 
famil}-,    was   a    professor  of    the    High   School  at 


870 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Lewislown,  a  nicrcliant,  and  also  carried  on  a  book 
store.  He  possessed  strong  literary  tastes,  and  was 
the  author  of  many  songs  wliicli  have  been  set  to 
music,  among  them  being,  ''Give  the  Boys  a 
Chance,"  "We'll  Have  to  Mortgage  the  Farm," 
"  The  Girls  of  Onr  Town,"  "  Starry  Waves,"  etc. 
He  died  in  Lcwistown,  III.  William  was  a  student 
at  Center  College,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Bruns- 
wick; John  is  a  retired  merchant  at  Gnlesl)nrg; 
Amelia  is  the  wife  of  Park  Love,  of  Orion  Town- 
ship, F'lilton  County;  Alfred,  a  graduate  of  Prince- 
ton (N.  J.)  College, lias  been  Pastor  of  a  Presbj-- 
terian  Church  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y..  for  lifteen  years; 
Fred  is  general  agent  for  the  Singer  Sewing  Ma- 
chine Company  at  Cohoes,  N.  Y. ;  Lizzie  died 
when  cjuite  small,  as  did  Walter  and  Fdwaid,  who 
were  twins. 

Our  subject  was  bc>rn  in  Upper  Oxford,  Chester 
County,  Pa.,  March  2.5,  1H46,  lived  .at  his  birth- 
place until  seven  years  old,  and  then  accoraiianied 
his  parents  to  the  Prairie  State,  their  journey  being 
made  from  Cincinnati  to  Peoria  on  a  boat,  and 
from  the  latter  place  to  Johnson's  Corners  in  a 
wagon.  He  attended  the  district  schools,  and  a 
pirochial  school  at  Brunswick,  which  was  under 
the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Blr.  BIcFarland,  and  like 
other  farmers'  sons  was  earl3'  taught  to  bear  a  hand 
m  various  home  duties.  AVhen  twenty-one  years 
old  he  took  charge  of  the  home  place,  renting 
and  operating  it  until  1880,  when  he  buugiit  that 
upon  which  ho  now  resides.  His  father  had  rented 
his  farm  with  the  intention  of  moving  with  our 
subject,  and  li.ad  his  goods  packed,  when  he  was 
stricken  with  i)ar.alysis  which  caused  his  death.  Our 
subject  was  one  of  the  three  administrators  of  his 
father's  place.  Taking  possession  of  his  place,  he 
continued  the  employment  in  which  he  had  form- 
erly been  interested,  and  added  to  the  value  of  his 
new  home  bj'  continued  excellent  improvements. 
The  Lady  who  presides  over  the  pleasant  home  of 
our  subject  became  his  wife  December  18,1871, 
their  marriage  rites  being  celebrated  at  her  home 
in  this  township.  She  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
County,  Pa.,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rebecca 
Christy,  and  came  West  with  her  father,  William 
Christy,  in  186r).  Mr.  Christy  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  and    twenty  acres,  but    has  non'  aban- 


doned its  operation,  making  his  home  with  his  son 
James  in  Fulton  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fahne- 
stock  are  the  happy  parents  of  five  children — Liz- 
zie K.,  Tillie  W.,  John  C,  William  H.  and  Llewel- 
l3'n — who  receive  every  advantage  jiossible  in  the 
way  of  education  and  home  training. 

Mr.  Fahnestock  is  a  Republican,  has  been  dele- 
gate to  county  conventions,  and  is  an  ardent  .advo- 
cate of  temperance.  He  has  served  on  juries.  He 
is  Ruling  Elder  in  the  Brunswick  Presbyterian 
Church,  has  been  Sui)erintcndcnt  of  the  Sund.ay- 
school  since  he  was  twenty-five  years  old,  and  is 
now  teacher  of  the  l)il>le  cl.ass.  He  is  also  a  Trus- 
tee, and  has  been  delegate  to  Presl)yteries  and 
Synods.  He  is  a  corisistent  Christian,  whose  rule 
in  lite  is  to  do  as  he  would  lie  done  by.  One  sel- 
dom meets  a  more  gen i.al,  entertaining  gentleman, 
or  one  of  more  hospitable  spirit,  and  it  is  indeed  an 
honor  to  know  him. 


OHN  L.  GRISWOLD.  Among  the  earlier 
residents  of  Peoria  the  name  of  John  L. 
Griswold  is  conspicuous  as  that  of  an  excel- 
lent financier  and  an  active  participant  in 
the  improvement  of  the  city,  to  which  he  came  in 
October,  1840.  He  was  born  in  New  York  Citj-  in 
1800,  being  a  scm  of  N.  L.  Griswold,  of  the  firm  of 
N.  L.  &  G.  Griswold,  East  India  merchants.  He 
resided  in  his  native  city  until  his  remov.al  to 
Peoria,  and  upon  coming  here  he  engaged  in  a 
general  mercantile  business  with  A.  G.  Curte- 
nius.  They  occupied  the  site  now  used  by  the 
Rock  Island  depot,  selling  their  property-  to  the 
railroad  corporation  after  having  occupied  it  a 
number  of  years. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Curtenius  occurred  in  1857. 
Mr.  Mathew  Griswold  becanie  a  partner  in  1847 
with  our  subject,  and  business  was  continued  under 
the  firm  name  of  Griswold  &  Co.  until  the  latter 
part  of  the  '60s,  when  the  firm  was  dissolved.  The 
death  of  our  subject  took  place  in  the  city  of  Peo- 
ria, January  15,  1883.  Mr.  Griswold  was  married 
in  1840.     His  widow  survives  him. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  w.as  not  espe- 


roUTKAll"  AND  ]ilUGKAl'IilCAL  ALBUM. 


873 


eiiilly  interested  in  political  affairs,  but  was  an  ac- 
tive i)artieip:int  in  tlie  improveuicnts  wliicli  tooii 
place  in  this  city  after  lie  became  a  resident  here, 
lie  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  olil  wagon 
bridge  which  tuoU  the  |ilace  of  Col.  May's  ferry, 
the  company  buying  out  the  Colonel.  Mr.  Gris- 
wood  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  corporation, 
and  he  was  also  an  active  agent  in  seeming  t';ie 
Hnrcan  A'allcy  Railroad,  which  was  the  first  to  en- 
ter the  city,  lie  made  arrangements  with  iMr. 
Farnhani  of  the  Rock  Island  Raih-oad  for  its  con- 
struction. Mr.  Griswold  was  also  one  of  the 
stockholders  of  the  first  gas  company  here,  and 
served  as  its  President  for  some  time.  lie  was 
idcnlilied  with  the  gas  coni|iany  until  his  dcatli. 
The  fine  stores  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
Iviberty  Streets  were  erected  by  him  and  his  brother 
Matlhevv.  For  many  years  (uior  to  his  death  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  his 
Christian  character  was  recognized  by  all  with 
whom  lu^  came  in  contact.  Politically  he  was  orig- 
inally a  Whig,  then  a  Re|nibllcan,  and  during  the 
war  a  stanch  Union  man. 


If®' 


l/OIIN  I!.  TURBKTT.  To  gain  success  even 
under  favorable  circumstances  bespeaks  tal- 
ent; to  win  it  in  s|nte  of  obstacles  evinces 
genius.  1  )illiculiies  and  trials  have  entered 
the  life  of  Mr.  Turbett,  but  they  have  been 
overcome  by  this  indefatigable  worker.  l'Y)r  more 
than  fifty  years  he  has  been  a  resiflent  of  Lo- 
gan Township,  where  he  is  ranked  among  the  en- 
terpi'ising  and  successful  farmers.  His  sturdy  and 
persistent  pioneer  labors  have  contributed  to  de- 
velop the  agricultural  resources  of  this  region, 
and  to  such  as  he  Peoria  County  owes  the  piond 
station  it  occupies  in  the  galaxy  of  the  counties  of 
Illinois. 

Among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Peoria  County 
were  the  Turliett  family.  The  parents  were  John 
and  Nancy  (Beatty)  Turbett,  natives  of  Juniata 
County,  Pa.  About  1<S  14  the^'  removed  to  Fair- 
field County,  Ohio,  making  the   journcj'  on  horse- 


back. During  their  residence  in  the  last-named 
county  John  B.,  our  subject,  was  born  January  18, 
1820.  However,  not  feeling  satisfied  with  pros- 
pects in  the  Buckeye  State,  in  the  fall  of  183!)  the 
family  came  to  this  county  and  settled  on  sc^elion 
"21,  Logan  Township;  the  two  hundred  anil  forty 
acres  of  land  on  which  they  located  was  purchased 
by  their  two  oldest  sons  with  money  procured 
througii  a  brother. 

In  this  home  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turbi'tt  passed  their 
remaining  days,  he  dying  in  1817.  at  the  age  of 
sixty- three  years,  and  she  in  l<s(i2,  at  the  age  of 
scvent3'-thiee.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
their  ten  children:  Thomas,  who  died,  leaving  one 
daughter;  Jane,  Mrs.  Irvin,  died  in  Ohio;  Pris- 
cilla,  now  Mrs.  S.  W.  Brooks;  John  B. ;  F^liza, 
Mrs.  Stewart;  Elien,  Mrs.  Stewail;  Mary;  Han- 
nah, Mi'S.  Stewart;  William  S.  and  James  A.  Mr. 
Turbett  was  a  tanner  in  caidy  life,  and  came  of 
Irish  ancestry,  his  father  having  been  born  in  Ire- 
laud,  and  omigi'aling  from  that  country  t(j  Penn- 
sylvania. 

John  B.  Turljett  received  but  limit('d  educational 
advantages,  but  he  had  a  fine  ojiportunity  to  be- 
come thoroughly'  conversant  with  fairning  in  all  its 
branches.  Ever  since  he  came  to  this  State,  when 
he  was  about  eighteen  3'ears  of  age,  he  has  fought 
the  battle  of  life  unassisted.  For  many  years  he 
has  lived  on  the  old  homestead,  which  he  owns. 
He  sold  one  hundred  and  si.\  acres  of  it,  and  now 
has  remaining  one  hundi'cd  and  twenty  acres  of 
fine  and  well-improved  land.  He  has  forty  acres 
of  valuable  timber  land.  1Iim-c  his  declining  years 
are  passed  in  comfort  and  peace,  and  m  the  enjoy- 
ment of  that  respect  which  is  called  forth  liy  an 
uiJright,  honorable  life.  He  and  his  wife  are  stanch 
members  of  the  Presl)3teriau  Church  and  are  ever 
true  to  the  faith. 

The  most  important  event  in  the  life  of  our  sidi- 
ject  was  his  marriage,  December  30,_18.")(),  to  Martha 
Crovv,  who  has  faithfully  aided  him  in  his  labors, 
and  they  have  mutually  comforted  each  other  in 
the  sorrows  that  have  falliMi  to  their  lot.  Mrs. 
Turbett,  who  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Downing) 
Crow,  natives  respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio.     She  was  their  only   child,  and   her  mother 


874 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


(lying  when  shti,  was  fifteen  days  old,  she  was 
reared  by  her  grandfather,  William  Downing. 

Tlie  following  is  a  record  of  the  children  born 
to  oar  subject  and  his  wife:  Thomas  A.,  Sydney 
M. ;  Nancy  L.,  vvife  of  J.  W.  Jacobs,  of  AVarren 
County,  Iowa;  Priscilla  J.,  George  W.  and  James 
B.  In  the  mouth  of  March,  1885,  a  terrible  grief 
overshadowed  the  household  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tur- 
bett  as  at  that  time  three  bright  and  promising 
sons — Walter,  Edwin  and  Orrin,  aged  respectively 
seventeen,  fourteen  and  eleven — were  removed  by 
that  dreadful  scourge,  dipiitheria.  Their  afflicted 
parents  do  not  grieve  without  hope,  however,  as 
tlie3-  are  sustained  by  their  firm  religious  faith  and 
believe  that  tlie\'  will  meet  their  children  elsewhere 
in  a  blighter  and  better  world.  They  lost  two 
other  children  in  infancy. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  will  be  found  a  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  Mr.  Turbett. 


<a,  IVALTER  TREASURE  is  doing  an  extensive 
\,\//  iind  lucrative  mining  business,  having  a 
^'^  Isrge  bank  of  coal  of  a  fii;e  grade  in  Bar- 
tonville,  Limestone  Townshij).  Here  he  has  a 
beautiful  honie  which  is  one  of  the  finest  residence 
properties  in  the  city,  the  liandsomc  dwelling  and 
extensive  grounds  with  its  lovely  trees  and  orchards 
being  an  ornament  to  tiiis  quarter. 

Mr.  Treasure  is  a  Welshman  by  birth,  though 
born  of  Englisli  parentage.  May  lij,  1829,  was  the 
date  of  his  birth,  and  his  parents  were  Richard  aiul 
Ann  (Hook)  Treasure.  They  were  reared  and 
married  in  England  and  moved  from  there  to 
Wales  in  the  early  period  of  their  wedded  life  and 
there  they  lived  and  died. 

Our  sul)ject  grew  to  man's  estate  in  AValis,  and 
eaily  began  to  work  in  the  coal  mines,  gaining  a 
llioroi'gh  knowledge  of  his  calling.  He  was  am- 
bitious to  do  more  for  himself  and  acquire  a  com- 
petency and  a  comfortable  home, and  as  he  laboied 
under  disadvantages  in  his  native  land,  he  deter- 
mined to  emigrate  to  the  United  States  of  America. 
In  April,  1852,  be  landed  in  Philadelphia  crossing 
the  Atlantic  in  the  vessel   '-Tani    O'Shanler,"    that 


made  a  good  trip  in  eighteen  days,  which  was  then 
considered  fast  time.  The  lady  to  whom  Mr. 
Treasure  was  afterwards  married  crossed  the  water 
aljout  the  same  time,  the  voyage  consuming  four- 
teen weeks.  Mr.  Treasure  had  two  sisters  in  Potts- 
ville,  Schuylkill  County,  Pa.,  and  he  sought  and 
found  employment  in  the  mines  of  that  place, being 
engage!  as  a  miner  there  for  a  few  years.  After 
that  he  traveled  in  many  of  tiie  States  of  the  Union, 
including  Maryland,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  A'irginia, 
and  revisited  -Maryland,  thence  he  went  to  Ken- 
tucky and  finally  returned  to  the  Keystone  State. 
In  1855,  he  came  from  there  to  Peoria  County,  but 
subsequently-  retraced  his  steps  as  far  as  Ohio.  He 
staid  in  that  State  until  the  fall  of  tiie  year  and 
then  coming  back  to  Peoria  County,  for  thirty-five 
years  has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  this  section 
of  the  State. 

Mr.  Treasure  commenced  life  here  in  the  emploj' 
of  T.  C.  More,  with  whom  he  subsequently  entered 
into  partnership.  They  were  together  for  some  time 
and  rented  lirst  from  W.  C.  II.  Barton,  afterward 
rented  from  Jlr.  Darst,  being  financially  very  suc- 
cessful. Our  sul)ject  now  has  a  large  bank  in  the 
village  of  Bnrtonville.  and  mines  a  gond  deal  of 
coal  which  is  of  an  excellent  quality,  finding  reidy 
sale  in  the  city  upon  which  lie  depends  for  his 
trade.  He  kceiis  several  men  at  woik  and  in  the 
winter  employs  seven  or  eight  hands  all  tlie  lime. 

In  185'.i,  Mr.  Treasure  bought  a  tract  of  six  acres 
of  land  which  is  very  pleasantly  located  in  Barton- 
ville,  and  upon  it  he  built  a  siTiall  house  which  he 
aftervvard  replaced  by  a  commodious  residence.  Ho 
has  since  addeil  U>  his  real  eslatc  eight  acris  of  fine 
land,  and  has  |)lanted  it  with  for.'st  trees,  thus  add- 
ing greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  place.  On  his  first 
purchase  of  si.x  acres  he  set  out  an  apple  orchard 
that  now  contains  fine  large  trees  in  good  bearing 
condilic>n. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  JIargaret 
Noaden,  took  place  in  18G2,  and  theirs  has  been  a 
congenial  and  happy  nnion.  She  is  also  a  native 
of  Wales  and  came  to  this  country  in  I85G.  with  hci- 
parents,  Richard  and  Mary  Noaden.  Mi-.  Treasure 
brought  his  bride  to  the  little  home  that  he  first 
established  here,  and  she  has  actively  aided  him  in 
the  upbuililing  of  their  present  commodious  dwell- 


POK  TRAIT  AND   1!1(  >( ;  KAIMIICAL  ALBUM. 


iiig.  'I'lu'v  have  liad  six  childi-eii,  tLree  of  wliom 
(lied  iiicliildlioud.  The  otlieis  are  Amelia,  Olive 
and  Annie,  tlie  latter  at  lioan'  with  her  [larents. 
Amelia  is  tlie  wife  of  F'ank  Moffalt,  son  of  Acjuila 
Moffatt,  an  old  i)ioneer  of  Peoria,  of  whom  see 
sketch  on  another  pa.uc  They  have  two  ehihlren, 
Walter  and  K-irl.  Olive  is  the  wife  of  .lames 
Uiehards,  a  music  teacher  of  Peoria. 

Mr.  Treasure,  as  we  have  seen,  is  eminently  a 
self-mad(!  m.an  and  his  career  in  life  has  heel,  hon- 
orable to  himself,  and  has  ijoen  very  useful  to  his 
adopted  township  and  county,  lie  is  sat^acions  and 
far-sijjlited  in  his  business  operations,  which  arc 
conducted  promptly  and  methodically.  He  has  a 
well-balanced  mind,  and  independent  and  original 
views  on  all  subjects  and  has  his  own  ideas  in  regard 
to  religion.  As  a  loyal  citizen  should,  he  has  for 
many  years  taken  quite  an  interest  in  political  mat- 
ters, favoring  the  Republican  party  with  his  sup- 
port, but  he  has  never  been  a  i)olitician  and  has 
nev(U'  sought  for  office. 


*        4       ^^_ 


^^  HAULKS  S.  DUKE.  Although  tliisgentle- 
[jf^  man  has  been  in  business  for  himself  but  a 
^^^J  few  years,  his  long  experience  and  extensive 
acquaintance  so  thoroughly  fitted  him  for  the  en- 
terprise in  which  he  engaged  that  he  is  already 
well  established  and  numbered  among  the  leading 
dealers  of  Peoria.  His  stock  consists  of  hats  and 
men's  furnishing  goods,  the  fine  selection  occupy- 
ing an  api)ropriate  room  at  No.  319  Main  Street, 
where  salesmen  of  affable  and  well-bred  manners 
assist  the  proprietor  in  his  responsible  charge. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  the  young- 
est of  three  sons  born  to  James  and  Elizabeth  J. 
(Mitchell)  Duke,  and  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light 
in  Indi.anapoli.s,  Ind.,  August  30,  1860.  In  the 
same  city  his  father  was  born,  while  his  mother's 
birthplace  was  near  Maysville,  Ky.  In  1807  the 
parents  removed  to  Peoria,  where  they  have  since 
resided.  The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  passed 
in  attendance  at  the  public  schools  where  he  com- 
pleted the  course  of  study.  He  began  his  mercan 
tile  experience  .as  an  errand  boy,  advancing  to  the 


position  of  clerk  in  the  old  store  of  Da}-  Bros,  it 
Co.,  of  Peoria,  with  whom  he  rernaituid  three  jears. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  Mr.  Duke  ac- 
cepted a  clerkshi|)  with  Ottunheiiner  Bros.,  and 
still  later  with  Wolgamot  &  Co.,  contin\iing  with 
the  latter  tirm  five  years.  In  August.  I(i88.  he 
entered  into  trade  on  his  own  account,  having  from 
the  start  a  fair  run  of  custom  anu)Mg  those  to 
whom  his  pleasing  manners  and  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  business  methods  had  given  him  good  re- 
pute. He  is  a  member  of  Peoria  Lodge,  No.  250, 
K.  of  P.,  occupying  the  t-hair  of  Chancellor  Com- 
mander. In  politics  he  is  a  strong  Republican. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  The  re|)utation  of 
Mr.  Duke  is  that  of  a  thoroughly  honorable  man, 
whose  business  relations  are  trustworthy,  social  and 
domestic  life  kindly,  and  character  irreproach- 
able. 

The  pleasantly  located  and  attractive  home  of 
Mr.  Duke  is  under  the  careful  oversight  of  an 
amiable  and  cultured  lady  who  became  his  wife 
March  18,  1885.  She  was  known  in  her  girlhood 
as  Miss  Anna  Jaeckel.  She  was  born  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  but  reared  in  Pekin,  Tazewell  County, 
III.,  to  which  her  parents,  Franz  and  Jane  Jaeckel, 
removed  during  her  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duke 
have  two  children — Chester  Clark  and  Leslie 
Burton. 


-m: 


*  I^ILLARD  PUTNA.M.  One  of  the  most 
\/iJI'  flourishing  business  establishments  of  Peo- 
VtW  ria  is  the  ''Great  Five  and  Ten  Cent  and 
Bargain  Store"  at  Nos.  225  and  227  Main  Street. 
It  occupies  a  commodious  double  store.  (JOxDO  feet, 
with  ground  floor  and  basement,  being  the  largest 
five  and  ten  cent  store  in  the  West  and  having 
occupied  the  present  location  live  years.  The  firm 
of  Pennock  &  Putnam,  of  which  our  subject  is  the 
resident  member  in  Peoria,  also  has  stores  in  Ot- 
tumwa,  Iowa,  Adrian,  Mich.,  and  Fostoria,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Putnam  has  had  sole  charge  and  management 
of  the  establishment  in  this  city  from  its  founda- 
tion, and  by   his  business   ability   and   energy   ha8 


876 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


built  up  from  a  moderate  beginning  a  trade  of  over 
^50,000  per  annum. 

Mr.  Putnam  is  still  a  young  man.  Iiaving  been 
born  March  17,  1861,  at  Horse  Heads,  N.  Y.  He 
pursued  the  ordinary-  occupations  of  youth  until 
eighteen  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Adrian,  Mich., 
and  tliere  engaged  as  dry-goods  clerk.  He  re- 
mained in  tliat  city  until  1885.  when  the  present 
partnership  was  formed  and  he  became  a  resident 
of  Peoria.  He  gives  his  entire  attention  to  the 
business,  carefully  ascertains  the  wants  of  the  coui- 
munit}',  and  as  far  as  possible  supplies  them  on  his 
bargain  counters.  His  acumen  in  trade,  his  intel- 
ligence on  general  topics,  his  manliness  and  square 
dealing,  find  appreciative  friends  throughout  the 
cit}-  in  which  he  has  taken  up  his  abode. 

The  jiarents  of  our  subject  are  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Owen)  Putnam,  both  now  deceased.  The  father 
was  born  in  the  green  hills  of  Vermont,  and  was  a 
practical  mechanic.  He  was  lespected  for  his  hon- 
esty, skill  and  uprightness,  while  to  the  advice  of 
a  good  mother  our  subject  owes  much  of  liis  pres- 
ent honorable  reputation. 


RANK  McINTYRE.  Among  the  men  now 
cultivating  a  portion  of  the  soil  of  Rose- 
Deld  Township  with  good  results,  and  whose 
financial  prosperitj'  has  resulted  from  industrious 
application  to  the  work  in  hand,  together  with  a 
prudent  control  of  expenditures,  the  subject  of  this 
notice  deserves  mention.  His  fine  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  is  a  standing  monument 
to  his  zeal  and  induslr3-,  and  we  are  |)leased  to  pre- 
sent a  view  of  it  with  its  principal  buildings  on 
another  page. 

The  i)arents  of  our  subject  were  Edward  and 
IVLary  (Mclntyre)  Mclntyre,  natives  of  the  Emer- 
ald Isle,  where  the  father  breathed  his  last.  Their 
family  consisted  of  nine  children,  one  of  whom,  a 
son.  Ed  ward,  was  drowned  when  eighteen  years  old. 
The  others  came  to  America,  as  did  the  widowed 
mother,  the  first  earning  money  to  send  for  the 
next,  and  each  in  turn  assisting  to  bring  the  re- 
maining  members   of  the  family  across  the  water. 


Jlrs.  IMcIntyre  died  in  Elmwood,  this  county,  and 
was  buried  at  Kickapoo.  Our  subj.-ct  is  the  fifth 
of  the  family  wiio  came  to  America.  The  others 
are:  Rose  Ann,  noiv  Mrs.  Doughert}-.  of  Yates  City; 
Thomas,  wiio  died  in  Grovelaud.  Mass. :  Patrick, 
who  after  liviuL:  s  'me  lime  in  Maine,  came  to  Illi- 
nois; John,  who  died  in  this  Stale;  Mary,  who 
married  Michael  Braiinon  and  died  in  Knox  County, 
leaving  one  daughter;  Barney,  who  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  army,  and  was  lost  at  sea. 

The  eldest  son  of  the  parental  family  came  to 
the  United  States  in  18.il,  the  others  following  at 
various  times  until  1857,  when  our  subject,  his 
mother,  two  brothers  and  a  sister  made  their  way 
to  the  New  World.  He  of  whom  we  write  was  then 
about  twenty-nine  years  old,  having  been  born  in 
County  D(megal,  Ireland,  in  1828.  After  lauding 
on  American  soil  he  spent  six  months  at  Clover- 
port,  Ky.,  afterward  coining  to  Peoria  County,  III., 
working  in  a  bricki'ard  at  Elmwood  a  season.  He 
then  removed  to  Knox  County,  where  he  remained 
until  1871,  then  returning  to  this  county  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  which  he  now  operates.  He 
subsequently  added  forty  acres,  still  later  purchas- 
ing  a  hundred  more,  all  of  which  he  has  brought 
to  the  condition  common  to  the  estates  of  progress- 
ive farmers. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Peo- 
ria, January  26,  1863.  His  bride,  Catherine  Byrnes, 
who  was  then  living  at  Elmwood,  is  a  native  of 
Countj'  Maj'o,  Ireland,  whence  she  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1857.  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years, 
with  a  neighbor's  family.  She  came  at  once  to 
Elmwood  where  she  had  friends,  remaining  in  that 
neighborhood  until  after  her  marriage.  The  happy 
union  has  been  blessed  b}'  the  birth  of  nine  chil- 
dren, named  respectively,  Ellen,  Thomas,  John, 
Francis,  Patrick,  Mar3',  Catherine,  James  and  Bar- 
ney. The  latter  died  when  ten  months  old.  The 
eldest  daughter  is  a  successful  school  teacher. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mclntyre  belong  to  the  Catholic 
Church,  are  held  in  excellent  repute  by  their  neigh- 
bors, and  enjoy  the  friendship  of  a  large  circle. 

Mrs.  Mclntyre  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Ellen  (Byrnes)  B3'rnes,  her  fatiier  being  an  Irish 
farmer,  who  was  three  times  married.  Of  the  four 
children  born  of  the  first  marriaije,  one  ditd  when 


- ■-■.-- s^ 


fc;...,il 


Residence  of  Frank  M?  Intyre,5ec.8.  Rosefi eld Tp. Peoria  Co. III. 


Residence  of  John  Bridson,  SecS^MillbrookTr Peoria  Co.Ill. 


PORTRAIT   AM)   UIOGUArillCAL  ALIU'M. 


87!) 


seven  j'ears  old;  Mary  is  living  in  Knglaiul;  l!:u- 
ney  came  to  tiie  United  Stales,  liavini;'  been  sent 
fc>r  i)}'  Mrs.  Mclntyre.  The  second  wife  of  Mr. 
I5vrnes  was  Bridget  .Sheridan,  wlio  reared  two  sons 
anil  two  dangliters:  Thomas  is  living  in  Kngland; 
iSIarlin  in  Ireland  .-md  the  daughters  in  Massachu- 
setts. The  third  wife  of  l\Ir.  Byrnes  had  two 
daughter.s,  vvho  are  now  living  in   Lawrence,  Mass. 


m 


OIIN  15RIDS0N.  This  gentleman  and  his 
good  wife  are  representative  pioneer  settlers 
of  Peoria  County,  and  tlieir  many  friends 
will  lie  pleased  to  see  a  reeord  of  their  life 
and  a  view  of  their  pleasant  home  on  these  pages. 
Mr.  Hridson  is,  in  the  truest  sense,  a  self-made  man, 
and  since  taking  u])  his  residence  in  <Jiis  county-  has 
acquired  by  honest  industry  a  valuable  property 
that  makes  liim  one  of  the  solid  citizens  of  the 
place,  aiid  iiere  he  is  still  extensively  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  month  of  August, 
1820,  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  his  parents  being  John 
and  Catherine  (.Sansbnry)  Bridson,  who  were  like- 
wise natives  of  that  little  spot  of  earth  in  tlie  Irish 
Sea.  His  early  years  were  passed  in  the  home  of 
his  birth  on  a  farm,  and  the  practical  knowledge 
that  he  thus  acquired  has  been  very  advantageous 
to  him  in  his  work  later  in  life.  He  had  |)ractieall3' 
no  opportunities  for  an  education,  but  his  keen, 
quick  intellect  and  sc^f-relianec  have  perhaps  been 
of  more  use  to  him  than  mere  book  knowledge. 

Shortly  after  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Bridson  de- 
termined to  try  life  in  America,  an<l  took  |)assage 
for  this  country'  on  a  sailing  vessel  from  Liveri)Ool 
and  after  a  four  weeks'  voyage  landed  in  New  York 
City  and  came  from  there  directly  to  Illinois.  For 
a  short  time  he  rented  a  farm  in  Briinfield  Town- 
ship, and  subsequently  came  from  there  to  Mill- 
brook  Township,  and  farmed  as  a  renter  for  four 
years.  He  did  well,  laid  u|)  money  and  was  ena- 
bled to  become  more  independent  by  purchasing 
land  for  himself  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  the 
farm  he  now  owns  on  section  27,  pa3-ing  $10  an 
acre  for  it.     The  land  was  not  at  all  cultivated  nor 


had  it  any  improvements  when  he  selthid  on  it,  and 
was  isolated  and  lonel}  as  there  were  no  neighbois 
near.  He  actively  entered  upon  tiie  work  of  its 
development,  broke  the  wild  [irairie  sod,  and  did 
other  necessary  pioneer  labors,  and  in  tims  placed 
it  under  excellent  cultivation,  ami  has  now  one  of 
the  finest  farms  in  all  the  township,  consisting  of 
three  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres.  His  liomc  here 
is  one  of  the  best  and  most  comfortable  in  the  lo- 
cality. The  fine  conilition  of  his  farm,  whose  broad 
acres  j'ield  abundant  harvests,  testifies  t,o  the  hard 
work  he  has  done  and  to  his  [iractical  aldlity  as  a 
farmer. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
first  married  in  his  native  isle,  to  Ann  (ielling,  who 
bore  him  three  children,  namely:  John,  deceased ; 
Albert,  at  home  with  his  father;  and  Marilla,  wife 
of  Truman  J>yons,  of  llice  County,  Kan.  He  was 
married  a  second  time  after  coming  to  this  country 
to  Marilla  Kimler,  vvho  was  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  Ind.,  July  2;i,  18;J1.  Her  [jfirents,  I'^van 
and  Love  (Walker)  Kimler,  were  natives  of  \'ir- 
ginia,  and  it  is  said  that  her  father  was  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812.  Mr.  Bridson's  marriage  with  his 
second  wife  has  brought  him  seven  children  as  fol- 
lows; Walker,  a  resident  of  Chicago;  Ilattie,  at 
home  with  her  parents;  Kthel,  wife  of  Frank  Run- 
yon,  of  Knox  County;  ,\llie,  deceased;  Minnie, 
wife  of  Homer  Collister  of  Brimfield  Township; 
Frank  and  Josephine  with  their  parents. 

Our  subject  has  achieved  suc'cess  in  life  entirely 
through  his  own  elt'orts,  as  he  stalled  out  in  the 
world  with  no  other  cajjital  but  stout  muscles,  a 
clear  head  and  a  brave,  honest  heart,  and  vvhat  he 
has  accomplished  by  years  of  toil,  should  be  an  en- 
couragement to  j'oung  farmeis  who  are  just  begin- 
ning where  he  began  so  many  j'ears  ago.  He  has 
contributed  his  quota  in  bringing  Millbrook  Town- 
ship to  its  present  position  as  a  rich  agricidtuial 
center,  and  holds  an  honorable  place  among  its 
most  worthy  pioneers.  He  is  a  man  of  earnest 
character,  possessing  in  a  full  degree  those  sturdy' 
traits  common  to  the  men  of  his  native  isle  and  as 
a  citizen,  neighbor,  friend,  husband  and  father,  is 
all  that  can  be  desired.  A  man  of  religious  prin- 
ciple he  is  identified  with  the  Episcopal  Church, 
while  Mrs.  Bridson,  who  is  a  sincere  Christian,  is  a 


880 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


member  of  the  rrcsbyteiian  Cbuieh.  She  comes 
of  an  old  pioneer  family  of  this  county,  her  parents 
having  crossed  the  line  from  Indiana  to  this  State, 
in  1852. 


^;<^EORGE  KUNTZ.  Some  men,  though  they 
j/ __,  excel  in  lillinj;  the  soil,  yet  lack  the 
^iii^!  judgment  and  business  qualifications  to 
make  of  their  labors  a  financial  success.  They  de- 
vote too  great  an  acreage  to  a  crop  which  proves 
the  surplus  one  of  the  season,  or  sell  at  the  wrong 
time  and  so  fail  to  make  the  gains  their  industri- 
ous labors  merit.  Such  is  not  the  case  with  the 
gentleman  above  named,  who  combines  with  his 
skill  as  a  farmer  the  business  ability  and  training 
wliicli  makes  his  calling  renuraerative. 

The  birth  of  George  Kuntz  took  place  in  Gars- 
dorf,  Alsace,  France,  April  11,  1843.  His  parents 
were  Jacob  and  Mary  Ann  (Breydenroacher)  Kuntz. 
The3-  came  to  America  in  1849,  bringing  with 
Ihem  a  family  of  six  children,  of  whom  George 
is  next  to  the  youngest.  For  two  and  one-half 
years  they  made  their  home  at  Lyons,  Wayne 
County,  N.  Y.,  removing  to  Peoria  in  May,  1852. 
Tliej-  remained  in  the  city  until  the  following 
spring  wlien  the  falliei  boughtland  in  Hollis  Town- 
ship and  removed  his  family  thither.  There  he 
breathed  his  last  Februar}'  3.1882,  survived  b\  all 
his  children,  one  of  whom  has  since  departed  this 
life. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  attended  school  in  his 
native  province,  learning  the  German  langu.age, 
which  he  writes  re.adily.  After  coming  to  America 
he  attended  English  schools  and  being  an  apt  [tuinl 
soon  became  proficient  in  the  various  branches 
taught.  He  became  particularh'  skillful  with  the  pen 
and  has  many  fine  specimens  of  this  work  to  adorn  his 
home.  Among  these  is  a  map  of  Hollis  Township 
which  was  drawn  without  the  assistance  of  instru- 
ments and  which  is  considered  so  correct  that  it 
was  copied  in  making  the  count3-  map  in  1872. 
Another  is  the  drawing  of  a  bridge,  with  plans, 
made  for  the  engineer  who  bad  charge  of  the  con- 
struction of  a  bridge  over  the  creek,  a  few  miles 
from  the  home  of  Mr.    Kuntz.     Still  another  fine 


specimen  of  his  handiwork  is  a  picture  copied  from 
a  photogra[)h  and  enlarged  to  five  times  its  orig- 
inal size,  preserving  every  line  and  feature. 

Mr.  Kuntz  is  now  carrying  on  the  farm  former- 
ly belonging  to  his  father.  His  home  is  pre- 
sided over  by  an  estimable  lad^-  with  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriage  February  5,  1879.  She  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  Hessling.  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Beinhard  and  Agnes  M.  (Shoemaker) 
Hessling,  of  Richwood  Township,  her  father  being 
a  large  farmer.  The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kuntz  consists  of  four  children,  narael}':  Bern- 
hard  M.,  George  IL,  Charles  A.  and  Frank  A.  The 
parents  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  as 
were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Kuntz. 

The  mental  ability  and  culture,  and  financial 
skill  of  Mr.  Kuntz  have  been  called  forth  in  the 
service  of  his  fellow  citizens,  by  whom  he  has 
been  elected  to  office  j-ear  after  year.  He  is  now 
Township  Clerk,  having  first  been  elected  to  that 
olfiee  in  1871.  His  books  are  kept  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  show  all  the  ch.anges  made  in  the  roads 
and  to  give  a  good  understanding  of  township  af- 
fairs at  a  glance.  He  has  held  the  office  since  his 
first  election  except  for  a  few  years,  after  he  had 
refused  to  be  a  candidate.  This  was  in  the  spring 
of  1879,  but  in  1883  his  candidacy  was  insisted 
upon  and  he  has  behl  the  office  continuously  since 
tiiat  time.  In  1873  he  was  elected  School  Trustee 
and  after  holding  the  office  for  thirteen  years, 
positively  refused  to  serve  longer.  He  belongs  to 
the  Democratic  party  but  his  friends  are  not  con- 
fined to  that  political  bod}'. 


'I^AVID  HORNBAKER  is  one  of  the  old 
I  ]),  soldiers  and  old  settlers  of  Peoria  Count}' 
^Mf^  where  be  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  who  know  him.  He  was  born  in  Frank- 
lin County,  Ohio,  nine  miles  west  of  Columbus, 
March  27.  1829.  His  parents  left  that  place  when 
hf;  was  very  young  and  settled  in  Peoria,  where 
they  remained  about  five  j'ears  then  removed  to 
Hollis  Township  where  the}'  located.  '  Our  subject 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Hollis  and  has  made  it 


I'OKTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


881 


his  liome  from  thai  time  foiwurd,  except  the  lime 
spent  in  the  service  of  iiis  country  during  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion.  The  boyhood  of  our  subject 
was  mostly  passed  in  and  about  Peoria.  1 1  is  par- 
ents were  John  and  Margaret  (Essex)  Ilornbaker. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  (xcrman 
extraction,  but  while  yet  a  3'oung  man  removed  to 
Ohio  where  he  met  and  married   his  wife. 

Our  subject  was  married  to  iMiss  Hannah  Kenedy, 
diuighter  of  Daniel  and  Ruth  Keued}',  of  Ohio, 
.September  6,  18r)5,  in  Illinois,  and  immediately 
afterward  came  to  this  county  where  he  located  on 
the  place  where'  he  still  lives.  Mrs.  Hornbaker 
died  May  20,  1890,  of  canc'er  of  the  tongue  from 
which  she  suffered  three  years  previous  to  her  final 
taking  off.  The  cancer  started  under  her  tongue 
and  ale  through  her  throat  killing  its  helpless  vic;- 
tim  b3'  inches,  but  although  enduring  such  extreme 
agony  as  only  the  martyrs  to  that  disease  know,  she 
never,  during  all  her  long  illness,  murmured  or 
complained,  submitting  to  the  trial  of  her  patience 
and  fortitude  with  true  Christian  resignation  and 
cheerfulness.  Instead  of  fretting  and  bemoaning 
her  fate  she  exerted  herself  to  make  all  about  her 
pleasant  and  happj-,  and  when  told  by  tlie  physi- 
cians in  attendance  that  her  case  was  hopeless,  felic' 
simply  replievi  that  she  would  make  the  best  of  it, 
and  her  after  conduct  gave  ample  proof  that  she  had 
not  spoken  in  vain.  Mrs.  Ilornbaker  was  possessed 
of  a  frail  constitution  and  had  always  been  in  dtjlicate 
health  until  a  few  years  before  the  cancer  made  its 
appearance,  when  she  imjjroved  and  great  hopes 
were  entertained  by  her  family  and  friends  that  she 
would  live  many  years  to  bless  and  brighten  her 
home,  but  the  Great  Ruler  willed  otherwise  and 
her  friends  can  only  imitate  her  example  and  bow 
in  humble  submission  to  the  will  of  Ilim  that  doeth 
all  things  well. 

In  ISfio  our  subject  enlisted  in  Companj'  K, 
Forty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  and  went  imme- 
diately thereafter  to  Cairo,  thence  to  New  Orleans, 
from  there  to  Morgan  Island,  and  some  time  later 
to  the  siege  of  Spanish  Fort.  He  next  saw  the  en- 
emy at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  then  at  Selma  and  his 
last  encounter  with  the  foes  of  the  starry  flag  of 
our  fathers,  was  at  Demopilis,  Ala.  He  was  mus- 
tered   out  after  his  short  but    brilliant   record,  at 


Cawhaba,  Ala.,  and  reached  home  in  18G6.  Iiis 
wife  at  that  time  an  invalid,  had  grieved  sorely  at 
his  absence  and  never  fully  recovered  from  the 
effects  of  that  trying  time. 

Six  children  cemented  their  union  with  cheerful 
presence,  as  follows:  Eliza  J.  remained  a  brief  [icr- 
iod  in  this  lower  world  then  winged  her  flight  to 
the  ujjper  and  better  one  while  yet  an  innocent 
babe;  Josephine,  the  second  child  grew  into  a 
beautiful  womanhood  and  married  John  S.  Johnson 
of  Hollis,  but  alas,  their  earthly  dream  of  happi- 
ness was  ended  by  her  death  ere  a  j-ear  of  wedded 
bliss  had  passed;  John  A.,  a  young  man  of  slight 
build  and  weak  constitution  is  still  at  home; 
Charley  is  married  but  has  no  children;  Ida  is  at 
liome;  Myrtle  died  when  about  twelve  years  of 
age  after  suffering  three  years  with  a  sore  throat. 

Mr.  Hornbaker  has  a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres 
of  well-tilled  land  and  bestows  much  time  and 
thought  upon  its  cultivation  and  improvement. 
He  and  his  family  arc  members  of  the  La  Rlarsh 
Baptist  Church.  He  has  been  connected  with  it 
since  1849  and  notwithstanding  his  severe  altlic- 
tions  exhibits  a  cheerfulness  and  submission  to  tlic 
Divine  Will,  only  obtained  by  reliance  upon  the 
wisdom  and  goodness  of  One  who  knows  our  needs 
and  has  promised  to  overrule  all  things,  even  evil, 
to  our  good.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  an 
intelligent  observer  of  events. 


/OHN  F.  KING,  a  native  of  Peoria  ami  a 
son  of  one  of  its  most  respected  pioneer  set- 
tlers, DOW  occupies  an  honoralile  place  in 
the  business  circles  of  this  city  as  a  con- 
tractor in  stuccoing.  He  originates  beautiful  de- 
signs for  all  manner  of  fine  work,  and  many  of  the 
finest  buildings  in  Peoria  have  been  embellished  by 
his  rare  skill  in  a  calling  that  he  has  made  an  art. 
Mr.  King  was  born  in  this  city  April  27,  183G, 
to  Samuel  D.  and  Josina  (McComsey)  Kin"-,  na- 
tives respectively  of  New  Jersey  and  Ohio.  They 
came  from  I'rbana,  Ohio,  to  Peoria  in  1831,  in 
wagons  drawn  by  oxen,  and  were  six  weeks  on  the 
way.     They    found     here    a   small    settlement    of 


882 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  ALBUM. 


twelve  families,  ami  llie  present  situ  of  the  city  was 
known  as  Ft.  Clark.  A  part  of  the  original  primi- 
tive fort  or  stockade  that  had  been  built  in  1813  as 
a  defense  against  the  Indians  was  still  standing, 
and  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  War 
measures  were  taken  to  rebuild  the  fort,  a  stockade 
being  placed  around  the  old  pickets  of  the  Brst 
fortification.  Mr.  King,  who  vvas  a  potter,  having 
learned  his  trade  at  Urbana,  built  a  pottery  where 
the  High  School  building  now  stands,  in  1812,  and 
actively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  potter3' 
four  years,  and  then  disposed  of  his  business  very 
advantageous!}'  to  Cieorge  Alton.  He  next  became 
a  painter,  and  at  first  painted  sign-boards,  and  then 
steamboats,  and  then  did  gilding.  In  1851  he 
oi)oned  a  drug-store  in  this  city,  which  he  managed 
l)rofitabl3' for  about  ten  years.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  time  he  accepted  a  position  as  storekeeper 
in  the  United  Stiites  service  under  Gen.  Henderson, 
in  1861.  He  acted  in  that  capacity  until  1871, 
giving  good  satisfaction  bj' the  fidelity  and  hon- 
esty that  marked  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  No- 
vember 4,  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  this 
venerable  pioneer  of  Peoria  Count}",  who  had  been 
variously-  identified  with  its  industries  for  many 
^•ears,  and  was  held  in  honor  as  one  of  its  best  citi- 
zens, passed  awaj',  leaving  behind  him  the  blessed 
memory  of  a  life  well  spent.  To  him  and  his 
good  wife  had  been  born  fourteen  children,  four  of 
whom  lived  to  maturit}',  and  three  of  them  are  .still 
living:  Samuel  T.,  a  resident  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.; 
Mrs.  Martha  J.  Pattte,  a  resident  of  Birmingham, 
Ala.;  and  our  subject. 

John  F.  King  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  this  his  native  city,  and  when  old 
enough  to  adopt  a  calling  became  a  modeller  in 
stucco  work,  and  b}"  diligent  attention  to  his  work, 
making  a  careful  study  of  it  in  all  its  details,  he 
soon  rose  to  be  one  of  the  most  artistic  and  expert 
stucco  workers  in  the  city,  and  to-day  easily  takes 
the  lead  in  his  vocation.  He  is  much  sought  after 
to  clecorate  interiors,  and  he  has  built  up  a  large 
and  prosperous  business  as  a  contractor  for  stucco- 
ing. 

The  home  of  our  subject  in  this  city  is  an  at- 
tractive one,  and  to  its  presiding  genius,  formerly 
Miss  Pamclia  (jodfrey,   he  was  united   in  marriage 


in  1865,  the  wedding  ceremony  being  solemnized 
in  Toulon,  Stark  County.  F'ive  sons  and  daugh- 
ters complete  the  pleasant  household  of  our  subject 
and  his  estimable  wife,  namely:  John  F.,  Jr.; 
.Maude,  who  inherits  much  of  her  father's  artistic 
talent,  and  is  skilled  in  painting;  Harry  P.,  in 
business  with  his  father;  Jamie  and  Walter. 

Mr.  King  is  a  gentleman  of  talent  and  culture, 
possessing  a  mind  of  a  high  order.  He  is  a  true 
lover  of  nature,  and  is  keenly  interested  in  the 
natural  sciences,  in  which  he  is  well  versed,  and  he 
has  a  fine  cabinet,  containing  a  valuable  collection 
of  minerals,  etc.  In  politics,  he  uses  his  influence 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  Republican  part}'. 
His  father  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  that 
party,  and  was  a  strong  Abolitionist  in  the  ante- 
bellum days,  and  many  a  poor  slave  had  cause  to 
bless  him  for  the  aid  he  gave  him  in  obtaining 
liberty.  As  a  boy  our  subject  assisted  his  father 
in  showing  the  negro  fugitives  the  wa}'  to  safety 
and  freedom  b}'  conducting  them  from  station  to 
station  on  the  ••underground  railroad"  as  occasion 
offered. 


zs^ 


^EORGE  JOOS  owns  and  occupies  a  pleas- 
antly located  and  fertile  estate  on  section 
24,  Kickapoo  Township.  It  consists  of 
about  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
which  the  present  owner  has  i)Ut  a  full  line  of  good 
buildings  suitable  to  the  needs  of  his  family  and 
to  the  work  which  he  carries  on,  and  has  made  the 
other  improvements  which  would  be  expected  of 
an  enterprising  man.  The  most  casual  observer 
would  have  a  fair  idea  of  the  chief  characteristics 
of  Mr.  Joos  and  his  wife  upon  viewing  the  estate 
and  the  surroundings  of  the  dwelling. 

In  the  far-famed  land  of  .Switzerland  Mr.  Joos 
was  born  May  21,  1826.  There  he  acquired  a 
practical  education  and  fitteil  himself  for  a  useful 
and  honorable  career.  In  1  849  he  left  his  native 
connlrj-  and  crossing  the  Atlantic  landed  in  Xew 
York,  whence  he  came  directly  West  to  Milwaukee, 
Wis.  He  remained  in  that  city  a  few  mouths, 
then  removed   to  Peoria  where  he  was  ena:aged  in 


7/2^  -^Aa 


^.^y2^-;LyZ£Ay 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


885 


earpontcr  work  until  about  1873.  lie  tlien  deter- 
in  incd  to  devote  himself  to  the  pursuit  of  agricul- 
turoand  therefore  removed  to  Kickapoo  Township 
wliere  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

Mr.  Joos  has  been  twico  married,  his  first  alli- 
ance having  been  contracted  in  Peoria  in  Decem- 
ber, 1852.  His  bride  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Leucn- 
bcrger,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  with  whom  he 
lived  happily  until  1855,  when  she  was  called  from 
time  to  eternity.  The  present  wife  of  INIr.  Joos 
was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Elizal)cth 
Brcidenstein  and  became  his  wife  in  Peoria,  in 
December,  186L  She  is  a  native  of  Germany 
possessing  all  the  domestic  knowledge  and  moth- 
erly' feeling  characteristic  of  the  race.  This  union 
has  been  blessed  by  the  liirth  of  five  children, 
named  respectively,  Anna,  George  T.,  Krailj-,  Hen- 
rietta and  William. 

In  his  political  views  and  practices  Mr.  Joos  is 
an  independent  Republican.  A  law-abiding  citi- 
zen, an  honorable  man  and  an  affectionate  mem- 
ber of  the  family  circle,  Mr.  Joos  is  regarded  with 
due  respect  by  those  to  whom  he  is  known. 


«;^®_ 
""^S^ 


1=1^ 


fcdLLIAM  CRAMER.  It  gives  us  pleasure 
to  i)lacc  on  these  pages  the  record  of  the 
life  and  to  present  the  portrait  of  this  ven- 
erable pioneer  of  Peoria  County,  who  is  numbered 
among  its  wealthy  and  influential  farmers  and  stock 
dealers.  He  is  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Trivoli 
Township,  where  his  farming  interests  have  been 
centered  for  many  years. 

John  Cramer,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  I'ennsylvania,  a  son  of  one  of  its  farmers 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  oi  1812.  He  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  early  man- 
hood went  to  Ohio  on  foot  and  settled  ten  miles 
east  of  Columbus  as  one  of  the  earlj-  pioneers  of 
Franklin  County.  He  cleared  away  the  forest  and 
broke  the  soil  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  on  which  he  had  a  hewed  log  house  for  a 
dwelling.  There  he  tilled  the  soil  and  raised  stock 
until  1839,  when  he  again  took  up  the  westward 
march  and,  coming  to  Illinois,  located  in  Farming- 


ton,  where  he  rented  and  farmed  until  he  settled 
permanently  on  ninety -five  acres  of  land  that  he 
bought  on  section  8,  Trivoli  Township.  This  was 
partly  developed  and  he  continued  its  impi'ovemeut 
until  his  premature  death,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years,  in  1845.  He  was  a  Democrat  iu  his  political 
nlfiliations,  and  while  a  resident  of  Ohio  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Catherine  Cobell,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, a  daughter  of  Jacob  Cobell,  of  that  State,  who 
became  an  early  settler  and  a  farmer  in  Franklin 
County,  Ohio,  vvherc  he  died.  She  resided  on  the 
homestead  for  a  few  years  after  her  husband  died, 
and  then  removed  to  Farmington  where  her  death 
occurred  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 
Of  the  eleven  boys  born  of  her  wedded  life,  eight 
grew  to  maturity:  Jacob,  who  died  in  Trivoli 
Township;  William;  Daniel,  a  resident  of  Iowa; 
Isaac,  who  lives  in  Livingston  County;  Sanuiel : 
Keys,  who  died  in  Cambridge;  Irving,  a  resident  of 
Cambridge,  and  Wesley,  who  lives  at  Nashville, 
Tenn. 

June  26,  1818,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
review  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  the  world  in 
the  primitive  home  of  his  parents,  amid  the  prime- 
val forests  of  Franklin  County,  Ohio.  When  he  was 
only  a  small  boy  his  services  were  required  in  the 
labors  of  the  farm,  and  he  was  early  tjiught  to  reap 
with  a  cradle,  and  to  carry  on  agriculture generall3- 
after  the  primitive  methods  of  3'Ore.  The  school- 
house  in  which  he  gained  a  knowledge  of  the  con- 
tents of  the  English  reader  and  spelling  book  and 
learned  towield  the  goose-quill  pen,  was  buflt  of 
logs,  had  slab  benches  and  a  puncheon  floor,  and 
greased  paper  served  instead  of  glass  iu  the  open- 
ing that  was  cut  for  a  window,  and  the  establish- 
ment was  heated  by  fire  in  a  rude  fireplace.  His 
great  delight  in  his  youth  was  in  hunting  foxes, 
turkeys  and  other  wild  animals  with  hounds,  and 
he  became  an  expert  in  the  use  of  the  rille,  and  is 
still  the  champion  shot  here,  and  was  never  beaten 
in  a  contest  but  once. 

Mr.  Cramer  remained  at  home  with  bis  mother 
until  twenty-six  j'ears  of  .age.  In  October  of  1839 
he  left  Ohio  with  a  six-horse  team,  covered  wagon 
and  carriage,  beginning  his  eventful  journey  to  the 


886 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


new  liome  on  the  wild  prairies  of  tliis  State.  He 
was  five  weeks  on  the  way,  over  the  rough  roads 
and  the  rude  pole  bridges,  crossed  the  Wabash  at 
Terre  Haute,  and  came  directly'  to  Farmington, 
enjoying  himself  all  the  wa}'  by  hunting.  He  re- 
mained some  two  years  iu  Farmington,  and  during 
the  second  summer  engaged  in  chopping  wood  for 
one  month, which  was  the  only  time  he  ever  worked 
out.  He  continued  with  his  father  until  1846,  when 
he  became  the  possessor  of  eighty  acres  of  raw 
land,  he  having  previously'  rented  land  of  his  fa- 
llicr.  He  located  on  his  place,  building  a  log  house, 
and  for  twelve  months  engaged  in  drawing  logs. 
lie  ns'.'d  two  horses  to  break  liis  land,  turning  two 
.icres  of  the  prairie  sod  each  da^-.  He  worked  hard 
and  oblained  money  enough  to  buj'  forty  acres 
adj.u'ning  his  first  purchase,  which  he  improved, 
and  flnall}',  in  1860,  replaced  the  log  dwelling  that 
he  had  constructed  himself,  by  his  present  com- 
modious residence.  He  built  a  barn,  iu  1848,  of 
hard  wood,  which  was  the  largest  in  the  township 
at  that  lime. 

Mr.  Cramer  made  his  monej-  principally  b}'  rais- 
ing corn,  grain  and  hogs,  and  finally  bought  of  his 
brother  ninety-five  acres  of  tlie  old  homestead,  for 
which  he  paid  $6,000.  He  kept  it  ten  years  and 
then  sold  it.  At  one  time  he  owned  a  lot  in  Peoria. 
Ho  bought  an  acre  of  land  in  Farmington  and 
liuili  a  house  on  it  for  his  mother,  which  he  still 
owns.  His  farm  is  hedged,  has  a  fine  orchard  and 
is  amply  sni)|)lied  with  small  fruits,  and  has  pleas- 
am  groves  upon  it.  He  rents  his  land,  but  still 
raises  some  full-blooded  Poland-China  hogs  and 
good  cattle.  He  used  to  raise  fine  horses  and  has 
a  standard  bred  colt,'-Mattie  IIatton,"and  he  used 
to  have  stallion  roadsters. 

In  1881,  when  the  Iowa  Central  Railroad  was 
being  built,  he  was  solicited  to  use  his  influence, 
and  was  very  active  in  securing  its  passage  through 
tills  township.  He  was  the  first  man  that  jnit  down 
^200  on  the  subscription  paper.  The  eomiiany 
wanted  |!  12,000  from  Trivoli  Township,  and  after 
obtaining  |!5,000  they  called  upon  the  people  to 
raise  more,  then  wanted  §1,000  before  building  the 
road.  He  was  one  of  three  who  raised  the  necessary 
^1,000 — John  Larkin  and  Thomas  Higgs  being  the 
others.     The   company  put  a  fiag  station  here  and 


the  Division  Superintendent  named  it  Cramer  in 
honor  of  our  subject,  as  it  is  located  on  his  farm. 
A  few  months  later  they  secured  the  location  of  a 
post-office   here,  thus  making  it  a  regular  station. 

About  this  lime  Mr.  Cramer  built  a  store  and 
leased  it,  the  building  costing  him  82,000.  He 
then  put  up  another  building,  intending  to  rent  it 
to  some  one  to  go  into  the  grain  business.  For 
two  jears  Mr.  Cramer  managed  the  store  himself, 
but  has  since  rented  it.  He  has  ever  manifested  a 
marked  interest  in  whatever  enterprise  would  [iro- 
mote  Iho  welfare  of  township  and  county.  He  gave 
right  of  way  to  the  railroad  across  his  land,  and 
subscribed  ^533. 33i^,  which  would  amount  to  about 
$2,000  in  all.  In  polities  he  has  alwa3'»  been  loyal 
to  the  Democratic  party  and  was  at  one  time  a  del- 
egate to  a  convention.  He  has  served  on  the  Petit 
Jury  but  would  never  accept  public  oflfice. 

August  17,  1843,  was  the  date  on  which  the 
marriage  of  our  subject  to  Miss  Ann  Rodgers  was 
solemnized.  She  was  born  near  Belfast,  Ireland, 
October  24,  1824,  and  was  a  child  when  she  (;ame 
to  Philadelphia  with  her  father,  John  Rodgers,  who 
was  a  native  of  the  same  place  as  herself.  His  wife 
died  in  Ireland  and  he  came  to  this  country  in 
1826,  with  his  little  daughter,  and  made  his  home 
in  Philadelphia  where  he  engaged  in  weaving  in  a 
factory  until  coming  to  Illinois  in  1835.  He  lo- 
cated at  Harkness  Grove,  Trivoli  Township,  on 
three  acres  of  land  and  engaged  in  weaving.  He 
prospered  at  his  trade  until  he  lost  his  health  and 
died.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  his  religious  belief. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  maiden  name  of  his  first 
wife,  Mrs.  Cramer's  mother,  being  Mary  A.  Nich- 
olson. His  second  wife  was  Eliza  McMurdy,  who 
died  in  Trivoli  Township  in  1886.  There  were 
two  children  born  of  the  first  marriage — Ann  and 
an  infant.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
children  of  the  second  marriage — John,  James, 
Matliew  William,  Samuel  George  and  Mar3'.  Mrs. 
Cramer  lived  in  Philadelphia  until  she  was  more 
than  ten  years  old,  and  then  came  by  boat  to  Peo- 
ria County  with  her  father  and  lived  in  Trivoli 
Township  until  her  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cramer  have  had  five  children: 
Arthur;  Margery,  who  married  Joseph  Miller,  a 
farmer  of  Ulica,  Neb.;   Royal,  who  lives  at  home; 


PORTRAIT  AND  RIOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


887 


Calvin,  at  home,  a  graduate  of  a  college  at  Quincy, 
111.,  and  at  one  time  Township  Clerk  for  four  years. 
Arthur  was  only  eighteen  years  old  when  he  en- 
listed, in  August,  1862,  in  the  Eighty  sixth  Illinois 
Infantry,  Company  D,  for  a  period  of  tin-ee  months. 
Soon  after  enlistment  he  was  taken  sick  and  died, 
in  December,  1862,  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he 
lies  sleeping  his  last  sleeep,  having  sacrificed  his 
young  life  for  his  country.  Silas  pre-empted  a 
homestead  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Kan- 
sas. He  was  taken  sick  there  and  started  for  his  old 
home,  but  on  his  way  to  the  station,  thirty  miles  dis- 
tant, he  died  on  the  Kansas  [jrairies,  being  onlj 
nineteen  years  old. 


*^,  OBERT  M.  IIANNA.  Setting  aside  papers 
published  in  Chicago,  which  of  course  bear 
the  palm,  the  Peoria  Transcript  is  recog- 
nized as  the  leading  newspaper  of  Illinois. 
The  position  of  editor  on  this  sheet  h.as  been  held 
with  signal  success  by  Mr.  Hanna  since  1883,  a  few 
years  prior  to  which  he  iiad  been  called  to  the  city 
by  a  former  associate,  who,  with  others,  h.ad  pur- 
ciiased  tiic  Transcript  ofHce  and  who,  knowing  his 
ability,  was  satisfied  to  place  the  office  under  his 
inechanical  charge.  In  this  position  he  continued 
three  years,  after  which  he  became  editor  of  the 
paper.  Mr.  Hanna  is  a  practical  [jrinter  and  has 
also  had  much  experience  in  the  ollice  work  which 
makes  or  mars  a  journal. 

Mr.  llanna  is  descended  from  old  Virginia  fam- 
ilies and  is  himself  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  born 
ill  Biaxton  County,  Janu.iry  3,  1839.  His  parents, 
David  and  Caroline  (Cutlip)  Hanna,  removed  to 
Iowa  in  1815,  locating  at  Fairfield,  Jefferson 
County,  where  the  father  gave  up  his  vocation  of 
a  tanner  to  adopt  that  of  a  farmer.  In  1850  he 
went  to  the  California  gold  fields;  he  died  in  Fair- 
field, Iowa,  about  1874.  Mrs.  llanna  died  in  Peo- 
ria, III.,  at  the  residence  of  her  son,  our  subject, 
.Tanuar^-  3,  1888,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  3-ears. 

Robert  M.  entered  the  office  of  the  Fairfield 
Sfititinpl  at  tlie  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  besides 
learning    the    ordinary   work    of  a   printing  office 


served  an  apprenticeship  on  took  and  blank  work. 
A  few  years  ago  he  was  considered  one  of  the  most 
rapid  typesetters  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  He 
was  employed  on  the  Gate  City,  at  Keokuk  and  on 
the  Han^k  Eye,  at  Burlington,  being  on  the  Latter  at 
the  same  time  with  Bob  I5urdette.  From  Fairfield, in 
1856,  he  went  to  Chariton,  where  on  September  7, 
1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage  witli  Miss  Sarah 
Kneff.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  llanna  were  Christo- 
pher and  Elizabeth  Kneff,  who  resided  in  Hancock 
County,  III.,  where  they  died. 

As  falls  to  the  usual  lot  of  printers,  Mr.  Hanna 
has  at  different  times  been  employed  in  various 
offices.  During  the  war  he  worked  in  Burlington, 
Iowa,  afterwards  spending  fen  years  in  Keokuk  and 
returning  to  Burlington  for  a  sojourn  of  five  years. 
lie  has  also  been  employed  at  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  and 
Leavenworth,  Kan.  In  Keokuk  he  had  worked  with 
Alexander  Stone,  who  in  1880  called  him  to  Peoria 
to  take  u  position  in  the  TranscrijU  office.  In  a 
few  years  his  exceptional  fitness  for  an  editorial 
position  became  manifest  and  he  took  his  place  at 
the  head  of  the  office,  where  his  work  is  being  rec- 
ognized as  potent  in  advancing  all  movements  in 
which  the  Transcript  is  interested  and  molding  to  a 
large  degree  the  seniiments  of  the  people  among 
whom  it  circulates.  Mr.  llanna  is  a  l\eiiubli(;an, 
true  to  his  party  in  evei-y  respect. 

The  family  of  Mr.  llanna  and  his  good  wife  con- 
sists of  six  living  children,  and  they  have  been 
called  upon  to  part  v.'ith  two.  t)f  the  survivors  the 
j'oungest  three — Kate,  (^ race  and  Hattie  are  still 
inmates  of  the  parental  hnme.  David  is  a  printer 
at  Olympia,  Wash. ;  Ivutli  is  the  wife  of  George 
Sylvester,  and  May  the  wife  of  James  Phi[)ps,  both 
living  in  Peoria. 


»S^HOMAS  M.  STEWART  was  born  February 
16,  1851,  on  section  4,  Timber  Townsliip, 
on  the  old  homestead  that  his  father  pur- 
chased from  the  Government  more  than  fifty  years 
ago,  when  it  was  a  tr.act  of  forest-covered  land,  and 
improved  it  into  a  valuable  farm,  which  has  always 
been  the  home  of  our  subject.     He  is  now  one  of 


888 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


*    I 


the  foremost  citizens  of  his  native  township,  is 
prominent  in  public  life,  and  is  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  this  section  of  the 
count  J'. 

George  and  Ann  Eliza  (Turbett)  Stewart,  parents 
of  our  subject,  were  born  in  Oswego  County,  N.  Y., 
and  Ohio,  respectivel}'.  Mr.  .Stewart  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  where  our  subject  now  resides,  in 
Timber  Township,  entering  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  in  1835,  and  during  his  forty  years 
residence  here  he  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  place,  and  became  quite  wealthy.  When  he 
came  here  he  had  but  §G  iu  money.  His  land  was 
heavily  timbered,  but  in  the  course  of  years  he 
cleared  it,  put  it  under  excellent  cultivation  and 
erected  fine  buiklings,  making  it  one  of  the  most 
valuable  pieces  of  property  in  this  loealilj'.  He 
was  interested  in  the  i)olitical  and  public  life  of  the 
township,  was  a  devoted  Democrat,  and  .at  one 
lime  served  as  Tax  Collector.  He  was  one  of  the 
foremost  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged,  and  he 
was  an  elder  in  the  church,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  organizers.  May  6,  1875,  at  the  .age  of 
more  tlian  sixty-five  years,  he  departed  this  life, 
this  communitj'  then  losing  one  of  its  most  useful 
and  greatly  respected  citizens.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, taking  for  his  first  wife  a  Miss  McFadden. 
His  second  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subje(;t,  was  a 
sister  of  James  and  William  8.  Turbett.  Eight 
children  were  horn  of  that  marriage:  Mary  J.; 
Thomas  M. ;  Nancj'  A.,  wife  of  William  A.  Brooks; 
James  A.;  Walter  S. :  Priscilla;  Harriet  I.,  wife  of 
Oran  Stewart;  and  Esther  A. 

Our  subject  has  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  farm 
which  was  his  birthplace.  His  education  was  con- 
ducted in  the  public  schools  of  Timber  Township, 
and  under  his  father's  tuition  he  gained  a  thorough 
practical  knowledge  of  agriculture  iu  all  its 
branches,  and  for  some  j'ears  has  been  carrj'ing  on 
farming  himself,  keeping  up  his  father's  old  farm 
to  the  same  high  point  of  cultivation  that  it  had 
attained  under  the  latter's  care,  and  ever^-thing 
about  the  place  is  neat  and  orderly,  betokening  the 
presence  of  a  master  hand  and  mind. 

Mr.  Stewart  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree  those 
faculties  that  lead  a  man  to  success  in  an3'  w.alk  of 


life,  make  him  wise  in  counsel,  quick  to  perceive 
the  advantage  iu  an\'  situation  and  prompt  to  act 
thereon.  His  fellow  citizens,  recognizing  the  value 
of  these  .attributes  in  a  civic  official,  have  repeat- 
edl\-  called  him  to  responsible  positions  in  public 
life,  and  he  has  served  two  terms  as  Tax  Collector, 
and  is  now  serving  his  fifth  term  as  Supervisor  of 
the  township,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Judi- 
ciary Committee,  his  conduct  iu  each  and  every 
office  showing  him  to  be  guided  b}'  the  purest 
motive — a  desire  for  the  public  good. 


^^ 


ACOB  B.  BARNES.  The  profession  of 
journalism  is  represented  in  Peoria  bj-  sev- 
eral gentlemen  of  acknowledged  abilit}'  as 
business  managers,  read^'  writers  and  intelli- 
gent advocates  of  party  doctrines  .and  the  public 
good.  Among  these  Jacob  B.  Barnes  has  an  excel- 
lent standing.  He  has  had  thorough  schooling  in 
the  printer's  trade  and  in  the  various  departments 
of  newspaper  work,  has  traveled  considerably  in  the 
West  and  thus  cultivated  his  powers  of  observa- 
tion, added  to  his  general  intelligence  and  became 
capable  of  discriminating  accurately'  regarding  men 
and  motives. 

The  natal  daj'  of  Mr.  Barnes  w^os  Jul}-  U,  1839, 
his  birthplace,  Stephenson  (bounty,  111.,  and  his  par- 
ents, Joseph  and  Chloe  (Everingham)  Barnes.  The 
progenitors  of  our  subject  were  natives  of  the  Em- 
pire State,  whence  they  came  to  Illinois  in  1834, 
the  father  dying  in  Stephenson  County  in  1845. 
The  following  year -the  widow  removed  with  her 
family  to  Iowa,  and  in  the  office  of  the  Dubuque 
Tribune,  our  subject,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of 
Charles  Sumner,  learned  his  trade.  In  1856  the 
young  man  went  to  Minnesota,  several  years  there- 
after being  spent  by  him  iu  traveling  throughout 
the  West.  He  was  one  of  the  first  white  men  to 
go  into  what  is  now  Dakota.  The  party  which  he 
was  attending  settled  at  Sioux  Falls,  while  he  went 
on  across  the  plains  through  Colorado  and  Utah. 

Returning  to  Dubuque  in  1865  Mr.  Barnes  re- 
mained there  three  years,  then  came  to  Peoria 
where   for  several   yerns   he   was   pressman   in   the 


J-^::^^^>nn^   ^'o^i:2^WW^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


891 


Transcript  ofRce.  In  1876  he  went  into  business 
with  E.  F.  Bakln  in,  two  j-ears  later  establishing  the 
Daily  Journal.  Vov  a  number  of  3-ears  prior  to 
that  time  the  sheet  had  been  issued  as  a  weekly.  Mr. 
Barnes  is  a  sturdy  Republican,  a  protectionist  of  the 
most  earnest  kind  and  a  In-mctnllist.  The  Journal 
has  frequently  been  quoted  in  Congress  because  of 
its  advocacy  of  those  doctrines  aiid  its  stirring  ut- 
terances regarding  them.  Mr.  Barnes  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  geni.al  and  courteous, 
thoroughly  well  informed  and  capable  of  advanc- 
ing his  opinions  clearly,  interesting!}'  ;«id  forcibl}'. 


^IJAMES  RICHARDSON,  whose  portrait  is 
shown  on  the  opposite  p.igc,  is  an  old  set- 
tler of  Logan  Township,  where  he  is  still 
/  actively  i)ursuing  his  calling  as  a  practical 
farmer  and  stock-raiser.  He  was  born  in  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  August  8,  1819,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  G.  and  Martha  (McKibben)  Richardson,  the 
former  born  in  Campbell  County,  Va.,  June  25, 
1785,  and  the  latter  in  Pennsylvania,  in  July,  1795. 
He  was  a  scm  of  John  Richardson,  who  was  a  far- 
mer, and  entered  a  quarter-section  of  land  for  each 
member  of  his  family.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Highland  County,  Ohio,  was  a  leading 
member  of  the  church,  and  served  iu  the  War  for 
Independence.  He  married  Folly  Terrell,  and  they 
had  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  named  .as  fol- 
lows: Nancj',  Henry,  P0II3',  Samuel,  Sallie,  John, 
and  Mahalia.  The  Richardson  family  originated 
iu  England.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
ivas  born  in  that  count}',  married,  and  iiad  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  bo3's  and  one  girl. 

The  father  of  our  suliject  was  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812.  In  1806,  he  settled  in  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  on  land  which  had  been  entered  by 
his  father.  He  remained  there  until  tiie  fall  of 
1843,  and  then  came  to  Peoria  County,  and  made 
his  home  in  Elmwood  Township  until  his  demise, 
August  16,  18G8.  He  was  a  faithful  Christian,  and 
was  almost  a  life-long  member  of  the  Methodist 
lipiscopal  Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged. 


Of  their  children  the  following  is  noted :  Jane, 
the  widow  of  Emory  Dunn,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
has  one  son  and  five  daughters;  John  died  in  Jas 
per  County,  Iowa,  leaving  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter; Mary  is  the  wife  of  James  Mendenhall,  of 
Peoria,  and  they  have  two  sons  and  one  daughter ; 
James  is  our  subject;  Martha  married  Benjamin 
Smith,  and  both  died,  leaving  two  sons;  Henry 
lives  in  Selina  County,  Kan.,  and  has  a  family  of 
two  sons  and  two  daughters;  Vianna  is  the  wife 
of  Jerry  Kinisey,  of  Warren  County,  Iowa;  and 
George  is  a  resident  of  Elmwood  Township. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  prosperously  en- 
gaged in  the  nursery  business  for  many  years,  be- 
sides carrying  on  farming.  He  was  prominent  in 
the  councils  of  his  church,  and  was  Class-Leader. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  McKibben,  who 
was  an  early  settler  of  Fulton  County,  Ohio;  he 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  also  took  part 
in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  the  father  of  four  sons 
and  two  daughters. 

His  early  life  being  passed  on  a  farm,  our  sub- 
ject acquired  a  good  knowledge  of  farming  in  all 
its  branches.  His  education  was  conducted  in  the 
public  schools,  although  at  a  great  disadvantage, 
as  he  had  to  go  a  long  distance,  tiie  lirst  school  that 
he  attended  in  Ohio  being  six  miles  away.  His 
older  brothers  and  sisters  had  better  oi)portunitie3 
for  securing  an  education.  He  remained  with  bis 
father  until  his  marriage,  and  subsequently  in  the 
fall  of  1842,  came  to  this  county  with  a  team,  and 
with  $57  in  money,  and  made  a  settlement  in  Lo- 
gan Township.  In  the  following  spring  he  bought 
forty  acres  of  land,  later  entered  another  fort3'-acre 
tract, and  continued  buying  land  until  he  owned  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  still  has  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  his  possession,  and  has  sold  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres.  He  has  given  all  his  chil- 
dren money  and  a  good  start  in  life.  Mr.  Richardson 
has  sound,  sensible  views  on  the  best  ways  of  car- 
rying on  farming,  and  his  farm  is  well  conducted, 
and  as  well  ordered  as  an3'  in  the  neighborhood. 
He  has  not  lived  here  these  many  years  without 
gaining  warm  friends,  who  recognized  his  intrinsic 
worth,  and  respect  him  accordingly.  In  him  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  finds  one  of  its  most 
loyal  and  consistent  members,  and   the  Democratic 


892 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


party  has  in  him  a  sturdy  sui)porter  of  its  policy, 
as  he  has  been  connected  with  tliat  party  ever  since 
he  cast  his  maiden  vote  for  Martin  VanBuren. 

Mr.  Richardson  has  been  wedded  three  times. 
Feliruary  4,  1841,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Hart,  a 
native  of  Highland  County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Abigail  (McDonald)  Hart,  natives 
respectively  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
early  settlers  of  Highland  County,  Ohio.  Her  fa- 
ther died  in  Indiana  while  on  a  visit  there,  and  her 
mother  departed  this  life  in  Ohio.  Mrs.  Richard- 
son died  August  18,  1849.  Of  her  marriage  with 
our  subject,  five  children  were  born,  namely: 
Martha,  who  married  John  Taylor,  of  Warren 
County,  Iowa;  both  are  now  deceased,  leaving  three 
sons  and  two  daughters;  William,  a  resident  of  War- 
ren County,  Iowa;  Abigail,  the  wife  of  Alexander 
Long,  of  Virginia;  Matilda,  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Taylor,  of  Warren  County,  Iowa;  .lames  F.,  who 
lives  near  Portland,  Ore.  Mrs.  Richardson  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  was  in  every 
respect  a  pure,  true,  and  upright  woman. 

Our  subject's  second  marriage  which  took  place 
June  27,  1850,  was  with  Nancy  Parr,  who  was  born 
in  Ireland,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mar- 
garet Parr.  They  emigrated  to  this  country,  and 
first  made  their  home  in  New  York,  and  later  set- 
tled among  the  pioneers  of  this  county.  By  his  sec- 
ond marriage  our  subject  had  six  children,  nameh": 
Carrie,  wife  of  James  Smith,  of  Linn  County,  Ore.; 
Alice,  wife  of  Ransom  Kelly;  Angeline,  wife  of 
William  Melvin,  of  Livingston  County;  Lucy  E., 
wife  of  A.  Reubsom,  of  Peoria;  John,  a  resident  of 
Missouri;  and  Myrtle,  wife  of  Harry  Cole,  of  Cass 
Countj',  Neb.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
May  17,  1871,  and  was  greatly  lamented. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  suliject's  wife,  to  whom 
he  was  married  Januar}'  4,  1883,  was  Jane  Strat- 
ton.  She  was  born  in  Logan  Township,  July  18, 
1841,  and  is  a  daughter  of  AVilliam  and  Sarah 
(Clayton)  Stratton,  the  former  born  in  Ireland, 
March  25,  1788,  and  the  latter  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
December  2.  1805.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1816,  landing  on  these  shores  October  15,  and 
for  some  years  was  engaged  in  the  dair3'  business 
in  New  York.  In  1837,  he  came  to  this  county  and 
located  on  section  16,   Logan  Township,   thus  be- 


coming one  of  its  earl3'  pioneers.  At  the  time  of 
his  death,  February  26,  1880,  he  owned  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Clark)  Clayton, 
who  were  natives  respectively  of  New  Jersey  and 
Pennsylvania.  They  were  Methodists  in  religion. 
Their  sons  and  daughters  were  named  Cornelius, 
Daniel,  Joseph,  William,  and  Mar^',  the  latter  now 
the  wife  of  Charles  Tripp,  of  New  York  City.  None 
of  the  sons  ever  married. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stratton  reared  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  as  follows:  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Joseph  Brisco; 
Eliza,  wife  of  John  McKinnie,  of  Peoria;  William, 
who  died  leaving  a  wife  and  three  chiklren;  James 
died  unmarried  in  California,  in  January,  1890; 
Richard  lives  in  Livingston  Countj';  Thom.as,  a 
resident  of  Sumner  County,  Kan.;  Sarah,  the  wife 
of  Charles  Coker,  of  Gove  County,  Kan.;  Jane; 
Emeline,  wife  of  James  Norwood;  Clara,  wife  of 
James  McMain,  of  Gove  County,  Kan.;  Joseph  is 
married  and  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Logan 
Township,  where  he  was  born.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Jennie  Delauder. 


-V\>J— * 


■  «i    ^»w* 


ICHARD  HANNY.  It  is  sometimes  a  mat- 
ter of  conjecture  as  to  what  cause  men  owe 
their  success  in  business,  and  whj'  one  fails 
^"^  where  another  wins  competence  and  fame. 
In  the  case  of  the  gentleman  above  named  it  is 
comparatively  easy  to  determine  what  qualities  are 
used  to  better  his  financial  condition  and  give  him 
a  good  standing  in  business  circles.  Thorough  and 
reliable  workmanship,  straightforward  dealing  and 
persevering  industry  win,  and  even  such  business 
reverses  as  the  best  managers  sometimes  suffer  from 
are  not  irremediable.  Mr.  Hanny  is  now  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  carriages,  buggies,  farm 
wagons  and  carts,  also  doing  an  extensive  repair 
business,  and  is  becoming  well  known  as  the  manu- 
facturer of  the  ''Hann3-  Road  Cart,"  which  has  at- 
tained a  high  reputation  for  excellence. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Bene- 
dicta  Hann^-,  of  Baden,  German^-,  the  father  being 
a  farmer.     In  that  kingdom  Richard  Hanny  opened 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


893 


his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  July  '2,  1830.  He  was 
reared  "to  farm  pursiiits'and  until  twenty  years  of 
age  made  his  home  under  the  parental  roof.  Feel- 
ino  averse  to  the  life  of  a  soldier,  he  then  came  to 
America  to  avoid  the  armj-  service  wiiich  he  would 
have  been  compelled  to  undergo  had  he  remained 
in  his  native  laud.  Having  crossed  the  briny  deep 
and  landed  at  New  York  City,  he  went  to  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  and  at  once  set  to  work  to  learn  llie  trade  of  a 
blacksmith.  He  worked  under  the  direction  of 
Alexander  Sanders  two  years,  then  removed  to 
Hamilton,  Ohio,  following  his  trade  in  that  [ilace 
some  six  months  and  then  came  to  Peoria. 

Mr.  Hanny  at  once  secured  work  as  a  journey- 
man, continuing  the  same  until  1867,  when  he 
opened  a  shop  in  Kickapoo  Township.  In  1863  he 
returned  to  Peoria,  opened  a  shop  on  Bridge  Street, 
and  for  four  years  confined  himself  to  ordinary 
blacksmith's  work.  He  then  branched  out  as  a  manu- 
facturer of  plows  upon  so  large  a  scale  that  the  ac- 
cumulations of  previous  years  soon  melted  away  in 
the  unfortunate  venture.  Being  obliged  to  begin 
anew  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  he  opened  a  small 
shop  on  Knoxville  Street,  changing  his  quarters 
with  the  growth  of  the  city  and  his  trade.  He  finally 
had  constant  employment  for  eleven  men  and  is 
now  doing  so  well  that  he  has  frequently  to  hire 
extra  help.  His  own  knowledge,  acquired  b}'  years 
of  practical  labor,  is  such  that  only  skilled  work- 
men will  satisfy  him  and  no  defective  material  is 
likely  to  find  place  in  his  manufactured  goods.  In 
the  case  of  the  Hanny  Road  Cart,  any  breakage 
resulting  from  defective  material  or  improper 
workmanship  will  be  remedied  by  him  if  the  broken 
l>art  is  returned  within  a  year.  This  guarantee  is 
all  that  could  be  expected  and  gives  dealers  and 
users  confidence  in  the  vehicle  and  its  i)atentee. 

While  living  in  Kickappo  Township,  Mr.  Hanny 
was  united  in  marriage  February  5,  1861,  with  Miss^ 
Francisca  Guger.  This  lady  was  born  in  Vienna, 
Austria,  whence  she  came  to  America  in  1851. 
She  is  a  capable,  energetic  woman,  devoted  to  the 
comfort  of  her  family  and  finding  her  chief  delight 
within  the  bounds  of  her  home,  although  by  no 
means  averse  to  society  or  unused  to  neighborl}' 
deeds  of  kindness.  Two  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanny.  one  of  whom,  a  son,  Richard 


Hanny,  Jr.,  is  now  working  with  his  father.  The 
daughter,  Anna  Marie,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  and  seven  months,  her  loss  being  a  sore 
bereavement  to  her  parents.  Mr.  Hanny  votes  the 
straight  Democratic  ticket.  He  is  a  communicant 
of  the  Catholic  Church. 


— i^^»*-:5»S?> 


<?«?■•'*«<?• 


\T]ACOB  HERR.  The  Prairie  State  has  long 
been  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most  fruit- 
ful in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  Peoria 
County  is  known  to  possess  soil  of  extreme 
fertilit}'.  Her  farms  are  not  only  capable  of  pro- 
ducing abundantly,  but  are  almost  universally 
marked  with  good  buildings,  and  present  a  neat 
and  attractive  appearance  to  the  passer-by.  One  of 
the  largest  and  finest  of  those  in  Hollis  Township, 
is  owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  com- 
prises six  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres  on  section 
20,  near  the  village  of  Mapleton.  Lj-ing  on  the 
Illinois  River  bottom,  it  has  an  inexhauslable  soil 
which  has  been  placed  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation 
and  improved  with  all  which  goes  to  make  up  a 
well-furnished  estate.  It  is  devoted  to  stock-rais- 
ing and  general  farming,  for  both  of  which  pur- 
poses its  situation  adapts  it. 

Mr.  Herr  is  numbered  among  the  self-made  men 
of  the  county,  in  which  he  has  lived  since  he  was 
eleven  years  old.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  but 
accompanied  his  parents  to  America  when  an  in- 
fant, his  father,  John  Herr,  dying  shortly  after 
their  arrival.  Our  subject  was  bound  out  in  an 
American  family,  and  brought  up  without  any 
knowledge  of  his  native  tongue  until  he  came  to 
this  county.  His  mother  owned  a  farm  six  miles 
south  of  Peoria,  on  which  she  now  lives  with  her 
second  husband,  Philip  Kirker.  Joseph  Fontenc, 
the  early  benefactor  of  our  subject,  having  died 
while  on  a  visit  to  California,  the  lad  came  to  his 
mother,  and  has  since  made  Peoria  County  his  home. 
He  is  the  eldest  of  three  children,  having  two  sis- 
ters. Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Lighten,  of 
IloUis;  Mary  married  Ben  Ilarbright,  and  removed 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  she  died. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice   married.      His  first 


894 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


wife  bore  him  four  children,  of  whom  we  uote  the 
following:  Emma  was  finely  educated,  and  became 
the  wife  of  Fred  Johannus,  a  merchant,  of  Pekin ; 
she  died  leaving  two  children,  one  of  whom  sur- 
vives; Ellen  married  Harry  Perej',  and  removed  to 
Nebraska;  Lyda  lives  in  Peoria,  being  the  wife  of 
Henry  Sunken;  William  E.,  now  living  in  Lan- 
caster. 

The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Herr  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Miss  Abbie  Percy.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Catharine  Percjs  who  are 
numbered  among  the  old  settlers  of  the  county, 
their  home  being  in  Timber  Township  near  Kings- 
ton. Mrs.  Abbie  Herr  possesses  more  than  an  ordi- 
nary amount  of  domestic  skill  and  noble  qualities, 
together  with  the  manners  of  a  true  gentlewoman. 
She  is  the  mother  of  five  children,  viz:  Florence, 
Zulema,  Ollie,  Elmer  E.,  and  an  infant  unnamed  at 
this  writing  (Jul}%  1890).  Elmer  died  during  the 
past  winter  at  the  age  of  six  years,  having  been 
stricken  with  the  dread  disease,  diphtheria. 

Mr.  Herr  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but  takes 
no  active  part  in  political  affairs.  He  belongs  to 
Phojnix  Lodge  No.  663,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  Maple- 
ton.  His  religious  faith  coincides  with  that  ex- 
pressed bj'  the  creed  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 
with  which  he  is  identified.  He  is  recognized  as  a 
man  of  good  intentions,  energetic  in  the  pursuit  of 
that  to  which  he  sets  his  hand,  and  pursuing  his 
course  in  a  peaceable  manner.  In  all  his  business 
transactions  he  has  avoided  lawsuits,  philosophi- 
cally reasoning  that  it  is  better  to  bear  the  ills  we 
have,  than  fly  to  those  we  know  not  of.  He  has 
therefore  never  sued  a  man,  and  has  never  been 
swed. 


"^/AMES  G.  KELLAR.  No  lad  of  active 
mind  could  grow  to  maturity  upon  a  farm 
without  becoming  acquainted  with  more 
JJ  than  the  rudiments  of  agriculture,  and  if 
his  tastes  led  him  to  the  same  line  of  work,  he 
would  push  his  investigations  sufficiently  to  be  able 
to  begin  his  career  with  a  considerable  degree  of  ac- 
curate and  practical  knowledge.  Such  is  the  case 
with  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  owns  and   op- 


erates land  on  sections  16  and  21,  Richwood 
Township,  which  has  been  his  home,  except  during 
a  brief  period,  since  his  birth.  It  comprises  one 
hundred  and  eighty-five  acres,  on  which  he  has 
erected  good  buildings,  and  where  he  is  pursuing 
a  successful  career  as  a  farmer  and  dairyman. 

John  Kellar,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Maryland,  and  married  Esther  Calvin  Frye, 
a  native  of  Washington  County,  Pa.  Immediately 
after  their  marriage  they  settled  in  Peoria  County, 
111.,  their  location  being  now  occupied  by  their 
only  son.  Here  they  spent  the  remaining  years  of 
their  lives,  the  husband  dying  in  1849  and  the 
widow  surviving  until  1881.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  our  subject  being  the  third 
and  born  April  27,  1844. 

Young  Kellar  received  a  good  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  amid  the  peaceful  surround- 
ings of  rural  life  grew  to  manhood.  He  has  always 
been  engaged  in  the  pursuit  he  now  follows  and 
lived  upon  the  same  farm,  except  when  fighting 
for  his  country  on  Southern  battlefields  and  par- 
taking of  the  other  duties  th.at  devolved  upon  a  sol- 
dier. He  enlisted  in  February,  1865,  was  enrolled 
in  Comi)any  A,  Eleventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  and 
served  about  eight  months,  when  his  strong  right 
arm  was  no  longer  needed  and  he  was  honorably 
discharged. 

Mr.  Kellar  chose  for  his  companion  in  life  Miss 
Harriet  C.  Ilumason,  with  whom  he  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Peoria  Cit}',  April  5,  1870.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Henry  S.  and  Abigail  (Dewey) 
Humason,  who  were  old  settlers  in  this  county  and 
died  here  at  a  goodly  age.  She  was  born  in  this 
county,  September  11,  1846,  received  excellent 
home  training  from  worthy'  parents,  and  a  good 
education  in  the  public  schools.  She  has  borne 
her  husband  four  children — John  G..  Norman  H., 
Aljigail  and  Charles.  The  last  named  died  in  in- 
fancy. John  G.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Peoria  High 
School,  having  been  valedictorian  of  his  class,  and 
is  now  continuing  his  studies  at  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, which  he  entered  in  the  fall  of  1889. 

Mr.  Kellar  has  never  sought  ofl^ce  but  takes  a 
deep  interest  in  the  outcome  of  political  affairs, 
stanchly  supporting  the  Republican  partj^,  whose 
principles  he  thinks  best  suited  to  the  needs  of  the 


J^.^.  C£^:rj^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


897 


nation.  He  manifests  an  abundance  of  public 
spirit,  is  well  informed  on  all  topics  of  interest, 
and  displaj-8  great  energy  In  tlie  prosecution  of 
any  matter  to  vvliicli  he  puts  his  hand.  He  and 
his  estimable  wife  belong  to  the  Baptist  Ciiurch, 
in  wiiose  various  good  woriis  they  are  ever  ready 
to  bear  a  hand,  and  both  take  a  deep  interest  in 
educational  matters. 


-^^-B" 


yl^^ON.  DAVID  B.  STOOKEY,  a  member  of 
~  the  Thirty-sixth  General  Assembly  of  Illi- 
nois, representing  Peoria  County,  is  a  prom- 
inent and  influential  citizen  and  is  a 
consi)icuous  figure  in  the  political  life  of  this  sec- 
tion of  tiie  country.  The  son  of  a  pioneer  he  has 
long  been  associated  with  the  agricultural  interests 
of  the  county,  and  has  a  fine  and  well-equipped 
farm  in  Trivoli  Township,  his  place  of  residence. 
The  fatiifer  of  our  subject,  bearing  tlie  same 
name  as  himself,  was  a  native  of  Elizabeth  Cit3', 
N.  J.  The  grandfather  was  of  German  descent  and 
spent  his  last  years  in  that  State.  David  Stookey, 
.Sr.,  was  orphaned  wlien  eight  3ears  old,  and  lie 
was  then  bound  out  to  a  blacksmith.  His  master 
whipped  and  abused  Inm  so  much  that  he  Snall3' 
ran  away  from  him.  He  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
the  trade,  but  when  a  young  man  was  shot  in  the 
hand  while  out  hunting  and  had  to  abandon  his 
calling  and  go  back  on  to  the  farm,  which  he 
rented.  In  1839  lie  made  up  his  mind  to  try  farm- 
ing ou  the  soil  of  the  Prairie  State,  and  started 
from  his  old  home  in  New  Jersey  in  a  one  horse 
wagon,  accompanied  by  his  famil}'.  Six  weeks 
were  consumed  in  the  journey,  a  part  of  the  way 
being  over  rough,  muddy  roads,  and  numerous 
streams  had  to  be  forded  or  crossed  on  rude  cordu- 
roy bridges. 

After  his  arrival  here  Mr.  Stookey  took  up  his 
abode  in  Timber  Township  and  engaged  in  lum- 
bering. The  next  year  he  entered  land  in  Trivoli 
Township,  comprising  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  on 
section  27,  and  located  on  it,  beginning  its  im- 
provement, while  his  winters  were  employed  in 
chopping  and  managing  a  sawmill  in  Timber  Town- 


ship. He  started  out  here  without  any  means,  but 
by  severe  and  continuous  labor  acquired  a  com- 
fortable property,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
March  25,  1878,  owned  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  choice  land  in  this  count}',  and  forty  acres 
in  Farmington.  He  was  a  strong,  active  man  in 
his  (la3%  and  a  famous  hunter.  His  last  years  were 
spent  in  retirement,  his  son.  Squire  A.,  managing 
his  farm. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Mary  S.  Rittenhouse.  She  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Rittenhouse,  a 
German  by  birth  and  a  cooper  by  occupation.  She 
died  in  May,  1878,  about  a  month  after  the  death 
of  her  husband,  she  having  reached  the  age  of 
sixtj'-one  years.  She  was  a  Presbyterian  and  a 
truly  religious  woman.  Of  her  happy  wedded 
life  nine  children  were  born,  of  whom  we  record 
the  following:  Margaret  lives  in  Arkansas;  Sarah 
died  here;  David  B.  is  our  subject;  Maria  is  now 
Mrs.  Yerion,  of  Trivoli  Township;  Elias  lives  in 
Guthrie  County,  Iowa;  Charlotte,  Mrs.  Graham, 
lives  in  Trivoli;  Ida  died  here;  Squire  A.  lives  on 
the  old  homestead;  Isaac  died  in  infMucy. 

David  B.  Stookey,  of  this  biography,  was  a  mere 
infant  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  this  county, 
and  he  was  sick  the  most  of  the  time  on  the  journey, 
of  which  he  knows  nothing  but  by  hearsay.  The 
country  around  here  was  in. the  most  primitive  con- 
dition, with  settlements  scattered  and  siiarsely  pop- 
ulated, and  all  the  business  done  in  Peoria  at  that 
time  was  conducted  in  one  store.  He  grew  to  man's 
estate  under  pioneer  influences,  and  early  learned 
to  work  on  his  father's  farm.  He  drove  five  yoke 
of  oxen  and  a  mould  board  plow  to  turn  the  prairie 
sod,  breaking  up  large  tracts  of  land.  He  had 
many  an  encounter  with  the  dreaded  rattlesnake, 
often  finding  them  on  a  load  of  hay  or  grain,  and 
while  kicking  one  off  one  time  was  bitten  in  the 
■heel,  and  he  has  had  them  blow  their  breath  in  his 
face,  which  would  make  him  deathlj- sick.  His  edu- 
cation was  conducted  in  a  rude  log  sclioolhousc, 
where  he  had  to  sit  on  rough  slab  benches  and  the 
scholars  were  taught  on  the  subscription  plan.  The 
boj's  in  pioneer  families  had  to  suffer  many  priva- 
tions and  hardships  as  well  as  their  fathers  and 
I    mothers,  and   it  was  not  until   he  was  eight  years 


898 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


old  tlial  our  subject  was  granted  the  liixur3'  of  a 
pair  of  sboes  even  in  winter.  Wlien  he  was  ten 
years  old  he  began  to  drive  a  breaking  team,  and 
for  seven  seasons  was  thus  engaged  from  April  to 
July. 

Mr.  Stookey  remained  an  inmate  of  the  paiental 
household  until  lie  was  twent^'-seven  jears  old,  and 
after  his  marriage  he  bought  an  eighty-acre  tract 
of  raw  land,  and  lived  on  it  seven  j'ears.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  came  into  possession  of 
eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm,  which  he  im- 
proved, and  in  March,  1873  he  located  here.  The 
farm  comprises  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on 
section  27,  ail  under  high  cultivation,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  pasturage,  divided  into  convenient 
fields  by  neat  hedges,  has  a  good  bearing  orchard, 
and  Tiber  Creek  running  along  the  eastern  bound- 
ary line  of  the  farm  affords  abundant  facilities  for 
watering  stock.  He  used  to  bu3'  and  feed  cattle, 
and  has  sold  manj'  a  carload,  and  he  also  r.aised 
full-blooded  Poland-China  hogs,  and  had  a  good 
grade  of  horses,  using  two  teams  in  the  operation 
of  the  place.  For  the  last  two  3'ears  he  has  rented 
his  farm,  and  derives  a  comfortable  income  from 
that  source. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stookej'  are  verj-  pleasant,  cour- 
teous, agreeable  people,  holding  a  warm  place  in 
the  hearts  of  all  about  them,  and  their  home  is  the 
center  of  a  charming  hospitality.  Their  wedded 
life  began  December  29,  1864,  and  to  them  have 
come  five  children,  namelj':  Eva  B.,  deceased; 
Olive  and  Amy  E.,  both  of  whom  are  at  home;  and 
Thurmau  Hendricks  and  Wilbur  E.  Mrs.  Stookey's 
maiden  name  was  Mary  E.  Scybert,  and  she  w.is 
born  in  Wytheville,  Va.,  August  11,  1842,  and  came 
herein  1849.  She  was  given  an  excellent  educa- 
tion in  Elmwood,  and  at  eighteen  began  to  teach 
and  was  thus  engaged  two  years  before  her  mar- 
riage. Her  father  was  John  Sc^-bert,  and  he  was 
born  in  W^'the  County,  Va.  Her  grandfather,  also 
Joini  Scybert,  was  a  German  b}-  birth,  a  very  reli- 
gious man  and  was  a  planter  in  A'irginia  after  ho 
came  to  this  country.  Mrs.  Stookey's  father  was 
a  farmer  and  a  carpenter  and  builder.  He  came 
to  this  State  about  1849  and  engaged  in  carpenter- 
ing in  this  vicinity.  He  was  a  good  mechanic  and 
could  make  anything.     He  finally  moved  to  Orion 


Township,  Fulton  County',  and  on  the  small  farm 
that  he  bought  there  his  death  occurred  September 
15,  1888.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a 
Presbyterian  in  religion.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Martha  Warner,  and  she  was  horn  in 
Wytheville,  Va.,  and  still  resides  on  the  old  place  in 
Orion  Township.  She  is  the  mother  of  the  following 
children,  all  living:  Mar^'  E..  Mrs.  Naucj'  Roy,  of 
Canton;  Henry,  of  Storm  Lake,  Iowa;  Sarah,  of 
Trivoli  Township;  Susan,  Mrs.  McKeever,  of  P^lm- 
wood;  Carrie,  Mrs.  Diven,  of  Atlantic,  Iowa;  John, 
of  Atlantic  Iowa;  Alice,  Mrs.  Pierce,  of  Canton; 
Ella,  Mrs.  Soper,  of  Canton;  Charles  at  home  with 
his  mother. 

As  we  have  seen,  Mr.  Stookey  has  spent  nearly 
all  of  his  life  in  this  county  and  has  borne  an  hon- 
orable part  in  its  upbuilding.  He  has  a  wide  and 
extensive  acquaintance  among  the  prominent  men 
of  this  and  adjoining  counties,  and  is  popular  with 
all  classes.  This  fact  was  well  illustrated  in  the 
campaign  of  the  fall  of  1886  when  he  was  running 
for  the  legislature  and  was  elected  to  his  present 
position  as  Representative  of  Peoria  County,  hav- 
ing the  largest  majority  of  anj'  county-  c:indidale 
and  running  far  ahead  of  his  ticket.  He  is  a  poli- 
tician of  the  best  t^pc,  and  although  ahva3's  a 
prominent  figure  in  the  political  life  of  the  count3- 
and  State,  has  never  sought  for  ofHce,  the  office 
always  seeking  him.  He  had  frequentl3'  been  soli- 
cited to  allow  the  use  of  his  name  as  candidate  for 
the  legislature,  but  steadily  refused,  until  finally  he 
was  nominated  without  his  consent,  and  accepted 
the  honor.  His  course  as  a  legislator  has  shown 
the  wisdom  of  his  selection  1)3'  his  fellow-citizens 
for  the  important  office  of  Representative,  as  he 
has  been  active  in  promoting  various  enterprises 
for  the  benefit  of  county  and  State,  and  has  always 
acted  without  regard  to  personal  or  part3-  consid- 
erations in  conform it3'  with  the  principles  of  the 
strictest  honor  and  integrity. 

In  the  Thirty-sixth  Assembly  Mr.  Stooke3'  was  a 
member  of  the  Committee  on  Drainage,  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Agriculture,  and  was  one  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee.  He  was  very  intluential  in  securing 
the  passage  of  the  Drainage  Bill,  making  a  thorough 
canvass  of  the  house  from  desk  lo  desk.  He  is 
at    present,   July,  1890,  taking   part  in  the  delib- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  AL15UM. 


899 


erations  of  the  Legislature  in  the  extra  session 
called  to  consider  the  Colunihian  Exhibition. 
He  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Demooracy,  has 
been  a  delegate  to  county  conventions  since  he  be- 
came a  voter,  and  has  attended  State  conventions 
in  like  capacity.  He  lias  been  a  member  of  the 
County  Central  Committee  five3'ears.  He  has  served 
on  the  Grand  and  Petit  Juries,  and  when  a  juryman 
in  tlie  McKinney  murder  case  was  locked  up  witii 
his  fellow-jurors  twelve  days.  Mr.  Stookey  is  active 
in  the  religious  interests  of  tlie  community  as  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Brunswick, 
of  which  be  is  Trustee.  He  was  Supervisor  of 
Trivoli  Townsliip  one  year,  and  has  filled  other 
offices  of  trust.  His  portrait  is  presented  elsewhere 
in  the  Album. 


'OHN  VANARSDALE,  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers  of  Logan  Township,  -vvas  born  in 
Washington  County,  Md.,  near  the  town  of 
Hancock,. June  27,  1814.  His  parents,  Isaac 
and  Nancy  Ann  (Young)  A'anarsdale,  came  with 
their  familj-  to  Peoria  County  in  tlie  fall  of  1835, 
performing  their  journej'  b^-  teams.  Tliej'  settled 
in  Rosefield  Township,  entering  about  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  wliicli  the  father  cultivated  until  his 
dentil,  which  occurred  some  three  years  after  his 
removal.  The  mother  survived  until  1848.  Both 
were  devoted  mi  mbers  of  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  were  classed  among  the  best  citizens 
of  the  county. 

The  fatlier  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Holland, 
and  Willi  bis  parents,  Garret  and  Sarah  (Foutch) 
Vanarsdale,  came  to  America  many  years  ago  set- 
tling in  New  Jersey.  They  afterward  removed  to 
Mar^dand  and  still  later  to  Morgan  County,  Va., 
where  the  grandparents  of  our  subject  died.  Grand- 
father Vanarsdale  participated  in  the  War  of  1812 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Jackson.  His  occu- 
pation was  farming.  He  and  bis  wife  belonged  to 
the  Baptist  Cburcli.  Their  family  consistsd  of 
Isaac,  Cornelia,  Jeremiah,  Jacob,  Peter,  Ella,  Ma- 
linda  and  Garret,  all  of  whom  reared  families  ex- 
cept Jeremiah  and  Jacob.     The  children  of  Isaac 


Vanarsdale  and  his  good  wife  were  Isaac,  John, 
Dorcas,  Sarah  and  James.  All  have  children  living 
except  Isaac,  who,  with  his  entire  family,  fivi-  in 
number,  died  of  cholera  within  a  few  hours. 

Tlie  subject  of  these  brief  notes  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  receiving  a  limited  education  in  the  common 
schools,  which  at  the  period  of  his  childhood  were 
not  kept  in  session  but  a  few  months  during  the 
.year.  The  first  real  estate  which  he  owned  was  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Rosefield  Township  which 
was  secured  from  the  Government,  and  to  which 
possession  he  added  eighty  acres  in  Kickapoo  Town- 
ship by  purchase.  He  finally  sold  that  property  and 
removed  to  Logan  Township,  in  which  he  has  now 
resided  thirty-four  years.  He  owned  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres,  which  in  March,  1 888,  he 
sold,  removing  to  Ilanna  Citj*  and  retiring  from 
active  labor.  He  has  a  neat  and  tasty  abode,  where 
cheered  by  the  society  of  his  good  wife  and  many 
friends  and  enjoying  frequent  visits  from  his  chil- 
dren, be  is  peacefully  passing  down  the  stream  of 
time. 

For  nearly  fifty  years  Mr.  Vanarsdale  has  been 
blest  !)}■  the  companionship  of  a  noble  Christian 
woman,  who  became  his  wife  November  29,  1810. 
Prior  to  that  time  she  was  known  as  Miss  Elizabeth 
Shepard.  She  w.as  born  in  Greene  County,  Pa., 
November  24,  1822,  being  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Ayliff  and  JLargaret  (Carmicliael)  Slie|)ard,  who 
were  likewise  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  Mr. 
and  Mrs  She[)ard  reared  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters— Nelson,  Pearson,  Elizabeth,  Edgar,  Alfred 
and  Melissa.  The  last  two  named  are  now  living 
in  Wichita,  Kan.  The  family  removed  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Illinois  in  I8;!4,  Mr.  Shepard  entering 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section 
3,  Log!in  Township,  this  count}',  which  he  improved 
and  operated  for  some  years.  He  had  left  bis 
former  home  March  20,  and  disembarked  from  a 
steamer  at  Peoria  April  10.  In  politics  he  was  a 
sturdy  Whig.  He  p.nssed  aw.ay  in  May,  1852,  his 
wife  having  gone  before,  the  date  of  her  demise 
being  September  20,  1851. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  \'anarsdale,  of  whom  we  write, 
haTe  had  five  children,  and  reared  three.  James 
enlisted  in  Company  C,  Seventy-seventh  Illiuois 
Infantry,  and   gave  his  life  for  his  country,  dying 


900 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


at  Memphis,  Tenn.;  Maiigie  is  tlie  wife  of  Harrison 
Reed,  of  Peoria;  Mattie  married  Epliraim  Yinger, 
of  Haniia  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vanarsdale  are  mem- 
bera  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


^  OSEPII  SHOFF,  Sr.  One's  real  success  in  life 
is  not  measured  by  his  land  or  bank  stock, 
but  by  the  nobility  of  his  character,  the  in- 
(^^'  fluence  which  he  exerts,  and  the  good  deeds 
which  he  accomplishes.  The  man  who'  pursues  a 
course  of  persistent  industry  and  uprightness,  con- 
ducting himself  as  a  law-abiding  citizen,  doing 
kindly  deeds,  and  making  his  home  a  place  of  hap- 
piness and  wise  instruction  for  his  offspring,  is  en- 
titled to  the  respect  and  remembrance  of  all  to 
whom  he  is  known. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  the  De- 
partment of  La  Salle,  France,  October  25,  183.'), 
and  was  nineteen  years  of  age  when  he  bade  adion 
to  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Mary  Shoff,  and  made 
his  way  to  America.  He  had  learned  the  trade  of 
a  blacksmith,  and  after  reaching  the  New  World, 
followed  the  same  at  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburg, 
Pa.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  farming  near 
Wheeling,  AV.  Va  ,  but  in  1857  came  to  Peoria,  111., 
his  first  employment  here  being  in  the  shop  of  Dick 
Freeman,  near  the  Washington  House,  and  he  la- 
bored for  others  some  three  years. 

After  that  period  had  elapsed,  Mr.  Shoff  began 
working  for  himself  as  a  gardener,  ere  long  turning 
his  attention  to  systematic  farm  labor  and  opera- 
ting fou-r  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  neighbor- 
hood for  a  few  years  during  the  60's.  He  made 
considerable  money,  which  he  used  freely  during 
the  war  in  aiding  the  Union  cause,  and  raising 
troops  for  the  service.  He  has  never  regretted  this 
action,  nor  felt  that  his  means  were  not  well  era- 
ployed.  About  1877  he  built  a  fine  large  frame 
house  on  this  tract  in  Limestone  Township,  where 
he  has  made  his  home,  building  also  barns  and 
other  necessary  structures,  and  making  of  his  estate 
an  attractive  as  well  as  a  very  remunerative  piece 
of  property. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoff  have  a  beautiful  home,  a 
view  of  which  appears  in  connection  with  this 
sketch.  The  farm  is  especiall3'  adapted  to  stock- 
raising,  and  the  slock  of  our  subject  is  famous 
throughout  not  only  the  county,  but  in  many  por- 
tions of  this  and  other  States.  His  horses  rank 
among  the  finest  in  Illinois.  He  owns  four  stal- 
lions, one  fine  trotting  stallion  called  Shoff's  Italian 
Boy,  one  Norman  stallion  called  Shoff's  Norman, 
one  English  draft,  Grant,  and  one  young  Norman, 
two  years  old,  called  Napoleon  IV.  Every  year 
Mr.  Shofif  raises  from  six  to  ten  colts,  which  are 
sold  as  soon  as  they  are  three  or  four  years  old. 
In  the  spring  of  1889  he  sold  twenty-eight  head. 
All  the  best  horses  of  the  county  are  sired  by  his 
horses.  He  devotes  considerable  attention  to  cat- 
tle, and  hogs,  having  some  fine  Jersey  and  Ilolstein 
cattle,  and  fattening  from  fifty  to  seventy  hogs 
each  year.  He  is  cultivating  and  selling  every  sea- 
son about  three  hundred  thousand  celery,  with 
which  he  supplies  Peoria,  Pekin,  and  other  cities 
during  the  winter  months. 

From  five  to  ten  men  are  kept  at  work  by  Mr. 
Shoff,  who,  with  the  aid  of  his  sons,  cirrieson  over 
two  hundred  acres,  about  half  of  which  is  devoted 
to  truck  fairaing.  His  own  place  comprises  forty 
acres,  ten  of  which  are  given  to  fine  fruits.  His 
dwelling  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  township,  and 
under  its  roof  a  somewhat  remarkable  family  re- 
side. Mr.  Shoff  has  thirteen  living  children,  some 
of  whom  are  now  grown,  and  he  has  taken  part  in 
their  games,  sharing  their  pleasures  with  as  much 
interest  as  he  has  manifested  in  their  intellectual 
advancement  and  moral  training.  He  has  never 
whipped  one  of  them,  believing  that  other  means 
are  better  adapted  to  the  government  of  reasonable 
beings. 

In  1861,  Mr.  Shoff  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Caroline  Vandefelder,  who  bore  him  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Joseph,  the  eld- 
est, now  lives  in  Peoria,  following  his  father's  oc- 
eup.ation  of  gardener  and  farmer;  he  ism.arried  and 
has  one  son,  Frank;  John,  who  is  married  and  has 
four  children,  lives  on  the  place  with  his  father; 
Albert,  Louis,  and  Carrie,  are- at  home. 

Subsequent  to  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr. 
Shoff   married  Mi.ss  Minnie  Alberts,  daughter    of 


i'i*f»tiaf^MiiSSSi^miS:lsmiS!^:e^SXl«Si^^^^ 


^--v?'-^^--;>.f^>>-ia 


5tore=roo!71,  Residence  and  Livery  of  B.F,  Bowman, Main  5t.Peoria. 


..'■'-^.■.  — '"^f  -  ;'  ""■j'"- 


^,);Aiw^tJ^:'4?^i<f^i;^lU^^ 


Garden  <s<.5tock  Farm  of  Joseph  5h  o  ff,Sec.12.  Li  mestoneTr  Peoria  Co.  III. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


903 


George  and  Maggie  Alberts,  who  emigrated  from 
the  northern  part  of  Germany  when  slie  was  thir- 
teen years  of  age.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing, their  names  being  Minnie,  George,  Frank, 
Charles,  Lillie,  William,  Gertie,  and  Bessie.  Flor- 
ence di(!d  at  the  age  of  five  months.  In  addition 
to  this  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoff  have  reared  an 
orphan  girl,  Miss  Anna  Kverhard,  who  remained 
with  them  until  she  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  All 
of  the  children  have  been  well  educated,  and  some 
are  far  advanced  in  music  and  the  higher  branches 
of  study. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Siioff  belong  to  the  Catholic 
Church,  to  which  he  was  dedicated  in  his  infancj'. 
He  and  his  good  wife  receive  from  those  about 
them  the  esteem  which  their  charactprs  and  lives 
merit,  while  their  children  have  also  their  own  place 
in  the  regard  of  the  comnumity. 


* 


j^-jENJAMJN  F.  BOAVMAN.  This  gentleman 
is  the  owner  and  manager  of  the  best-equip- 
|i  ped  liveryagtable  in  Central  Illinois.  It  is 
located  on  a  favorable  site  in  Peoria  and  is 
represented  by  a  view  on  another  page.  Supplied 
witii  a  full  line  of  equipages,  carriage  horses,  ponies 
and  saddle  horses,  it  is  as  complete  in  its  fittings  as 
any  establishment  of  the  kind  to  be  found  outside 
of  our  very  largest  cities.  Victorias,  landaus,  sur- 
reys, phaetons,  and  "T"  carts,  arc  among  the  vehicles 
which  the  stable  contains  and  the  three  dozen  car- 
riage horses  present  an  appearance  in  keeping  with 
the  other  appointments  of  the  i)lace.  The  stable 
is  a  strictly  temperance  one,  Mr.  Bowman  employ- 
ing no  man  who  drinks  and,  going  bej'oud  this, 
even  refuses  to  let  his  vehicles  to  a  drunken  man. 
Our  subject  is  of  excellent  ancestry,  both  his 
parents,  Peter  and  Mary  (Woodling)  Bowman,  be- 
longing to  good  families  in  the  Keystone  State.  In 
the  vicinity  of  Ilarrisburg  that  worthy  couple  were 
living  when  the  birth  of  our  subject  took  place,  his 
natal  day  being  October  27, 1843.  He  is  the  seventh 
son  in  a  family  cons'sting  of  fourteen  children. 
Two  of  his  brothers,  Christopher  and  Daniel,  vol- 


unteered iluring  the  Civil  War,  were  taken  prison- 
ers, and  while  Christopher  was  soon  exchanged  and 
died  from  exposure,  Daniel  was  literally  starved  to 
death  in  Libby  Prison. 

When  our  subject  was  a  babe  his  parents  removed 
to  Logan  County,  Ohio,  where  the  father  followed 
farming  pursuits,  with  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
which  young  Bowman  was  reared.  In  the  fall  of 
18G0  he  began  buying  horses  for  AVilliam  IMoran.  of 
Cincinnati,  continuing  to  employ  himself  thus  after 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  when  Mr.  Moran 
furnished  equines  to  the  Government.  Young 
Bowman  finally  came  West  in  order  to  escape  the 
draft  and  after  stopping  in  Peoria  a  week  or  two, 
went  to  the  home  of  a  brother  in  Fulton  County. 
He  was  there  captured,  taken  back  to  the  Buckeye 
Capital  and  turned  over  to  the  army  officers,  but 
escaping  the  next  night  made  his  way  to  Burling- 
ton, Iowa,  where  he  secured  work  in  a  livery  stable 
under  his  given  name.  Benjamin  Franklin. 

After  a  time  Mr.  Bowman  opened  a  livery  stable 
in  Lallarpe,  Hancock  County,  111.,  sojourning  in 
that  place  ten  years.  He  then  removed  to  Nauvoo, 
a  year  later  returned  to  Lallarpe,  and  in  another 
twelvemonth  took  up  his  abode  in  Astoria,  still 
following  the  same  business.  He  built  and  man- 
aged the  Central  House  in  connection  with  his  liv- 
ery four  j'ears.  In  1880  he  came  to  Peoria,  opened 
a  stable,  soon  bought  his  present  premises,  and  as 
before  noted,  is  now  the  owner  of  one  of  the  most 
complete  livery. outfits  anywhere  to  be  found.  He 
not  only  understands  what  makes  up  a  thorough 
establishment,  but  possesses  the  straightforward 
and  m.anly  nature  which  leads  him  to  treat  with 
honor  and  courtesy  all  with  whom  he  has  dealings 
and  to  insist  upon  his  employes  showing  an  equal 
consideration  for  the  rights  and  wishes  of  others. 
He  is  correspondingly  respected  by  business  men, 
visitors  to  the  city  who  may  have  occasion  to  pa- 
tronize his  establishment,  and  the  many  residents 
who  suppl}'  him  with  custom. 

The  marriage  rites  of  Mr.  Bowman  and  Miss 
Florence  May  Moon  were  celebrated  at  the  residence 
of  the  bride's  father,  Asa  Moon,  in  Dallas  City,  III., 
in  1875.  Mrs.  Bowman  is  a  beautiful  woman, 
whose  charming  manners  are  the  outward  expres- 
sion of   the  love  and   sympathy  of  her  heart.     To 


904 


PORTRAIT  AND  HIOGRAFIIICAL  ALBUM. 


her  husband  her  price  is  f;u-  alcove  rubies,  to  their 
only  chilfl,  Pearl,  she  is  motlicr  and  companion  in 
one,  and  to  nianj'  friends  she  is  a  highly  valued 
counselor  and  associate.  It  is  wortiiy  of  remark 
that  Mr.  ]5owen  votes  exclusively  for  temperance 
men. 


GUIS  M.  SECRF.TAN.  Among  the  former 
residents  of  Kickaiioo  Township,  one  who 
:^  bore  an  excellent  reputation  as  a  citizen  and 
left  as  a  heritage  to  his  family  the  memorj'  of  a 
kindly  and  considerate  life, was  the  gentleman  above 
named,  who  passed  from  time  to  eternity  in  the  fall 
of  1865.  His  residence  was  on  section  28,  where  his 
widow  is  still  living  with  her  son,  .Tohn  P.  The 
estate  of  two  hundred  acres  is  carried  on  Ijy  the 
latter,  under  whose  eflicient  management  it  pro- 
duces abundantly. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Switzer- 
land M.ay  2,  1822,  and  resided  in  his  native  coun- 
try until  he  was  twenty  six  years  old.  For  eight 
years  he  was  engaged  as  a  surveyor  and  he  also 
held  the  office  of  Notary  Public.  Having  made 
up  his  mind  that  America  afforded  a  belter  field 
for  his  energies  and  talents,  Mr.  Secretau  embarked 
for  the  land  of  promise  in  1848,  and  landing  in 
New  York  came  thence  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  lie  re- 
sided in  that  cit3' until  his  marriage,  which  occurred 
July  2,  1850. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  .Secretan  won  for  his  wife 
was  Miss  Charlotte  DuToit,  an  estimable  and  in- 
telligent young  woman,  who  was  born  in  Vev.ay, 
Ind.,  February  18,  1829.  Soon  after  their  marriage 
they  removed  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  settling  in 
Kicknpoo  Township,  where  Mr.  Secretan  gave  his 
attention  to  farming.  In  July,  1865,  he  revisited 
the  scenes  of  his  j^outh  and  early  manhood,  and  a 
few  months  later  breathed  his  last.  He  was  the 
father  of  six  children,  viz:  Charles  E.,  who  died 
when  eighteen  years  old;  Francesca,  the  wife  of  A. 
Mall;  John  P.;  Julius  M.,  who  married  Miss  Mag- 
gie Conway;  Edward  L.,  who  married  Miss  Isa- 
bella Doubet,  and  Lucy, who  is  the  wife  of  Adolphus 
Evans. 

John   P  ,  oldest  surviving  son  of  Louis  M.  and 


Charlott(;  Secretan.  was  born  in  Kickapoo  Town- 
ship, January  31,  1854.  He  obtained  a  good  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  the  vicinity,  and 
choosing  farming  as  his  calling,  has  devoted  him- 
self to  it  in  a  painstaking  and  thorough  way.  He 
has  erected  excellent  buildings  upon  the  estate,  in- 
cluding a  tasteful  residence  and  all  the  structures 
that  are  necessary  to  shelter  his  stock  and  store  his 
grain. 

John  P.  Secretan  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
political  affairs  of  the  townshii)  and  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  part3'.  In  the  spring 
of  1888  he  was  elected  Township  Supervisor  and 
served  one  year;  he  has  also  filled  the  office  of 
Collector  one  term.  He  is  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising of  the  younger  farmers  of  the  township, 
keeping  abreast  of  llie  times  in  all  that  pertains  to 
his  occupation,  and  making  use  of  the  most  ap- 
proved methods  of  modern  husbandry  in  all  his 
work.  Possessing  excellent  principles,  pleasing 
social  traits,  and  a  kind  heart,  he  makes  friends, 
and  what  is  of  far  more   imiwrtance,  retains   tliem. 


n  VESTER  SMITH.  Tlie  farming  community  of 
I  Richwood  Township  has  in  this  gentleman  an 
/1\  able  representative.  He  has  for  many  j'ears 
been  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
the  countj^  and  is  one  of  its  substantial  reliable 
citizens.  lie  is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth,  born  in 
Allegheny  County,  F^ebruary  29,  1824,  the  fifth  son 
of  William  and  Barbara  (Fink)  Smith.  His  father 
and  mother  were  both  born  in  Pennsylvania,  the 
latter  in  Chester  County,  where  she  began  her 
wedded  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smitli  eventually  took 
up  their  residence  in  Alleghenj'  County,  of  which 
they  were  residents  until  death  removed  them  from 
the  sphere  of  their  usefulness.  They  had  a  family 
of  six  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Our  subject  passed  the  eai-ly  years  of  his  life  in 
the  home  of  his  birth.  When  he  became  of  age 
he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  learning 
the  trade  of  a  shoemaker,  and  remained  a  resident 
of  Penn^^ylvaniH  until  1849.  During  the  last  few 
years  of  his  stay  in  that  city  he    was  emploj-ed    in 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUOGRArHlCAL  ALBUM. 


905 


fanniiit:.  The  fall  of  thu  year  iiu'iilioned  he  eaiiie 
tol'eoria,  thinking  tlial  among  its  thi-ifly  eiiter|)ris- 
iiig  pioneers  he  could  lind  employment  and  better 
his  financial  condition.  He  worked  in  a  cooper 
shop  for  some  three  years  and  afterward  was  en- 
gaged in  a  gristmill  on  the  Kickapoo,  for  one  year, 
lie  then  returned  to  Peoria  and. after  remaining  for 
a  while  in  that  city,  purchased  his  present  farm, 
which  is  finely  located  on  section  30,  Richwood 
Township.  By  assiduous  and  well  directed  toil  he 
has  placed  a  part  of  its  one  hundred  acres  under  ex- 
cellent cultivation,  and  has  erected  a  substantial  set 
of  farm  buildings,  and  everything  a'loul  the  place 
wears  a  look  of  neatness  and  thrift,  showing  it  to 
l)e  under  the  management  of  a  |)ractical  farmer. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  Peoria  Septendjer  14, 
18C4,  to  Miss  Virginia  Stone.  She  was  born  in 
Brownsville,  Pa.,  in  1844.  She  has  been  to  our 
subject  a  helpful  wife,  cheerfully  assisting  him  in 
his  labors  of  providing  a  comfortable  home  for 
their  family.  They  have  had  seven  children,  two 
of  whom  died  in  infanc}',  and  the  five  living  are: 
Isabella,  Mary  K.,  Elizabeth,  Ida  L.,  and  Cora. 

Mr.  Smith  has  evinced  in  his  calling,  intelligence 
and  skill,  and  his  record  shows  him  to  |)ossess  in  a 
full  degree  those  characteristics  without  which  suc- 
cess in  any  walk  in  life  is  impossible.  Strangers 
find  him  a  pleasant  gentleman  to  meet  and  in  his 
attractive  home  are  the  reci|)ients  of  true  hospital- 
ity, while  those  who  know  him  best  have  a  high 
opinion  of  his  [lersonal  character.  Pul)lic  life  has 
no  attraction  for  him  as  he  prefers  the  quiet  com- 
forts of  his  own  fireside.  He  does,  however,  take 
an  interest  in  politics  and  favors  the  Republican 
party. 

<«  IVILLIAM  WRIGLEY.  Among  the  residents 
\/\///  '^^  Peoria  who  have  been  prospered  in 
^/^J  worldly  affairs  to  such  an  extent  that  thej' 
are  enabled  to  spend  their  declining  years  without 
undue  exertion,  and  surrounded  by  comforts  enjoy 
the  privileges  afforded  in  a  city  for  reasonable 
recreation  and  personal  culture,  is  the  gentleman 
above  named.     Although  his    name  is    associated 


with  that  of  a  son-in«law  in  business,  his  part  in  the 
firm  is  more  that  of  a  counselor  than  of  an  active 
participant  in  the  conduct  of  affairs. 

Mr.  Wrigley  was  born  in  Lancashire,  England, 
March  8,  1822,  being  one  of  eight  children  com- 
prising the  family  of  Thomas  and  Ann  (Hartley) 
Wrigley.  The  father  was  a  storekeeiier  and  gro- 
cer. Five  of  his  children  came  to  America,  our 
subject  and  his  eldest  brother,  Robert,  crossing  the 
Atlantic  together  in  1841.  When  they  reached 
New  York  the}'  were  undetermined  where  to  lo- 
cate, but  having  traveled  as  far  as  Cincinnati  they 
heard  of  Peoria  and  decided  to  visit  the  i)lace. 
They  therefore  embarked  on  a  boat,  sailed  down  the 
Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers  to 
the  country  in  which  they  eventually  made  their 
home.  Durinii  their  progress  thither  the  impres- 
sions of  Mr.  Wrigley  regarding  America  were  well 
calculated  to  make  him  homesick  and  ardently  he 
longed  for  the  fair  fields  of  his  native  land.  After 
having  looked  upon  the  vast  far-stretching  prairies, 
however,  he  was  satisfied  to  remain  in  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  and  buying  land  seventeen  miles  west 
of  Peoria,  he  became  a  farmer. 

In  the  same  English  shire  in  which  Mr.  Wrigley 
was  born,  Ann  Greenough  opened  her  eyes  to  the 
light  of  day.  Her  parents,  with  the  major  part  of 
their  famil^s  came  to  Illinois  in  1842,  and  here  the 
young  lady  first  met  our  subject.  They  were  mu- 
tually attracted  and  having  determined  to  unite 
their  lives  and  fortunes,  they  were  wedded  Novem- 
ber 3,  1845.  Mrs.  Wrigley  is  one  of  nine  children 
and  has  one  brotiier,  a  civil  engineer,  in  England. 
She  has  borne  her  husband  three  children,  two 
daughters  and  a  son.  The  latter,  James  IL,  is  farm- 
ing on  the  old  homestead;  Helen  is  the  wife  of 
Stephen  S.  Barlow,  and  Jennie  the  wife  of  William 
Cutter,  both  of  Peoria. 

After  tilling  the  soil  until  1872,  Mr.  Wrigley  re- 
moved to  Peoria  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade 
with  Mr.  Cutter.  He  occupies  a  pleasant  home 
which  is  a  center  tovvard  which  excellent  society 
gravitates  and  from  which  good  infiuences  extend. 
Mr.  Wrigley  is  ever  ready  to  promote  the  interests 
of  the  Republican  party  whose  principles  he  be- 
lieves best  adapted  for  the  needs  of  American  citi- 
zens.    He  is  a    member   of  Calvary  Presb\'terian 


906 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Church  and  anlElder,  having  held  that  office  for 
about  twelve  j'ears.  His  wife  is  also  a  member  of  the 
same  church.  She  has  shared  his  joj's  and  sorrows 
for  nearlj-  a  half  centur}',  and  her  genuine  worth  is 
appreciated  beyond  the  walls  of  her  home. 


-5-^^ 


W.  WALLACE  occupies  a  prominent 
\/"\///  pl"ce  among  Peoria's  business  men  as  the 
"^p^'  Manager  of  P.  P.  Mast  «Se  Co.'s  extensive 
business  interests  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Ken- 
tuck}-  and  Tennessee.  He  has  here  under  his  con- 
trol a  large  and  handsomel}-  fitted  up  establishment 
and  carries  a  half  million  dollars  worth  of  stock 
and  has  a  very  large  trade. 

Our  subject  comes  of  a  fine  old  ancestry,  as  the 
Wallaces  are  a  large  and  prominent  famil}'  of  West« 
eru  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a  native  of  that  State, 
the  city  of  Pittsburg  the  place  of  his  birth,  and 
April  6,  1839,  the  date  thereof.  He  is  a  son  of 
Hugh  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Wallace,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  His. 
father,  a  man  of  marlved  abilitj',  aud  of  some  promi- 
nence in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and  possessed  of 
more  than  ordinar\-  enterprise,  started  the  first 
steam  furniture  factory  that  was  ever  operated  in 
that  city.  He  now  lives  in  retirement  at  Bloom- 
ington,  this  State,  at  tiie  venerable  age  of  eightv- 
five  years.     His  wife  is  eighty-one  years  of  age. 

Our  subject  was  given  a  liberal  education,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  war  was  a  stu- 
dent of  medicine.  At  the  first  call  for  troops  he 
threw  aside  his  studies,  and  was  among  the  foremost 
to  spring  to  his  country's  defence.  He  enlisted  April 
11,  1861,  raised  a  company  and  went  promptly  to 
the  field.  His  knowledge  of  medicine  made  his 
services  invaluable  in  tliat  direction,  and  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Surgeon-General's  staflf  as  Hospi- 
tal Steward  in  the  regular  army,  and  served  .is 
such  in  all  the  departments  except  that  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  the  Gulf.  His  business  was  the  impor- 
tant one  of  opening  records  for  hospitals,  and  he 
was  called  an  Executive  Steward.  He  was  in 
numerous  engagements,  although  always  a  steward, 
and  he  experienced  many  exciting  things.     He  re- 


mained in  the  service  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  aud  was  mustered  out  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
in  the  month  of  April,  1865,  just  four  years  after 
he  entered  the  armj-.  thus  closing  a  military  career 
that  was  a  noble  and  useful  one. 

Mr.  Wallace  entered  commercial  life  at  Bloom- 
ington.  111.,  and  was  actively  engaged  as  a  mer- 
chant there  until  1875.  In  that  year  he  went  on 
the  frontier  in  Southwestern  Kansas,  and  for  five 
years  was  engaged  in  farming  there.  His  experi- 
ence of  life  iu  Kansas  was  not  such  as  to  make 
him  desire  to  make  a  permanent  residence  there, 
and  at  the  ex|)iration  of  the  time  mentioned  he  re- 
turned to  Bloomington,  and  resumed  his  old  busi- 
ness. A  short  time  after  that  he  came  to  Peoria 
to  take  charge  of  the  business  of  P.  P.  Mast  it  Co., 
as  before  mentioned.  Read}'  of  resource,  possess- 
ing firmness  and  activity  and  an  undeniable  talent 
for  affairs,  Mr.  Wallace  has  won  for  himself  a  high 
place  in  the  financial  circles  of  the  city  and  county. 
His  pleasant  conversational  qualities  and  his  ready 
tact  and  courteous  manner,  have  gained  him  social 
prominence,  and  he  aud  his  wife,  who  is  a  lad}'  of 
great  worth,  are  numbered  among  our  best  citizens. 
He  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic 
order,  having  taken  the  Thirty-second  Degree, 
and  he  is  also  connected  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias 

To  the  charming  woman,  the  home  maker,  who 
presides  over  his  home,  our  subject  was  united  in 
in  marriage  in  1864.  Mrs.  Wallace  was  formerly 
Miss  Mary  R.  Sullivan, of  Indianapolis,  Ind.  The 
greatest  grief  of  her  wedded  life  has  been  in  the 
death  of  their  only  child — Ida  B. — wife  of  Jolin 
W.  Sanders,  who  died  May  11,  1890. 


^ 


\f  AMES  H.  SEDGWICK.  Among  the  promi- 
nent law  firms  of  Peoria  County,  may  be 
properly  mentioned  that  of  Bailey  &  6edg- 
(^^  /  wick.  As  Mr.  Bailey  is  principally  engaged 
in  banking  and  a  large  loan  business,  the  legal 
transactions  of  the  firm  are  conducted  by  Mr. 
Sedgwick,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  h.is  been 
practicing  in  the  city  of    Peoria   continuously    for 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGlVVrillCAL  ALBU:\I. 


907 


the  past  fifteen  years.  He  is  fifty  years  of  age, 
having  been  born  September  4,  1840,  and  is  a  na- 
tive of  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  the  son  of  Samuel 
ami  Rutiama  (Knight)  Sedgwick,  of  whom  Ruhama, 
tiie  mother,  is  still  living  in  Sandwicli,  111.  Samuel 
Sedgwick  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  adescendant 
of  Robert  Sedgwick,  one  of  Oliver  Cromwell's 
generals,  and  at  his  death.  Governor  of  Jamaica.  It 
is  a  family  that  has  |)roduced  lawj-ers,  writers, 
soldiers  and  statesmen.  Among  them  were  Judge 
Theodore  Sedgwick  of  Massachusetts,  Catharine 
Sedgwick,  the  authoress,  IMaj.-Gen.  Sedgwick  on 
whom  Gen.  Grant  relied  so  implicitly,  and  Maj. 
Sedgwick  who  was  with  Washington  at  Valley 
Forge. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  his  native  State  and  was  educated  to  the  profes- 
sion of  a  physician,  which  he  followed  first  in 
Oneida  C()unt3',N.  Y.,  where  he  married,  and  after- 
ward in  Coshocton  Count}',  Oliio.  About  1844  he 
came  with  his  family*  to  Kendall  County,  this  State, 
but  only  lived  three  years  thereafter,  his  death 
taking  place  in  1847.  Young  Sedgwick  was  reared 
by  his  mother,  and  after  leaving  the,  common 
schools,  became  a  student  in  the  famous  Oberlin 
College,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued  his  literary  studies. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  July,  1861,  after  a 
course  at  the  Chicago  Law  School  under  the  di- 
rection of  Judge  Booth.  He  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Sandwich,  this  State,  but 
after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  AVar,  entered  the 
Union  Army.  He  participated  in  several  active 
engagements,  was  captured  by  the  rebels  and  taken 
to  Tyler.  Texas,  where  he  was  confined  two  years 
and  then  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  He 
worked  his  way  North  to  the  Union  Lines  in  Ar- 
kansas, where  he  succeeded  in  due  time  in  rejoin- 
ing his  regiment,  and  remained  with  it  until  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment  shortly  after- 
ward. He  was  honorably  discharged  as  Sergeant, 
Company  B.,  Fifty-first  Illinois  Veteran  Infantry, 
and  bears  on  his  person  the  scars  of  a  faithful  and 
exceedingl}'  trying  military  experience. 

Returning  now  to  Sandwich,  111.,  Mr.  Sedgwick 
resumed  his  law  practice,  but  subsequently  removed 
to  Sycamore  and  in  partnership  witli  Judge  Lowell 
followed  his  practice  two    3-ears.     We  next    find 


him  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  where  in  1873,  he  as- 
sociated liimself  in  partnership  with  O.  J.  Bailey, 
and  two  years  later  removed  to  Peoria,  where  thej- 
successfully  followed  the  profession  in  which  thej^ 
have  attained  a  good  reputation. 

Politically,  Mr.  Sedgwick,  although  mingling 
very  little  with  public  affairs,  is  a  decided  Prohibi- 
tionist, being  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  party  in 
this  county  and  their  nominee  for  congress  in  188R. 
But  while  believing  the  total  prohibition  of  the 
saloon  is  the  true  policy  of  the  State,  he  is  by  no 
means  a  fanatic.  He  is  liberal  and  progressive  in 
his  ideas,  the  friend  of  education  and  reform;  he 
is  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Law  Library 
Association  in  which  he  has  held  all  the  offices,  and 
is  now  President,  being  elected  in  the  spring  of 
1889.  This  library  is  a  very  complete  one,  com- 
prising fift3'-five  hundred  volumes,  furnishing  an 
invaluable  store  of  information  to  those  following 
the  legal  profession. 

Blr.  Sedgwick  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Peoria 
ScientiBc  Society,  and  his  public  addresses  before 
that  society  are  highly  appreciated.  The  calls  on 
him  for  addresses  before  other  associations  and  on 
other  occasions  are  frequent.  His  hearers  are  wont 
to  remark  that  "Mr.  Sedgwick  has  always  some- 
thing to  say  worth  listening  to."  In  the  National 
Bar  Association  he  is  for  the  third  time  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Legal  Education  and  Admis- 
sion to  the  Bar,  and  his  annual  reports  on  that  sub- 
ject are  anticipated  as  an  event  of  the  session. 

On  the  10th  of  July,  1865,  Mr.  Sedgwick  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Maria  B.  Merritt, 
daughter  of  William  J.  Merritt,  a  prominent  pio- 
neer of  DeKalb  County.  Of  this  union  there  have 
been  born  four  children  who  are  living.  The  eld- 
est son,  Howard,  is  a  practicing  physician  of  Peoria. 
William  C.  is  a  hardware  merchant  of  this  city  and 
located  on  Main  Street;  Philip  and  Edna  remain 
with  their  parents,  attending  the  city  schools.  The 
family  residence  is  pleasantly  located  on  the  East 
Bluff  portion  of  the  city  and  is  frequented  by  its 
cultured  and  intelligent  people.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sedgwick  have  ever  a  hearty  welcome  for  progres- 
sive people,  those  who  think  and  have  definite, 
original  ideas,  whether  or  not  they  agree  with  them. 

Mr.  Sedgwick  held  several  public  offices   in    the 


908 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  ALBUM. 


first  part  of  his  career,  while  retainers  were  scarce 
and  fees  small.  lie  consented  at  one  time 'to  act  as 
!i  Justice  of  the  Peace,  afterward  for  a  short  time, 
to  fill  an  interregnum,  was  Count)'  Attorney  of  De 
Kalb  County.  Then  he  was  elected  City  Attorney 
of  Sandwich,  but  refused  to  qualify.  He  holds  that 
a  man  who  has  a  good  private  business  is  not  wise 
to  sacrifice  Lis  independence  for  a  public  office,  and 
that  independence  of  thought  and  action  is  worth 
more  than  any  office. 


|ICIIARI)  T.  MERCHANT,  an  honored  resi- 
Y    dent  of  Trivoli  Township,  is  an  old  soldier 

\  \v  wlio  spent  some  of  the  best  years  of  his  life  in 
the  struggle  against  rebel  hands  that  sought 
the  Nation's  destruction.  The  agricultural  work  to 
niiich  he  has  devoted  himself  during  most  of  Ids 
nuiture  years,  has  resulted  in  securing  liiui  a  fine 
estate  of  two  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  on  sec- 
tions 4  and  10,  where  he  has  made  excellent  improve- 
ments, including  the  good  fences  and  farm  build- 
ings usually  seen  on  the  land  of  an  enterprising 
man,  together  with  tile  drains,  orchards,  etc.^  that 
indicate  taste  and  prosperity.  The  entire  acreage 
is  tillable,  being  watered  by  Clark's  Creek,  and  is 
well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  stock,  in  which  Mr. 
Merchant  takes  considerable  interest.  The  place 
is  four  miles  from  Farmingtou  and  one  and  a  half 
from  Cramer's  Corners. 

The  Rev.  Isaac  Merchant,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  lierkeley  County,  Va.,  to  Abraham 
and  Surah  (Bull)  Merchant,  natives  of  the  same 
State  in  which  the  father  died,  the  mother  living  to 
a  venerable  age  in  this  county.  Isaac  Merchant 
grew  up  on  a  farm,  leaving  his  native  State  when 
quite  small  to  accompany  a  Mr.  Brown  to  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  began  his  own  career  by 
working  out  on  neighboring  farms.  After  he  mar- 
ried lie  removed  to  Fayette  County,  settling  on  a 
farm  of  ninety-five  acres,  for  which  he  paid  $2.50 
per  acre.  It  was  but  partially  improved  and  he 
was  obliged  to  grnb  the  balance,  chopping  by  day 
and  burning  brush  by  night.  He  built  a  small 
frame  house,  and   surrounded  the  home  with  such 


comforts  as  were  possil)le.  He  became  a  preacher 
in  the  Friends  Church,  serving  as  sucli  until  he  left 
the  section  in  1854. 

At  tliat  date  Isaac  Merchant  came  to  Central 
Illinois,  spending  the  winter  in  Farminglon,  and 
in  the  spring  buying  a  quarter-section  of«parlly- 
improved  land  in  this  county,  now  occupied  by 
the  son,  our  subject.  He  cultivated  it  until  1866, 
when  he  sold  it  to  his  son,  returned  to  Ohio  among 
the  Quakers,  and  occupied  himself  solely  with 
preaching  until  1870.  He  then  removed  to  Villisca, 
Iowa,  living  in  retirement  until  called  to  the  better 
land  in  1888.  His  remains  were  brought  to  his 
old  home  and  deposited  in  the  family  burying 
ground.  His  political  adherence  was  to  the  Whig 
party  of  the  old  time.  He  reached  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-eight  years.  His  brother  Jonah  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Fulton  County.  He  en- 
listed in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  rose  to  the  rank 
of  Major  General.  He  was  a  conductor  on  the 
"  Underground  Railroad." 

The  wife  of  Isaac  Merchant  was  Jane,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Jane  Todhunter.  Her  father  was  an 
p]nglishman  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  boy- 
hood, became^  farmer,  was  an  early  settler  in  Fay- 
ette County,  Ohio,  cleared  land  there  and  secured 
much  real  estate.  He  died  when  eighty-eight  years 
old,  cheered  by  the  belief  of  the  Society  of  P>iends. 
His  daughter  Jane  was  born  in  that  county,  educated 
in  the  State,  and  died  after  a  well-spent  life  in 
1862,  at  the  home  in  the  Prairie  State.  She  was 
the  mother  of  twelve  children  who  grew  to  matu- 
rity. Whalen  is  a  retired  farmer,  now  dealing  in 
real  estate  in  Washington,  Iowa;  Abraham  is  farm- 
ing near  Des  Moines;  Mrs.  Sarah  Littler  lives  in 
that  city ;  our  subject  is  the  next  in  order  of  birtli ; 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Arnold  lives  in  Washington  County, 
Iowa;  William  was  a  member  of  the  First  Iowa 
liattery  from  18G1  until  killed  at  Black  River, 
Miss.;  Mrs.  Harriet  McMackin  lives  in  Colorado; 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hill  died  in  Gage  County,  Neb. ; 
Mrs.  Lydia  Hunter  lives  in  Greenfield.  Ohio;  Mrs. 
Matilda  Thatcher  lives  in  Elmwood,  this  county ; 
Mrs.  Clara  Holmes  lives  at  Washington  Court- 
House,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Alwilda  Keel  lives  in  Trivoli 
Township,  this  county. 

Our  subject  was  born  in   Fayette  County,  Ohio, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAFIIICAL  ALBUM. 


909 


December  1,  1834,  reared  on  tlie  farm,  attending 
the  subscription  schools  in  the  old-fnsbioncd  log 
schoolhouse,  and  when  eighteen  years  old  entering 
New  ISrartinsbiirg  Academy,  pursuing  his  studies 
there  two  winters.  He  was  early  set  to  work,  learn- 
ing to  drive  oxen  and  in  other  ways  aid  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  home  acres,  but  having  much 
better  opportunities  for  study  than  fell  to  the  lot 
of  many  of  his  contemporaries.  lie  came  West 
with  their  parents,  their  journey  being  made  by 
means  of  "prairie  sclioouers,"  and  their  route  cross- 
ing the  level  lands  of  Indiana  and  Illinois  to  the 
Illinois  River,  which  they  forded  at  Pekin. 
.  After  land  was  bought  by  the  father,  our  sub- 
ject and  his  brother  Abraham  rented  and  operated 
it  until  1858,  when  the  connection  was  dissolved 
.and  both  went  to  Iowa,  driving  in  a  buggy  to 
Pilot  Grove,  Washington  County.  Our  subject 
bought  a  raw  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  he  improved,  stocking  it  with  cattle,  and  in 
connection  with  the  labors  thereon  running  a  break- 
ing plow  with  thirty-inch  shire  and  drawn  by  six 
yoke  of  oxen.  His  principal  business  until  the 
war  broke  out  was  the  breaking  of  soil,  but  the 
needs  of  the  country  drew  him  to  the  battlefield. 

On  August  16,  18G2,  Mr.  Merchant  became  a 
member  of  Company  K,  Thirtieth  Iowa  Infantry, 
was  mustered  in  .it  Keokuk  as  Corpor.al  under  Capt. 
Gallagher,  and  going  to  the  front  siient  much  time 
on  boats  moving  up  and  down  the  Mississippi 
River  as  need  arose.  He  was  at  Haines  Bluff, 
Yazoo,  Little  Rock,  Black  River,  Jackson  (twice). 
Champion  Hill,  at  the  siege  of  Vicksliirrg  forty 
days,  returned  to  Jackson,  then  again  to  Vicks- 
burg,  and  to  Milliken's  Bend  and  Grand  Gulf. 
After  this  round  of  engagements  he  was  a  partici- 
pant in  the  battles  of  Chattanooga,  Lookout  Moun- 
tain and  Missionary  Ridge,  then  having  wintered 
in  Tennessee,  joined  Sherman  as  an  integral  part  of 
the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  commanded  by  the 
gallant  "  Black  Jack,"  whom  this  State  loves  to 
honor. 

Again  Mr.  Merchant  bore  a  part  in  some  of  the 
most  noted  battles  of  the  war,  among  them  being 
Dallas,  Resaca,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Big  Shanty  and 
Kenesaw  Jlountain.  At  the  siege  of  Atlanta  he 
acted  the  part  of  the  brave  patriot,  and  in  the  bat- 


tle of  Jonesliorough  he  continued  liis  courageous 
conduct.  After  this  he  was  with  Hood  in  T'ennes- 
see,  then  returning  to  Atlanta,  made  one  of  the 
band  that  marched  to  the  sea,  then  north  through 
the  Carolinas,  and  after  Lee's  surrender  and  the 
death  of  the  martyred  Lincoln,  he  went  to  Rich- 
mond and  on  to  Washington  to  take  jiart  in  the 
(irand  Review,  June  15,  1865.  The  next  step  .'n 
his  life  was  his  discharge  and  return  to  his  prop- 
ert}-  in  Iowa.  Several  times  his  clothes  were  cut 
by  bullets,  but  he  received  no  wounds.  One  fall 
he  suffered  from  typhoid  fever,  that  being  the  only 
period  when  he  was  off  dut}'. 

The  land  of  Mr.  Merchant  being  rented,  he  gave 
his  attention  to  buying,  feeding  and  shipping  cat- 
tle, doing  well  at  that  business.  While  on  a  trip  to 
Chicago  with  stock  in  the  f.all  of  1866,  he  bought  the 
homestead  from  his  father,  and  the  next  year  located 
upon  it,  again  becoming  a  farmer.  He  finally  sold 
his  Iowa  land  and  bought  an  additional  eighty  here, 
thus  bringing  u[)  his  estate  to  the  comfortable 
amount  before  mentioned.  He  raises  hogs  of  good 
breeds,  also  feeds  several  carloads  of  cattle  each 
year,  finding  this  the  most  profitable  way  to  use 
the  corn  he  raises.  He  likewise  raises  good  draft 
horses  and  roadsters,  having  twenty  head  at  this 
writing,  at  the  head  of  the  herd  being  two  standard 
bred  Wilkes  and  Ilarabletoniau  horses. 

In  Richmond,  Iowa,  November  18,  1866,  Mr. 
Merchant  was  united  in  marriage  with  ]\Iiss  M.aggic 
Gallagher,  a  native  of  Fredericktovvn,  Bid.  Her 
brother  James,  a  native  of  Maine  and  early  settler 
in  Washington  County,  Iowa,  was  Captain  of  the 
company  in  which  our  subject  served,  having  joined 
at  the  same  time.  He  is  now  retired  from  active 
life.  Mrs.  Merchant  was  educated  in  Maryland  and 
Iowa,  was  graduated  from  W.ashington  Academy-, 
and  taught  school  from  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
until  her  marriage.  She  was  of  Irish  ancestry,  and 
possessed  the  ready  intelligence  and  aptness  char- 
acteristic of  the  better  classes  of  that  race,  together 
with  excellent  traits  of  character.  She  entered 
into  rest  June  27,  1880,  mourned  by  many  beyond 
the  walls  of  the  home  in  which  she  was  sorely 
missed. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Merchant  comprises  six  chil- 
dren, whose  record  is  as   follows:  Lorena  married 


910 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


William  Akiu,  a  blacksmith  living  in  Trivoli  Town- 
ship; Jessie  O.  is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Kerr,  a  farmer 
at  Oak  Ilill;  Walter  L.  and  Grace  M.  are  at  home; 
Daisy  died  when  thirteen  years  old;  William  is 
attending  school  in  Farmiiigton.  Grace  attended 
the  High  School  at  Washington.  Iowa,  then  in 
Peoria,  being  obliged  to  abandon  her  studies  on 
aecount  of  poor  health ;  she  secured  a  teacher's 
certificate  when  but  fifteen  years  old. 

Mr.  Merchant  has  been  School  Director  fifteen 
years,  and  is  now  President  of  the  Board.  He 
joined  the  Masonic  fraternity  after  the  war,  and 
now  belongs  to  a  lodge  at  Farmingtou;  he  also 
holds  his  place  among  the  members  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  tlie  Republic  at  Elmwood.  B3' birthright 
he  was  a  Quaker,  but  married  without  the  pale  of 
tlie  society,  his  wife  having  been  a  Baptist.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  Repuhlican,  has  been  dele- 
gale  to  count}'  and  State  conventions,  and  a  Central 
Committee  man.  At  stock  shows  he  has  acted  as 
judge,  being  competent  to  determine  the  respective 
merits  of  various  species  and  breeds.     . 


«o*o.  ■s^v>"v®-<'♦«* 


m 


'AMES  E.  PILLSBURY.  This  cognomen  is 
one  well  known  and  highly  honored  through- 
out Peoria  County,  he  who  bears  it  being 
an  efficient  servant  for  the  public,  for  whom 
he  acts  in  the  capacity  of  Clerk.  In  this  station 
he  lias  served  continuously  since  1882,  winning  an 
official  record  such  as  few  men  attain  in  these 
days  of  bribery  and  corruption  in  public  places. 
His  capability  is  unquestioned,  as  are  his  honor  and 
integrity,  and  he  supports  witli  all  his  influence  the 
cause  of  education  and  otiier  elevating  enterprises. 
Having  previously  acted  as  County  Superintendent 
of  Schools,  lie  well  understands  the  responsibilities 
of  that  position  and  the  needs  of  the  schools,  and 
is  better  able  to  advance  the  cause  than  if  he  were 
ignorant  on  these  points. 

Mr.  Pillsbury  is  of  English  and  Sc.otch  ancestry 
several  generations  back.  On  the  fatlier's  side  he 
traces  his  descent  from  William  Pillsburj',  wiio 
came  to  America  in  1  640,  settling  in  the  old  Baj- 
State.     Thiii  worthy  man  was  the  progenitor  of  all 


the  Pillsburys  now  in  America.  The  immediate 
progenitors  of  our  subject  were  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Dunbar)  Pillsbury,  natives  of  Maine,  where 
the  father  kept  a  country  store.  In  Lincoln  County, 
that  State,  two  children  were  born  to  the  good 
couple,  they  being  our  subject  and  a  sister,  Lizzie 
S.,  now  Mrs.  Perkins,  of  that  county. 

The  natal  da}'  of  James  Pillsbury  was  February 
6,  1840,  and  In  the  State  of  his  birth  he  received 
his  education,  which  included  a  partial  course  in 
Colby  University.  Like  many  another  Maine  lad, 
he  went  to  sea  "before  the  mast,"  but  a  sailor's  life 
did  not  prove  sufficiently  attractive  to  retain  him 
long.  He  adopted  the  profession  of  teaching,  and 
for  years  followed  pedagogy.  From  1862  to  1865 
he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  Cali- 
fornia, and  he  then  returned  home,  coming  thence 
to  Peoria  late  in  1865.  He  was  engaged  as  Princi- 
pal of  the  §econd  District  (now  the  Lincoln) 
School,  of  this  city,  retaining  the  position  until 
late  in  1877,  when  he  was  elected  County  Super- 
intendent of  Schools.  Taking  up  the  duties  of  his 
office  January  1,  1878,  so  ably  did  he  labor  for  the 
improvement  of  the  schools  and  so  much  did 
the  cause  advance  under  his  supervision  that  he 
was  retained  in  the  position  five  years,  leaving 
the  field  only  to  assume  other  public  duties  to  which 
the  suffrage  of  the  people  called  him. 

An  interesting  event  transpired  August  8,  1865, 
when  Miss  Helen  A.,  daughter  of  Horace  Hall,  be- 
came the  bride  of  our  subject.  Mrs.  Pillsbury 
shares  with  her  husband  in  the  good-will  of  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintances,  by  whom  she  is  re- 
garded as  worthy  of  respect  for  her  character  and 
acquirements.  The  famih'  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pills- 
bury consists  of  six  living  children — Helena,  Bes- 
sie, Grace  D.,  Irving  J.,  Hester  M.  and  Ella  C. 
Both  parents  belong  to  the  Baptist  Church.  The 
father  is  a  Democrat,  who  has  never  departed 
from  his  political  faith.  He  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  having  membership  in  the  Blue 
Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commander}-,  and  in  the  Scot- 
tish Rites  Consistory.  He  also  belongs  to  the  An- 
cient Order  of  United  Workmen  and  to  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men.  His  nature  is  an 
extremely  companionable  one,  and  the  ability 
he  displays  in   wliatever  duty    lies  before    bim   is 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArillCAL  ALIU  M. 


911 


acknowledged  by  all  who  know  him.  His  record 
in  piihlie  and  private  life  is  one  to  which  he  can 
))oint  with  justifiable  pride,  and  no  better  heritage 
(■an  be  left  to  his  offspring  than  this. 

THOMAS  L.  II.  DOTY.  No  one  stands  higher 
in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow-citizens  than 
the  gentleman  whose  portrait  is  shown  on 
the  opposite  page  and  whose  occupation  is  that  of  a 
railroad  conductor,  with  a  pleasant  home  in  I'eoria. 
He  was  born  in  Clermont  Count}',  Ohio,  July  17, 
1846,  accompanying  his  parents  to  Peoria  in  1852. 
Here  he  attained  to  man's  estate,  securing  a  good 
education  and  being  peculiarl}'  fortunate  in  his 
home  surroundings,  by  which  his  better  qualities  of 
mind  and  character  were  strengthened  and  de- 
veloped. In  18U4  he  began  life  as  a  railroader  by 
securing  the  position  of  brakeman  on  the  Toledo, 
Peoria  &  Warsaw  Road.  After  a  brief  service  he 
was  employed  by  the  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jacksonville 
Railroad,  and  in  1867,  began  with  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  &  Pacific. 

Mr.  Doty  was  soon  promoted  from  br.akeman 
to  regular  freight  conductor,  a  high  tilliute  to  his 
capacity'  and  ho'.iestj'.  In  1885  he  accepted  a  simi- 
lar service  with  the  Rock  Island  &  Peoria  Railroad 
which  he  still  occupies.  lie  has  been  singularly 
free  from  accidents,  the  fact  being  largely  due  to 
his  own  carefulness  and  sobriety.  He  is  an  honored 
member  of  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors, 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  Modern 
Woodmen.  His  religious  belief  is  that  of  the 
Presbj'terian  Church,  to  which  his  wife  belongs. 

At  the  end  of  his  trijjs  on  the  road,  Mr.'  Doly 
gladly  returns  to  his  cozy  home  where  a  charmin" 
group  composed  of  mother  and  four  chililicn  awaits 
his  arrival  with  loving  anxietj*.  ilis  cherished 
companion  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Flora  N. 
Mounts,  was  born  in  this  cit}-,  and  becanu^  his  wife 
December  19,  1869.  Their  children  have  been 
named  respectivel.y,  Frank  A.,  Eva  S.,  Orrin  A. 
and  Charlotte. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Orrin  Doty,  an 
early  pioneer  of  Ohio,  to  which  State   he    went    in 


1820.  Long  before  railroads  had  been  built  he  was 
engaged  in  staging,  carrying  i)assengers,  freight  and 
Government  mail  outward  from  (Cincinnati.  His 
trip  from  New  I'ork  to  Ohio  by  the  Great  Lakes 
was  one  of  the  romantic  experiences  which  many 
pioneers  enjoy.  He  closed  his  long  and  busy  life  in 
March,  1876,  in  Peoria,  where  he  had  been  living 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  known  in  her 
girlhood  as  Miss  Charlotte  lleyl.  She  and  the  hus- 
band to  whom  she  had  Ijeen  a  devoted  companion 
for  many  j-ears  were  not  long  divided,  as  she 
joined  him  beyond  the  river  of  death  in  Decem- 
ber, 1876.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare  character  and 
Christian  devotion,  her  reliance  on  the  inspiration 
of  the  Seriptures  being  a  sacred  legacy  to  her  oliil- 
dren. 


;.  OBLE  HOLTON,  M.  D.     This  gentleman  is 
now   located   at  Harper's  Corners  to  which 

\,^  he  removed  from  Peoria  in  1888,  and  where 
he  has  put  up  some  fine  buildings.  He  is  well 
versed  in  the  princi|iles  which  underlie!  his  profes- 
sion, proficient  in  .matoraical  knowledge,  and  prac- 
tical in  his  ai^plication  of  that  which  he  learned 
from  books  to  the  needs  of  suffering  humanity. 
Since  he  began  his  professional  labors  he  has  en- 
deavored to  keep  up  with  the  times  in  his  under- 
standing of  the  latest  discoveries  in  medical  science, 
feeling  that  the  responsibility  of  his  position  made 
it  incumbent  upon  him  to  take  advantage  of  every 
opportunity  to  become  still  more  efficient  and  pro- 
ficient. He  is  well  posted  on  all  the  affairs  of  the 
day,  his  fine  library  containing  works  by  the  best 
writers  ou  the  various  topics  which  a  scholai'ly 
mind  enjoys. 

Di\  llolton  traces  his  descent  from  Arad  Holton, 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  In  the  family  of  that 
patriot  was  a  son.  Noble,  who  married  lietsy  Whit- 
ne}'.  This  couple  were  living  in  Windham  County, 
Vt.,  when  on  the  22d  of  May,  182.'),  the  son  was 
born  whose  history  it  is  our  purpose  to  outline.  The 
parents  removed  to  Western  New  York,  when  our 
subject  was  fourteen  years  old,  their  new  home  be- 
ing in  Livingston   County,  where  lu>   finished    his 


912 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


literary  education  at  an  academy.  He  then  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  Merriam,  of  DeKalb  County,  III., 
and  after  studying  with  that  excellent  practitioner  a 
sufficient  length  of  time,  entered  Rush  Medical 
College  in  Chicago,  from  which  he  entered  the  Chi- 
cago  Medical  College  and  was  graduated  in  1867. 

In  1861  Dr.  Holton  passed  the  examination  of 
ihe  State  Army  Medical  Examining  Board,  and 
was  appointed  surgeon  of  the  Sixty-fourth  Illinois 
Infantry,  April  22,  1862.  The  Examining  Board 
of  Medicine  was  organized  b3'  Gov.  Yates  and,  its 
requirements  being  exacting,  he  who  could  pass  its 
examination  must  be  competent  in  phj-sics  and 
surgerj'.  He  served  with  the  regiment  for  a  year 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Cairo  and  New  Madrid, 
thence  went  to  Corinth,  Miss.,  where  his  health  be- 
came so  poor  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  leave  the 
service.  On  a  surgeon's  certificate  he  offered  his 
resignation,  which  was  accepted,  and  returning  to 
the  North  he  jourueyed  westward  in  searcii  of  re- 
newed vitality. 

After  the  war  Dr.  Holton  spent  some  time  in  Colo- 
rado, Nebraska  and  Wyoming,  practicing  his  profes- 
sion when  his  health  would  permit  in  the  latter, 
where,  with  his  wife,  he  sojourned  four  years.  Not 
content  with  the  knowledge  he  had  previousl3- gained 
he  entered  the  medical  department  of  tiie  Northwest- 
ern University,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1867,  beginning  his  practice  in  the  Slates  in  the 
village  of  Pekin.  In  1878  he  removed  to  Peoria 
with  his  famil}-,  making  that  tlie  headquarters  for 
his  professional  labors,  with  which  he  has  constantly 
been  occupied  for  many  j-ears.  For  a  time  he  was 
located  in  Smithville,  and  during  his  residence  in 
Peoria  was  connected  with  other  prominent  physi- 
cians in  establishing  a  medical  college.  Dr.  Ros- 
cotton  was  the  first  President  and  Dr.  Holton 
Secretary,  Dr.  Boal  afterward  taking  the  presiding 
office.  The  Association  secured  a  charter  .ind,  rent- 
ing a  large  room,  started  into  business,  but  owing 
to  the  lack  of  funds  the  College  of  Ph\'sicians  and 
Surgeons  of  Peoria  was  short-lived. 

The  wife  of  Dr.  Holton  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Rosina  A.  Greenman.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Martin 
and  Modena  Greenman,  of  Tiskilwah.  Buraiu 
County,  by  whom  she  was  carefully  reared,  growing 
to  womanhood  in  the  possession  of  a  charaetei-  and 


acquirements  which  fitted  her  for  the  companion- 
ship of  intelligent  and  cultured  associates.  She 
and  her  husband  have  had  five  children,  all  of 
whom  died  in  infanc3',  the  parents  therefore  having 
but  one  child  living  at  a  time. 

Dr.  Holton  cast  his  first  Republican  ballot  for 
John  Ch.arles  Fremont,  the  "Pathfinder"  of  the 
West,  and  has  ever  been  stanch  in  his  adherence  to 
the  Republican  party.  He  is  well  informed  on  and 
much  interested  in  the  political  outlook,  and  quite 
active  in  the  work  of  his  section  of  country.  AVhile 
a  resident  of  Kearney,  Neb.,  he  was  elected  Mayor 
of  that  citv. 


N.  KEITH,  M.  D..  is  the  leading  old  school 
physician  of  Chillicothe,  having  a  large 
li>  pr.actice  and  meeting  with  abundant  suc- 
cess in  his  eflforts  to  mitigate  the  sufferings 
of  mankind.  His  office  is  located  in  the  Thomas 
Building  on  Second  Street.  Dr.  Keith  is  i-ailroad 
sui-geon  for  the  Rock  Island  Companj-  and  devotes 
his  time  energetically  to  physics  and  surgery,  add- 
ing to  his  alread}-  good  store  of  knowledge  by  the 
perusal  of  medical  journals  and  other  professional 
literature. 

The  grandparents  of  our  subject,  both  in  the  pa- 
ternal and  maternal  lines,  were  pioneers  of  Eastern 
Indiana.  In  Switzerland  County  Dr.  E.  H.  Keith, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  and  grew  to 
maturity.  He  married  Miss  Rebecca  J.  Adkinson, 
daughter  of  AVilliam  and  Malinda  (Colvin)  Adkin- 
son.who  left  the  Hoosier  State  about  1853  for  Mar- 
shall Countj^,  III.  After  improving  a  farm  there 
the3'retired  to  the  town  of  Henr3-  where  they  subse- 
quentl3'  breathed  their  last  when  about  three-score 
years  of  age. 

During  the  3-ear  1853  Dr.  E.  H.  Keith  removed 
to  Peoria  Township,  Peoria  Count3-,  Hi.,  settling  on 
a  farm  which  was  his  home  for  a  few  years,  after 
which  he  carried  on  a  drug  store  in  LeRo3',  Mc- 
Lean County,  for  four  years.  The  war  having 
broken  out  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Thirty-ninth 
Illinois  Infantry,  going  at  once  to  the  front.  He 
was  a  participant  in  several  minor  skirmishes    be- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


913 


fore  lie  was  transferred  to  the  medical  department 
and  stationed  on  Johnson's  Island  near  Sandusky, 
Ohio,  where  a  prison  was  locateil.  He  was  con- 
nected with  the  array  three  j^cars,  during  which  he 
was  able  to  report  for  diitj'  every  day.  He  then 
practiced  his  profession  in  Memphis,  Teun.,  cue 
year,  his  wife  and  children  still  remaining  in 
llenr^'.  111.,  where  liiey  made  their  home  during  his 
arm}'  experience. 

In  1865,  Dr.  E.  H.  Keith  was  joined  in  Feoria  by 
his  wife  and  children  and  in  that  city  he  gained  a 
prominent  position  among  medical  practitioners, 
giving  up  a  good  practice  when  his  health  failed. 
In  May,  1888.  he  was  compelled  to  la^'  aside  the 
duties  of  liis  practice  from  the  effects  of  sickness, 
from  which  he  never  recovered,  djing  in  Chilli- 
cothe,  111.,  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  April  15,  1 889. 
His  widow  is  now  living  on  her  own  property  in 
Peoria  and  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years  is  still  ac- 
tive and  useful.  I^r.  Keith  was  for  some  years 
connected  with  the  Peoria  Board  of  Health.  He  was 
a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Dr.  A.  N.  Keith  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Switzerland  County,  Ind.,  June  8,  1853,  but  reared 
in  the  Prairie  State,  whither  he  was  brought  in  in- 
fancy. He  is  the  third  in  a  family  of  three  broth- 
ers and  four  sisters,  of  whom  he  and  his  brother 
Edward  E. — the  latter  a  merchant  in  Henrj-,  this 
State,  are  the  only  survivors.  He  was  well  reared, 
educated  in  the  Peoria  High  School,  and  prior  to 
entering  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  labored 
as  a  teacher,  a  book-keeper  and  drug  clerk.  His 
medical  studies  were  completed  in  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Chicago.from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  the  class  of  '83.  He  began  his 
professional  labors  at  Alta,  this  countj^  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  the  fall  of  1887,  then  tak- 
in<'  up  his  abode  in  Chillicothe. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride  at  Chillicothe,  March  20, 
1878,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were  celebrated  between 
Dr.  A.  N.  Keith  and  Miss  Ella  E.  Turner.  This 
lady  was  born  November  30,  1858,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  chiefly  in  this  county  to  which  her 
parents  removed  during  her  girlhood.  Her  father, 
Jack  Turner,  a  cabinet-maker,  died  here  some  years 
ao-o.    Ilcr  mother.  Mrs.  Martha  (Southworth)  Tur- 


ner, still  resides  here  and  is  now  about  three-score 
}-ears  of  age.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Keith  have  one  child, 
Cloyd  E.,  born  May  30,  1880. 

In  local  politics  Dr.  Keith  takes  an  active  part, 
supporting  the  Republican  party  with  his  voice  and 
vote.  He  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  municipal  govern- 
ment of  Chillicothe,  having  been  elected  Mayor 
April  15,  1889.  He  belongs  to  Sampson  Lodge,  No. 
188,  K.  of  P.,  and  to  (Jeorge  Washington  (Blue) 
Lodge,  No.  222,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Possessing  excellent 
natural  abilitiej,  a  fund  of  information  regarding 
general  topics,  and  professional  skill,  he  occupies  a 
foremost  place  among  the  members  of  the  com- 
munity and  his  good  wife  is  also  looked  upon  with 
highest  favor. 


^^ 


^p>)EORGE  B.  TEMPLE  is  extensively  identi- 
llj  ^— -,fied  with  the  mercantile  interests  of  C'hilli- 
^\c^(jj  cothe  as  one  of  its  leading  merchants.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Temple  &  Colwell, 
dealers  in  all  kinds  of  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes, 
with  a  large  and  well  fitted  up  store  on  Second 
Street,  where  they  are  doing  an  extensive  business. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Lexington,  Mo.,  Oc- 
tober 20,  1850.  His  father.  Dr.  Peter  Temple, 
was  a  native  of  King  William  Count}-,  \a..  He 
came  of  one  of  the  most  prominent  families  of  tne 
Old  Dominion,  who  had  settled  there  in  1649, hav- 
ing fled  from  their  early  English  home  during  the 
Revolution  in  England.  They  came  from  an  an- 
cient family  in  the  old  country  which  was  titled  and 
had  a  coat  of  arras  and  large  i)ossessions,  which 
were  confiscated  by  the  crown  when  they  left  Eng- 
land. The  coat  of  arms  is  still  in  the  family  and 
many  other  relics,  such  as  jeweled  shoe  and  knee 
buckles.  The  family  rose  to  prominence  in  \\v- 
ginia,  acquired  wealth  there,  were  large  slave  own- 
ers, and  were  well  known  throughout  the  State. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  ia  the  place 
of  his  nativity  and  being  of  a  wealth}^  family  he 
was  given  every  advantage  to  secure  a  good  edu- 
cation. When  deciding  upon  a  career  in  life  he 
chose  the  medical  profession,  and  became  a  student 
in  one  of  the  first  medical   sciiools  in    the  country, 


914 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia.  After 
leaving  college  he  came  to  Illinois  and  established 
himself  as  a  physician  in  Chicago,  and  while  there 
acquired  a  large  practice,  and,  being  possessed  of 
a  marked  talent  for  business,  accumulated  a  large 
propertj',  including  many  acres  of  Chicago  city 
property  and  also  land  in  suburban  towns,  and  in 
several  other  counties  of  the  State,  the  value  of 
which  amounted  to  several  million  dollars,  but  the 
titles  being  contested  caused  a  great  deal  of  litiga- 
tion. 

Dr.  Temple  moved  from  Chicago  to  Chillicothe, 
and  after  some  years  to  Missouri.  He  became  an 
active  and  leading  citizen  of  that  State  and  was 
variously  identified  with  its  interests,  and  at  his 
death  in  Lexington,  March  12,  1889,  one  of  its 
most  prominent  and  public  spirited-citizens  was 
removed.  His  had  been  a  busy  and  useful  career 
which  was  rounded  out  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  sev- 
ent^'-six  j'ears.  In  early  life  he  had  married  a  Vir- 
ginia lady,  Miss  Lucy  W.  Mathews,  who  was  a 
sister  of  P.  T.  Mathews,  of  whom  see  biography  for 
full  history  of  the  family,  which  was  a  prominent 
one  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Mrs.  Temple  was  care- 
fullj-  reared  and  educated  by  good  parents,  and  af- 
ter her  marriage  came  AVest  with  her  husband, 
her  cheerful  help  and  wise  counsels  being  import- 
ant factors  in  making  his  life  a  success.  She  died 
June  4,  1890.  aged  sixty-eight  years,  of  heart 
failure,  her  death  being  instantaneous. 

George  B.  Temple,  of  whom  we  write,  is  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  re- 
ceived the  basis  of  his  education  in  Missouri,  and 
while  he  was  still  in  school,  a  lad  of  fourteen 
years, Price  made  his  famous  raid  there, and  became 
to  Chillicothe  and  attended  school,  and  also  clerked 
in  his  uncle  Thomas  P.  Mathews'  store  until  he  be- 
came of  age.  He  then  went  to  Montana  and  in 
Deer  Lodge  County  was  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising for  five  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  returned  to  this  county,  and  since 
March,  1890,  has  been  carrying  on  business  as  be- 
fore stated,  with  Mr.  Col  well. 

Mr.  Temple  was  married  in  Chillicothe  City  to 
Miss  Laura  C.  Mollitt,  who  was  born  here  Febru- 
ary 24,  185L  She  is  a  member  of  a  well-known 
family  of  this  cit^-,  and  was  reared  to  womanhood, 


under  the  parental  roof  receiving  a  fine  education, 
and  prior  to  her  marriage  was  engaged  as  a  teacher. 
Siie  is  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary-  intelligence 
and  refinement,  and  the  home  of  herself  and  hus- 
band is  the  center  of  true  culture.  Their  pleasant 
home  circle  is  completed  by  the  presence  of  their 
one  child — Mary  L. 

]Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Temple  are  prominent  society 
people.  Mr.  Temple  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  his  means  and  influence  can  alwaj'S  be  de- 
pended upon  to  forward  the  interests  of  the  party. 
As  a  wide-awake,  far-sighted  business  man  he  is  a 
potent  factor  in  advancing  the  financial  prosperity 
of  Chillicothe.  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
desirable  citizens. 


AXIEL  KLINCK.  Among  the  many 
highly-improved  farms  of  Princeville 
Township  none  prove  more  attractive 
than  that  of  the  gentleman  above  named, 
whicli  comprises  about  eight}-  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 23,  and  which  is  represented  elsewhere  by  a 
view.  It  is  a  choice  piece  of  land  and  under  the 
efficient  control  of  its  present  owner  has  been  sup- 
plied with  a  cozj'  residence,  excellent  barns  and 
other  outbuildings.convenientlj-  divided  b}'  hedges 
and  adorned  with  fruit  and  shade  trees.  The 
Santa  Fe  Railroad  runs  along  the  north  end  of  the 
farm,  where  grain,  cattle  and  hogs  are  the  princi- 
pal staples. 

Mr.  Klinck  is  descended  in  the  second  genera- 
ation  from  Leonard  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Klinck, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  and  educated  in  Al- 
bany, N.  Y.,  and  in  early  life  engaged  in  school 
teaching.  While  still  a  young  man  he  went  to  Can- 
ada where  he  followed  farming.  He  participated 
in  the  Canadian  Rebellion  and  finally  came  to  Illi- 
nois, dying  in  Princeville.  His  wife  lived  to 
the  extreme  age  of  one  hundred  and  five  years. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  George  Klinck, 
who  was  born  in  Count}-  York,  Ontario,  Canada, 
adopted  farming  as  his  vocation  and  bought  land 
in  Markham  Township.  Count}'  York.  He  was 
killed   by   tlie  fall   of  a  tree  when  forty-four  years 


PORTRAIT  AND  BKH  :  UAPlllCAL  ALBUM. 


915 


old.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Wcslejaii  Methodist 
Church.  His  wife,  Mnr3'  Horner,  was  born  in 
Markham  Township,  being  a  daughter  of  Emanuel 
Horner,a  silcecssful  and  wealth}-  farmei-.  She  died 
in  Canada  in  1875.  The  parental  faniil}'  eoujprised 
twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 
John  and  George  are  now  farming  in  Canada; 
Abraham,  the  twin  brother  of  our  subject,  lives  in 
Simcoe  County,  CanafJa;  that  county  is  also  the 
homo  of  .lames. Mrs.  Martha  Ditson  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Baker,  (twins)  and  Elias;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Baker  lives 
in  Markham,  County  York;  Joseph  in  Manitoba; 
and  Thomas  in  County  York. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  on  the  family 
acres  in  Canada,  July  6,  1841.  lie  was  reared  on 
the  farm  with  good  school  advantages,  and  after 
the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  when  he 
was  twelve  years  old,  remained  with  his  mother  and 
brothers.  The  bo.ys  farmed  together,  continuing 
the  improvements  begun  b}'  their  father  and  gain- 
ing quite  an  estate  of  which  our  subject  sold  his 
share  when  twent3'-four  j-ears  old.  He  then,  in 
June,  1865,  came  to  Princeville,  111.,  where  for  a 
short  time  he  worked  for  others.  He  then  with  his 
twin  brother  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  35,  Princeville  Township,  where  the 
two  tilled  the  soil  for  some  years.  Our  sub- 
ject then  traded  for  the  land  wliich  ho  now  occu- 
pies. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Klinck  won  as  his  wife  was 
Miss  Jane  Martin, who  was  born  in  his  native  place, 
June  27,  1841.  and  with  whose  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart  he  was  thoroughly  acquainted.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Martin,  a  native  of  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  and  Susannah  (Sanderson)  Martin, 
who  was  born  in  Yorkshire.  Her  father  came  to  Can- 
ada when  a  young  man,  cleared  a  farm  and  became 
a  successful  owner  of  land  and  stock.  He  took 
part  in  the  Canadian  Rebellion  in  1837,  is  yet  liv- 
ing, and  is  now  seventy-nine  j-ears  old.  He  and 
his  wife  are  now  living  retired  in  Canada.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  which 
he  has  been  Class-Leader  and  served  in  various 
official  capacities.  He  is  a  son  of  William  Martin 
who  spent  his  entire  life  in  England,  his  occupa- 
tion being  that  of  a  farmer.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of    Mrs.  Klinck  was    William  Sanderson,  a 


Yorkshire  farmer  who  spent  the  latter  years  of  his 
life  in  Canada  where  he  carried  on  a  dairy  farm, 
n  is  wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Gallowa3\ 
,  Mrs.  Klinck  is  the  first-born  in  a  familj-  of  eleven 
children,  five  of  whom  died  in  infancy  .and  one  in 
maturit}'.  The  surviving  members  of  the  family 
are:  Mrs.  Ann  Fry,  of  Peoria,  111. ;  ^Villiam,  of  York, 
Canada;  Thomas,  of  Sault  St.  Marie.  Canada;  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Elizabeth  Granger  of  Simcoe,  Canada. 
The  deceased  are  Elizabeth,  Rachel,  Rebecca,  Sus- 
annah,Martha  E.  and  one  daughter  who  died  un- 
named. 

The  marriage  rites  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klinck  were 
celebrated  in  York  County,  Canada,  February  18, 
1869.  Thej'  have  six  bright,  intelligent  children 
living,  and  lost  a  daughter,  Edith  A.,  when  three 
weeks  old.  The  first-born,  Susannah  B.,an  attend- 
ant at  the  Princeville  High  School  and  Academy, 
has  devoted  her  talents  to  the  work  of  pedagogy. 
The  other  members  of  the  household  band  are: 
Thomas  W.  M., Alice  L.,  Mary  J..  Daniel  E.  and 
George  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klinck  belong  to  the 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Princeville  and 
the  husband  is  identified  with  the  Prohibition 
party.  He  has  served  as  Patbmaster.  He  is  a  man 
of  much  intelligence,  courteous  manners,  and  most 
upright  character,  while  his  wife  is  reputed  to  be  a 
notable  housewife  and  a  most  estimable  lady. 


si..*..^.rv 


\i/  AWRENCE  SHEIIAN.  Among  the  many 
I  (^  valuable  and  well-managed  farms  in  Ead- 
j— ^^1  nor  Township,  that  of  our  subject  is  especi- 
alljf  attractive  on  account  of  its  neat,  well-ordered 
appearance  and  the  number  of  beautiful  shade  and 
fruit  trees  that  adorn  the  grounds.  Mr.  Shehan 
has  been  a  resident  here  many  j-ears,  and  in  the 
meantime  has  Improved  this  farm  and  bj'  wise  and 
judicious  conduct  of  his  affairs  has  acquired  an 
ample  competence. 

County  Wexford,  Ireland,  was  the  native  place 
of  our  subject,  and  he  was  there  born  in  the  year 
1828.  His  parents  were  Abraham  and  Jlargavet 
(Sunderland)  Shehan,   natives  and  life-long  resi- 


916 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


dents  of  the  same  count}'  as  himself.  The  boyhood 
and  youth  of  our  subject  were  passed  in  the  land 
of  his  l)ii-th.  In  1856,  in  the  opening  years  of  man- 
hood, stalwart  and  self-reliant,  ambitious  to  better 
his  fortunes,  he  sought  this  promised  land,  and 
after  an  ocean  voj'age  of  several  weeks  disembarked 
at  New  York  and  came  from  there  directly  to 
this  county  and  township.  He  had  not  sufficient 
means  to  begin  life  as  a  farmer  on  liis  own  ac- 
count, and  for  seven  3'ears  he  worked  by  the  month 
in  Radnor  and  Medina  Townsliips.  He  prudently 
saved  his  earnings  and  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  had  money  enough  to  buy  eighty  acres  of 
choice  laud  on  section  14,  still  included  in  his 
present  farm,  which  he  has  made  one  of  the  most 
desirable  farms  and  pleasantest  places  of  resi- 
dence in  all  Radnor  Township.  He  now  owns 
one  hundred  and  fort3'-five  acres  of  land,  which  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  its  fertile  soil 
yielding  large  crops  in  repa\n)ent  for  the  time  and 
care  expended  upon  it.  He  has  erected  a  neat  and 
substantial  class  of  buildings,  and  everything  about 
the  place  betokens  tlirift  and  excellent  manage- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  owner. 

February  1.  1S65,  tiie  marriage  of  our  subject 
was  solemnized  in  Peoria,  and  on  that  date  he  had 
the  good  fortune  to  secure  as  his  wife  and  help- 
male  Miss  Emily  Gates.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Mary  (Pratt)  Gates.  The  father 
died  in  Radnor  Township,  and  the  mother  is  still 
living  in  this  township.  They  were  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Peoria  County,  coming  here 
from  their  New  England  home  in  Massachusetts 
in  1837.  They  first  settled  in  Radnor  Township, 
and  from  there  went  to  Hallock  Township,  and 
thence  to  Peoria,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
boot  and  shoe  business  until  they  made  their  final 
home  in  Radnor  Township.  The}-  had  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Sliehan  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth,  and  she  was  born  in  Rome,  this 
county,  August  3,  1839.  She  is  a  woman  of 
marked  intelligence,  possessing  a  strong  character 
and  the  fine  womanly  attributes  that  make  her 
a  valued  counselor  and  a  true  friend.  She  takes 
a  lively  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  township, 
where  she  has  so  long  made  her  home,  and  is 
especiall}'  interested  in  educational  matters,  earn- 


estly desiring  that  her  children  sliall  have  the  bene- 
fit of  a  liberal  education. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shehan  have  had  nine  children,  as 
follows:  John  H.;  Marj' L.,  wife  of  Grant  Rogers; 
Myra  E.,  Maggie  A.,  Bessie  A.,  Charles  L.,  Fan- 
nie E.,  Stephen  H.'  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Sliehan  has  borne  an  honorable  part  in  the 
management  of  public  affairs  and  has  served  with 
ability  as  Highway  Commissioner  and  School  Di- 
rector. In  politics  he  takes  liis  stand  amnng  the 
Democrats.  He  is  well  endowed  v/ith  firmness, 
activity,  shrewdness  and  discernment,  and  his  place 
in  this  community  is  among  our  most  solid  and  re- 
liable citizens. 


JOHN  C.  WOELFLE  occupies  a  prominent 
place  in  the  business  circles  of  Peoria  as  the 
leading  jeweler  in  the  city.  He  has  here  one 
of  the  finest  establishments  of  the  kind  in 
the  State  which  is  elegantlj'  fitted  up,  and  carries 
from  $25,000  to  §30,000  worth  of  stock.  A  native 
of  Baden,  Germany,  our  subject  was  born  January 
16,  1843,  a  son  of  John  Jacob  and  Agnes  Woelflc. 
John  passed  the  earl}'  j-ears  of  his  life  in  the  Fa- 
therland, and  acquired  a  substantial  education  in 
its  schools.  He  was  ambitious  to  see  something 
more  of  the  world,  and  to  try  life  among  other 
scenes,  and  he  left  his  old  home  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1863.  In  1871,  he  established  himself  in 
business  here  as  a  jeweler,  and  has  built  up  a  fine 
trade,  having  secured  the  patronage  of  Peoria's 
wealthiest  citizens.  He  has  a  beautiful  assortment 
of  jewels,  and  the  best  silverware  that  is  manufac- 
tured, and  in  his  stock  there  is  as  great  a  variety  as 
can  be  found  in  the  leading  stores  of  larger  cities. 
Mr.  Woelfle  was  married  to  Emelia,  daughter  of 
August  Hessler,  an  old  settler  of  Peoria,  November 
1,  1888.  They  have  here  a  lovely  home,  tastefully 
furnished  and  complete  with  all  the  modern  com- 
forts and  conveniences,  and  its  bountiful  hospital- 
ity is  often  extended  to  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

Mr.  Woelfle  is  a  man  of  more  tiian  ordinary  finan- 
cial ability,  and  in  his  business  and  social  relations 
his  energetic  character  and   practical  sagacity  ren- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


917 


der  him  a  very  useful  citizen.  He  is  materially 
(-•oiitributiiii;  to  the  wealth  of  the  city  b}'  the  able 
niannev  in  wiiich  lie  is  coniliicting  liis  extensive 
business,  and  in  pnblie  spirit  and  tlie  loyal  inter- 
est he  nianifcsls  in  the  welfare  of  liis  adopted  home 
he  is  in  no  wliit  behind  his  neitchbors. 


(^^  QUIRE  A.  STOOKEY,  a  sturdy  and   sub- 
^^^^    stantial  farmer  of  Trivoli   Townshi[),   has 
(iV/_U)  attained  a  very   prominent  position  among 
the  members  of  iiis  class  in   this    vieinity. 
His  fine  farm  consists  of  one  hundred  acres  on  see- 
tiini  27,  all  tillable  except  twenty  acres,  and    hav- 
ing a  living  spring  in  every  field.    It  is  [larticularly 
well  adapted  for  stock-raising  and  for  the   cultiva- 
tion of  hay  and  grass,  to  which  the  good  judgment 
of  the  owner  has  largely  devoted  it.     The  most  of 
the  improvements  npon  the  [ilace   have  been  made 
by  him;  they  include  orchards,  groves,  tile  drains, 
good  fences,  and  a  full  line  of  farm  buildings. 

The  ancestry  of  JMr.  Stookey  is  detailed  in  the 
sketch  of  his  brother,  the  lion.  D.  B.  Stookey, 
which  occupies  an  appropriate  place  in  this  volume. 
The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  on  the  farm  he 
now  occupies,  February  24,  185.),  and  here  he  was 
reared,  liaving  the  advantage  of  attendance  at  good 
common  schools  until  about  seventeen  years  old. 
From  the  age  of  nine  years  he  had  been  bearing 
such  a  share  as  his  strength  would  permit  in  the 
labors  of  the  estate,  and  when  eighteen  years  old, 
he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  which  at  that 
time  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres. 
It  was  devoted  to  general  farming,  our  subject  re- 
maining with  his  father,  working  for  him  and  tak- 
ing charge  of  everything  until  the  death  of  his 
parent.  He  then  rented  the  farm  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  bought  one  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  it.  Of  this  he  subsequeutl}'  sold  forty  acres  to 
his  brother-in-law,  Mark  Graham. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Stookey  has  given  much 
of  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  stock,  though 
crops  are  not  neglecte<1.  The  machinery  used  upon 
the  estate  is  of  the  latest  and  most  approveil  mod- 
els, and  every  means  is  taken  to  insure  large  crops 


of  flne  (juality.  The  cattle  raised  are  a  good  grade 
of  Short-horns,  and  the  swine  are  full-blooded  Po- 
land-Chinas. Two  teams  of  draft  horses  are  used 
in  the  work  of  the  estate. 

For  so  young  a  man,  Mv.  Stooke}'  has  certainly 
no  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with  his  financial  suc- 
cess or  the  standing  which  he  has  secured  in  the 
community.  The  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens 
has  been  shown  b3-  his  election  to  the  oflice  of  C!ol- 
lector  in  1885  and  in  1889.  He  has  also  advanced 
their  interests  as  School  Trustee  one  term.  He  is 
a  slur/^ly  Democrat,  whose  ability  has  been  made 
use  of  by  sending  him  as  a  delegate  to  county  con- 
ventions. Honorable  in  private  life,  peaceable  and 
law-abiding  as  a  citizen,  and  displaying  much  en- 
ergy in  whatsoever  he  undertakes,  Mr.  Stookey  is 
looked  upon  with  respect  by  all  who  know  bim. 

On  September  16,  1880,  in  Logan  Township, 
Mr.  Stookey  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nel- 
lie S.  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  Trivoli  Township, 
here  received  her  education,  and  surrounded  by 
good  home  influences,  grew  to  womanhood.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Jolm  and  Jane  Wilson,  early  sel- 
lers, and  occupants  of  a  farm  in  this  township. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Brunswick,  possesses  a  consistent  Christian  char- 
acter, and  is  an  efficient  helpmate  and  companion. 
The  union  between  j\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Stookey  has  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  four  children — Edith  L.,  Nel- 
son A.,  Earl  L.  and  an  infant  unnamed.  lilarl  L. 
is  the  only  one  now  living,  the  others  having  died 
in  early  infancy. 


ETEU  HASSELBACHER,  who  is  now 
comfortablj-  well  off,  and  is  the  projirie- 
tor  of  a  substantial,  well-cultivated  farm, 
pleasantly'  located  on  section  7.  Roselield 
Township,  landed  in  this  country  more  than  three 
decades  ago,  with  just  Si  in  his  pocket,  and  it  is 
only  by  courage,  persistent  and  faithful  labor  that 
he  has  attained  his  present  position. 

November  3,  1828,  was  the  date  of  the  birth  of 
our  subject  in  Herzogaurach,  Bavaria,  Germany. 
His  parents  were  Leonard  and  Magdaline  (Brittner) 


918 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Hasselbaclier,  who  were  also  natives  of  llie  same 
place  as  their  son.  His  father  was  a  stonemason 
bj'  occupation,  and  he  and  Lis  wife  were  both  do- 
voted  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They 
had  four  children,  namely :  John  Pet-^r,  Eva,  now 
Mrs.  Lawrence  Freehalld;  Catherine,  wife  of  John 
Thaeler;  and  John  Micliael. 

Our  subject  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come 
to  the  United  States,  and  arrived  here  in  the  month 
of  November.  1857,  coming  directly  to  this  county. 
He  lived  one  j-ear  with  a  brother-in-law,  and  in 
1858  began  his  career  as  an  independent  farmer, 
purchasing  in  that  year  forty  acres  of  timber  land 
on  section  7.  This  he  cleared,  placed  under  excel- 
lent cultivation,  and  greati}'  improved,  and  has 
since  purchased  forty  acres,  and  now  has  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  of  as  fertile  and  productive  land  as 
can  be  found  in  this  neighborhood. 

In  his  struggles  in  the  pioneer  life  that  he  led 
here  the  first  few  years  after  he  came  to  this  county, 
Mr.  Hasselbacher  early  won  the  assistance  of  a  wife 
who  is  active  and  capable,  and  did  her  full  share  in 
bringing  about  their  present  comfortable  circum- 
stances. Their  marriage  was  solemnized  in  the 
month  of  September,  18.57.  and  to  them  have  come 
four  children:  Ludwick;  Catherine  D.,  wife  of 
William  Awl;  Mar3';  and  Simon  P.,  a  resident  of 
Yates  City. 

Mrs.  Hasselbacher's  maiden  name  was  Eva  M. 
Gundackcr,  and  she  was  born  in  Linden,  Bavaria. 
Gerni.an\'.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Casper  and  Eva 
Magdaline  (Steinmetz)  Gundacker.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children  as  follows:  Barbara,  who 
married  and  died,  leaving  a  son  and  daughter;  Mar- 
garet married  and  died,  leaving  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter; Kundegunda,  who  died  in  Germany,  leaving  one 
daughter  who  lives  in  New  York  City;  Dorothea, 
who  died  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the  wife  of 
I'red  Brothers,  and  was  the  mother  of  three  daugh- 
ters: Elizabeth,  now  airs.  Ilamarbecher;  John  S., 
a  resident  of  Germany;  and  Eva  M. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  very  w^orthy  people, 
possessing  in  a  large  degree  those  pleasant  attri- 
butes tliat  make  them  desirable  friends  and  neigh- 
bors. Their  daily  lives  are  guided  by  true  Chris- 
tian principles,  and  in  them  the  Methodist  Epi.scopal 
Church  has  two  of  its  most  efJicient  working  mem- 


bers. Our  subject  is  a  sturdj-  Ilepubliean  in  poli- 
tics, and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Lincoln.  He  believes 
thoroughly  in  a  sound  education,  and  his  children 
have  received  excellent  school  advautagos. 


#-#- 


-^r— 


I^QljUSTlN  H.  GORDON,  deceased,  was  form- 
erly a  well-known  and  influential  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  of  Kickapoo  Township. 
He  was  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  this 
county,  and  himself  did  much  pioneer  work  in  im- 
proving one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  township 
where  he  located.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
April  22,  1812,  a  son  of  Samuel  ami  Nancy  (Her- 
ring) Gordon.  His  parents  came  to  this  county 
in  1840,  and  were  among  the  earl}'  settlers  of  Rad- 
nor Township,  where  the}-  died.  .Austin  was  one 
of  the  older  members  of  the  parental  family.  He 
was  in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous  manhood  when  he 
accompanied  his  i)areuts  to  this  count}',  and  here  it 
was  his  good  fortune  to  meet  Miss  Harriet  Bouton, 
whom  he  persuaded  to  share  his  life  and  fortunes, 
and  their  marriage  was  duly  solemnized  in  Jubilee 
Township,  .Alarch  20,  1851. 

Mrs.  Gordon  was  born  in  Wayne  Township, 
Knox  County,  Ohi(j,  February  17,  1825,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Iliel  and  Maria  (Peet)  Bouton.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  New  Vork,  and  her  motiier  of 
Connecticut,  and  after  their  marriage  they  first 
settled  in  the  former  Slate.  They  subsequently 
became  pioneers  of  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  later 
of  Peoria  County,  this  ,St:Tte,  whither  they  had 
come  in  1837.  They  were  among  tlie  original  set- 
tlers of  Jubilee  Township,  where  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  were  passed.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  seven  sons  and  four  daughters, 
Mrs.  Gordon  being  their  sixth  child  in  order  of 
birth.  She  was  twelve  years  old  when  she  came  to 
this  county  with  her  parents,  and  was  reared  to  a 
useful  womanhood  in  Jubilee  Township. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gordon  began 
their  wedded  life  in  Radnor  Township,  and  lived 
there  until  1858,  when  they  settled  on  section  2, 
Kickapoo  Township.  Here  in  the  course  of  a  busv 
life  he  developed   a  valuable  farm,  which  is  amply 


/^-^^.^     Ua^u 


■^^^y?u^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUJI. 


921 


supplied  with  comfortable  and  well  appointed 
buildings,  and  its  three  hundred  and  seventy  acres 
of  land  of  exceeding  fertility  is  under  admirable 
tillage.  Here  in  this  pleasant  home  he  passed 
from  the  scene  of  his  usefulness  January  17,  1876, 
leaying  an  honoralile  record  behind  him  of  good 
citizenship,  of  neighborly  kindness,  and  of  an  up- 
right private  life,  and  the  entire  community 
mourned  with  his  bereaved  family,  feeling  that  his 
death  was  a  blow  to  the  interests  of  the  township. 
Mr.  Gordon  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  was  always 
prominent  in  promoting  the  advancement  of  Kick- 
apoo  in  various  wa^-s. 

Since  the  demise  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Gordon, 
who  is  a  woman  of  exceptional  ciiaracter,  and  of 
great  energy  and  capability,  is  managing  the  farm 
vcrj'  ably,  and  is  keeping  it  up  to  the  same  high 
standaril  that  it  liad  attained  during  her  husband's 
lifetime. 

Mrs.  Gordon  is  the  mother  of  the  following 
children:  Jlary,  who  died  in  infanc}';  Ann  M.,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Christian  Wiles;  Samuel,  who  mar- 
ried Hattie  B.  Vanarsdale;  Jennie,  a  graduate  of 
the  Stale  Normal  School  and  a  school  teacher; 
Charles;  Jessie, who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  K.  Slough ; 
Ileiuy  C,  who  married  Mary  A.  Frye;  Mattie 
is  the  widow  of  Cliarles  Atwood,  who  died  in 
Dakota;  and    Austin. 


\.//\\  R'HAEL  KEJ.SU.  Prol.ably  no  better 
business  man  can  be  found  in  Richwood 
Township  than  the  gentleman  above  named 
who  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick,  his  yard  having  a  capacity  of  about  ten  thou- 
sand per  day.  The  land  upon  which  he  lives  has 
been  placed  under  good  improvement  and  is  sui)- 
plied  with  a  complete  line  of  edifices  so  well  liuiit 
and  designed  as  to  be  noticeable  to  the  [lasser  by. 
Every  detail  of  the  business  to  which  Mr.  Kelsh  de- 
votes himself  is  carefully  looked  after,  his  dealings 
are  strictly  honorable,  and  in  his  social  relations  no 
more  genial,  pleasant  gentleman  can  be  met  with 
than  he.     Notwithstanding    his   busv  life  he  finds 


time  to  fulfill  the  duties  which  are  reposed  in  him 
by  his  fellow-men  when  occasion  demands,  having 
acted  as  Highway  Commissioner  and  being  now 
Chairman  of  the  Street  Committee  of  North  Peoria. 
He  is  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 

l\Ir.  Kelsh  is  the  second  of  four  children  born  to 
Nicholas  and  Lena  (Bonibach)  Kelsii,  and  opened 
his  eyes  to  tiie  light  in  Decatur  County,  Ind.,  May 
8,  1847.  He  lived  in  tiie  Hoosier  State  until  he 
was  about  eight  years  old  when  he  came  to  this 
count}'  with  his  father,  remaining  with  him  near 
Brim  Held  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old.  In  the 
meantime  the  lad  had  acquired  a  good  practical 
education  and  was  already-  manifesting  some  of  the 
qualities  which  have  led  to  his  success.  Going  to 
the  city  of  Peoria  he  found  employment  in  driv- 
ing a  team  for  a  while,  afterward  becoming  porter 
in  the  old  Fulton  House.  He  next  found  employ- 
ment at  brick-making,  continuing  to  work  in  the 
yards  three  years,  after  which  he  rented  a  farm  for 
an  equal  period,  then  returned  to  his  former  work 
of  brick-making.  In  the  spring  of  1876,  he  began 
tiie  manufacture  of  brick  in  Richwood  Township 
on  his  own  account,  and  has  since  given  his  atten- 
tion to  the  work  with  satisfactory  results. 

In  Brimfleld,  January  23,  1870,  the  interesting 
ceremony  took  place  which  transformed  Miss  Anna 
Lawless  into  Mrs.  Michael  Kelsh.  The  bride,  who 
was  the  third  in  a  family  of  twelve  children,  was 
born  in  Rosefield  Township,  Jlay  13,  1848.  She  is 
an  intelligent  woman  possessing  many  virtues  of 
mind  and  heart  and  devoted  to  her  home  and  fam- 
ily. Her  parents,  Thomas  and  Slargaret  (0'l>riei:i) 
Lawless,  were  born  in  the  Emerald  Isle,  emigrated 
to  America  at  an  early  da}',  and  her  father  died  in 
Rosefield  Township  Jul}-  29,  1876.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kelsh  are  the  happy  parents  of  five  children: 
Thomas  J.,  Lena,  Mary  R.,  Joseph  II.  and  Jessie 
M. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Germany 
near  the  Rhine  River  and  came  to  America  about 
the  year  1840.  He  landed  at  New  Orleans,  thence 
going  to  Indiana  where  he  was  employed  on  the  old 
farm  then  owned  by  Gen.  William  II.  Harrison. 
After  his  marriage  he  settled  in  Peoria,  working  at 
different  occupations  some  four  years  and  then  re- 


1)22 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


turned  to  the  Hoosier  State.  After  sojourning  there 
nine  years  he  came  again  to  Peoria,  remaining  in 
that  citj-  until  about  1883,  w)ien  he  removed  to 
AVichita,  Kan.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in 
the  Hoosier  State.  She,  like  her  husband,  was  a 
native  of  the  Fatherland.  We  invite  the  reader's 
attention  to  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Kelsh,  presented  in 
connection  with  this  sketch. 


^AMES  HINDLK.  The  Hindle  homestead, 
now  operated  by  our  subject,  consists  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sections  17  and 
^^//  18,  Jubilee  Township.  It  is  watered  by 
Hindle's  Creek  and  well  adapted  for  stock-raising, 
as  well  as  for  the  cultivation  of  hay  and  grains. 
To  these  various  purposes  it  is  devoted,  the  stock 
being  of  good  breeds,  the  swiue  full-blooded  Po- 
land-China.  Mr.  Hindle  ships  a  cai--load  of  cattle 
and  hogs  each  per  year,  and  about  a  dozen  head  of 
horses  are  raised  by  him  each  season.  There  is  a 
good  coal  bank  on  the  estate  which  he  rents.  The 
estate  is  well  fenced  and  supplied  with  a  comforta- 
ble and  substantial  set  of  buildings,  including  a 
pleasant  dwelling  and  the  various  structures  need- 
ful for  sheltering  and  feeding  the  stock  and  hous- 
ing the  vegetable  products  of  the  place. 

Our  subject  is  a  grandson  of  one  Henry  Hindle, 
a  cattle  speculator  in  England,  who  drove  his  herds 
from  the  northern  to  the  southern  extremit}-  of  his 
native  land  in  marketing  them.  He  was  a  success- 
ful drover  but  never  got  much  ahead  in  life,  on 
account  of  his  love  for  various  kinds  of  what  is 
commonly  called  sport.  His  son  John,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  therefore  obliged  to  shift  for 
himself  from  an  earl}'  age.  He  was  born  in  Lan- 
cashire, near  Manchester,  in  1818,  and  when  nine 
years  old  began  working  out  on  a  farm.  For  a  time 
he  was  employed  as  a  dairyman,  also  laboring  for  a 
man  who  raised  large  numbers  of  cattle  and  sheep. 
"When  about  twenty  years  old  he  came  to  America, 
locating  in  Peoria  Count}-,  111.,  where  he  finallj'  be- 
came prominent  in  agriculture,  mining  and  religious 
work.  He  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  citi- 
zens in  the  county,  thoroughly  reliable  iu  business 


transactions,  in  his  neighborly  associations,  and  in 
all  that  goes  to  make  up  true  manhood. 

After  coming  hither  John  Hindle  worked  in  the 
lime  kiln  of  a  ilr.  Pennington  several  j'ears,  then 
going  to  the  Riggs  place,  in  Jubilee  Township,  he 
spent  a  few  j-ears  in  coal  mining  for  the  owner. 
Having  by  this  time  accumulated  some  little  means 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  on  section  17,  and  settling  thereon  began 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  was  obliged  to  clear 
and  grub  out  a  part  of  the  land  and  to  break  the 
sod,  which  had  never  yet  been  utilized  for  farm 
products.  He  added  to  his  land  until  he  possessed 
an  estate  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  and  had 
it  in  excellent  condition. 

Mr.  Hindle  also  engaged  in  lime  burning  and 
coalmining,  being  quite  successful  at  those  occupa- 
tions. He  opened  different  mines  and  continued 
the  lime  business  until  the  Alton  mine  was  opened. 
He  was  one  of  those  enterprising  men  who  were 
read}'  to  turn  their  hands  to  an\-  honorable  em- 
ployment, and  beside  the  pursuits  of  which  we  have 
spoken,  he  took  contracts  for  building  bridges,  elc. 
Although  103-al  to  the  flag  of  the  Union  and  will- 
ing to  enter  the  army  if  drafted,  Mr.  Hi]ulle  felt 
that  his  dutj-  to  his  small  familj-  would  otherwise 
prevent  his  going  to  the  front.  It  did  not,  however, 
prevent  his  exerting  his  influence  and  giving  of  his 
means  toward  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  He 
was  on  one  occasion  called  out  bj-  the  draft,  re- 
sponded at  once,  but  as  the  call  had  been  made  for 
a  greater  nuinber  than  were  needed,  his  name  was 
thrown  out. 

For  fifteen  3'ears  Mr.  Hindle  served  as  Commis- 
sioner of  Highwaj's,  and  he  also  held  school  offices 
more  or  less.  During  the  period  of  the  war  he  was 
thrown  from  a  mower  by  the  horses  jumping  across 
a  ditch,  receiving  an  injur}-  to  his  side  from  which 
he  never  fully  recovered  and  which  left  him  some- 
what crippled.  He  closed  his  eyes  in  death  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1880,  dying  of  starvation  on  account  of 
the  closing  of  the  passage  leading  into  the  stomach. 
He  voted  the  Republican  ticket,  belonged  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  held  the 
offices  of  Class-Leader  and  Steward,  and  was  active 
in  every  movement  made  to  advance  the  cause  of 
Christianity.     For  years  he  was  Superintendent  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


923 


the  Suiulay-scliool  held  in  the  schoolliouse  near  his 
home. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living,  her 
home  being  in  tlie  village  of  P>riniflul(l,  and  her  .age 
more  than  three-score.  She  was  born  near  Iley- 
wood,  Lancashire,  England,  in  1823,  and  when 
about  nineteen  years  old  came  to  Central  Illinois 
with  her  parents.  She  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Susannah  Ilowarth,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Richard 
Howarth,  of  whom  a  further  notice  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Her  marriage  was  cele- 
brated in  Kickapoo  Township.  She  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church,  re- 
spected for  her  virtues  and  loved  for  her  kindly, 
nature.  The  Howarths  were  all  coal  miners  in 
England. 

The  family  circle,  of  which  our  subject  is  the 
fifth  member,  includes  also  Mrs.  Martha  Bower,  of 
Rosefield;  Mrs.  Alice  Howarth,  of  Livingston 
County ;  Mary  A.,  who  lives  with  her  mother  in 
Brimfield;  David,  of  Edwards  Station,  this  county; 
Richard,  a  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker  in  Brim- 
field;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  ll.ayes,  of  Jubilee  Township; 
Mrs.  Arvesta  J.  Rook,  of  Edwards  Station,  and  May 
S..  with  her  mother. 

James  Hindle,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
sketch,  was  born  on  the  place  he  now  occupies, 
February  16,  1855.  Ilis  school  privileges  were 
fair,  comprising  an  attendance  at  the  district 
school  during  the  winters  of  his  early  years.  With 
ready  intelligence  he  has  added  to  the  foundation 
thus  acquired  a  creditable  degree  of  knowledge  on 
general  topics  and  current  events.  He  early  began 
to  assist  in  the  summer  work  on  the  farm,  ere  long 
learned  to  burn  lime  and  made  himself  quite  useful 
in  hauling  coal.  As  he  grew  toward  manhood  he 
likewise  began  to  work  in  the  mines  in  the  winter 
season.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty- 
three  j'ears  old,  when  he  rented  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  18,  of  his  father,  operating 
it  until  his  marriage. 

That  important  event  occurred  in  Brimfield 
Township,  March  1,  1882,  the  bride  being  Miss 
Elizabeth  J.  Church.  That  j'oung  lady  was  born 
in  Brimfield  Township,  and  prior  to  her  marriage 
was  successfully  engaged  as  a  school  teacher,  a  po- 
sition for  which  her  mental  acquirements,  tact  and 


good  judgment  well  qualified  her.  The  j-ouno^ 
couple  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Kickapoo  Township 
belonging  to  R.  Howarth,  where  the  husband  oper- 
ated over  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  devoting  his 
attention  to  the  cultivation  of  grain  and  haj'  and 
to  an  extensive  dairy  business. 

In  1887  Mr.  Ilindlc's  mother  wished  him  to  take 
charge  of  the  homestead,  from  the  management  of 
which  she  desired  to  retire,  and  he  therefore  re- 
turned with  his  famil3-  to  his  early  home.  He  has 
gained  a  prominent  place  among  the  young  farmers 
of  the  township,  being  straightforward  in  his  man- 
ners and  dealings,  possessing  an  unusual  amount  of 
energy,  and  being  ambitious  to  excel  in  his  occu- 
pation as  well  as  to  bear  his  part  in  those  thino-s 
which  pertain  to  to  the  public  welfare. 

Following  the  example  set  before  him  by  his 
worthy  father,  Mr.  Hindle  votes  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  attends  and  supports  the  jNlethodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  is  now  serving  acceptably 
as  Township  School  Trustee,  having  previously 
been  Constable  a  year  or  two.  He  and  his  wife 
find  their  home  ple.asures  enhanced  b}-  the  presence 
at  their  fireside  of  three  interesting  children — 
Mary.  Richard  II.  and  Olive  I.  Their  first-born, 
J.  Fred,  has  been  removed  from  them  by  death. 


mEORGE  II.  McILVAINE,  Vice-President 
of  the  Peoria  National  Bank,  and  President 
of  the  Clearing  House  and  Banker's  Asso- 
ciation, is  also  President  of  the  Peoria  Mercantile 
Library  Association,  which  he  assisted  in  establish- 
ing, and  contributed  liberally  toward  the  erection 
of  the  building.  He  is  a  man  well  educated,  well 
informed,  liberal  and  progressive  in  his  ideas,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
thirty  years,  serving  as  I'resident  and  Treasurer, 
and  assisting  in  the  erection  of  every  school-house 
in  the  city. 

Mr.  Mcllvabie  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Au- 
gust 10,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  W.  B.  and 
Elizabeth  (Breading)  Mcllvaine,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  mother  died  in  Pittsburg,  in  1851, the 
father  is  living  in  Peoria.    He  grew  to  mature  years 


924 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  his  uative  city,  and  completed  his  education  in 
Washington  College,  Pa.,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1853,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  The  de- 
gree of  A.  M.  was  conferred  recently.  After  leav- 
ing college,  Mr.  Mcllvaine,  in  1854,  started  for  the 
West,  settling  in  Peoria,  and  engaging  in  the  hard- 
ware and  iron  business,  purchasing  the  interest  of 
H.  Lightner  in  the  firm  of  Walker  &  Lightner. 
The  firm  title  was  then  changed  to  Walker  <fe  Mc- 
llvaine, and  they  conducted  an  extensive  wholesale 
and  retail  business  until  1872.  Mr.' Mcllvaine  then 
disposed  of  his  interests  in  the  concern,  and  be- 
came connected  with  the  Second  National  Bank,  of 
which  he  was  the  Manager,  Vice-President  and 
Cashier  until  the  ex|)iration  of  its'  charter  in  1883. 
He  engineered  the  business  during  the  panic  of 
1872-73,  maintaining  it  upon  a  substantial  basis, 
and  paid  in  liquidation  of  §175^  for  §100  of  stock. 
In  1883  it  was  succeeded  bj^  the  Peoria  National 
Bank,  and  Mr.  Mcllvaine  continued  as  Cashier  un- 
til November  1,  1888.  He  then  resigned  the  ac- 
tive management  of  the  bank,  and  has  since  simply 
been  the  Vice-President  of  the  Association,  which 
during  a  perioil  of  five  years  has  accumulated 
nearly  §40,000  surplus. 

Mr.  Mcllvaine  has  been  President  of  the  Clear- 
ing House  since  its  organization.  Indeed  there  are 
few  public  enterprises  where  his  sound  judgment 
and  substantial  aid  have  not  been  solicited  and 
given.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Peoria 
Library  Association,  and  assisted  in  the  erection 
of  its  present  fine  and  commodious  building  which 
stands  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Main  Streets. 
Although  the  library  has  been  turned  over  to  the 
city,  the  association  still  owns  the  building  and 
ground.  He  has  been  for  manj'  years  a  Director 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  .ind  for  a  time  was 
quite  extensively  engaged  in  real-estate  transac- 
tions, putting  up  a  three-story  building  erected  on 
Adams  Street,  and  which  is  now  occupied  by  the 
well-known  firm  of  Pardee,  Mills  &  Co.  This  was 
the  first  really'  good  building  put  up  in  that  locality. 
Although  keeping  himself  posted  upon  the  polit- 
ical movements  of  the  day,  Mr.  Mcllvaine  has  never 
sought  oflSce,  believing  he  could  make  himself 
more  useful  elsewhere.  During  the  progress  of 
the  Civil  War  he  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 


and  Sanitary  Commission  instituted  by  the  Young 
Mens'  Christian  Association  of  Peoria,  and  con- 
tributed freely  of  his  time  and  means  thereto.  He 
has  for  manj'  j'ears  been  prominently  connected 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  Sunday-school, 
officiating  as  Superintendent  in  the  latter,  and  be- 
ing particularly  interested  in  the  Fourth  AVard  Mis- 
sion, which  grew  into  Grace  Church,  and  of  which 
he  was  Superintendent.  He  has  had  experience  as 
Sundaj'-school  Superintendent  for  twenty-two  j'ears 
continuoush',  maintaining  the  same  warm  interest 
in  the  training  of  the  j'oung,  that  he  manifested  in 
his  early  manhood.  It  has  been  the  habit  of  Mr. 
Mcllvaine,  to  carry  through  whatever  he  under- 
takes, and  this  rule  has  been  followed  in  connection 
with  his  religious  work  as  perseveringlj-  as  in  busi- 
ness channels.  It  is  said  he  never  made  a  failure. 
In  his  sanitary  commission  work  he  was  greatly 
aided  and  encouraged  by  I).  L.  Moody,  the  well- 
known  Evangelist. 

The  marriage  of  George  H.  Mcllvaine  and  Miss 
Priscilla  J.  McClure,  a  resident  of  Peoria,  was  cele- 
brated at  the  bride's  home  in  this  cit3\  on  the  18lh 
of  August,  1857.  Mrs.  Mcllvaine  was  born  in 
Franklin  County,  Pa.,  in  1834,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Josiah  E.  and  Jane  McClure.  The  former  was 
among  the  earlj'  settlers  of  Peoria  County,  locating 
in  the  city,  where  Mr.  McClure  employed  himself 
at  pork  packing.  The  well-known  Col.  J.  D.  Mc- 
Clure is  a  brother  of  Mrs.  INIcIlvaine.  Of  tliis  union 
there  have  been  born  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  William  B.,  an  attorney  in  Chi- 
cago; Elizabeth  B.,  the  wife  of  Albert  T.  Johnson, 
of  the  Peoria  National  Bank;  Emma,  Priscilla,  and 
George  remain  with  their  parents. 

The  Mcllvaine  family  residence  is  a  beautiful 
and  commodious  structure,  occupying  No.  Ill 
North  Madison  Avenue,  and  with  its  surroundings 
forms  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  in  the  city. 
The  first  part  of  the  residence  was  being  built  when 
Mr.  Mcllvaine  married,  and  the  newly  wedded  pair 
thus  took  up  their  abode  in  their  own  home.  It 
h.as  since  been  enlarged  and  improved,  and  in  every 
way  indicates  the  exercise  of  cultured  tastes  and 
ample  means.  The  grounds  were  originally  occu- 
pied by  an  apple  orchard,  and  one  of  the  veteran 
trees  is  still  standing  on   the  front  lawn,  wiiere  it 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


<)■>:, 


has  been  stationed  for  a  period  of  over  tliirtj'_yeai-s. 
It  still  bears  its  blossoms  everj'  season,  and  is  cher- 
ished with  particular  care,  as  one  of  the  old  relics 
which  it  is  hoped  will  withstand  the  storm  of  many 
years  to  come.  Mr.  Mcllvaine  is  now  retired  from 
active  business,  suffering  from  nervous  prostration 
brought  on  by  mental  labor  and  overwork. 


ARRISON  HARLAN.  All  acquainted  with 
the  agricultural  affairs  of  Radnor  Township, 
or  with  its  political  workings,  will  immedi- 
ately recognize  this  name  as  that  of  a  man 
prominentlj'  identified  with  both.  Mr.  Harlan  is 
now  serving  his  second  term  as  Township  Super- 
visor, having  been  first  elected  to  the  office  in  the 
spring  of  1889  and  re-elected  in  1890.  He  has 
held  the  place  of  School  Director,  performing  the 
manifold  duties  of  that  position  in  a  manner  that 
commended  him  to  teachers  and  patrons.  In  the 
work  of  his  political  party,  the  Republican,  he  is 
active  and  useful,  showing  his  faith  by  his  works 
and  never  failing  to  deposit  a  vote  in  the  interests 
of  good  government.  As  a  man,  intelligent,  enter- 
prising, genial  and  honest,  lie  gains  respect  and 
makes  many  warm  friends. 

Our  subject  is  a  representative  in  the  third  gen- 
eration of  two  pioneer  families  of  this  county,  and 
is  a  son  of  a  gentleman  and  ladj'  well  known  in 
the  township  for  a  number  of  years.  His  father, 
.lohn  ll.'u-lan,  was  born  in  the  Buckej'e  State,  and 
iiis  mother,  Caroline  (  riease)  Harlan,  in  the  Old 
Dominion.  After  their  marriage,  which  took  place 
in  this  county,  they  settled  on  section  22,  Radnor 
Townsliip,  where  tlic  wife  and  mother  died  in  18.5.5. 
The  husband  and  father  is  now  living  in  Harvey 
County,  Kan.  They  had  five  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, he  of  whom  we  write  being  the  second  son. 

The  natal  da}-  of  Harrison  Harlan  was  the  12th  of 
February,  1842.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  the  town- 
ship where  he  still  makes  his  home,  pursuing  his 
studies  in  the  common  schools  and  from  his  early 
years  devoting  himself  to  farming  as  a  life  work. 
He  now  owns  the  old  homestead  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres,  upon  which  he  has   made  many 


substantial  improvements,  erecting  a  first-class  set 
of  buildings  and  surrounding  his  famil}'  with  all 
the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  He 
has  been  abundantly  prospered  in  the  vocations  of 
general  agricidture  and  stock-raising,  to  which  he 
gives  his  attention,  ranking  among  the  solid  men 
of  the  township. 

Mr.  Harlan  was  fortunate  in  winning  as  his  wife 
a  lady  of  fine  character,  domestic  skill  and  intelli- 
gonce,  who,  as  companion,  mother  and  neighbor, 
is  worthy  of  regard.  She  was  known  in  her  girl- 
hood as  Miss  Hannah  L.  Gordon,  was  born  in  this 
township  .January  10,  184  7,  and  married  at  her 
home,  November  6,  1863.  Her  parents,  Samuel 
and  Hannah  (Bush)  (Jordon,  were  early  settlers  of 
this  county  and  departed  this  life  in  Radnor 
Township.  She  was  their  onl}'  child.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Harlan  have  had  twelve  children,  tbree  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  and  Il.arr}^  in  later  years. 
The  living  children  are:  Ida  M.,  Frank  E.,  Cora 
A.,  Amy  I.,  John,  Laura  E.,  Fred  and  Elsie  C. 
Two  of  these  have  left  the  parental  home  for  their 
own  abodes,  Ida,  being  the  wife  of  Ch.arles  T. 
Harwood,  and  Cora  having  married  A.  J.  Dunlap. 

Our  subject  joined  the  Union  army  in  1864,  was 
assigned  to  Company  A,  Thirty-second  Illinois 
Veteran  Infantry,  and  was  in  the  service  nine 
months.  During  that  time  the  only  severe  battle 
in  which  he  participated  was  that  of  Bentonville, 
N.  C.  He  was  mustered  out  at  "Washington,  D.  C, 
and  returning  to  his  former  place  of  abode  I'e- 
sumed  his  peaceful  occupation  of  farming.  Mr. 
Harlan  served  the  townshii)  as  Assessor  one  j'ear, 
and  was  re-elected  the  second  3'ear,  but  not  hav- 
ing the  time  to  sjiare,  did  not  serve. 

in  connection  with  this  biographical  review,  the 
reader  will  notice  on  another  page  a  view  of  the 
home  of  our  suliject  with  its  surroundings. 


-^^ 


,ROF.  S.  L.  COULTER.     The  death  of  Prof. 
Coulter,  which  occurred  September  5,  1885, 
removed  from   Peoria  County   a  gentleman 
of  deep  erudition,  and  model  character  both 
in   public  and  private  life.     During   the   years  in 


926 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOCJKAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


which  he  had  resided  here  he  had  become  noted 
for  his  scholarship,  for  his  success  as  an  instructor, 
and  for  his  scientific  researclies.  He  was  bom  in 
Washington  Countj',  Pa.,  in  May,  1815,  received 
the  advantage  of  excellent  schooling,  was  gradu- 
ated at  Jefferson  College  and  became  the  princi- 
pal of  the  academy  at  Beaver,  which  position  he 
held  twelve  years. 

In  1854  Prof.  Coulter  removed  to  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  settling  in  Peoria,  111.,  and  for  a 
number  of  j-ears  conducted  a  select  High  School. 
On  account  of  failing  health  he  finally  retired  to 
a  farm,  without  by  anj'  means  abandoning  his 
scholarly  pursuits,  but  finding  lime  to  carry  on  his 
researches  in  natural  history,  and  continued  the 
study  of  the  classics,  in  which  he  took  great  de- 
light. He  finall}'  returned  to  the  county  seat, 
where  for  a  brief  jieriod  he  was  editor  of  the  Peoria 
Republican,  and  where  he  finally  closed  his  e^'es 
to  earthly  things. 

Prof.  Coulter  was  a  life-long  student  of  the  Bible, 
from  which  he  drew  the  principles  which  animated 
his  life,  making  it  a  model  worthy  the  emulation 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  His  mem- 
bership was  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
where  he  held  a  leading  position.  The  estimable 
lady  who  survives  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  most 
considerate  companion,  is  a  native  of  Beaver,  Pa., 
and  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  our  subject 
was  the  widow  of  Stephen  Stone. 


]  LEXANDER  STONE,  Manager  of  the  Pe- 
oria Transa'ipt  and  Postmaster  of  that  cxiy, 
was  appointed  to  this  latter  office  April  14, 
1889,  during  a  recess  of  Congress  and  was  re-ap- 
pointed on  the  21st  of  December  following  and 
confirmed  b}'  the  United  States  Senate.  He  is  an 
Ohio  man,  having  been  born  in  Licking  County-, 
that  State,  June  14,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Lucina  P.  (Chapman)  Stone,  with  whom  he 
remained  in  his  native  county  until  fourteen  years 
old.  Then,  in  1859,  they  removed  to  Iowa,  and 
during   his  sojourn    there  Mr.   Stone   entered  the 


army  and  served  in  the  Quartermaster's  and  Com- 
missary departments  for  about  two  years  and  until 
the  close  of  the  war. 

Soon  after  this  event  Mr.  Stone  located  in  Keo- 
kuk, Iowa,  becoming  connected  with  the  Gate  City, 
with  which  he  remained  in  various  capacities  for 
thirteen  years.  In  the  meantime  he  obtained  quite 
a  reputation  as  a  humorous  writer,  producing  many 
admirable  little  sketches  and  one  poem  especiallj', 
entitled  "The  Patter  of  the  Shingle,"  whose  author- 
ship has  frequently  been  a  question  from  time  to 
time,  and  which  has  been  extensively  copied  in  the 
papers  all  over  the  United  Stales,  also  set  to  music 
and  sung  on  the  operatic  stage.  Its  authorship 
has  been  accredited  to  nearly  every  humorous 
writer  in  the  country,  including  Robert  J.  Bur- 
dette,  who  a  few  j-ears  since  published  an  article 
concerning  it,  giving  the  credit  where  it  was  due. 

Mr.  Stone  during  his  connection  with  the  Gate 
City  employed  himself  largely  as  City  Editor,  and 
when  withdrawing  from  the  paper,  in  1880,  came 
to  Peoria  and  assumed  the  management  of  the 
Transcript,  with  which  he  has  since  been  connected. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  rendering 
sign.al  service  to  the  Republican  party,  serving  as 
Chairman  of  the  Congressional  Committee  for  a 
number  of  j'ears  and  as  a  delegate  to  nearly  all 
the  State,  Congressional  and  county  conventions. 
His  energy,  persistence  and  industry  have  con- 
spiied  to  give  him  a  leading  position  among  the 
newspaper  men  of  the  West.  He  is  a  good  finan- 
cier, a  thorough  business  man  and  has  the  art  of 
making  friends  wherever  he  goes. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  married  May  3, 
1870,  in  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Knight. 
Mrs.  Stone  was  born  December  14,  1846,  in  Wash- 
ington Count}',  Pa.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Oliver 
and  Rachel  (Welch)  Knight.  The  father  of  our 
subject  wart  James  Stone,  likewise  a  native  of 
Licking  Count}',  Ohio,  and  born  February  10,  1810. 
In  early  manjiood  he  followed  farming,  but  subse- 
quently engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  New- 
ark until  his  removal  to  Iowa;  he  is  now  living 
retired  from  active  business  at  a  pleasant  home  in 
Norwalk,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  little  cities  of 
the  Buckeye  State.  The  mother  of  our  subject  is 
also  living,  and  is  about  ten  years   her    husband's 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


927 


junior.  James  Stone  during  the  late  Civil  War 
served  as  a  Captain,  and  on  account  of  efficient  and 
meritorious  service  was  breveted  a  Major.  For  ten 
years  after  the  war  he  was  a  Government  clerk  in 
the  War  Department  at  Washington. 


'\f/OHN  SCIIOF'IKLD.  Justice  of  the  Peace,  oc- 
cupies a  centrally  located  otlice  at  No.  100 
North  Adams  Street,  having  been  called  to 
the  duties  of  this  position  in  1889.  After 
j'ears  of  business  activit}-  he  had  retired,  and  was 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  former  industry  when 
called  to  serve  the  citizens  of  the  place  in  which  lie 
has  resided  for  more  than  twenty  years.  His 
sense  of  right  and  justice  is  acute,  and  his  knowl- 
edge of  that  which  devolves  upon  a  citizen  of  this 
great  metropolis  under  the  laws  which  govern  it, 
such  as  to  add  to  his  fitness  for  the  office  which  he 
is  holding. 

Born  in  England  May  23,  1829,  Mr.  Schofield 
was  but  eleven  years  old  when  he  became  a  resi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  1840  he  accompa- 
nied his  father,  Allen  Scliofield,  across  the  Atlantic 
to  lirooklyn,  N.  Y.,whencc  the  father  afterward  re- 
moved to  Worcester,  Mass.  In  the  latter  city 
young  Schofield  grew  to  maturity  and  completed 
his  schooling.  At  New  Bedford  he  first  engaged 
as  an  emplo3'e  in  a  cotton-mill,  subsequently  work- 
ing in  a  woolen  mill  in  Newark,  N.  J.  For  seven 
years  he  was  weaving  boss  for  the  Lonsdale  Com- 
pany in  IJhode  Island.  Tiiere  he  married  Miss 
Marion  McCiregor,  the  ceremony  taking  place 
September  2,  1862.  The  bride  was  born  in  Ayre, 
Scotland,  and  in  girlhood  came  witli  her  parents 
to  Rhode  Island  also  living  for  a  time  in  New  York. 
She  possesses  all  the  tlirifty  ways  of  iier  race  to- 
gether with  a  disposition  which  qualifies  her  for  the 
duties  of  wife  and  mother.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schofield 
iiave  had  but  one  child,  which  was  removed  from 
them  by  dcatli. 

From  New  I'^ngland  Mr.  Schofield  removed  to 
Lawrenceburg,  Ind.,  where  lie  resided  until  1866, 
working  for  a  woolen-mill  company.  He  tiien 
took   cliarge    of  the    weaving   dcpartnioiit  of   the 


Rushville  Woolen  Manufacturing  Company  in 
Rushville,  111.,  which  position  he  held  until  1869. 
He  next  changed  his  residence  to  Peoria,abandoned 
weaving  and  engaged  in  tiie  cigar  and  news  trade. 
For  twelve  years  he  was  thus  occupied,  during  the 
most  of  that  time  being  city  circulator  for  the 
Democrat  and  Journal,  finally  selling  out  to  the 
Journal  Company.  He  then,  in  1881,  in  com- 
pany with  two  others,  established  the  Evening  Post 
subsequently  buying  out  the  Democrat  from  the 
Central  Cit}'  Publishing  Company.  After  being 
connected  with  that  enterprise  two  years  Mr. 
Schofield  retired  from  active  work  until  elected  to 
his  present  official  station,  in  which  he  is  satisfj'- 
ing  the  people. 

Mr.  Schofield  is  a  member  of  tlie  Masonic  order, 
having  taken  thirty-two  degrees.  He  belongs  to 
Temple  Lodge,  No.  46,  of  which  he  has  been  pre- 
siding officer  four  or  five  years;  Chapter  No.  7, 
Royal  Arch  degree,  in  which  he  was  High  Priest 
for  five  years  and  one  of  the  officers  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Illinois;  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Peoria 
Consistory,  and  has  been  presiding  officer  of  the 
Lodge  of  Perfection  in  said  Consistory.  He  is 
thoroughly  convinced  that  the  principles  of  Ma- 
sonry arc  an  excellent  foundation  upon  which  to 
build  a  fine  character,[and  to  the  order  he  has  given 
the  best  years  of  his  life.  During  the  late  Civil 
War  he  enlisted  in  Company  1),  Ninth  Rhode  Is- 
land Infantry,  serving  until  the  expiration  of  his 
term  as  a  brave  and  spirited  patriot.  He  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party. 


a 


'^RIAII  J.  STEWART  is  numbered  among 
the  successful  and  well-to-do  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  of  Logan  Township,  who  are 
actively  carrying  forward  its  extensive  agricult- 
ural interests.  He  is  a  son  of  John  W.  and  Mary 
(Stewart)  Stewart,  natives  respectively  of  Allegha- 
ney  County,  Pa.,  and  Butler  County,  Ohio.  They 
came  to  Peoria  Count}'  about  1857,  making  the 
journey  from  their  old  home  in  Ohio  to  tlie  Prai- 
rie Slate  witli  a  wagon.     Tliey  took  up  their  abode 


928 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ill  Logan  Towiislii J), ami  before  his  death  Mr.  Stew- 
art became  prominent  among  its  farmers  anil  stocl<- 
raisers  and  accumulated  a  valuable  property'.  His 
first  purchase  here  comprised  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  7,wliich  he  increased 
from  time  to  time  until  he  became  the  proprietor 
of  three  hundred  and  sixt\'  acres  of  very  fertile 
land,  constituting  one  of  the  clioice  farms  of  the 
township.  He  and  his  wife  were  in  every  way 
worthy  of  the  estimation  in  wliicli  thej'  were  held 
and  as  members  of  tlie  United  Presbyterian  Cburcli 
were  sincere  Christians. 

Uriah  Stewart  was  born  in  Rusli  C(>unt3',  Tnd., 
March  15,18-12.  and  wlicn  lie  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  their  new  home  in  the  then  sparselv  settled 
township  of  Logan,  he  was  large  enough  to  be  of 
great  assistance  to  his  father  in  conducting  his  ag- 
ricultural interests.  He  thus  earlj-  acquired  a 
taste  for  farming,  and  has  always  been  engaged  in 
it.  After  marriage  he  located  ivhere  he  now  lives 
on  a  forty-acre  tract  of  land  in  Logan  Township, 
and  actively  entered  upon  its  improvement,  and  b}' 
downright  hard  labor,  has  made  it  a  very  produc 
tive  and  exceedinglj'  valuable  piece  of  propert3', 
and  has  since  increased  its  acreage  by  tlie  purchase 
of  eightj'  acres  of  fine  farming  land.  His  Iniildings 
are  neat  and  conveniently  arranged  and  he  has  a 
plentiful  suppW  of  farming  machinerj',  and  ever}'- 
thing  needful  for  carrying  on  agriculture. 

In  tiie  month  of  March,  1871,  Jlr.  Stewart  was 
married  to  Miss  Flora  Patterson  and  to  them  have 
come  five  children:  Mary  A..  M3'rta  J..  Charles 
P.,  Walter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  3-ears; 
and  Oliver  E. 

Mrs.  Stewart  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mar3- 
(Rankin)  Patterson,  wiio  were  born  near  Union- 
town,  F.a3'ette  Connty.  Pa.  The3'  were  farmers  1)3' 
occupation  and  removed  to  Ohio  about  1840,  and 
there  he  died  in  1846,  and  his  wife  in  1877  at 
the  age  of  eighty  3ears.  The3'  were  stanch  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Presbyterian  Churcli.  Tlie3- had 
six  children,  two  sous  and  four  daughters:  William 
R.,  died  when  ten  3-ears  old;  Samuel,  Jane;  Hannah 
died  when  fort3'  3-ears  old;  Mary  and  Flora  E., 
all  of  whom  married  and  reared  families.  Mrs. 
Stewart's  paternal  grandparents  were  Samuel  and 
Hannah   Patterson,   and    tliey    had   the  following- 


children — Robert,  Flora,  Jane,  Mary,  William, 
James,  John  and  Elijah.  They  moved  to  Ohio 
prior  to  or  about  1835,  and  died  in  that  State. 
The3'  were  members  of  the  United  Presbyteri.an 
Church.  Mrs.  Stewart's  maternal  grandparents 
were  William  and  Jane  (McClanahan)  Rankin, 
of  Fayette  County,  Pa.  The  names  of  their  chil- 
dren were  Hugh,  John,  William,  Samuel,  Ann,  Es- 
ther and  Mar3'.  The3-  were  farmers  and  life-long 
residents  of  Pennsylvania,  and  belonged  to  the 
United  Presb3-terian  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart  are  people  whose  excellent 
trails  of  character  commend  them  to  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  their  neiglibors.  and  the3-  are 
greatly  liked  b3-  all  in  their  community.  Mr. 
Stewart  stands  well  as  a  farmer,  possessing  good 
business  qu.alifications,  and  his  word  is  good  where- 
ever  given. 


^^-j,  ENRY  S.  SHOLL  is  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  A.  Slioll  <t  Son,  whose  business  is  de- 
^  scribed  at  some  length  in  the  sketch  of  Jo- 
))  seph  Sholl.  found  elsewhere  in  this  Ai.bdm. 
He  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Charlotte  (Monroe) 
Sholl,  and  was  born  near  the  city  of  Peoria, 
March  19,  1844.  He  was  reared  in  and  near  the 
count3'  seat,  w-here  he  finished  his  education  in  the 
high  school.  From  bo3-hood  his  interests  have 
been  in  the  coal  fields,  and  it  was  113'  his  individ- 
ual elforts  that  the  No.  1  and  2  shafts,  the  great- 
est of  the  Peoria  group,  were  opened  up. 

One  of  the  elegant  residences  in  Peoria  is  at 
No.  606  .Second  Street,  which  was  built  and  is 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  Sholl.  The  ladv  in  charge 
of  the  establishment  was  known  some  3-ears-since 
as  Miss  Mary  L.  Trac3-.  but  became  the  wife  of 
our  subject  in  1875.  She  is  the  daughter  of  a 
very  old  settler  in  this  county  and  was  left  alone 
in  childhood.  Her  liirthplace  was  Newark,  N.  J. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sholl  are  the  parents  of  three  daugh- 
ters and  two  sons,  named  respectively:  Mabel  F., 
Harry,  Grace,  Frank  and  Ethnol. 

In  his  political  ideas  Mr.  Sholl  is  liberal,  and  in 
exercising  the  elective  franchise  his  choice  is  de- 
termined more  b3'   the  character  of  the  candidate 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


929 


than  by  strict  party  affiliations.  He,  like  other 
members  of  his  father's  family,  is  numbered  among 
(lie  law-abiding  citizens  and  excellent  business 
men  of  the  count}'.  His  wife  is  well  fitted  by  na- 
ture  and  education  to  occup}'  a  high  posit-on  in 
society,  and  above  all  to  be  to  her  husband  and 
children  all  that  a  wise  and  affectionate  wife  and 
mother  may  be. 


^£ 


E^^- 


')&j 


AMES  F.  ANDERSON.  There  are  few 
residents  of  Peoria  who  arc  better  acquainted 
with  its  growth  than  J.  F.  Anderson,  wiio 
has  lived  here  h.ilf  a  ccnlurj%  and  whose 
portrait  on  the  opposite  page  represents  a  pioneer 
of  the  county.  His  parents  came  hither  in  1831), 
when  he  was  but  a  child,  their  journey  being  ac- 
complished in  a  prairie  schooner  from  Murfrees- 
l)oro,  Ten M.,  which  w^•ls  the  home  of  ( ifandfather 
Anderson.  Our  subject  remembers  one  incident 
— thai  of  getting  stuck  in  a  slough  in  Illinois,  and 
having  to  go  manj'  miles  to  get  oxen  and  ro[)es  to 
pull  the  horses  and  wagon  out,  and  he  also  recalls 
the  fact  that  wolves  came  near  eating  the  horses 
while  they  camped  at  night. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Charles  M.  Ander- 
son, who  was  l)orn  in  Rome  Count}',  S.  C.,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1809,  and  married  Miss  Mary  Youngblood, 
of  Niishville,  Tenn.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  an 
edged-tool  maker.  His  family  comprised  seven 
chiltlren,  all  now  deceased  but  our  subject.  When 
he  came  to  Peoria,  Indians  were  still  numerous 
here,  and  the  only  houses  were  built  of  logs.  He 
purchased  land  at  the  corner  of  Fulton  and  Monroe 
Streets,  and  there  built  what  was  at  that  ime  the 
finest  liouse  on  Fulton  Street.  It  is  still  standing, 
the  second  door  south  of  the  Christian  Church,  the 
ground  of  which  Mr.  Anderson  sold  to  the  society. 
He  first  established  a  blacksmith-shop,  but  subse- 
quently became  interested  with  Grier,  McClure  & 
Co.,  in  lumber  and  packing  house.  He  breathed 
his  last  in  1880;   his  wife  had  died  in  1856. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  May  22.  1834,  and  was  but  five  years 
old  when  the  family  removed   to  the  Prairie  State. 


He  grew  to  manhood  in  Peoria,  and  has  seen  the 
town  build  up  from  almost  nothing  to  a  (condition 
which  is  a  just  cause  of  pride  to  its  residents.  His 
education  was  obtained  in  private  schools,  and  his 
first  business  enterprise  was  in  the  confectionery 
business,  which  he  learned  and  followed  for  a  year 
or  two.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  various  emplo}'- 
ments  until  he  secured  work  with  Blessrs.  Stone 
&  Boomer,  of  the  American  Bridge  Comi)any,  of 
Chicago,  who  put  up  the  first  bridge  across  the 
Illinois  River  at  this  point.  He  worked  with  them 
on  this  bridge,  and  then  at  various  points  in  Wis- 
consin, Indiana,  Iowa  and  Missouri,  for  over  two 
years. 

We  next  find  Mr.  Anderson  in  the  employ  of  a 
house-mover  in  Chicago,  for  whom  he  worked  but 
six  weeks  ere  becoming  foreman.  When  the  scheme 
for  raising  brick  buildings  was  promulgated,  he  was 
under  instruction  for  a  year,  and  soon  afterward 
had  a  gang  of  men  under  him.  It  was  not  long 
until  he  had  worked  up  to  such  jiroficiency  that  he 
was  engaged  by  his  employer  for  $3,000  per  year, 
remaining  with  him  five  j-ears,  or  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  War. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  intensely  loyal,  and  not  many 
weeks  had  elapsed  after  the  fall  of  Sumter  before 
he  had  determined  to  enter  the  I'nion  Arm}-.  On 
July  5,  1801,  ho  left  Peoria  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany I),  First  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  was  sworn  into 
the  service  at  (iuincy.  The  regiment  was  sent  into 
Missouri,  fought  against  Price  at  Lexington,  where 
Mr.  Anderson  was  wounded  in  the  ear,  from  which 
he  is  still  deaf.  He  was  also  taken  prisoner  there, 
but  with  his  comrades  was  soon  released  on  parole 
and  sent  to  ( Juincy,  whence  they  went  to  St.  Louis 
to  help  fortify  the  city.  He  was  obliged  to  re|)oit 
for  one  year  to  hisiloctor,  and  was  then  discharged. 
In  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged  every  sol- 
dier owned  his  own  horse. 

When  'Sir.  Anderson  was  able  to  work  he  began 
house-moving,  at  which  he  has  now  been  engaged 
in  Peoria  for  twenty-eigiit  years.  He  also  deals  in 
second-hand  houses  and  rebuilds,  and  is  now  the 
leading  contractor  in  this  line  in  the  city.  He  has 
put  in  many  of  the  new  fronts  and  moved  man}'  of 
the  prominent  buildings.  He  employs  from  twelve 
to  twenty  men,  a  number  of  whom  have  been  with 


930 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


him  many  years.  He  also  gives  considerable  at- 
tention to  the  buying  and  sale  of  real  estate,  at 
this  writing  having  thirteen  residences  to  rent  in 
different  parts  of  the  city,  some  of  which  are  model 
homes. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  and  has  been  for  twelve  years  a 
Director  in  the  People's  Loan  Association,  of  which 
he  is  one  of  the  original  stockholders.  He  is  also 
one  of  the  Directors  of  the  Mechanics  <fe  Builders 
Exchange.  For  three  terms  he  served  as  County 
Supervisor,  but  his  business  affairs  have  kept  him 
too  busy  for  him  to  desire  the  office.  He  has  never 
aspired  to  political  honors,  the  only  attention  which 
he  paj's  to  politics  being  to  usuall}'  cast  his  vote 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
Bryner  Post,  G.  A.  R.  His  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  business  in  which  he  is  engaged,  the  reliable 
character  which  he  possesses,  and  his  personal  at- 
tributes insure  for  him  the  respect  of  the  commu- 
nitv  at  large,  and  the  special  regard  of  those  who 
are  best  acquainted  with  his  good  qualities. 

The  lady  who  for  several  years  was  a  devoted 
companion  to  our  subject,  became  his  wife  in  Peo- 
ria November  14,  1864.  She  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Louisa  Fox,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1840, 
and  being  left  an  orphan  in  childhood,  accompanied 
an  aunt  to  Boston.  Thence  she  came  to  Peoria 
County.  111.,  with  an  uncle,  residing  here  from  that 
time  until  her  death,  September  9,  1878.  She  was 
the  mother  of  two  children,  one  of  w-hom  is  still 
living  and  is  now  with  his  father  in  business.  He 
bears  the  name  of  .John  W. 


<«  IMLLIAM  P.  GRAHAM  is  a  well-to-do 
\r\///  f^''™^!"  i°  Trivoli  Township,  where  he  has 
^^^  a  finely  improved  place  and  is  classed 
among  the  best  citizens.  His  father  AVilliam  Gra- 
ham w.as  born  in  Marion  County.  Ky.,  his  father, 
who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  having  located  there  in 
the  verj'  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  that  State. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer  and  had 
a  farm  in  Kentucky,  and  he  also  used  to  team  .across 
the  mountains  with  a  wagon.  He  was  besides  a 
blacksmith  and  a  shoemaker.      In  1836,  he  came  to 


Illinois  with  his  wife  and  four  children  with  a  four- 
horse  team,  traveling  a  distance  of  four  hundred 
miles,  crossing  the  Ohio  at  Louisville,  and  the  Illi- 
nois at  Beardstown.  and  located  in  Trivoli  Town- 
ship. He  rented  land  and  worked  at  his  various 
callings.  His  health  was  not  good  after  he  came 
here  .as  he  had  the  ague  nearly  everj'  fall,  and  in 
1850,  the  township  was  deprived  of  a  good  citizen 
b\-  his  death  Of  typhoid  fever.  He  was  an  earnest 
Democrat  in  his  political  views.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Jackson  and  she  was  born 
in  Hardin  County,  Ky..  coming  of  the  old  Jackson 
stock.  She  resided  with  her  children  until  her 
death  in  1 886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  She 
was  a  Presbj'terian  in  her  religious  faith. 

Those  worthj^  people  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children  named  as  follows:  John  D.,  who  died  in 
Warren  Count}-,  Iowa ;  Mark  T.,  a  farmer  in  Trivoli 
Township;  Martha  J.,  a  resident  of  Trivoli  Town- 
ship; William  P.;  Henry  H.,  of  McDonough 
County; Susan,  now  Mrs.  Carr  of  Elmwood;  James 
a  resident  of  Guthrie  Count}',  Iowa;  Sarah  who 
died  at  the  home  of  our  subject  in  Fulton  County; 
Andrew  J.,  a  physician  in  Peoria;  Harriet,  now 
Mrs.  Cramer  of  Trivoli  Township.  The  Doctor  is 
a  graduate  of  Keokuk  Medical  College  of  Iowa. 
He  was  in  an  Illinois  regiment  during  the  late  war 
and  served  until  its  close. 

William  Graham  was  born  near  Lebanon  in 
Marion  County,  Ky.,  J.anuary  29,  1834.  His  first 
recollections  are  of  his  father's  pioneer  home  in 
Trivoli  Township.  In  1838.  the  family  removed 
to  Fulton  County  near  Farmington  and  there  he 
was  reared,  receiving  but  limited  educational  ad- 
vantages in  the  primitive  log  house  in  which  the 
district  school  was  taught,  which  was  three  miles 
distant  from  his  home.  Early  in  life  he  was  em- 
ployed in  farming,  his  father  died  whsn  he  was  six- 
teen years  old  and  he  then  went  out  to  work  as  a 
farm  hand  b}'  the  month  and  w.as  thus  encat^ed  un- 
til his  marriage. 

After  that  important  event  in  his  life  Mr.  Gra- 
ham took  up  his  residence  in  McDonough  County, 
and  farmed  near  Prairie  City  two  years,  and  after 
that  rented  a  farm  in  Fulton  County,  near  Farm- 
ington, and  had  a  house  and  lot  there.  He  finally 
bought  eighty  acres  of   the  old  home,  and  actively 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


031 


entered  upon  its  further  improvement.  He  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stocl<-raising  and  in  time 
began  to  make  money,  tbougb  be  found  tbe  first 
thousand  dollars  tbe  hardest  to  acquire  of  all  bis 
competenc}'.  He  now  has  two  hundred  acres  of 
land,  having  bought  the  old  Chapman  place  in  1885, 
where  be  has  his  home,  eighty  acres  of  his  realty 
lying  on  section  28,  tovty  acres  on  section  27,  and 
eighty  acres  on  section  22.  He  has  three  different 
sets  of  buildings  on  his  farm,  all  neat  and  well-ar- 
ranged, and  be  operates  the  whole  farm,  which  is 
well  watered  by  Tiber  Creek.  He  has  draft  and 
road  horses,  feeds  cattle  to  some  extent,  and  has 
about  fifty  two-year  old  steers  and  from  seventy- 
five  to  one  hundred  high  graded  Poland-China 
hogs.  He  has  witnessed  the  growth  of  tbe  country 
from  pioneer  times  when  deer  and  wolves  were 
l)lent3'.  He  used  to  team  to  Chicago  in  winters 
when  he  was  a  boy.  He  also  worked  in  a  packing 
house  and  slaughter  house  on  the  river  at  Reed's 
Landing,  and  engaged  in  logging  and  other  kinds 
of  labor. 

Mr.  Graham  and  jNIiss  Caroline  McCo}'  united 
their  lives  and  fortunes  February  13,  1864.  She 
was  born  in  Christiana,  Del.,  on  tbe  26tb  of  De- 
cember, 1838,  a  daughter  of  James  McCoy,  who 
was  born  in  Delaware  near  New  Castle,  August  6, 
1807.  His  father  Nathaniel  McCoy,  a  Scotchman 
by  birth  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Delaware 
in  early  Colonial  days.  He  subsequent!}'  emigrated 
to  the  Little  ^liami  River  in  Ohio,  where  he  and  bis 
wife  died  soon  after  settling  there,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren orphaned.  Mrs.  Graham's  father  was  ap- 
prenticed to  learn  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  in  Del- 
aware County,  and  he  became  a  practical  blacksmith 
and  manufacturer  of  edged  tools.  In  1842,  he  re- 
moved to  St.  Louis  with  his  family  and  carried  on 
the  manufacture  of  edge  tools,  and  spears  for  tbe 
Government  during  the  Mexican  War.  He  made 
improvenients  on  the  cotton  gin,  which  was  exhib- 
ited at  the  St.  Louis  fair  in  1845.  He  made  the  first 
mower  ever  manufactured  in  St.  Louis,  but  the  pat- 
ent was  stolen  from  him.  In  1852  he  came  to  this 
State  and  located  in  OrionTownship, Fulton  County, 
where  be  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  which  be  improved,  and  erected  a  blacksmith 
sboii  and  was  very  successful  in  business.     He  now 


lives  retired,  the  infirmities  of  age  having  come 
over  him,  he  being  now  eighty-three  years  old  and 
nearly  blind  and  quite  deaf.  He  has  alwaj's  been  a 
sturdy  follower  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was 
married  at  EUicotts  Mills,  to  Miss  Cassandcr, 
daughter  of  William  Ward  a  native  of  England. 
She  is  now  seventj-four  years  old.  She  is  a  Baptist 
in  religion.  Her  grandfather  was  an  English  Tory 
and  came  to  this  country.  Her  father  served  in 
the  War  of  1812,  when  a  young  man,  and  was  at 
the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  He  was  well  educated, 
and  was  an  attornej',  and  inherited  wealth.  He 
was  accidentally  drowned  in  the  Delaware  River 
when  but  thirty-two  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Graham's  parents  bad  nine  children,  who 
were  named  as  follows:  Catherine,  Mrs.  Bates,  of 
St.  Louis;  Sarah  J.,  Mrs.  Bledsoe,of  Warren  County, 
Iowa;  Caroline;  Amanda, Mrs.  McCloud,of  Christian 
County;  Almira,  Mrs.  Daugherty,  of  Ft.  Scott, 
Kan.;  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy;  Robert,  who 
died  when  young;  Josephine,  Mrs.  Tyler,  of  Kan- 
sas; James  a  resident  of  Orion  Township,  Fulton 
County.  Mrs.  Graham  is  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren, James  A.  and  William  Allen,  both  of  whom 
are  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graham  are  people  of  great  per- 
sonal worth  and  high  social  standing  in  this  com- 
munity', and  tbe  Presbyterian  Church  at  Brunswick 
has  in  them  two  of  its  leading  members.  He  has 
been  School  Director  and  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways for  one  term.  In  politics,  in  which  he  is  much 
interested,  he  stands  stanchly  by  the  Democratic 
party. 

(i^^HOMAS  S.  MARSHALL,  senior  member  of 
l/4^^.  the  firm  of  Marshall  &  Co.,  dealers  in  dr}-- 
^Vi^'  goods  and  millinery  at  No.  106  South 
Adams  Street,  has  already  gained  a  prominent 
place  among  the  leading  business  men  of  Peoria, 
though  be  has  been  a  resident  of  tbe  city  only  a 
few  jcars. 

Mr.  Marshall  is  of  Scottish  birth  and  antece- 
dents, born  May  24,  1852.  He  was  educated  in  the 
land  of  bis  nativity,  and  learned  his  business  in 
(ilasirow,  where  he  remained  until  he  emiijrated  to 


932 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  United  Stales  in  1872.  After  coming  to  (his 
country,  he  first  located  iu  Hartford,  Conn.,  and 
was  with  Brown  &  Co.,  of  tliat  city,  the  ensuing 
nine  j'oars.  From  there  lie  went  to  Wheeling, 
W.  Va.,  and  engaged  in  business  for  a  time.  He 
came  to  Peoria  in  1885, 'and  estalilished  himself  in 
his  present  business,  opening  a  new  store  and 
building  up  his  own  trade.  He  has  a  large  store, 
one  hundred  and  eighty  feet  deep,  occupying  two 
stories,  and  complete  in  all  its  appointments.  He 
eraploj's  a  force  of  twenty-one  hands  and  does  a 
retail  business,  with  the  exception  of  jobbing  in 
millinery.  The  firm  was  known  as  Marshall,  Mur- 
ray &  Co.  until  January  1.  1890,  when  our  sub- 
ject bought  Mr.  Murray's  interest  in  this  estab- 
ment,  he  taking  the  branch  store  wliich  they  had 
previously  opened  in  Streator.  Under  Mr.  Mar- 
shall's vigorous  and  enterprising  management  the 
business  is  constantly  increasing,  and  lie  has  a  very 
satisfactory  trade,  amounting  to  more  than  §100,- 
000  a  year. 

Mr.  Marshall  and  Miss  Isabella  Jamieson,  of 
Middletown,  Conn.,  have  united  their  lives  and 
fortunes  and  have  established  in  this  citj'  one  of 
its  coziest  and  most  attractive  homes.  The}'  have 
two  children:  William  and  Jamieson. 

Mr.  Marshall  is  a  wide-awake,  progressive  man 
of  business,  and  his  standing  in  financial  circles  is 
of  the  highest  order,  as  lie  conducts  his  business 
on]}'  by  the  most  honorable  methods,  is  carrying 
it  on  with  marked  success,  and  to-day  is  one  of 
our  moneyed  men,  who  has  contributed  much 
toward  raising  the  financial  standing  of  Pefuia.  He 
is  a  man  of  social  prominence  and  is  President  of 
the  Caledonian  Club. 


^  SAAC  C.  EDWARDS,  one  of  the  well-known 
I  and  able  attorneys  of  Peoria,  was  born  in  .Stark 
/li  Countjr,  111.,  January  19,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of 
Benjamin  F.  and  Catherine  (Eckley)  Edwards,  the 
former  of  whom  came  from  Virginia  to  the  Prairig 
State  as  early  as  18-44.  The  Edwards  family  is  of 
Welsh  extraction  and  has  been  rei)resented  in  \'ir- 
ginia  for  two  centuries,  numerous  members  of  the 


respected  family  being  now  to  be  found  in  Grayson 
and  Carroll  Counties.  The  Eckle^'S  were  early  set- 
tlers, first  of  Ohio  and  then  of  Illinois,  and  were  of 
Irish  origin. 

Benjamin  Edwards  was  engaged  for  man}'  years 
in  the  peaceful  [)ursuit  of  farming,  but  later  in  life 
embarked  in  the  livery  business.  He  came  to 
Peoria  in  1861,  and  was  well  known  as  one  of  the 
leading  liverymen  in  the  citj'  for  many  years.  He 
died  in  January,  1882.  Mrs.  Edwards  survives 
and  still  continues  to  make  her  residence  in  Peoria. 
To  them  was  born  a  family  of  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living. 

The  gentleman  with  whose  name  this  notice  is 
introduced  remained  in  Toulon,  Stark  County,  after 
his  father's  family  came  to  Peoria,  attending  school 
and  making  his  home  with  J.  A.  Cooley.  He  com- 
pleted the  course  of  study  in  Toulon  Seminar}',  then 
came  to  Peoria  and  began  working  in  the  livery 
stable.  Finding  the  business  uncongenial,  in  1869 
he  entered  a  boiler  shop  where  he  worked  about  a 
year.  He  was  still  dissatisfied,  being  ambitious  to 
climb  higher  and  having  a  decided  inclination  for 
a  line  of  life  in  which  he  would  exert  more  mental 
ability.  An  opportunity  having  offered  he  entered 
tlie  law  office  of  McCoy  &  Stevens  as  a  student,  re- 
maining with  them  until  the  dissolution  of  the  firm 
by  reason  of  Mr.  McCoy  going  to  Chicago. 

Young  Edwards  was  faithful  and  studious  and 
although  he  found  the  road  to  success  in  his  chosen 
field  not  an  easy  one,  he  had  the  mental  ability  and 
pluck  necessary  to  complete  his  course  of  study  with 
ciedit.  He  finisiied  his  reading  with  McCuUough 
&  Stevens,  working  for  the  firm  eighteen  months 
for  the  penurious  salary  of  $10  per  month.  Even 
this  did  not  discourage  him,  and  the  di'y  soon 
dawned  when  he  was  able  to  put  out  his  own 
"shingle,"  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871. 

Mr.  Edwards  first  opened  up  in  business  as  junior 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Voigt  &  Edwards,  re- 
maining thus  associated  until  July  20,  1874,  when 
Mr.  Voigt  retired  and  he  continued  the  business 
alone  for  several  years.  In  1878  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Isaac  E.  Lonsbert,  but  the  firm  was 
dissolved  in  about  a  year,  Mr.  Lonsbert  removing  to 
Emporia,  Kan.,  where  he  was  appointed  Postmaster 
by  President  Harrison,   leaving  our  subject  again 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


933 


.'ilone.  For  one  year  he  was  associated  with  Frank 
Ives,  under  the  lirm  name  of  Edwards  ct  Ives,  and 
in  1885  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Isaac  M. 
I I(irn backer,  which  continued  for  about  eighteen 
niontlis,  since  wliich  time  Mr.  Edwards  lias  been 
unassisted  in  his  legal  efforts.  He  is  engaged  in 
general  hiw  practice,  although  he  has  greater  suc- 
cess in  criminal  cases.  In  that  department  of  his 
profession  he  has  won  an  envialile  rejjutation. 

Mr.  Edwards  is  one  of  the  many  enthusiastic  work- 
ers in  tlio  liuilding  n|i  of  Peoria  in  whose  future  he 
has  always  had  great  fait'.i.  He  began  dealing  in 
real  estate  about  1883  and  within  the  last  three 
j'cars  h.as  handled  over  tliree  luindreil  pieces  of 
property  within  the  city  limits,  besides  doing  con- 
siderable business  in  outside  property.  In  the 
latter  part  of  188i)-'<)0  lie  laid  out  and  platted 
nearly  thirty-live  acres  in  town  lots,  the  same  being 
known  as  Table  Grove  Addition  to  the  city  of 
Peoria  and  Tabic  Grove  Extended.  While  thus 
adding  to  the  attractions  and  aiding  in  the  further 
extension  of  the  cit}'  of  his  choice,  Mr.  Edwards 
is  adding  to  his  own  reputation  as  a  young  man  of 
unbounded  energ}'  and  shrewdness. 

Politically,  Mr.  Edwards  is  ver3-  active,  but  while 
working  earnesti}'  for  the  success  of  the  princi[)les 
in  which  he  believes,  he  has  declined  all  political 
honors  although  the  nominations  for  Mayor  and 
Slate  Senator  liave  been  tendered  him.  He  is  a 
working  member  of  the  State  Republican  League, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders,  is  Vice-Presi- 
dent for  the  Congressional  district  and  presided 
over  the  deliberations  of  the  body  during  its  last 
meeting  held  at  Si)ringfield  and  a  member  of  the 
Rei)ublican  State  Central  Committee.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  and  ona  of  the  few  in  this 
country  who  have  received  the  thirty-third  degree. 
This  lie  did  at  Boston,  Mass.,  September  18,  1888. 
From  this  it  will  be  inferred  that  he  lias  ever  been 
a  prominent  worker  in  the  fraternity  and  has  held 
many  positions.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  Calan- 
tlia  Lodge,  No.  17,  Knights  of  Pythias,  has  served 
as  Past  Chancellor  and  was  the  first  Viee-Chancellor 
of  the  lodge.  He  is  also  connected  with  the  An- 
cient Order  of  ITnited  Druids,  having  been  one 
of  the  founders  of  Merlin  Grove,  No.  71,  which  is 
pronounced  to  be  the  finest  grove  in  Illinois.     He 


was  its  first  Noble  Arch,  which  position  he  held  for 
two  years.  He  is  now  Deputy  Grand  Arch  of  the 
State  of  Illinois. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  brief  outline  that  Mr. 
Edward.s  possesses  the  social  qualities  which  render 
a  iiinii  |x)pulra',  that  he  is  benevolent,  energetic, 
possessed  of  business  tact  of  a  high  order,  and  ever 
ready  to  bear  a  hand  in  the  progressive  movements 
of  the  age.  He  is  thoroughly  versed  in  the  prin- 
ciples laid  down  by  Coke,  Blackstone,  and  other 
eminent  writers  on  jurisprudence,  (juick  to  perceive 
the  salient  points  in  attack  or  defence,  and  an  adept 
in  i)rcsenting  the  case  he  has  in  hand  to  judge  and 
jury.  Being  still  quite  a  young  man,  the  proba- 
bilities are  that  he  will  become  a  prominent  figure 
throughout  the  St;'.te,  as  he  already  is  in  the  county. 


/p^  EORGE  T.  GILLIAM.  This  young  gentle- 
•II  j^—.  man  has  a  good  standing  among  the  busi- 
^^5)  ness  men  of  Peoria,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
insurance,  loan  and  real-estate  business,  and  that 
of  an  attorney- al-law.  His  office  is  in  the  ISIercan- 
tile  Library  luiilding,  which  he  entered  upon  its 
completion  aiul  where  he  has  since  remained.  He 
possesses  a  fine  education,  the  manners  of  a  well- 
bred  gentleman  .and  a  character  which  wins  friends. 

The  natal  day  of  Mr.  Gilliam  was  March  4, 
1854,  and  his  birth  took  place  near  Pittsburg,  Pa. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  (i.  T.  Gilliam,  who 
moved  West,  and  finally  located  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
to  educate  his  family.  Our  subject  was  graduated 
from  the  High  School  of  that  city  in  1875,  and 
three  years  later  obtained  the  degree  of  LL.B. 
from  the  Law  Department  of  Washington  Univer- 
sity. He  was  admitted  to  the  State  Courts  of  Illi- 
nois and  Missouri  that  year,  and  also  to  the  United 
States  Courts.  After  i)racticing  in  St.  Louis  a  year 
he  came  to  Peoria,  in  1879,  with  the  Intention  of 
continuing  his  professional  labors  here.  It  was 
not  long,  however,  before  he  gave  his  attention  to 
the  office  work  in  which  he  is  now  engaged  and  of 
which  he  has  made  a  success. 

Mr.  Gilliam  is  Clerk  of  North  Peoria,  the  most 
enterprising  suburb  of  the  city.     He  is  not  a  politi- 


•J34 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cal  aspirant,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  to  his 
personal  affairs.  He  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
as  did  his  father  before  him,  the  latter  having  been 
a  prominent  Abolitionist  when  it  required  courage 
to  become  linown  as  a  member  of  that  party. 

The  virtues  and  graces  of  Miss  Clara  Semelrotli, 
of  this  city,  so  deeply  impressed  Mr.  Gilliam,  that 
he  desired  her  presence  in  his  home,  and  winning 
her  consent,  they  became  man  and  wife,  April  30, 
1882.  Their  happy  union  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  five  children,  named  respective!}':  Jessie, 
LiUie,  Alice,  George  and  Josie.  Mr.  Gilliam  be- 
longs to  the  Congregational  Church. 


\|i)OHN  RADLKY,  whose  home  is  pleasantly 
situated  on  section  36,  is  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers  of  Jubilee  Township,  and  lias  suc- 
ceeded during  a  life  spent  in  tlie  practice  of 
the  virtues  of  industr}'  and  economy,  in  amassing  a 
considerable  amount  of  this  world's  goods  and  is 
now  living  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  comforts 
and  many  of  tlie  luxuries  of  life.  He  is  of  Flnglish 
birth  and  very  quiet  in  his  liabits  having  no  desire 
to  meddle  with  the  concerns  of  any  one.  He 
malies  no  enemies  as  he  attends  to  his  own  business 
and  lets  other  people  do  the  same  by  theirs.  Never 
having  met  his  '-soul's  affinity"  he  has  remained 
unmarried.  To  the  friends  who  know  him  well  he  is 
social  and  genial  but  does  not  care  for  large  gather- 
ings or  crowds  of  people. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  George  Radley,  was 
born  in  Devonshire.  England.  The  grandfather, 
also  George,  was  an  Englishman  who  owned  and 
operated  a  farm  in  Swimbridge,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  by  llie  people  of  that  parish.  The  fa- 
ttier was  also  a  farmer  and  passed  his  entire  life  in 
his  native  country  dying  in  1842,  when  sixty  years 
of  ace.  He  was,  as  were  his  forefathers  and  famil}',  a 
devout  member  and  regular  attendant  upon  the 
services  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Elizabeth  Jones,  a  na- 
tive of  Devonshire  and  daughter  of  John  Jones,  a 
farmer  of  that  parish.  She  accompanied  her  chil- 
dren to  the  United  States  and  died  at  the  home  of 


our  subject  in  1854.  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years.  The  parental  family  consisted  of  nine  chil- 
dren named  respectively :  George,  who  resides  in 
Brimtield,  in  his  eightieth  year;  John,  the  subject 
of  tliis  brief  liiograph}-;  Betse}-,  now  a  resident  of 
Woodford  County,  111.;  Richard,  lives  in  Kickapoo 
Township;  William  also  lives  in  Kickapoo  Town- 
ship; Mary  departed  this  life  while  a  resident  of 
this  township,  in  1845;  Susannah  makes  her  home 
with  our  subject;  James  resides  in  Jubilee  Town- 
ship, and  Maria  W.,  lives  in  Woodford  County.  Hi, 

Mr.  Radley  of  whom  we  write  was  liorn  in  the 
parish  of  Swimbridge,  Devonshire.  England,  in  July 
1812,  and  was  reared  in  his  native  place  where  he 
resided  until  he  was  twenty-seven  j-ears  of  age.  He 
received  a  fair  education  in  the  free  schools  of  his 
native  parish  but  was  earl}'  obliged  to  commence 
working  to  help  in  the  task  of  earning  a  living.  In 
1839,  he  emigrated  to  America  in  company  with 
his  brother  George.  They  chose  the  spring  of  the 
year  for  their  venture  and  the  vessel  in  which  they 
sailed  was  five  weeks  making  the  trip.  The  voyage 
was  lather  tedious  but  ivas  enlivened  by  the  hope 
that  they  cherished  of  carving  out  their  fortunes  in 
the  "New  World"  to  which  they  were  bound.  From 
New  York  Harbor  where  they  landed  they  went  to 
Genesee  County,  N.  Y.,  near  Batavia,  where  he  en- 
gaged on  his  uncle's  farm  and  remained  for  a  time, 
afterward  coming  to  Illinois. 

Our  subject  made  the  trip  from  Chicago  to  Peoria 
with  a  team  over  corduroy  roads,  the  best  method  of 
traveling  in  vogue  at  that  time.  He  had  a  cousin 
living  in  Jubilee  Township  at  the  time  who  was  a 
minister  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and 
our  subject  worked  on  his  farm  when  he  first  settled 
in  the  place.  Later  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Jubilee  Township  going  in  partnershii) 
with  his  brother  George. 

Mr.  Radley  at  one  time  returned  to  England 
on  a  visit,  embarking  at  New  York  on  the  ves- 
sel "Virginia."  He  remained  abroad  some  two 
years  then  came  back  to  America  accompanied  bv 
his  mother  and  most  of  the  familj'.  They  sold  their 
property  in  their  native  land  and  took  up  their 
abode  with  our  subject  on  his  farm  in  Peoria 
County.  In  addition  to  the  mother,  there  were 
eight  children  in  the  group  who  boarded  the  staunch 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


935 


craft  "Rozolin"  at  Plymouth  to  brave  the  terrors  of 
llie  vastj-  (iccp.  Owing  to  severe  storms  thoy  wimo 
eight  weeks  on  llie  way  and  wore  truly  thankful 
when  the  good  ship  at  length  enteii'd  liarlnir.  The 
services  of  a  team  was  called  into  requisition  to 
transport  them  to  the  city  of  Chicago  and  anotlier 
one  took  them  the  rest  of  the  way  to  their  home 
witli  (lursuljject  as  above  stated. 

Some  3'ears  later,  our  subject  sold  his  eighty 
acre  farm  and,  in  company  with  two  of  his  broth- 
ers, bought  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
30,  one-fourth  of  it  lying  in  Roselield  Township. 
lie  erected  a  house  and  moved  on  to  the  place  and 
has  made  it  his  home  from  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent. He  and  his  lirothers  labored  faitiifullj' and  in 
a  reasonable  time  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
they  had  as  nice  a  place  and  as  well  imi)roved  as 
could  be  seen  anywhere  around.  The  brothers 
added  to  their  original  purcliase  as  o))i)ortnnity  of- 
fered, and  when  they  dissolved  partnershi|)  our  sub- 
ject's share  was  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
under  good  cultivation,  linely  improved  and  well 
stocked.  His  farm  is  well  watered,  having  good 
springs  and  is  underlaid  with  coal,  some  of  the 
mines  being  five  feet  thick  and  eighteen  feet  from 
the  surface  to  the  top  of  the  coal  strata.  JMr.  Rad- 
ley  has  worked  the  mines  in  question  for  years  and 
lias  found  them  profital)le,  his  farm  being  situated 
only  some  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  K'ckapoo 
where  he  finds  a  ready  market  for  all  his  farm  |iro- 
duce  as  well  as  for  the  coal. 

In  addition  to  the  usual  products  of  a  farm  our 
subject  raises  large  quantities  of  grain  and  deals 
extensively  in  fine  stock.  His  cattle  and  hogs  are 
of  the  best  and  his  horses  are  fine,  large,  strong 
draft  ones  which  are  best  suited  to  the  needs  of  a 
farm.  When  our  subject  first  settled  in  this  county- 
it  was  in  a  wild  state,  deer  were  plentiful  and  wolves 
ran  past  the  door  uuterrifled  by  the  sight  of  man 
who,  however,  w.as  soon  to  prove  his  right  to  do- 
minion by  driving  them  from  the  State.  Our  .sub- 
ject has  himself  shot  deer  and  wolves  also,  the  large 
and  fierce  graj'  wolves  from  tlie  door  of  his  first 
cabin  home. 

Our  subject  is  a  strong  Republican  in  politics 
and  has  been  honored  1)y  his  party  with  some  im- 
portant offices.     He  is  now  serving  his  township  as 


Road  Commissioner  and  as  Director  of  Schools. 
His  cousin,  Rev.  Richard  Radley,  to  whom  allusion 
is  made  above,  was  a  minister  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  and  was  induced  to  come  to 
America  and  take  cliarge  of  the  .lubllce  congrega- 
tion, by  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  who  knew  his 
worth  in  England  am)  wished  to  secure  his  talent 
and  executive  ability  in  this  new  field  of  Inlior.  He 
was  mainly  instrumental  in  building  up  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church  in  this  county.  He  removed 
to  Jubilee  Township  in  1829,  and  entered  very 
much  of  the  land  in  that  section  of  the  country. 


:ai5= 


^^^^ 


^p^ILMAN  W.  AVERY,  a  member  of  the  firm 
ill  ,— -  of  Comstock,  Avery  &  Co.,  dealers  in  fur- 
^^Jl  niture,  has  been  doing  business  in  Peoria 
since  1863.  They  now  occupy  one  of  tiie  finest 
buildings  in  the  city,  comprising  Nos.  210  and  212 
South  Adams  Street,  where  they  have  elegant  sales- 
rooms on  three  floors,  with  warerooms  in  the  base- 
ment and  the  fourth  story.  They  conduct  the 
largest  and  finest  furniture  house  in  the  city.  The 
present  building  was  put  up  in  1889,  tbey  removing 
into  it  in  September.  The  former  store  building, 
built  in  18(53,  had  been  destroyed  by  fire  in  Jlarch 
previously. 

This  firm  manufactures  parlor  goods  of  all  de- 
scriptions from  costly  to  medium  price,  besides 
doing  a  general  jobbing  business  in  conuei^tion 
with  the  retail  trade.  The  several  members  of  the 
firm  are  energetic  and  experienced  business  men 
who  have  made  for  themselves  a  good  record  and 
in  whom  the  community  have  entire  confidence. 
Mr.  Avery  is  a  New  Englaniier,  having  been  born 
in  Greenfield,  N.  H.,  March  11,  1835.  He  comes 
of  excellent  stock,  being  the  son  of  Amos  and 
Lj'dia  (Evans)  Avery,  who  were  also  natives  of  the 
Granite  State  and  are  now  deceased. 

Young  Avery  remained  in  his  n.ative  place  until 
reaching  manhood  and  then  striking  out  on  his  own 
account,  emigrated  across  the  Mississippi  to  Greene 
County,  Mo.,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching,  and 
had  charge  of  tlie  Ebenezer  High  School.  After 
a  few  years  he  began   merchandising  in  Lebanon, 


936 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mo.,  but  during  the  troublous  times  which  followed 
lost  his  goods  and  property.  He  remained  there 
until  his  pronounced  Union  sentiments  made  him 
obnoxious  to  the  rebel  element  and  deeming  dis- 
cretion the  better  part  of  valor,  he  left  that  seciion 
and  located  next  in  Gridlej',  111.,  where  lie  resumed 
merchandising  for  a  short  time,  then  in  1862,  came 
to  Peoria  and  was  variously  occupied  during  the 
first  year.  He  then  entered  into  a  partnership  with 
F.  J.  Comstock  and  they  established  a  store  on 
Main,  between  Water  and  Washington  Streets, 
where  they  did  business  until  about  1883. 

The  firm  was  then  obliged  to  increase  its  facili- 
ties and  the)-  put  up  the  first  fine  building  in  the 
block  which  they  now  occupj'.  Business  has  grown 
up  around  them  until  they  are  now  centrally  lo- 
cated among  the  retail  trade.  The  first  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1883,  but  was  soon  replaced 
by  the  larger  and  more  complete  struclure.  Mr. 
Averj'  forms  the  responsible  part  of  the  firm  and 
has  the  chief  management,  his  partner  doing  busi- 
in  St.  Louis. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1858  to  ^liss  Ellen 
Haywood,  also  a  native  of  New  H.impshire  aud 
born  in  East  Jafifrey,  in  the  year  1838.  Of  the  four 
children  born  of  this  union  only  two  ate  living: 
Frank  E.,  who  is  the  assistant  of  his  father,  and 
Fred  H.,  who  is  attending  school.  Mrs.  Avery  de- 
parted this  life  April  19,  1890,  at  the  .age  of  fifty- 
two  years.  She  was  a  member  in  good  standing  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church,  to  which  Mr.  Avery  also 
lielongs  and  in  which  he  is  a  Trustee.  He  votes 
the  straight  Republican  ticket  and  has  represented 
the  Third  Ward  in  the  Citv  Council. 


^  ENRY  VICARY.  Cornwall  is  one  of  the 
fairest  .and  richest  counties  of  "merrie 
*>^  England"  and  has  given  many  of  her  sons 
i^j  to  aid  in  the  development  of  the  vast 
treasures  contained  in  the  soil  or  found  in  the  mines 
of  tlie  New  World.  One  of  her  l)rave  sons  who 
valiantly  set  out  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  New 
Country  across  the  sea,  is  the  one  of  whom  we  write 
in  this  brief  biography.     He  was  born  in  Cornwell, 


England,  Maj'  23,  1832,  and  left  home  when  eight- 
een to  see  what  he  could  do  in  America.  For 
twelve  years  after  reaching  this  country  he  lived  in 
Delaware  Cftuntj-,  Pa.,  where  he  was  eraploj^ed  in 
a  woolen  mill. 

Upon  leaving  Pennsylvania  Mr.  Vicary  came  to 
Peoria  County  and  settled  in  Kickapoo  Township, 
where  he  has  since  resided  engaged  in  coal  mining 
and  farming.  He  has  given  his  attention  chieflj^ 
to  the  former  occupation,  carrjing  on  operations  in 
Peoria  County.  His  farm  comprises  about  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  good  land  upon  which  he  has 
erected  a  comfortable  house  and  other  good  build- 
ings. His  land  lies  close  to  Pottstown,  on  section 
36,  where  he  and  his  family  live  in  comfortable  in- 
dependence surrounded  by  all  the  conveniences 
and  manj-  of  the  luxuries  of  modern  civilized  life. 
A  view  of  their  fine  estate  is  presented  elsewhere 
in  this  volume. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  named  Henry 
Vicary  and  was  a  native  of  England,  where  he 
spent  a  large  portion  of  his  life.  The  mother  was 
Ann  (Gipps)  Viearj-,  also  a  native  of  England. 
Henr)-  Vicaiy,  Sr.,  came  to  America  in  1862,  and 
after  remaining  three  3'ears  returned  to  England, 
and  died  soon  afterward.  The  mother  came  to 
Kickapoo  Township,  Peoria  County,  where  she 
made  her  home  with  lier  son.  our  subject,  until  her 
death  in  1871. 

Henry  Vicary,  of  whom  we  write,  was  united  in 
the  bonds  of  matrimony  July  3,  1857,  in  Phil.a- 
delphia,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Lonsdale.  Mrs. 
Vicary  is  a  native  of  Lancashire.  England,  where 
she  was  born  in  1839.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Alice  Lonsdale,  and  is  an  intelligent  aud  pleas- 
ant lady,  making  friends  everywhere.  Of  the  chil- 
dren born  to  her  and  her  husband  seven  are  living, 
as  follows:  John,  George  AV..  Alice  A.,  wife  of 
Jacob  Waite:  Mary,  wife  of  Edward  Pepard;  El- 
len, wife  of  V.  Wolstienhole:  Henry  and  William. 
Those  deceased  are:  Jennie,  who  died  when  about 
two  years  of  age;  and  four  who  died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  takes  an  active  part  in  all  matters 
connected  with  the  well-being  of  the  township  aud 
is  favorably  disposed  tx)ward  all  plans  calculated 
to  advance  the  prosperity  of  the  members  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives.     In  politics  he   is  a 


PORTRAIT  ANH  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


939 


Republican  and  stands  higli  in  the  esteem  of  liis 
fellow  citizens  of  all  political  creeds;  he  has  been 
iionored  with  the  office  of  Highway  Commissioner, 
ill  which  position  he  sjave  unqualified  satisfaction. 
Mr.  A'icary  is  a  genial,  good-hearted  man,  ever 
ready  to  respond  to  the  call  of  the  needy  and  ij 
beloved  by  not  only  the  members  of  his  own  fam- 
il}',  but  also  by  the  people  vvitli  whom  he  is  more 
or  less  intimately  associated. 


I  AMES  II.  FL.VNEGAN.  is  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  industrial  interests  of  this 
county,  as  a  skillful  farmer,  and  as  a  pros- 
perous manufacturer  of  brick.  He  carries 
on  his  farming  and  manufacturing  operations  in 
Richwood  Townshii),  and  is  an  important  factor 
in  the  advancement  of  its  growth  and  financial 
standing. 

James  Flanegan,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  New  .Terse}',  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Rachael  Wells,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
State.  She  is  now  deceased.  His  father  is  a  pros- 
perous farmer.  Twelve  children  were  born  of  liis 
marriage,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  James  Flanegan,  and  he  was  a  farmer 
and  mechanic  in  New  Jerse}',  his  native  State.  He 
spent  the  most  of  his  life  in  Salem  County,  and 
died  there  about  1865.  Jlr.  Flanegan "s  maternal 
grandfather  was  John  AVells,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  of  which  lie  was  a  resident  until  his 
death.  He  gave  his  attention  entirely-  to  farming 
and  was  quite  an  extensive  landowner.  He  was  a 
devout  Christian,  and  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Salem  County,  N.  J., 
on  the  26th  of  January,  1839,  and  grew  to  man's 
estate  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  living  there  until  he 
was  twenty-two  j'ears  old.  He  continued  to  be  a 
resident  of  New  Jersej-  until  1865,  being  engaged 
in  farming.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Peoria,  and 
resided  three  years  in  that  city,  engaging  in  differ- 
ent occupations.  He  then  bought  a  farm  in  Rich- 
wood  Township,  and  gave  his  attention  exclusively 


to  farming,  for  some  years.  In  1 878  he  began  the 
manufacture  of  brick,  and  turns  off  eleven  hundred 
thousand  annually,  the  bricks  being  of  a  fine  qual- 
ity, commanding  a  read}'  market.  He  has  a  good 
and  highly  productive  little  farm  of  thirty  acres  on 
section  32,  which  he  is  constantly  improving.  He 
has  provided  it  with  an  excellent  set  of  commodious 
buildings,  and  has  the  land  under  excellent  tillage, 
and  from  its  rich  harvests  derives  a  good   income. 

Since  coming  to  Richwood  Mr.  Flanegan  has 
taken  unto  himself  a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Sarah  Jane  McKinney,  daughter  of  John  McKinney, 
of  this  township,  of  which  Mrs.  Flanegan  is  a  na- 
tive. They  have  tliree  children,  Rachael  M.,  Maude 
E.  and  James  B. 

Mr.  Flanegan  is  a  man  of  character  himself,  and 
has  a  good  understanding  of  human  nature  in  gen- 
eral, and  is  gifted  with  the  tact  to  deal  with  it,  so 
as  to  gain  his  ends  without  infringing  on  the  rights  > 
of  others.  His  decision,  power  of  discrimination 
and  clear  practical  judgment  have  led  him  to  pros- 
perity and  these  traits,  guided  by  his  public  spirit, 
have  made  him  a  most  desirable  citizen,  as  he  be- 
stirs himself  to  forward  all  plans  that  will  cnhruice 
the  welfare  of  township  and  county.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  School  Director,  and  has  been  an  in- 
fluence in  securing  good  educational  facilities  for 
the  children  of  the  townshi|).  In  his  political  views 
he  is  independent,  being  bound  by  no  party  ties. 
Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  and  children  are  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  I'ipiscopal  Church. 

"^Z  AMES  S.  COE.  We  take  pleasure  in  repre- 
senting this  enterprising,  intelligent  and  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Brimfield 
Township,  in  this  Biograimucal  Album.  He 
is  a  veteran  of  the  late  Civil  AVar,  and  as  a  faith- 
ful and  capable  soldier  won  a  honorable  military 
record,  of  which  he  is  justly  proud. 

Mr.  Coe  is  a  native  of  Monroe  County,  Ohio, 
and  was  born  August  15.  1841.  He  is  a  son  of 
David  G.  and  Lucinda  (Baldwin)  Coe,  with  whom, 
in  1858,  he  came  to  Illinois.  His  father  cast  in 
his  lot  at  first  with  the  pioneers  of  this  township, 


940 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


locating  in  llie  nortliprn  part,  where  he  lived  a 
short  time.  He  then  removed  with  his  famiij-  to 
Knox  County,  and  resided  there  some  three  j-ears. 
He  flnalh"  went  to  Iowa,  and  there  the  closing 
years  of  his  useful  and  honorable  life  were  passed. 
Of  his  large  family  of  children  but  four  survive, 
viz :  William  S.  and  James  S.,  of  Peoria  County ; 
fSarah  J.,  wife  of  W.  M.  Lucas,  of  Hutchinson, 
Kan.,  and  David  G.,  of  Mercer  County,  111. 

James  Coe  was  carefull}'  tr.iined  bj-  worthy  par- 
ents to  an  upright,  sturdy  manhood.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  adopted  the  calling 
of  a  farmer,  to  which  lie  had  been  bred.  August 
22,  1862,  our  subject  patrioticallj'  threw  aside  his 
work  and  all  his  personal  ambitions,  to  take  part  in 
the  great  war  that  was  then  waging  between  the 
North  and  South.  He  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany A,  Seventj'-Seventh  Illinois  Infantr3-,  and 
from  that  time  took  part  in  various  skirmishes, 
campaigns  and  battles,  until  the  war  was  brought 
to  a  close.  He  was  present  in  the  first  attack  on 
Vicksburg,  and  subsequently  fought  at  Arkansas 
Post.  He  then  returned  to  take  further  i)art  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  remained  at  the  spot  until 
its  fall.  From  there  his  regiment  was  sent  to  New 
( uleans,  and  for  a  time  was  under  Gen.  Banks,  and 
accompanied  him  upon  the  Red  River  Expedition, 
At  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  in  Louisiana,  our  sub- 
ject was  captured  b}'  the  Confederates  and  suffered 
imprisonment  for  over  thirteen  mouths  at  T\der, 
Tex.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  was  es- 
ciianged,  and  June  3.  1865,  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. 

After  his  hard  experience  of  life  on  Southern 
battlefields  and  in  Confederate  prisons,  our  sub- 
ject returned  to  the  Prairie  State,  and  quiellj^  re- 
sumed farming,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  useful 
citizen  of  Peoria  County.  He  owns  a  farm  of 
eight}'  acres  on  section  30,  ISrimfield  Township,  on 
which  he  located  in  the  spring  of  1877,  and  by  as- 
siduous toil  he  has  brought  it  to  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation,  and  has  provided  it  with  all  the  nec- 
essary buildings  and  with  good  machinery,  every- 
thing about  the  place  betokening  care  and  thrifty 
management  on  the  part  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Coe  and  Miss  Sarah  J.  Reifl  united  their  lives 
and  fortunes  February  16.  1870,  and   the  marriage 


then  solemnized  has  proved  of  mutual  benefit.  Mrs. 
Coe  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Gatry  M.  Reid, 
highly  respected  residents  of  Peoria.  Five  chil- 
dren have  born  to  Mr.  and  JMrs.  Coe,  namely: 
Herman,  deceased;  Frank  PI,  Fred  L.,  Hollis  B.  and 
James  R.  Our  subject  started  out  in  life  with  no 
other  capital  than  a  clear  brain,  a  willingness  to 
work,  and  strong  muscles,  but  tiiey  liave  sufficed 
to  make  him  what  he  is  to-day,  and  to  bring*  to 
him  a  comfortable  competence.  His  square  deal- 
ings in  all  his  transactions,  his  probit}-  and  gen- 
uine worth,  have  won  for  him  the  reputation  of 
which  he  is  justly  proud,  and  placed  him  among 
the  most  desirable  citizens  of  the  township.  He 
favors  all  things  that  will  in  any  way  elevate  the 
community,  socially,  morallj^  or  materially,  and  is 
one  of  the  valued  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  as  is  also  his  wife.  He  is  active 
in  educational  matters,  being  one  of  the  School  Di- 
rectors of  his  district.  Politically,  he  is  a  firm  ad. 
vocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party. 


AMUEL  SEABUEV,  proprietor  of  the 
Peoria  Shirt  Manufactory  located  in  the 
Masonic  Temple,  is  conducting  an  excel- 
lent business  that  he  established  here  a 
quarter  of  a  century  ago,  and  by  his  shrewd  man- 
agement has  made  it  one  of  the  stable  industries  of 
the  cit}',  and  has  placed  himself  among  its  sub- 
stantial citizens. 

Mr.  Seabury  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  at  Tre- 
mont,  December  9,  1842.  He  is  descended  from 
an  old  English  familj'  that  traces  its  lineage  back 
to  Edward  I.  He  is  a  son  of  R.  F.  and  Catherine 
(Russell)  Seabury.  His  father  was  born  in  London, 
Conn.,  in  the  same  house  that  was  the  birthplace  of 
Bishop  Seabury,  from  whom  he  is  descended. 
When  a  j-oung  man  he  went  to  New  York,  and  was 
there  married,  and  in  1836  came  to  Treraont,  111., 
and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  town. 
He  engaged  in  a  commercial  business  there  and 
subsequently  opened  a  store  in  Kickapoo,  and  was 
afterward  the  first  Postmaster  of  that    town.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUJI. 


941 


lulil  tbat  position  for  eighteen  years,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  received  a  voluminous  report 
from  the  Government,  covering  tiic  wliole  i)eriod 
of  tlie  incumbency  of  that  ollice,  showing  tliut  tlie 
Government  owed  him  two  cents,  which  was  re- 
mitted to  him.  He  was  very  prominent  in  tlie 
public  life  of  Kickapoo,  and  was  Supervisor  for 
many  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Cluircli.  He  came  to  Peoria  several  years  ago,  and 
he  and  iiis  good  wife  are  honored  residents  of  this 
city.  He  has  a  family  of  eight  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living  in  this  city.  The  family  circle  has 
never  been  broken  by  death. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  four  jears  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  this  county  and  located 
in  Kickapoo,  and  the  remainder  of  his  life  has  been 
passed  in  this  part  of  Illinois.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  this  county,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  began  life  for  himself,  leaving 
the  parental  home,  and  vrorked  one  year  on  a  farm. 
His  seventeenth  year  was  spent  in  a  store  in  South- 
port,  this  county ;  after  this  he  worked  for  three 
years  ai  the  carpenter's  trade,  then  clerked  one  year 
in  a  store  in  this  city,  and  then,  in  1864,  engaged 
in  business  with  his  brother  in  the  sale  of  Yankee 
notions,  running  wagons  through  the  country,  con- 
tinuing in  that  line  until  1868.  Between  the  time 
be  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  clerking  he 
was  for  one  year  in  the  sutler's  department  of  the 
Fourteenth  CavaUy.  In  1869  our  subject  opened 
a  ladies"  and  gentlemen's  furnishing  goods  store 
at  No.  309  Main  Street,  opposite  the  Court  House, 
carrying  on  that  business  there  successfully  for 
many  j-ears.  This  was  the  first  laige  store  of  this 
kind  in  the  city,  and  our  subject  had  many  things 
in  stock  that  had  not  previously  been  kept  in  such 
a  store.  Having  been  unfortunate  in  selecting 
clerks  he  failed  in  1873.  About  twenty-live  years 
ago  Mr.  Seabury  started  a  shirt  manufactory  and 
gradually  abandoned  other  branches  of  business 
and  finally  gave  his  entire  attention  to  manufact- 
uring shirts.  He  has  greatly  increased  the  capacity 
of  his  manufactory,  which  is  the  only  one  in  the 
city,  to  meet  the  demands  of  a  large  patronage, 
having  shipped  shirts  to  seventeen  States  this  last 
year. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  wife  of  our  subject  was 


Isabella  F.Woodward.  She  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  but 
at  the  time  of  her  marriage  was  living  in  Normal. 
She  is  a  descendant  of  English  and  Irish  families,  the 
former  of  Norman  extraction  that  claims  William 
the  Conqueror  as  one  of  its  ancestors.  Mrs.  Sea- 
bury  is  a  daughter  of  W.  E.  Woodward,  who  was 
an  early  settler  of  Peoria,  coming  to  this  county 
from  Southern  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seabury  have 
six  children— Edward  F.,  William  S.,  Charlotte  I., 
Fannie  M.,  Catherine  E.  and  Bertha  M.  All  have 
attained  manhood  and  womanhood  and  have  been 
given  fine  educational  advantages. 

By  strictly  honorable  methods,  j\lr.  Seabury  has 
conducted  bis  business  to  a  successful  issue,  and  his 
name  stands  high  in  the  financial  circles  of  the  city. 
He  is  a  man  of  prominence  in  social  and  religious 
affairs;  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  order,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  member  twenty-eight  years 
and  is  a  member  of  the  F^piscopal  Church. 


WILLIAM  II.  MEEKER,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  in  Trivoli  Township,  has 
passed  through  a  varied  experience,  his 
life  including  a  trip  across  the  country  in  the  days 
when  travel  to  the  Pacific  Coast  was  beset  with 
danger  and  privation,  an  experience  of  some  years 
in  the  California  mines,  and  the  usual  incidents  of 
farm  life  in  the  Mississippi  \'aliey.  Through  all 
his  experience  he  has  preserved  the  sterling  (piali- 
ties  of  honesty,  temperance  and  true  manliness, 
together  with  the  agreeable  manners  and  pleasing 
conversational  powers  which  prepossess  strangers 
in  his  favor,  and,  standing  the  test  of  closer  com- 
panionship, secure  many  warm  friends.  He  is  now 
located  on  an  excellent  estate,  comprising  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  16,  where 
many  first-class  improvements  will  be  found,  in- 
cluding good  buildings,  neat  fences,  orchards  and 
groves. 

The  Meeker  family  is  of  English  descent,  belong- 
ing to  that  class  which,  having  settled  in  America 
during  Colonial  days,  took  up  arms  against  British 
tyranny.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  and  his  son,  David,  took  up 


942 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


arras  in  the  second  struggle  for  release  from  British 
eiieroathiuent.  The  latter  patriot  was  born  in  New 
Jersej',  and  learned  the  trades  of  a  brickmaker  and 
mason.  In  the  early  days  of  settlement  along  the 
Oliio  River  he  removed  to  Cincinnati  bj-  teams, 
and  after  living  a  short  time  near  Springdale  made 
Dayton  his  place  of  abode.  After  having  worked 
at  the  mason's  trade  for  a  time  he  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixtj-  acres  of  land  in  Darke  Count}-,  and 
engaged  in  farming  and  brickmaking,  adding  to 
his  real-est«te  until  he  owned  over  two  hundred 
acres,  which  he  cleared  with  the  aid  of  his  sons. 
'Inhere  he  died  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  sixt3'-two 
years.  He  w.as  a  member  of  the  Democrat  part}-, 
and  of  the  Universalist  Church. 

David  Meeker  married  Nancy  Ann  Jliller.  a  na- 
tive of  tiie  Kei'Stone  State  and  daughter  of  Matliew 
JMiiler,  who  was  of  German  descent.  Mrs.  Meeker 
died  in  Greenville,  Ohio,  cheered  by  the  faith  of 
the  I'nited  Brethren  Church.  She  was  the  mother 
of  tliirteeu  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this 
notice  is  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth.  The  rec- 
ord of  the  others  is  as  follows:  Cyrus  died  in  18S9  : 
Nathaniel  and  Aliller  ,J.  are  deceased;  Carlotta  is 
living  in  Indiana;  Talitha  died  in  this  county: 
Emeline  lives  in  Greenville,  Ohio;  David  is  Conn  I}' 
Judge  in  Darke  County,  Ohio;  Michael  died  in 
Iowa;  Francis  was  killed  b}- a  horse  near  St.  Louis, 
Ml). ;  Rufus  is  deceased ;  James,  who  was  a  Probate 
Judge  in  Ohio,  died  ontlic  same  da}- that  President 
Garfield  breathed  his  last;  John  is  living  in  Green- 
ville. Rufus  belonged  to  an  Ohio  regiment  dur- 
ing liie  Civil  AVar,  and  died  soon  after  his  return 
from  the  front,  having  been  in  ill  health  for  a  pe- 
riod  prior  to  his  discharge. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Springdale,  Ohio, 
June  4,  1825,  and  taken  to  Dayton  in  his  baby- 
hood, remaining  there  until  he  was  seven  years 
old.  He  then  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  vicin- 
ity of  New  Madison,  Darke  County,  vrhere  he  was 
early  set  to  work  on  a  farm  in  the  elm  swamps, 
helping  to  clear  the  land  and  taking  advantage  of 
what  educational  privileges  the  district  schools 
afforded.  The  temple  of  learning  in  which  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  was  built  of  logs,  with  puncheon 
floor,  slab  benches,  a  long  writing  bench  and  a 
fireplace;    the    instruction     therein    was    obtained 


under  the  subscription  method.  When  twent3--one 
years  old  young  Meeker  left  his  home  and  engaged 
in  teaching  as  a  temporary  expedient  a  year,  after 
which  he  entered  Froman's  Select  School  at  Jlid- 
dleton,  leaving  it  at  harvest  time  to  swing  a  cradle 
and  bind  sheaves  through  harvest. 

We  next  find  Mr.  Meeker  engaged  in  brickmak- 
ing and  bricklaying  in  Castine,  learning  the  trades 
with  his   brother.     In  the  fall  of  1847  he  came  to 
Illinois,  journeying  by  sUage   to  Cincinnati,  thence 
by  boat  to  St.  Louis,  and  on  the  steamer  to  Coppe- 
ras Lauding.  Fulton  County,  near  Pekin.     Coming 
I    thence    to   Trivoli    Township,    be   remained   until 
:   spring,  when  he   made  a  kiln  of  brick  at  Farming- 
,    ton,- laying  a  part  of    them  in  buildings  at  various 
I    points.     The  next  year  he  made  a  kiln   for  a  Mr. 
Rude  in  Trivoli  Townshi|),  and    then   built  several 
brick  houses. 

5Iarch  14.  1850.  Mr.  Meeker,  with  two  compan- 
ions, started  for  California,  their  outfit  consisting 
of  five  yoke  of  oxen,  a  yoke  of  cows  and  one  cov- 
ered   wagon.     They    crossed    the    Mississippi   at 
I    Qnincy,  the  Missouri  at  Council  Bluffs,  forded    the 
[   Platte  and  Laramie  at  Ft.  Laramie,  struck  acmss  to 
I  the  Black  Hills  country,  crossed  the  Sweet  Water 
and  Green  Rivers,  and  t.aking  Sublet's  Cutoff,  left 
Ft.  Hall  to  the  right.     They  entered   California  on 
i   the  Humboldt  River,   crossed   fifty-two   miles   of 
desert,  and  reaching   Kit  Carson  River,  sold  their 
outfits  and  continued  their  travels  on  foot.     They 
had  been  unmolested  by  Indians. 

After  selling  their  teams  they  crossed  the  Sierras 
to  Placerville,  prospected  there  for  a  few  days, 
then  went  to  Sacramento  City,  whence  they  sailed 
twenty  miles  up  the  river,  consuming  tw-o  days  in 
the  voyage.  Leaving  tlie  boat  they  again  proceeded 
on  foot  to  Marysville,  thence  to  Park's  Bar,  where 
Mr.  Sleeker  engaged  in  mining.  He  remained 
there  until  the  spring  of  1851,  when,  after  the  San 
Francisco  fire,  he  went  to  that  city  and  engaged  in 
brickmaking,  buying  a  half-interest  in  a  yard  which 
on  a  contract  made  §20  per  day  for  each  partner. 
He  next  hired  out  to  a  company  to  mold  brick, 
molding  six  thousand  a  day  until  fall. 
I  Mr.  Sleeker  then  returned  to  the  mines  until 
'  spring,  when  he  went  to  Marysville  during  the 
I   high    water,    working   at   brickmaking.     He    then 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


;)43 


went  to  his  claim  on  the  Yuba  River,  again  engaged 
in  prospecting  and  mining,  making  some  ^40  per 
day  about  two  months,  vvlien  he  was  unable  to  work 
his  lead  longer  on  account  of  the  water.  The  next 
winter  he  spent  at  Owsley's  Bar  and  a  point  three 
miles  below,  where  he  continued  to  prospect  until 
June  16,  1853.  He  then  started  home  via  Panama 
iind  New  York  City,  with  the  intention  of  return- 
ing to  the  coast  after  visiting  his  friends.  His 
brother,  however,  had  bought  some  land  for  him 
in  this  county',  and  he  finally  decided  to  locate 
upon  it.  He  therefore  turned  his  attention  to 
agricultural  work,  operating  the  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  14,  Trivoli  Township, 
until  1857.  when  he  rented  it  and  engaged  in  brick- 
making  in  Farmington,  also  laying  brick  there 
about  three  years. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  Mr.  Meeker  re- 
turned to  his  farm,  his  business  having  been  ser- 
iously affected  In-  the  linancial  depressions  and  the 
"wild  eat"  money  which  flooded  this  section.  He 
had  a  half-million  of  brick  on  hand,  for  which 
there  was  no  sale.  He  worked  his  estate  until 
1869.  when  he  sold  it  and  bought  the  improved 
farm  upon  which  he  is  now  living.  He  has  worked 
at  his  trade  off  and  on,  but  has  never  abandoned 
.igriculture.  The  principal  products  of  his  estate 
are  corn  and  hogs,  the  latter  being  full-blooded 
Poland-Chinas,  but  he  also  raises  goodgrales  of 
cattle  and  horses  suitable  for  general  purposes,  to- 
gether with  some  other  crops.  A  fine  spring  of 
living  water  adds  to  the  value  of  his  land,  all  of 
wiiich  is  tillable  and  which  formerh'  held  a  fine 
maple  grove,  the  timber  from  which  has  been  sold. 
During  the  war  Mr.  Meeker  haule>.l  grain  to  Peoria, 
receiving  seventy-six  cents  per  bushel  for  oats, 
$1.50  for  rye  and  -§2.50  for  wheat. 

The  marri.age  of  Mr.  Meeker  and  ^liss  Rebecca 
A.  Dunn  w.as  celebrated  in  Trivoli  Township,  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1854.  Mrs.  Meeker  was  born  in  High- 
land County,  Ohio,  but  came  hither  with  her  par- 
ents when  quite  small,  they  settling  near  Farming- 
ton.  She  is  intelligent  and  capable,  and  prior  to 
her  marriage  was  engaged  in  schooT-teaching.  The 
happy  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  we  note  the  following:  George, 
a  graduate   of   Knox  College,  is  now  Principal  of 


Petersburg  High  School;  Cena  A.,  a  graduate  of 
the  Farmington  High  School,  is  the  wife  of  .T.  H. 
Rockwell,  their  home  being  in  Brookfield,  Afo.; 
Everett  is  now  living  in  Elniwood  engaged  in  busi- 
ness, but  formerly  taught  school;  Lucy  is  the  wife 
of  G.  W.  Yerion,  a  prominent  young  farmer  of  the 
township,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  ALurjr; 
Ruby,  formerly  engaged  in  school-teaching." mar- 
ried John  Steck,  a  farmer  in  this  township;  Frank 
is  engaged  in  .agriculture  here;  Annie  and  William 
still  remain  at  home. 

Mr.  Meeker  served  as  Township  Clerk  three 
years.  Assessor  two  years,  School  Trustee  and 
Director  for  a  long  period,  and  was  elected  Justice 
of  the  Pe.ace,  but  did  not  qualify  for  that  oflice. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist;  He  is  a  Trus- 
tee in  the  Methodist  Episcoi)al  Church  at  Concord, 
and  was  at  one  time  Class-Leader;  he  helped  much 
in  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice. 


-^ 


iLI.TAH  STARTS.  Thi.'^  gentleman  is  one 
1^,  of  the  old  settlers  of  Peoria  County  having 
removed  thither  from  Guernsey  County, 
Ohio,  in  1848.  He  was  born  in  Delaware,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1818,  to  Elisha  and  Hester  A.  Starts, 
natives  of  Delaware  and  Ohio.  When  our  sub- 
ject was  quite  young,  his  parents  removed  to 
Coshocton,  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared  to  manhood.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  district  and  m.ide  good 
use  of  the  opportunities  there  afforded  to  acquire  a 
fair  English  education.  The  knowledge  olitained  in 
the  little,  low  building  devoted  to  the  purposes  of 
a  school,  supplemented  by  close  observation  and 
subsequent  reading  has  been  of  great  value  to  him 
in  his  career  in  life. 

When  our  subject  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  and  worked  at  odd 
jobs  until  the  death  of  his  parents,  his  father  dying 
in  1841  and  his  mother  in  1840.  Soon  afterward 
his  home  was  l)roken  up  by  the  ravages  of  death. 
Mr.  Starts  was  married  to  a  lady  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, but'his  wedded  bliss  was  brief,  as  she  died 
not  long  afterward  leaving  one  child  to  the  care  of 


941 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  SOI  rowing  father.  Although  left  motherless  at 
such  a  tender  age,  the  little  girl,  Hester  Aun, 
blossomed  into  noble  womauhoorl,  and  is  now  the 
wife  of  Nathan  Fuller,  of  this  township.  After 
the  wife's  death  our  subject  removed  to  Hollis.and 
worked  for  Mr.  Powell  and  others  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  returned  to  the  Bucke^-e  State. 
There  he  married  Miss  Ellen  Addj',  a  sister  of 
his  first  wife  and  a  daughter  of  William  Ad<ly.  In 
1850  he  once  more  took  up  his  residence  in  Hollis 
and  settled  on  the  eighty  acres  of  land  which  is 
now  a  portion  of  his  present  home. 

The  liapiiy  home  was  again  invaded  bj-  death, 
and  in  18G3  the  beloved  wife  died,  leaving  three 
children  tocomfort,as  best  they  might,  the  stricken 
fatlier,  left  to  gloom  and  loneliness.  Tiieir  names 
are  as  follows:  Sarah,  the  wife  of  John  Stewart,  of 
Hollis  Township,  who  died  leaving  three  children, 
Lydia,  Stella  and  Bell,  one  of  whom  is  now  de- 
ceased: ^Iar\\  the  second  daughter,  is  the  wife  of 
John  Johnson,  formerly-  a  resident  of  Hollis,  but 
now  living  in  Pottawatamie  County,  Iowa.  The 
youngest.  Miss  Violet,  is  still  a  member  of  her 
father's  household  and  an  ornament  to  the  com- 
munity. 

In  186G  Mr.  Starts  again  visited  his  former  home 
and  won  a  bride  there  in  the  person  of  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Bach,  and  was  married  November  1.5,  1866. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  M,ary  (ilurlattie) 
Bach,  natives  of  America,  of  P^nglisb  and  Welsh 
stock.  William  Bach  was  a  son  of  William  and  Mar}- 
(Llo3d)  Bach,  and  still  lives  in  Guernse}'  County,, 
Ohio,  where  he  is  highly  respected  for  his  man\' 
sterling  virtues.  He  was  born  May  22,  1812.  Mrs. 
B.ach,  wife  of  William  Bach,  and  mother  of  Mrs. 
Starts,  departed  tliis  life  in  1854  at  the  age  of  for- 
tj'-three  years.  She  w.os  a  good  Christian  woman 
and  her  death  was  deeply  lamented.  William 
Bach,  Sr.,  was  born  December  9,  178C,  and  lived 
to  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty -seven,  falling  asleep 
June  29,  1873.  His  wife.  Mary  (Lloyd)  Bach, was 
born  May  25,  1789,  and  survived  the  storms  of 
life  until  September  2,  1868,  when  she  too  entered 
upon  eternal  life,  and  there  enjoys  that  rest  which 
remains  for  the  people  of  God. 

B}-  his  third  marriage  Mr.  Starts  has  had  five 
children   added    to    his  family,  as   follows:  Elijah 


Lloj'd  died  when  twelve  years  of  age;  Nora  J.,  a 
young  lad}'  still  at  home:  two  children  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  the  youngest,  a  son,  James  A.,  aged 
eight  3'ears,  Is  a  bright  bo3',who  gives  much  prom- 
ise for  future  usefulness. 

Mr.  Starts  bj'  energy  and  industry  accumulated 
much  valuable  proiierty.  His  farm  comprises  four 
hundred  .acres  of  good  land,  most  of  which  he 
cleared  from  the  timber  and  brush  which  covered 
it  in  its  original  wildness.  He  now  operates 
about  two  hundred  acres  himself  with  the  aid  of 
hired  help,  and  the  fine  condition  of  everything 
pertaining  to  it  proclaims  the  care  and  thougiitful- 
ness  of  the  owner.  In  addition  to  his  farm  work 
he  followed  carpentering  for  some  twenty  3-ears. 
but  has  recently  abandoned  that  business  and  now 
devotes  his  entire  time  to  his  home  v.-ork.  He 
learned  the  carpenter  trade  while  a  resident  of 
Ohio  under  Albert  Powell,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears elsewhere.  The  beautiful  estate  of  our  sub- 
ject is  situated  about  twelve  miles  from  the  city  of 
Peoria.  Harkers  Corners  being  the  nearest  post- 
office. 

Politicall3-,  Mr.  .Starts  affiliates  with  the  Demo- 
crat party  on  national  issues,  but  is  independent 
in  matters  of  local  importance.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily are  devoted  and  active  members  of  the  La 
Marsh  Baptist  Church,  and  he  takes  a  deeper  in- 
terest in  its  welfare  than  in  almost  anything  else. 
He  and  his  family  live  beautiful  Christian  lives, 
and  are  higM3-  esteemed  for  their  many  good  qual- 
ities  1)3'   the  people  among  whom  their  lot  is  cast. 


^^^ 


NDREW  W.  PINCKNEY,  Jr.     There  are 
those  who  think  the  life  of  a  farmer  is  but 
Is    a  wearv  round  of  drudger3'  uncheered  by 
1^'  intellectual   or  social  enjoyments  or    un- 

marked b}'  the  exhibition  of  any  high  mental  cul- 
ture or  spiritual  aspirations.  A  visit  to  the  home 
of  A.  W.  Pinckne3-  on  section  12,  Kickapoo  Town- 
ship, would  prove  this  to  be  erroneous.  The  re- 
finement of  the  home  and  surroundings  indicates 
that  the  inmates  possess  intelligence,  culture  and 
a  taste  for  all  that  is  beautiful  and  ennobling. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


945 


The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  the  young- 
est in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  four  (laughters, 
whose  parental  history  maj'  be  founil  in  the  sketch 
of  Andrew  AV.  Pinclinej',  Sr.,  whicli  occui)ios  an- 
other page  in  this  volume.  He  was  born  in  Kieka- 
poo  Township,  October  12,  1856,  but  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  the  count}'  seat  to  whieli  Ins  fatlier  re- 
moved during  his  infanc}'.  Me  was  educated  in  the 
city  schools  where  he  disphiyed  aptness  in  study 
and  a  keen  comprehension  of  the  practical  use  of 
knowledge.  He  remained  with  liis parents  until  his 
marriage,  after  which  he  set  ui)  his  own  home. 

Going  to  Colorado.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piuckney 
made  their  home  in  Denver  for  a  year,  thence  re- 
moving to  Boulder  City.and  after  sojourning  there 
an  equal  length  of  time,  returned  to  the  Prairie 
State.  They  abode  in  Peoria  until  the  spring  of 
1887,  Mr.  Pinckney  being  engaged  in  the  real  es- 
tate business  until  that  time,  when  he  located  on 
land  entered  by  his  grandfather  from  the  Govern- 
ment. He  now  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  which  he  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding 
trotting  and  draft  horses.  The  location  is  a  fav- 
orable one  for  both  stock-raising  and  farming  and 
is  pleasant  for  the  family,  as  it  commands  a  good 
view  of  tiie  landscape  diversified  by  iiiil  and 
plain,  forest  and  stream. 

In  Kansas  City, Mo., October  7, 1879,the interesting 
ceremony  took  place  which  transformed  Miss  Lena 
Miedroth  into  Mrs.  A.  W.  Pinckney.  Mrs.  Pinck- 
ney was  born  in  Peoria  February  22,  1863,  being 
the  fifth  child  of  William  and  Caroline  (Little) 
Meidroth,  both  natives  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany. 
They  were  early  settlers  in  Peoria, where  the  father 
died  about  1872.  Mrs.  Pinckney  was  the  recipi- 
ent of  excellent  advant.ages  in  the  way  of  schooling 
and  maternal  advice  and  instruction,  and  grew  to 
womanhood,  |)0ssessing  a  noble  nature  and  a 
cultured  mind.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pinckney  are  the  par- 
ents of  one  son.  who  also  bears  the  name  of  An- 
drew W.,  a  brilliant  lad,  who  bids  fair  to  extend 
the  usefulness  and  repute  of  the  famil}'  name  even 
more  rapidly  than  his  progenitors  have  done. 

Mr.  Pinckney  is  a  believer   in  and  supporter  of 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.     A  |)ublic 
siilrited  and   energetic  laborer   in   worldly  affairs, 
and    a  genial,    hospitable,   upright  man,  he   is  re- 


l,Vig 


garded  with  great  respect  by  those  who  know  him 
while  his  good  wife  shares  in  the  regard  of  their 
associates.  Both  are  members  of  Orange  Grange, 
to  the  work  of  which  tiiey  devote  considerable 
time. 


jOSEPH  DALTON  is  closely  identified  with 
the  building  interests  of  Peoria  County  as 
one  of  its  leading  brick  manufacturers.  He 
carries  on  his  business  in  K'ichwood  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  all  the  best  machinery  for  the 
manufacture  of  l)rick,  of  which  he  turns  out  a  large 
quantity  of  Uie  best  and  most  durable  make,  which 
command  a  ready  sale.  Hero  he  has  built  up  a 
beautiful  home  on  section  32,  replete  with  every 
desirable  comfort  and  has  acquired  other  valuable 
property. 

Mr.  Dalton  was  born  in  County  Kilkenny,  Ire- 
land, December  2(',  1826.  He  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  the  place  of  his  nativity,  being  bred  to 
farming  pursuits.  He  loft  his  old  home  in  1849, 
and  in  1850  came  to  America  with  his  mother,  two 
brothers  and  a  sister.  They  Landed  at  New  Orleans 
and  from  there  came  to  Peoria,  arriving  in  that 
city  Ma}-  6.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Mar}'  Cody,  died  in  Peoria.  Our  subject  worked 
at  different  occui)ations  in  that  city  for  several 
weeks  and  was  then  employed  in  the  "Peoria  House" 
for  thirteen  mouths.  After  that  he  found  work  in 
a  brick-yard,  on  what  is  now  Taylor  Street.  He 
continued  working  for  oliiers  at  the  same  employ- 
ment from  1852  to  1859,  when  he  invested  his 
money  and  established  himself  as  a  brick  manu- 
facturer, having  as  a  partner  John  IJutler.  They 
were  together  for  four  years,  and  then  our  subject 
bought  a  tract  of  land  of  fifteen  acres,  and  en- 
gaged in  making  brick  exclusively  for  himself,  and 
has  since  continued  in  business  alone.  He  manu- 
factures a  large  quantity  of  brick,  turning  off  about 
one  million  and  two  hundred  thousand  annually. 
He  owns  one  hundred  and  fifty  five  .acres  on  sec- 
tion 32,  of  Richwood  Township,  and  owns  and  oc- 
cupies a  handsome,  well-appointed  residence. 

To  the  lady  who  presides'  over  his  charming 
home   and  so  graciously  aids  him  in  extending  its 


946 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


,  well-kuowu  hospitalities  to  their  many  friends,  Mr. 
Daltou  was  married  in  Peoria.  Mrs.  Dalton's 
maiden  name  was  Catherine  Nail,  and  she  is,  like 
himself,  of  Irish  birth.  'Uhey  have  eight  children 
living,  as  follows:  James,  Mary.  Richard, Elizabeth, 
Patrick,  Catherine,  Joseph  and  Margaret. 

Joseph  Dalton  possesses  more  than  ordinary  force 
of  character,  guided  by  right  principles  and  sec- 
onded b\^  clear  discernment,  wise  caution  and  ex- 
cellent business  capacity,  and  these  make  him  an 
influence  in  the  work  of  improving  and  further 
developing  the  township  which  he  has  made  his 
home.  He  possesses  true  public  spirit,  3'et  be  has 
never  sought  ottice,  as  he  has  to  devote  himself  to 
his  business  in  order  to  carry  it  on  successfully. 
In  liis  political  views  Mr.  Daltou  is  conservative, 
but  favors  the  Democratic  party  with  his  support. 
Religioush',  he  and  his  estimable  wife  are  of  the 
Catholic  faith,  and  are  respected  members  of  the 
church  of  that  denomination. 


-»^#i 


k^'- 


i,  ORTIMER  M.  MILLER.  One  of  the 
large  landowners  in  Kickapoo  Township 
is  the  gentleman  above  named,  whose 
pleasant  residence  is  located  on  section 
25,  and  whose  landed  estate  comprises  five  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  mostly  in  this  township. 
It  is  marked  with  good  improvements,  and  presents 
a  beautiful  appearance  wheu  the  fine  crops  are  wav- 
ing under  a  gentle  breeze  or  drooping  their  heavy 
heads  in  readiness  for  the  sickle. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Newport,  Ky.,  Jul}-  3, 
1837,  and  was  seventeen  years  old  when  he  left  the 
city  and  engaged  in  farming  about  three  miles  from 
his  birthplace.  .Three  3-ears  later  he  removed  to 
Pekin,  111,  his  means  of  transportation  being  a 
wagon,  and  soon  afterward  came  into  Peoria 
County,  settling  in  Richwood  Township.  There 
he  pursued  his  former  vocation  until  early  in  the 
'60s,  when  he  moved  into  Peoria,  making  that  city 
his  home  about  two  j'ears,  and  busying  himself  at 
different  occupations.  Returning  to  the  farm  in 
Richwood    ToW'Uship,    he    cultivated  it  about  two 


3ears,  then  rented  land  in  Kickapoo  Township  for 
about  the  same  length  of  time. 

We  next  find  Mr.  Miller  purchasing  land  on  sec- 
tion 25,  Kickapoo  Township,  which  he  has  since 
made  his  home  and  upon  which  he  has  made  good 
improvements.  The  fertile  estate  is  divided  into 
fields  of  convenient  size,  and  under  the  intelligent 
tillage  of  the  owner  proves  a  ver}-  valuable  piece 
of  property'.  The  jears  which  Mr.  Miller  has 
spent  in  farming  have  made  him  a  master  of  the 
art,  and  his  crops  are  not  onh-  proportionate  to  the 
large  amount  of  land  which  he  owns,  but  are  unex- 
celled in  quality. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Miller  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Elizabeth  II.  Crook,  and  is  the  youngest  child  of 
George  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Ilolbrook)  Crook.  Her 
parents  were  born  in  Baltimore,  Md..  and  there  the 
mother  breathed  hor  last.  Mr.  Crook  afterward 
married  Miss  Martha  Spurck,  removed  to  Peoria 
in  1846,  and  after  several  years  spent  in  mercantile 
pursuits  engaged  in  farming  in  Kickapoo  Town- 
ship. There  the  marriage  rites  of  his  daughtec 
and  Mr.  Miller  were  celebrated  September  13, 
1859.  Mr.  Crook  is  now  living  in  Brookl^'u, 
N.  Y. 

Tiie  birth  of  Mrs.  Miller  occurred  in  Perry 
Count}',  Ohio,  September  12,  1839.  She  is  well 
informed,  has  been  devoted  to  her  husband  and 
children,  and  is  kindly  in  her  relations  with  those 
about  her.  She  has  borne  her  husband  twelve 
children,  viz.:  Frederick,  Ida,  Eva,  Lottie,  Will- 
iam, Carrie,  Kate,  Sarah,  Marion,  Charles,  Wilbur, 
and  Pearl.  Eva  and  William  are  deceased.  Ida 
is  the  wife  of  William  Blackwell,  and  Lottie  the 
wife  of  Fred  Matthews.  Mr.  Miller  has  not  sought 
for  office,  preferring  the  quiet  of  home  life  to  the 
turmoil  of  the  political  arena.  He  casts  his  vote 
with  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  regarded  with 
the  esteem  which  his  personal  character  merits, 
and  is  numbered  among  the  progressive  farmers  of 
this  section. 

The  f.ather  of  our  subject  was  Frederick  A.  Miller, 
a  native  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  his  mother,  Sarah 
A.  Clifton,  who  was  born  in  Paris,  Kj-.  After 
their  marriage  this  worth}'  couple  settled  in  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  and  from  Newport  came  to  Peo- 
ria Countv.  111.,  about  1857.     Thev  settled  in  Rich- 


^.U^CuwxaJU^       Jij2Mj2^A^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAl'mCAL  ALBUM. 


949 


wood  Towiisliii),  where  Mr.  Miller  died  tliree  years 
later.  The  widowed  mother  still  survives.  The 
family  consists  of  eleven  thildren.  of  whom  Morti- 
mer INI.  is  the  (iftli  in  order  of  birth. 


-^^§^^^^^ 


1  MANUEL  KELLER.  In  this  gentleman 
Princevilie  has  not  onlj-  one  of  its  most 
/t' — '-^  practical  and  successful  farmers,  but  also 
one  of  its  most  desirable  eitizeus,  who  is  a  conspic- 
uous figure  in  the  social,  religious  and  political  life 
of  this  part  of  the  count\'.  As  a  veteran  of  the 
late  war,  in  wliich  he  fought  long  and  well,  and  as 
an  enter|nising  citizen  of  Peoria  County,  we  arc 
pleased  to  uresent  his  biographical  sketch  and  por- 
trait on  these  pages. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Flory  Keller,  was 
born  in  (lermany,  and  when  three  j'ears  of  age 
accom[)anied  his  father  to  tliis  country,  his  mother 
having  died  in  their  native  land.  They  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  Flory  was  put  out  to  strangers, 
being  reared  on  a  farm  and  early  becoming  self- 
supporting,  lie  lived  in  Little  York.  York  County, 
Pa.,  and  was  there  occupied  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  same  occupation  among  the  pioneers  of  Rich- 
land and  Stark  Counties.  He  remained  there  until 
1841,  and  tlien  coming  to  this  State,  located  in  the 
timber  in  Essex  Township,  Stark  County.  He 
made  his  living  by  working  for  others  there  until 
1853,  and  then  coming  to  Princevilie  Township, 
rented  land  for  some  years.  In  1850  he  bought 
eighty  acres,  comi)rising  tiie  western  part  of  the 
northeastern  (juarter  of  section  10,  which  he  im- 
jjroved  from  wild  prairie  into  a  well  cultivated 
farm. 

In  the  fall  of  18U8JIr.  Keller  sold  that  iduce, 
and  going  to  Doniphan  County,  Kan.,  purchased 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  where  he  lo- 
cated and  was  engaged  in  its  improvement  several 
years.  lie  subse(piontly  removed  to  Phillips 
Count}'  and  bought  a  claim,  and  made  his  title 
clear;  he  finally  disposed  of  it  at  an  advance, 
and  returned  to  Highland,  Kan.,  and  now  lives 
retired  with  a  son.  he  having  reached  the  venerable 


age  of  eighty-five  years.  He  is  in  every  way  a 
worthy  man,  and  has  won  the  esteem  of  all  about 
him.  He  has  alw,a3's  been  a  sturdy  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  The  maiden  name  of  the 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Catherine  Coleman,  and 
she  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher Coleman,  a  farmer  and  likewise  a  native  of 
the  Kej'stone  State.  He  was  a  pioneer  of  Ohio, 
and  in  1841  removed  to  Illinois,  dying  at  a  ripe 
old  age.  The  mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  j-ears.  She  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cluirch,  and  is  firm  in  the 
faith. 

The  following  is  recorded  of  the  twelve  chil- 
dren born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject:  Eli  was  a 
member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  First  Illinois  In- 
fantry, enlisting  in  18C2,  and  serving  faithful!}' 
until  he  gave  up  his  life  for  his  country,  in  1863, 
at.  Mission  Creek;  Andrew  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  enlisting  in  18G2, 
and  sacrificed  his  life  in  the  cause,  having  been 
mortally  wounded  at  Kenesaw  ]\Iountain,  and 
d3Mng  two  da3S  afterward;  Emanuel  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Elizabetli.  now  Mrs.  Lake,  resides 
in  I'hillips  Count}',  Kan.;  Edmond,  a  resident  of 
Abilene,  Kan.,  and  County  Coroner,  enlisted  in 
the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry  in  1862,  and 
served  until  honorably  discharged  on  account  of 
physical  disability ;  he  subsecpiently  re-enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth,  one  hundred 
day  regiment,  and  was  afterward  in  Battery  A. 
Second  Illinois  Light  Artillery,  until  tlie  close  of 
the  war;  W.  H.,  a  resident  of  Highland,  Kan.,  en- 
listed in  18G2,  in  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war;  Levi  resides 
in  Highland,  Kan.;  Alfred  is  a  farmer  in  Phillips 
County,  Kan.;  Ezra  A.  resides  in  Highland, 
Charles  in  Phillips  County,  and  Samuel  and  David 
also  in  Highland,  that  State. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  liorn  in  Richland 
County,  Ohio,  October  25,  1838,  and  was  less  than 
three  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Illinois,  coming  by  boat  to  Peoria.  His  first  recol- 
lections are  of  a  pioneer  home  in  Stark  County, 
this  State,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  twelve 
years  old.  His  school  advantages  were  limited,  as 
he  attended   school  but  a  few   months  in  his  early 


950 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


bo^'liood.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  he  was  twenty-one,  and  tlien  engaget]  in  work- 
ing out  by  the  month  until  lie  entered  the  army. 
He  watched  the  course  of  the  war  with  patriotic 
ardor,  and  in  August,  1802,  volunteered  for  the 
defense  of  his  country,  enlisting  in  Company  K, 
Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  which  was  mustered 
in  at  Peoria,  and  dispatched  to  [^ouisviUe,  Ky..  ar- 
riving there  October  8.  Mr.  Keller  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Perrysville,  K}^,  and  was  in  the  var- 
ious s^<irmishes  around  Nashville,  the  battles  of 
Franklin  and  Brentwood,  and  with  his  regiment  in 
its  various  encounters  with  the  enemy  in  and 
around  Murfreesboro.  He  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga,  and  was  at  Mission  Ridge.  From 
there  he  and  his  comrades  went  toKnoxville,  thence 
returned  to  Chattanooga,  and  in  the  siiring  of  1864 
accompanied  Sherman  on  his  Georgia  campaign. 

Our  subject  was  wounded  l\y  a  minie  ball  at  the 
battle  of  Buzzard's  Roost,  the  ball  lodging  in  the 
right  arm  above  the  elbow,  and  on  J\Iay  10  he  was 
sent  to  the  field  hospital,  and  thence  to  .leffersou- 
ville,  Ind.,  where  he  remained  until  July.  In  that 
month  he  joined  his  regiment  at  the  front,  and 
fought  well  in  the  battles  of  Atlanta  and  Jonesboro, 
and  then  followed  Forrest  to  Florence,  Ala.,  and 
did  good  service  in  the  Florence  expedition.  Re- 
turning to  Atlanta  the  nest  day,  he  started  on  the 
famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  from  Savannah  went 
northward  through  the  Carolinas.  and  at  the  battle 
of  Averysboro  his  brave  conduct  won  him  deserved 
promotion  to  the  i)osition  of  Coiporal.  He  fought 
in  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  and  marched  on  to 
Raleigh  with  his  regiment,  proceeded  to  Washing- 
ton by  the  way  of  Richmond,  and  took  part  in  the 
Grand  Review.  He  was  mustered  out  as  Corporal, 
and  discharged  at  Chicago,  June  27,  1865,  having 
proved  throughout  his  whole  course  in  camp  and 
on  the  field  that  he  possessed  true  soldierly  quali- 
ties. In  the  fight  at  Buzzard's  Roost  a  spent  ball 
bit  him  on  the  right  shoulder,  and  another  grazed 
his  cheek  and  drew  blood.  In  the  second  battle  of 
Buzzard's  Roost  he  was  wounded  badly  in  the  arm. 
After  his  long  and  hard  ex|)erience  of  a  military 
life  our  subject  returned  to  Princeville,  and  quietly 
resumed  the  life  of  a  civilian,  and  was  engaged  in 
working  out   until   the  spring  of   1866.     He  then 


rented  a  farm  in  Princeville,  then  in  Akron  Town- 
ship, for  three  years,  and  subsequently  farmed 
near  Duncan  for  two  years.  In  1872  he  located  on 
his  present  place,  and  in  1885  purchased  eighty 
acres  on  section  10,  placing  that  tract  under  sub- 
stantial improvement.  He  raises  and  sells  cattle  of 
fine  grades,  and  has  full-blooded  Poland-China 
hogs,  and  good  horses,  using  three  teams  to  operate 
his  farm. 

Mr.  Keller  was  first  married  in  Princeville,  March 
21,  1866,  to  Miss  Eunice  A.Perkins,  who  was  born 
in  Connecticut  and  came  here  with  her  ))arents. 
Their  wedded  life  was  a  happy  one,  and  was 
brought  to  a  close  by  her  death  in  1875.  She  was 
the  mother  of  three  children:  Forest  E.,  a  touso- 
rial  artist  in  Princeville;  Morris  W.,  at  home  with 
his  father;  and  a  child  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Keller  was  married  to  his  present  estimable  wife, 
formerly  Miss  Marian  Fallow,  in  January,  1878, 
the  wedding  ceremonj'  taking  place  in  Manchester, 
Conn.  Mrs.  Keller  was  born  in  Scotland,  and 
came  to  America  when  a  child  with  her  father, 
John  Fallow.  She  was  reared  in  Connecticut,  and 
when  a  young  lady  learned  the  manufacture  of  silk 
in  the  factories.  She  was  married  in  Manchester 
to  Addison  Dart,  and  had  one  child  by  that  mar- 
riage, Addison  A.  Dart,  who  lives  with  her  and 
our  subject.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keller  have  four  chil- 
dren living:  Wilder  II.,  Geneva,  Riley  and  an  in- 
fant named  Jennie.  Their  son  John  died  at  the 
age  of  three  years. 

Mr.  Keller  is  in  every  way  worthy  of  the  high 
estimation  set  upon  his  value  by  the  community, 
as  a  noble,  true-hearted,  loyal  Christian  gentleman, 
in  whom  his  fellow-citizens  may  place  implicit 
trust.  Forethought,  sagacity'  and  clear  discern- 
ment, combined  with  a  due  sense  of  honor  and 
honesty,  are  prominent  traits  of  his  character,  and 
by  these  he  has  placed  himself  on  a  sound  financial 
basis  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship and  county.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Prince- 
ville Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  is 
at  present  Trustee,  and  the  sincerity  of  his  faith 
is  betokened  by  his  work.  He  is  prominent  in 
local  i)olitics,  a  stalwart  among  the  Republicans, 
and  has  been  Delegate  to  county  conventions.  He 
was  School  Director  for  three  terms,  and  is  at  pres- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


951 


eat  Commissioner  of  Highways,  serving  his  fourth 
tcy-in  in  this  otlice.  He  is  identified  with  tlic 
Princeville  I.  O.  O.  F.  as  Past  Noble.  He  is  an 
ini|)(jrtant  memljer  of  the  Frenche  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
of  wiiich  he  is  Past  Commander,  and  he  was  present 
at  tlie  St.  Louis  and  Columbus  encampments. 


-^^ 


OBERT  H.  AVEKY.  The  Avery  Planter 
Company  succeeded  the  firm  of  R.  H.  & 
C.  M.  Avery,  wh,)  began  the  present  busi- 
ness at  Galesburg,  111.,  al)out  1872.  They 
then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  the  stalk  cut- 
ter, which  was  invented  by  R.  H.  Avery,  but  after 
two  years  turned  over  the  manufacture  of  this  to 
other  parties  on  a  roj'alty.  The  stalk  cutter  was 
thus  manufactured  for  a  period  of  five  years  when, 
in  1S78,  the  two  brothers  resumed  its  manufacture 
themselves,  and  aditeil  thereto  the  corn  planter 
which  was  also  invented  by  Mr.  Avery,  of  whom 
we  write.  In  1879  they  added  the  check  rower, 
whicli  was  the  invention  of  Mr.  Berrien  at  the 
suggestion  of  iSIr.  Avery,  and  a  part  of  wiiich  was 
patented  by  the  latter. 

About  this  time  Mi'.  Berrien  was  taken  into  tlie 
employ  of  the  Avery  Bro.s.,  remaining  with  them 
until  the  summer  of  1889.  Tlie  factoi'y  olso 
turned  out  the  [livotal  wheel-  cultivator.  T'his  was 
tlie  first  firm  to  put  the  tongueless  plow  on  the 
market,  but  not  finding  it  entirely  i)ractieal,  they 
tlien  withdrew  it  until  about  1885,  then  improved 
the  same,  making  an  implement  that  has  been  a 
great  success,  both  for  the  labor  required  of  it  and 
as  a  salable  article.  The  manufactory  was  contin- 
ued at  (ialesburg  until  1882,  when  the  firm  of  R.  II. 
ife  C.  M.  Avery  put  up  the  buildings  and  estab- 
lished tlie  plant  at  Peoria,  it  being  located  at  No. 
2300-2;310  North  Adams  Street. 

The  main  oflice,  warerooms  and  factory  have  a 
frontage  of  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  with 
a  depth  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet,  builtaround 
a  court  forty  feet  square.  The  center  of  the  front 
on  Cedar  Street  is  devoted  to  the  offices,  and  di- 
rectly over  these  is  a  sample  room.  The  building 
is   a  three  story   and   basement  under  the  whole. 


with  the  exception  of  the  north  side,  which  is  three 
stories  and  no  basement.  'J'lie  building  is  equipped 
with  automatic  sprinklers  for  the  purpose  of  extin- 
guishing fires.  In  faetevery  precaution  has  been 
taken  against  fire,  each  room  being  separated  from 
the  next  by  double  doors,  and  each  door  covered 
with  metal  on  both  sides.  The  whole  is  illumi- 
minated  by  electric  light.  There  are  throe  elevators 
in  the  building. 

The  east  side  of  the  main  building  is  on  the 
switch  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Rail- 
road, and  the  arrangements  are  such  that  none  of 
the  material  employed  in  mainifacture,  such  as 
iron,  lumber,  fuel  and  sand,  requires  to  be  loaded 
on  to  a  wagon,  but  instead  is  taken  directly  from 
the  cars  into  the  building,  and  such  are  the  facili- 
ties for  loading  that  si.x  cars  ma^'  be  sent  out  at  a 
time.  The  building  is  of  brick,  with  walls  more 
than  ordinarilj'  heavy  and  substantial,  fifteen 
thousand  brick  being  employed  to  complete  one 
course.  There  is  also  a  tunnel  running  under  tlie 
railroad  tracks  from  the  basement  of  the  building 
to  the  level  of  those  adjacent  and  in  the  rear.  The 
establishment  occupies  five  acres  of  land  on  either 
side  of  the  track,  upon  a  part  of  which  is  built  a 
foundrj',  70x288  feet  in  dimensions,  with  two 
cuiiolas  and  a  flrc^  proof  pattern  vault  separate 
from  it,  these  being  f>f  frame,  brick  lined  and  with 
metal  roof. 

The  blacksmith-shop  is  44x108  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, and^  there  is  a  grinding  and  engine  room  of 
the  same  size,  but  separated  by  a  fire  wall.  The 
wheel  room  and  dipping  room  is  44x50,  and  there 
is  a  cleaning  and  tumbling  room,  28x40.  The 
buildings  of  the  factory  were  all  erected  by  R.  H. 
cfe  C.  M.  Avery,  who  carried  on  the  factory  one 
year,  and  then  the  business  was  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  the  Avery  Planter  Company,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $200,000.  R.  H.  Aveiy  was  made 
I'residcnt,  W.  S.  Coe,  Secretary,  and  C.  M.  Avery, 
Treasurer.  They  give  employment  to  three  hun- 
dred men  at  the  factory,  besides  numbers  on  the 
road.  They  have  branch  houses  .at  Kansas  City, 
Omaha  and  Des  Moines,  and  their  goods  are  also 
represented  by  B.  F.  Avery  &  Sons,  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  who  operate  the  Southern  trade. 

Twenty-five   different  styles  of   cullivators  arc 


952 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


manufacturer]  by  this  company,  and  the  present 
season  (1890)  a  new  check  rower  has  been  intro- 
duced, iiitewise  a  new  variety  of  corn  planter,  to- 
gether with  the  manufacture  of  traction  engines 
and  separators.  For  this  purpose  it  has  been  nec- 
essary to  jiut  in  a  line  of  new  and  heavy  machin- 
ery- and  additional  buildings;  and  the  firm  has  just 
completed  a  large  boiler  room,  44x120  feet  in  di- 
mensions. The  tongneless  cultivator  is  constantly 
undergoing  improvement,  so  that  it  now  works 
almost  automatically.  Besides  this  the  company 
manufactures  the  riding  and  walking  plow,  the 
wheels  of  which  may  bo  thrown  forward  when  re- 
quired in  walking,  and  backward  when  riding, 
enabling  the  plow  to  be  in  balance  at  all  times. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  at  (Jalesbnrg, 
HI.,  ■Ianuar3'  17,  1840,  and  was  a  son  of  George 
Avery,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  now  deceased. 
The  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  S.  P.  M. 
Phelps,  and  is  living  in  Galesburg,  111.  Robert  H. 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  city, 
acquiring  his  education  under  a  well-conducted 
school  system,  and  at  an  early  period  in  life  began 
farming  and  handling  live-stock.  He  was  thus 
occupied  until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War, 
then,  in  1862,  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Seventy- 
seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  soon  after  which  he  was 
promoted  to  be  a  Sergeant.  His  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  the  Arm}-  of  the  Mississippi,  and  assisted 
in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Arkansas 
Post,  Jacksonville,  and  Schreveport.  jSIr.  Avery 
was  himself  ea|)tured  in  August.  1864,  and  thrown 
into  Andersonville  Prison.  Later  he  was  sent  to 
Savannah,  and  subsequentl}-  w;is  at  different  places 
in  Southern  Georgia,  under  the  guard  of  troops, 
but  was  finally  returned  to  Andersonville,  where 
he  w,a3  confined  until  the  close  of  the  war,  thus 
being  a  prisoner  for  a  term  of  eight  and  a  half 
months,  five  and  a  half  months  being  spent  in 
Andersonville. 

After  being  relegated  to  the  ranks  of  civil  life, 
Mr.  Avery  resumed  farming  in  the  vicinity  of 
Galesburg,  and  was  thus  occupied  until  becoming 
interested  in  his  present  enterprise.  Although  a 
sound  Republican,  politically,  he  has  held  aloof 
from  the  responsibilities  of  office  with  the  excep- 
tion of  being  connected  with  the  School  Board,  of 


which  he  is  now  President.  He  is  at  present  serv- 
ing as  Mayor  of  the  village  of  Avery.  He  was 
married  .January  17,  1867,  at  Galesburg,  III.,  to 
Miss  Sarah  P.,  daughter  of  F.  M.  and  Sarah  (Pay- 
son)  Ay  res.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  namel}^ : 
Minnie  E.,  Frederick  R..  Sa<]ie  P.,  Cornelia,  Ellen 
and  Elizabeth  P. 


AMUEL  WOOLNER.  In  the  life  of  this 
gentleman,  who  is  now  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Peoria,  is  ijrovided  an  ex- 
cellent exami)le  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished by  a  determined  will  from  an  humble 
beginning.  Once  a  penniless  foreigner,  now  an 
lK)nored  and  influential  citizen;  once  a  i)eddler, 
now  a  cai)italist;  thus  in  a  few  words  may  be 
summed  u()  a  history  in  which  it  is  our  purpose  to 
mention  the  chief  events. 

Samuel  Woolner  was  born  in  Hungary  on  the  1 1th 
of  March,  1846,  to  Solomon  and  Sallie  AVoolner. 
The  Woolner  brothers  came  to  America  in  1863, 
locating  first  in  New  York  and  then  in  Louisville. 
Ky.  For  some  time  Mr.  Woolner  followed  the 
roads,  peddling  merchandise,  and  after  having  ac- 
cumulated some  means,  he,  in  connection  with  his 
brothers,  built  a  distillery  in  Louisville.  In  1871 
the\-  came  to  Peoria,  following  the  same  business, 
and  a  little  later  building  the  sugar  works.  The 
firm  is  now  comprised  of  Adol|)h  and  Samuel 
Woolner,  J.acob  Woolner  and  Morris  II.  Woolner. 
They  have  erected  a  number  of  buildings  in  Peoria, 
some  of  them  very  fine  ones,  and  are  now  con- 
structing a  block,  which  is  the  largest  and  best 
adapted  for  its  purposes  in  the  cit^'.  owned  by 
Adolpli  and  Samuel  Woolner. 

In  New  York.  March  20,  1869,  Mr.  Woolner 
led  to  the  hymeneal  altar  Miss  Johann  Levy,  who 
died  in  the  winter  of  1872,  leaving  an  infant 
daughter.  Jliss  Ilanuah  .'^.  Woolner  is  now  a 
beautiful  and  accomplished  yojng  lady,  well  fitted 
to  grace  the  society  in  which  she  moves  and  at- 
tract to  her  home  a  cultured  circle. 

Samuel  Woolner  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 


^x*Si 


k*V. 


^.-*— «— ^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


953 


nit}',  having  taken  the  thirty-second  degree,  and 
also  a  number  of  Jewish  orders.  He  is  a  Di 
rector  in  the  German-American  Banic  and  a  member 
of  the  Whiskj-  and  Cattle  Dealers'  Trust.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He  is  now  doing 
good  service  for  the  citizens  of  the  Fifth  Ward  as 
a  member  of  the  Common  Council,  having  served 
two  terms.  Ho  lias  also  represented  the  Fourth 
Ward  for  one  term,  being  the  first  Republican  who 
has  ever  represented  that  ward,  lie  is  the  Presi- 
dent for  the  Home  for  the  Aged  and  Infirm  Is- 
raelites, at  Cleveland,  also  a  Director  of  the  Cleve- 
land Orphan  Asylum,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  which 
cares  for  five  hundred  c)rphan  children.  He  has 
held  several  high  positions  in  the  Jewish  orders, 
having  been  Grand  Master  of  the  order  called  the 
Independent  Order  of  the  Sons  of  Covenant ;  and 
alsi)  has  been,  and  is  now,  a  -Director  of  the  Peoria 
Board  of  Trade.  He  iuis  Uvea  President  of  the 
Woolner  Bros.  Distillery  since  the  organization  of 
that  firm  up  to  the  time  he  entered  the  Distillers' 
Cattle  Feeding  Company.  He  has  been  Treasurer 
of  the  Peoria  Grape  Sugar  Company  since  its  or- 
ganization. While  siirewd  in  business  transactions, 
he  is  iionorable  in  his  dealings,  interested  in  the 
uijbuilding  of  the  cit}'  and  its  advancement  as  an 
educational  center,  and  he,  therefore,  enjoys  an  ex- 
cellent reputation  and  has  many  warm  personal 
friends. 


i=rr;=j 


<;i'OHN  LARKIN.  As  tiic  largest  landowner 
in  Trivoli  Township  and  cne  of  its  leading 
farmers  antl  stock-raisers,  Mr.  Larkin  occu- 
(^g/'  pies  an  important  (jlacc  in  the  citizenship  of 
Peoria  County,  and  this  l>ioGKAriiic.\L  Album 
would  be  incomplete  without  a  sketch  of  his  life 
and  work. 

Hazard  Larkin.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.,  April  8,  1800. 
His  father,  whose  given  name  was  John,  was  born 
in  Rhode  Island,  near  the  Sound,  anil  there  followed 
farming.  Some  time  after  marriage  he  went  with 
his  wife  and  three  children  to  settle  among  the  pio- 
neers of  Scoharie  County,  where  he  cleared  a  good 


farm  from  the  wilderness  and  became  well-to-do. 
His  home  was  near  Carlisle.  He  was  a  gallant 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  the  gun  tliat  he 
carried  in  thnt  war  is  in  the  possession  of  our 
subject. 

The  father  of  our  subject  after  his  marriage  in 
182.5,  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundicd  acres  near 
Scoharie,  which  was  his  home  until  May  7,  1839, 
when  he  came  to  this  county  with  his  wife  and  four 
cliildren  in  a  covered  wagcn.  The  roads  were 
very  mudd}'  and  when  he  arrived  here  Juueo,  1839, 
he  had  driven  so  hard  that  his  horses  were  ucaily 
killed.  He  had  bought  land  in  1838  on  section  22, 
Trivoli  Township,  comprising  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  with  some  improvements  on  it.  He 
gave  §1,000  and  .1  pair  of  horses  for  the  place,  and 
his  family  moved  into  the  rude  log  house  that 
stood  there.  This  house  w.as  of  the  mo:  t  i>rimitive 
construction.  []ut  together  without  nails,  with  a 
puncheon  floor,  a  rude  fireplace,  and  a  door  with  a 
wooden  latch  and  hinges. 

In  early  days  Hazard  Larkin  used  to  have  the 
land  plowed  around  the  house  so  that  the  (H-airie 
(ires  might  not  destroy  it.  He  lived  in  that  i)io- 
neer  home  seven  years  and  then  re|)laced  it  with  a 
frame  house  of  hard  wood.  He  added  to  his  origi- 
nal purchase  until  he  had  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  there.  In  1855  he  bought  of  Philip 
Johnson  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  our 
subject,  com|)rising  two  hundred  acres  of  land  on 
section  10,  and  here  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  until  his  death  in  1881  on  the  anni- 
versary of  his  birth.  He  was  one  of  the  wealthy 
men  of  the  county,  having  at  one  time  eight  hun- 
dred acres  of  improved  land.  To  each  of  his  chil- 
dren he  gave  a  good  start  in  life,  and  was  one  of  the 
most  generous  and  ojien-lianded  of  men,  giving 
liberally  to  tlie  poor.  He  was  a  Universalist  in  his 
religious  faith,  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  resides  with  him.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  her  seven  children: 
Almira,  (Mrs.  Cramer)  of  Livingston  County; 
Joseph,  who  died  in  Newton,  Iowa;  Mary,  (Mrs. 
.lohnson)  who  died  here;  Asenath,  (Mrs.  Mar- 
quette) of  Lincoln,  Neb.;  John;  Daniel,  who  died 
here  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years;  Adelia,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months. 


954 


rORTRAIT  AND  r>I(  )0KA1M1KA  L  ALBUM. 


Nancy  Larkin,  the  niollier  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Scoliarie  County,  N.  Y.,  t)ctobcr  4,  1809, 
and  was  the  second  child  in  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren belonging- to. I  oseiih  iJorst,  a  native  of  Scoliarie 
County.  He  was  a  fanner  and  stockman,  clearing 
a  farm  from  the  primeval  forests;  he  also  built  and 
managed  a  hotel  on  the  main  turnpike  to  Buffalo. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine  years,  of  typhoid 
fever.  His  father,  Martin  Borst,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many and  came  to  America  when  a  boy  with  his 
parents,  settling  in  .Scoliarie  County.  He  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Betsey  Lamb;  she  was  born  in  Delaware 
County,  and  reared  in  Scoliarie  County  among  the 
Indians;  while  the  men  were  out  in  the  Indian  war 
the  women  and  children  were  obliged  to  take  refuge 
in  the  old  stone  fort  at  Scoharie,  where  some  three 
hundred  of  them  were  attacked  by  the  British  and 
Indians  and  would  have  been  killed  bad  it  not  been 
for  brave  old  TimMurph_y,  who  stood  and  shot  the 
Indians  as  they  came.  Grandfather  Lamb  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier  and  a  farmer  in  Scoharie 
Count}'.  One  spring  while  he  was  making  sugar 
ia  his  orchard  he  and  liis  son,  William,  weie  taken 
prisoners  by  the  Indians  and  taken  to  Canada,  the 
savages  compelling  them  to  w.alk  and  carry  sugar 
on  their  backs.  After  they  arrived  at  their  desti- 
nation the  old  man  was  permitted  to  go  home  but 
the  son  was  retained  and  became  the  properly  of  an 
old  squaw.  She  treated  him  verj'  kindly  and  at 
the  end  of  three  years  managed  his  escape. 

John  Larkin,  of  whom  we  write,  received  his 
education  in  the  pioneer  district  schools  of  this 
township,  where  he  was  born  July  10,  1839.  He 
was  very  young  when  he  commenced  work  on  the 
farm,  driving  an  ox-team  in  breaking  prairie;  when 
he  was  only  eleven  years  old, he  and  his  brother  Dan- 
iel, broke  some  one  hundred  acres  in  one  season. 
When  he  was  but  thirteen  years  old  he  drove  horses, 
hogs  and  cattle  to  Pekin  to  be  sold.  He  remained 
at  home  with  his  father  and  when  twent3'-one  j'ears 
old  engaged  in  running  the  home  farm  himself,  and 
after  his  father's  deatii  he  came  into  possession  of 
some  of  the  homestead  by  inheritance  and  by  buy- 
ing out  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs.  His  home 
farm  comprises  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  10,  where  he  has  a  line   large   bouse,  two 


commodious  barns  and  other  buildings,  windmill 
and  tank,  good  wells  and  springs;  the  land  is  all 
tillable,  well  tiled  and  fenced  with  hedge  and  wire, 
and  upon  it  are  fine  groves  of  walnut  and  other 
trees,  and  an  orchard. 

Mr.  Larkin  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  the  old  homestead  on  section  22,  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  which  are  under  the 
plow;  it  is  supplied  with  a  good  set  of  buildings, 
and  has  fine  springs  of  water,  being  considered  the 
best  stock  farm  in  the  county.  He  owns  in  all  six 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  this  township,  and  his 
wife  has  a  well-improved  farm  of  two  hundred  acres 
in  Logan  Township  on  the  Peoria  road,  one-half 
mile  from  Eaton.  Jlr.  Larkin  has  all  of  his  land 
rented  but  two  hundred  acres  which  he  devotes  to 
pasture,  and  to  raising  grain  and  corn.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  raising  Poland-China  hogs,  having 
from  one  to  two  hundred  all  tlie  time,  and  sliiiiping 
five  or  six  carloads  twice  a  year.  During  tlie  war 
he  raised  sheep.  He  is  engaged  in  breeding  line 
horses,  of  which  he  has  thirty  head,  keeping  good 
roadsters  and  using  two  or  three  teams  on  the  farm. 

Mr.  Larkin's  well-known  ijublic  spirit  has  been 
of  great  benefit  to  bis  native  township.  He  was 
very  iiilluential  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  Iowa 
Central  Railroad  through  the  township,  as  we  have 
seen,  giving  it  the  right  of  way  for  half  a  mile  and 
he  was  one  of  the  three  men  who  subscribed  110(10 
towards  it.  In  1886  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of 
the  township,  holding  the  office  two  terms  and  has 
been  School  Director  and  otherwise  prominently 
connected  with  the  management  of  public  affairs. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Farmington  Lodge  A.  F.  &. 
A.  M.  He  attends  and  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  although  he  is  a  be- 
liever in  the  LTniversalist  faith.  He  has  served  on 
the  Grand  and  Petit  Juries,  and  is  one  of  the  prom- 
inent Democrats  of  the  county,  frequently  serving 
as  a  delegate  to  county  conventions. 

Our  subject  was  wedded  to  Miss  Lottie  C.  Wiley, 
June  30,  1864.  She  is  a  native  of  Elrawood  Town- 
ship, and  a  daughter  of  Andrew  M.,  and  Mary 
(Ewalt)  Wiley,  natives  respectively  of  Greene 
County,  Pa.,  and  Oliio,  and  early  settlers  of  Elm- 
wood  Township.  Jlr.  Wiley  by  energetic  and 
well   directed    labor   became   wealthy   and   owned 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


955 


some  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Klmwood 
'I\)\\iishi|),  wlicie  lie  wa.s  engaged  as  a  stockman 
luilil  liis  (lealli.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larkin  liave  liad 
four  cliildrc'ii,  namely:  Nellie  A.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  years;  May  Susan,  a  graduate  of  the 
Karniington  High  School  when  she  was  seventeen 
years  old;  Daniel   Hazard  and   Nannie  Josepluue. 


!»1LLIAM  STKAESSER  is  a  representative 
^KrJ/i  of  one  of  the  ol<l  |)ionccr  families  of  this 
*^\j/  part  of  Illinois,  and  is  in  evei'y  way  a 
worthy  citizen  of  this  his  native  counl^'.  He  now 
owns  and  is  snccessfnily  managing  the  homestead 
on  section  5,  Limestone  Township,  whii-li  was  his 
birtlii)lace  and  which  his  father  developed  from 
its  original  wildness.  He  is  keeping  it  up  to  the 
same  high  state  of  cultivation  that  it  li;id  attained 
prior  to  the  time  it  came  into  his  [jossession,  and 
with  its  substantial  improvements,  it  makes  one  of 
the  most  desirable  estates  to  be  found  in  this  part 
of  the  country-. 

Our  subject  is  the  sou  of  the  late  Christian 
and  Catherine  (Haller)  Slraesser,  formerly  well- 
known  residents  of  this  township.  His  father  was 
born  in  ^Viltenburg,  Germany,  and  when  a  young 
man,  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Martins- 
burg,  Pa.  He  there  met  Catherine  Haller,  also  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  they  being  mutually 
pleased  with  each  other,  were  united  in  marriage 
in  the  Keystone  State  and  lived  there  several 
years.  They  subsequently  came  to  this  county  to 
build  up  a  new  home  on  its  wild  prairies.  They 
selected  a  tract  of  land  on  section  35,  that  com- 
prises the  farm  on  which  our  subject  is  located. 
Mr.  Straesser  first  imrchased  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  and  afterwards  added  eighty 
acres.  Busy  years  of  hard  laljor,  sacrifice  and 
some  privation,  such  as  is  common  in  pioneer  life 
followed,  and  through  them  all  In;  worked  ener- 
getically to  [)lace  his  land  under  tillage,  and  make 
of  it  a  highly  improved  farm,  and  his  success  was 
com|)lete.  In  the  home  which  had  thus  been  m.ade 
by  the  work  of  his  own  hands,  with  the  active  co- 
operation of  his  capable  wife,   he  rounded   out  a 


long  and  useful  liie  of  eighty-six  ye:iis.  May  13, 
1888.  His  widow  now  makes  her  iionie  in  the 
city,  where  she  enjo3's  fair  health  for  one  of  her 
age,  her  years  numltering  seventy-one.  Mr.  Straes- 
ser was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  for 
many  3'ears, but  after  coming  to  Peoria,  joined  the 
Evanglieal  Church  of  that  city  and  was  identitied 
with  it  until  the  time  of  his  ileath.  I'olilicnlly  he 
w.as  a  stanch  Democrat. 

Our  subject  vvas  born  on  the  [larenlal  homestead, 
in  ]May,18r)(),and  here  the  years  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  were  p,as.sed,  and  he  is  s|)cnding  his  man- 
hood amid  the  scenes  of  his  early  associations.  He 
received  a  sound  educati<jn  in  the  district  school, 
iind  from  his  father  a  good  practical  training  in 
agriculture  in  all  its  brandies,  and  having  a  natu- 
ral tsiste  for  such  pursuits,  has  made-  farming  and 
stock-raising  his  life  work,  and  is  doing  well  in  his 
vocation. 

Mr.  Straes.ser  brought  to  this  home  of  his  birtli 
liis  bride,  Miss  Elizabeth  F.  Powell,  December  21, 
1878.  IMrs.  Straesser  is  a  daughter  of  M.  M.  Pow- 
ell of  the  city  of  Peoria,  who  was  formerly  a  resi- 
dent of  Limestone  Towushii),  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  original  settlers.  The  [ileasant  iiorae 
circle  of  our  sulijeet  and  his  wife  i.s  comiileted  by 
the  three  children  born  to  them — Jlilton  E.,  Elmer 
M.  and  Harold  C. 

^Ir.  Straesser  dis|)la3-s  in  his  work,  a  keen, 
thoughtful,  practical  mind  and  excellent  business 
lialiits,  combined  with  wise  thrift  and  a  good  ca- 
pacity for  prudent  management,  that  insures  suc- 
cess in  any  calling.  He  and  his  wife  are  well 
regarded  by  all  in  their  neighborhood  as  the}-  are 
pleasant  and  considerate  in  their  dealings  with 
others.  Politically  our  sulijeet  follows  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father,  and  upholds  the  Democratic 
party. 

- — -im^i — 

sIIOMAS  GILES.  Among  the  residents  in 
Uichwood  Township,  who  have  spent  years 
in  assisting  in  its  development,  have  met 
with  a  deserved  success  in  their  efforts  to  accumu- 
late a  competence,  and  have  retired  from  .active 
labor,  is  T'homas  Giles,     He  was  but  little  past  his 


956 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


majority  when  he  came  hither  with  his  father,  and 
from  that  time  until  he  liaii  passed  his  three-scoie 
years  and  ten,  he  was  activeh'  identified  with  the 
work  of  the  township,  farming  being  the  business 
to  which  he  chiefly  devoted  liimself.  He  is  the 
fortunate  jwssessor  of  an  estate  of  three  hundred 
and  thirty-three  acres  which  has  been  thoroughly 
cultivated,  marked  with  excellent  improvements, 
and  is  in  all  respects  a  well-regulated  estate. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Thomas  and 
Ann  (Picken)  Giles,  natives  of  Gloucestershire  and 
Huntingdonshire, England,  respectively.  They  were 
married  in  the  island  of  St.  Helena,  where  tiiey 
lived  several  j-ears.  Thence  thej'  went  to  Glouces- 
tershire, from  there  to  South  Wales,  finally  emi- 
gi-ating  to  America  during  the  jear  John  Quincj- 
Adams  was  President.  They  settled  in  Utica,  N, 
Y..  but  after  a  time  removed  to  Richland.  Oswego 
County,  remaining  there  until  1836,  when  thej-  came 
to  Peoria  County,  111.  They  settled  on  section  33, 
Richwood  Townslii(i.  where  the  husband  died  in 
1838,  the  widow  surviving  several  j-ears.  Mr. 
Giles  was  a  stonemason  bj'  trade,  and  also  preached, 
being  of  the  Baptist  faith.  He  and  liis  good  wife 
had  a  family  of  seven  children,  of  wliom  our  sub- 
ject is  the  eldest. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  on 
the  island  of  St.  Helena,  February  28,  1814,  and 
•accompanied  his  parents  in  their  various  removals 
(lui-ing  his  youth,  uulil  they  finally-  located  in  this 
county.  He  was  first  married  to  Margaret  Poplett, 
a  sister  of  Wyiie  Poplett,  in  whose  sketch  the  his- 
torj- of  her  parents  will_  be  found.  The  marriage 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven  children — Nathan  T., 
James,  Joseph,  AVilliam,  Henry,  George,  and  Mar}- 
H.  The  first  two  named  are  deceaseil,  and  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  George  Yates.  The  devoted  mother 
and  faithful  companion  died  in  Richwood  Town- 
sliii).  which  had  been  the  scene  of  her  marriage  and 
wedded  life. 

A  second  matrimonial  alliance  was  contracted  liy 
Mr.  Giles,  in  Peoria.  October  II,  1877.  His  bride 
on  this  occasion  was  Mrs.  Lucinda  (Foster)  Long, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Martha  (Wheeler)  Foster, 
and  widow  of  John  H.  Long.  She  had  one  child 
by  her  first  marriage,  Martha  A.,  who  is  the  vvife 
of  Isaac  Keller,  of  Richwood.     Mrs.  Lucinda  Giles 


m 


was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  May  1,  1824. 
She  is  a  woman  of  ripe  intelligence,  notable  skill  as 
a  housewife  and  noble  Christian  character,  and  as 
such.possesses  the  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Mr.  Giles  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but  since  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  h.as  acted  with  the  Repub- 
lican part}'.  In  March.  1888,  he  retired  from  active 
farm  labor,  feeling  that  his  long  efforts  in  tilling  the 
soil  entitled  him  to  a  rest,  and  the  prosperity-  attend- 
ing him  gave  freedom  from  anxiety  regarding  the 
future.  He  is  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  endeavors  to  make  his  life  correspond  with  his 
religious  faith.  It  is  needless  to  remark  that  he  is 
held  in  high  repute  throughout  the   neighborhood, 

V  AMES  WALKER.  Situated  about  one-quar- 
ter of  a  mile  west  of  the  village  of  Mapleton, 
is  a  tract  of  land  owned  and  occupied  by 
the  gentleman  above  named.  The  commo- 
dious and  pleasant  dwelling  and  large  barn  are 
built  on  the  face  of  the  bluff,  protected  from  the 
north  winds  by  the  hills  which  rise  in  the  rear,  and 
overlooking  the  Illinois  River  for  miles.  Just  be- 
low the  house  runs  the  wagon  road  and  the  Toledo, 
Peoria  &  Western  Railroad,  and  bej-ond  stretches 
a  fertile  expanse  of  bottom  land  comprising  two 
hundred  and  fift3--eight  acres.  This  tine  property, 
and  the  other  possessions  of  Mr.  Walker,  have  been 
gained  by  perseverance  and  the  energetic  pursuit 
of  bis  purpose.  He  began  his  career  in  life  in  early 
youth  with  a  capital  of  ^2  in  money  and  a  pon}- 
worth  about  810. 

Mr.  Walker  was  born  in  Tennessee,  November 
14,  1848,  and  removed  in  his  childhood  to  Johnson 
Count}',  Tex.  His  father,  Henry  Walker,  died  in 
Arkansas  while  on  a  trip  in  that  State,  and  his 
mother,  Hannah  (Shaw)  Walker,  was  killed  in  a 
cyclone  when  our  subject  was  but  five  years  old. 
He  remained  with  his  grandparents,  Gilbert  and 
Mary  Shaw,  until  about  sixteen  3'ears,  when  the 
strict  rules  under  which  he  was  held,  led  to  his 
leaving  his  home.  His  sisters  still  reside  in  Texas, 
but  his  grandparents  are  long  since  deceased. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


95!) 


Securing  a  pony,  \'oiing  Walker  began  his  life 

biliiirs  ;is  a  cowboy,  coming  willi  a  drove  of  cattle 
through  the  Indian  Territory  to  llnxler  Springs, 
Kan.,  ivliere  the  iierd  was  sold  to  a  Mr.  Maple,  of 
this  county,  for  wlioin  tlie  town  of  Mapleton  was 
narntMl.  Hiring  out  to  that  gentleman,  3'onng 
Waliicr  came  to  thi.s  section  two  years  before  the 
village  was  Inid  out.  He  next  engagetl  witli  a  Jlr. 
(lilfoy  in  a  coal  bank,  taking  charge  of  all  the  out- 
side work,  and  saving  his  earnings  for  six  years, 
tlicn  purchased  a  piece  of  land  and  opened  up  a 
bank  of  his  own.  Not  having  sufficient  means  to 
develop  his  coal  mine,  he  secured  as  a  partner,  Mr. 
Thomas  Lindsey,  a  mercliant  and  [iroperty  owner 
in  tiie  village  of  Mapleton,  and  business  was  begun 
under  the  lirm  name  of  Lindsey  &  Co. 

After  a  few  years  Mr.  Lindsey  sold  all  his  inter- 
est, including  his  store,  to  our  subject,  who  con- 
tinued the  mercantile  business  and  carried  on  the 
mines  until  about  tliree  years  since.  He  then  sold 
tlie  store  and  his  town  residence,  erected  a  pleasant 
dwelling  for  his  then  good-sized  fainil}-,  and  took 
up  his  abode  upon  his  faini.  He  also  leased  his 
mines,  which  have  a  fine  output  of  coal.  The 
property  upon  wliicli  they  are  situated  comprises 
one  liundred  and  eleven  acres,  and  the  vein  of 
"ijlack  diamonds"  is  four  and  one-half   feet  thick. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents,  James  and 
Maj'  (Buchanan)  Watrous,  November  5,  1874,  the 
marriage  rites  were  celebrated  between  our  subject 
and  Miss  Juliette  Watrous.  Tlie  Christian  char- 
acter and  womanly  attainments  of  Mrs.  Walker, 
well  fit  her  for  her  duties  as  wife,  mother,  and  mem- 
ber of  society.  She  has  borne  her  husband  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  named  respectively:  Frank, 
Mary  I^ydia,  Edward,  and  Otto.  All  are  acquir- 
ing good  educations,  and  in  tlie  intervals  of  studj-, 
the  boys  are  assisting  their  father  on  the  farm  as 
their  strength  will  permit.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Walker  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  and  her 
father  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Julia  A.  Watrous. 

Mr.  Walker  is  interested  in  tiie  social  and  benevo- 
lent orders,  holding  membership  in  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows lodge  at  Pekin,  and  the  Masonic  lodge  in 
Mai)leton  ;  he  has  passed  tlirougli  tlie  various  Chairs 
of  Odd  Fellowship.  In  his  political  views  he  favors 
Democracy.     Both  he  and  his  wife  belong   to  the 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Mapleton.  This 
brief  outline  of  the  lifework  of  our  subject  is  sufli- 
cient  to  impress  u[)oii  those  who  read  it,  a  worthy 
example,  and  prove  that  the  character  and  worldly 
success  of  a  poor  and  homeless  boy  are  made  or 
marred  by  his  own  efforts. 

A  view  of  the  pleasant  and  commodious  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Walker,  with  its  farm  surroundings, 
is  presented  on  another  page  of  this  work. 


K.  PAHM ENTER,  a  member  of  the  firm 
>)]  of  Crofoot,  Parmenter  &  IJerger,  wholesale 
l\  "~  boot  and  shoe  dealers  at  No.  123  South 
W.'ishington  Street,  is  one  of  our  most  successful 
and  enterprising  business  men,  who  is  doing  his 
l)art  toward  sustaining  the  financial  ))rosperity  of 
Peoria. 

Mr.  I'armenter  is  a  native  of  this  State,  Knox- 
ville  being  the  place  of  his  birth  aiul  September  8, 
1840,  the  date  thereof.  His  father  was  eng.aged 
in  the  retail  boot  and  shoe  business,  and  after  our 
subject  had  completed  his  education  he  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Parmenter  &  Son,  of  Knox- 
ville.  Their  partnership  continued  until  1884, 
when  our  subject  went  on  the  road  as  a  traveling 
salesman,  being  employed  by  Crofoot,  Steele  & 
Co.,  of  Chicago,  boot  and  shoe  dealers.  He  re- 
mained with  them  a  year  and  then  started  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  with  his  brother,  in  this  citj', 
in  April,  1885,  at  No.  205  South  Washington 
Street,  conducting  a  wholesale  boot  and  shoe  busi- 
ness under  the  firm  name  of  Parmenter  Bros. 
They  carried  on  business  in  that  way  for  eighteen 
months,  and  then  continued  as  Parmenter  &  Berger, 
and  December  1,  1889,  admitted  A.  D.  Crofoot 
into  the  firm,  changing  the  firm  name  to  Crofoot, 
I'armenter  &  Berger.  The}'  moved  to  their  pres- 
ent number,  where  they  do  a  general  wholesale 
boot  and  shoe  trade,  devoting  three  floors  and 
a  basement  to  their  business,  their  establishment 
being  well  fitted  up  and  amply  stocked  with  the 
best  of  goods  in  their  line  to  be  found  in  the  mar- 
ket.    Besides  the  clerks  they  employ  they  .send  out 


',)G0 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


two  men  on  the  road  and  do  a  business  of  $125,- 
000  a  year,  wLich  is  constanllj'  increasing,  selling 
principally  in  Illinois. 

Mr.  Parnieuter  and  Miss  Racbael  Iloriihaker,  of 
Peoria,  daughter  of  John  Hornbaker,  were  united 
in  marriage  December  ft,  1«G8.  They  have  two 
sons,  Fred  and  Herbert,  who  are  still  attending 
school. 

Mr.  Parmenter  is  a  vigorous,  wide-awake  man, 
with  a  tine  talent  for  business,  and  by  his  sagacious 
and  al)le  management  has  placed  himself  among 
the  moneyed  men  of  Peoria,  and  has  made  himself 
a  factor  in  its  commercial  ijrosperity.  He  is  well 
known  in  this  conimunilj-  though  he  has  not  re- 
sided here  many  years,  and  is  well  liked  for  his 
geniality,  courtesy  and  liberality. 


/^EN.  JOHN  HOUGH.  The  task  of  the  bio- 
'II  ,-— ,  grai)hical  writer  becomes  very  pleasant  when 
^^^i^l  the  subject  of  his  pen  is  one  whose  unvary- 
inginlegrity, manliness, and  devotion  to  duty  fills  the 
heart  with  admiring  respect.  Such  is  the  case  in 
noting  the  career  of  Gen.  Hough,  whose  military 
record  is  well  known  and  appreciated  by  all  lovers 
of  patriotism.  He  spent  several  of  his  best  years, 
hazarding  strength,  liberty-  and  even  life,  in  the 
service  of  his  countrj',  displa3'ing  gallantry  which 
won  the  recognition  of  those  above  him  in  authority 
and  led  to  his  honorable  promotion.  In  the  field  of 
diplomacy  he  was  an  acceptable  representative  of 
the  United  States  as  the  Vice  Consul  to  Panama. 
As  a  lawj'er,  he  was  especially  adapted  for  the  du- 
ties of  counsel  and  office  lawyer. 

The  Hough  family  was  of  English  extraction,  the 
first  of  the  name  having  come  to  America  in  1665, 
and  three  generations  of  ancestors  of  our  subject 
having  lived  in  New  Hampshire.  In  that  State, 
John  Hough,  Sr.,  his  father,  was  a  Lieutenant  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  his  grandfather,  a  Colonel  in 
the  Revolutionar}^  War.  John  Hough,  Sr.,  carried 
on  the  occupation  of  tilling  the  soil.  His  wife, 
Nancy  Stickney,  belonged  to  a  fainilN'  which  had 
been  known  in  America  for  seven  generations.   This 


worthy  couple  had  nine  children  two  of  whom  died 
ill  childhootl.  Others  now  deceased  are:  Daniel  S., 
at  one  time  a  wholesale  furniture  dealer  in  New 
York  City,  who  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in 
the  Adirondacks;  Lydia,  wife  of  William  Emeiy,  of 
Springfield,  Mass.;  and  Emily,  furmerly  wife  of 
Judge  11.  B.  Hopkins,  of  Peoria.  The  living  mem- 
bers of  the  family  circle  are  Sarah  M.,  widow  of  H. 
W.  Holbrook  in  DuBois,  this  Slate;  Nancj'  S.,  wife 
of  Charles  T.  EUes,  of  Belleville;  Charlotte  S.,  wife 
of  Baxter  E.  Perry,  an  attorney  in  Boston,  Mass.; 
and  our  subject.  The  father  died  in  his  native 
State  in  1863,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in  1872. 

John  Hough,  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  in 
Dorchester,  N.  II.,  March  23,  1835,  and  passed  his 
Qtxvly  days  on  the  New  England  farm.  After  hav- 
ing attended  school  in  Norwich,  Vt.,  he  went  to 
New  York,  where  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  busi- 
ness with  his  brother.  After  a  time  he  entered  an 
academj'  at  Chester,  Vt.,  solely  for  the  purpose  of 
learning  surveying  and  civil  engineering.  In  mathe- 
matics he  is  an  expert,  with  a  decided  bent  toward 
its  practical  application  to  the  branches  al)ove  men- 
tioned. He  taught  school  at  Belleville,  111.,  and  in 
Peoria,  filling  a  temporary  vacancy  in  this  city 
while  engaged  in  the  stud3'  of  law  with  Hopkins  i 
Powell.  This  was  soon  after  his  arrival  here  in 
1857.  He  had  come  to  the  State  during  the  pre- 
ceding year,  but  was  engaged  in  the  southern  part 
and  on  the  Atlantic  &  Pacific  Railroad  from  St. 
Louis  to  Rolla,  Mo.,  along  the  line  of  which  he 
bought  about  tiiirty  thousand  acres  of  land  for 
Eastern  parties. 

In  the  prosecution  of  the  study  of  law  Mr. 
Hough  had  in  view  as  a  specialty,  land  litigation, 
not  caring  to  enter  the  criminal  courts.  In  April, 
1860,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  at  once  en- 
gaged in  active  practice,  which  continued  until  after 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  when  his  lo3-alty 
led  him  to  a  different  field  of  work.  Immediately 
after  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  he  began  raising  a 
company,  and  when  a  call  was  made  for  seventy-five 
thousand  troops  he  went  to  Springfield  to  tender 
the  services  of  the  compau}^  to  the  Governor.  Re- 
turning to  Peoria  he  enlisted  .as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany A,  Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry,  but  on  Ma}' 
26,  1861,  was  transferred  to  the  non-commissioned 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


961 


staff  as  Sergeant-Major.  On  August  26  he  was 
promoted  to  be  P'irst  Lieutenant  of  Company  B. 
On  tl)e  7th  of  November,  while  on  route  to  Belmont 
he  was  wounded  and  on  April  16.  1862,  resigned 
from  the  service. 

In  a  short  time  Mr.  Hough  re-enlisted,  on  August 
28,  being  mustered  into  Company  B,  Seventy-scv- 
entli  Illinois  Infantry,  but  receiving  the  promotion 
to  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  September  6th  of 
the  same  year.  On  July  2,  1863,  he  became  Cap- 
tain and  Acting  Adjutant-General  of  Volunteers, 
and  a  \ear  later  was  again  promoted,  becoming 
Major  and  Acting  Adjutant-General.  In  February, 
1865,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  with  the  rank  and 
pay  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Acting  Adjutant- 
General  (jf  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  and  a  few 
weeks  later,  March  13,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier-General  which  he  held  when  mustered  out 
of  the  service,  November  25,  1865.  His  record  is 
an  honorable  one  as  is  evidenced  by  his  various 
promotions.  Even  when  unfit  for  service  he  in- 
sisted upon  remaining  at  his  post.  The  battles  in 
which  lie  took  part  were  Fredericktown,  Belmont, 
Ft.  Donelson,  Pittsburg  Landing,  Shiloh,  Chicka- 
saw Bayou,  Arkansas  Post,  Champion  Hills,  Vicks- 
burg.  Pleasant  Hill.  Yellow  Bayou,  Tupelo,  Nash- 
ville, Ft.  Gibson,  Black  River  Bridge,  Ft.  DeRussey, 
Lake  Chicot,  Old  Tom  Creek,  Spanish  Fort  and  Ft. 
Blakely.  From  December,  1862,  until  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  with  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  Commander 
of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps. 

The  following  recommendation  spe.aks  for  itself: 

•'Headquarters,   Sixteenth    Army  Corps, 

Montgomery.  Ala.,  June  23,  1865. 
Brigadier-General  E.  D.  Townsend,  A.  A.  G. 

General : 

I  have  the  honor  to  respectfully  and  urgently 
recommend  Col.  John  Hough,  A.  A.  G.,  now  on 
duty  at  these  headquarters  as  Colonel  and  Acting 
Adjutant-General,  for  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
Brevet  Brigadier-General  for  meritorious  conduct 
in  the  field  and  for  efficiencj'  in  his  present  duties 
.as  Acting  Adjutant-General.  Col.  Hough  has  been 
in  the  service  of  his  countr}' since  the  beginning  of 
the  war.  He  has  taken  part  in  the  following  men- 
tioned engagements,"  (here  follows  the  list  of  bat- 


tles) '•  and  h.as  honorably  conducted  himself  on  all 
occasions,  and  to  his  [nomptness  and  elliciency  I 
am  indebted  in  a  me.asure  for  llie  results  and  suc- 
cesses which  have  attended  my  command  in  these 
engagements.  He  is  worthy  of  the  promotion  to 
the  position  asked  for  him  and  in  consideration  of 
his  services  I  trust  his  Excellency  will  see  proper 
and  just  to  grant  my  request. 
I  have  the  honor  to  Ijc. 

A'ery  respcctfulli', 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  J.  Smith,  Major-General." 

To  this  is  added  the  recommendation  of  Gen. 
Canby,  as  follows: 

•'Respectfully  forwarded.  The  promotion  rec- 
ommended is  well  deserved.  I  know^  Col.  Hough 
to  be  an  officer  of  great  merit  and  hope  that  his 
gallant,  efficient  and  long-continued  service  may  be 
acknowledged. 

Ed.  R.  S.  Canuy, 

Major-General  Commanding. 
Headquarters  New  Orleans,  June  30,  1865." 
"  Approved,  U.  S.  Guaxt,  Lieutenant-General, 
Headquarters,  July  22,  1865. 

Gen.  Hough  married  Mrs.  Caroline  Pegues.witlow 
of  Col.  Pegues  of  tlie  Fifth  Alabama  (Confederate) 
Regiment  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Malvern 
Hill.  Mrs.  Hough  was  introduced  to  the  General 
by  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  at  the  latter's  headquarters 
while  stationed  in  Alabama.  They  were  married 
in  New  York  City  January  6,  1866,  and  resided  in 
the  South,  Gen.  Hough  being  occu|iied  with  work 
on  cotton  claims  at  New  Orleans,  until  the  follow- 
ing August  when  they  came  North.  Soon  after- 
ward the  General  was  appointed  Vice  Consul  to 
Panam.a.  He  remained  at  his  tliplomatic  post  three 
years,  then  spent  a  short  time  in  Boston,  next  lo- 
cating in  New  York,  which  was  his  place  of  abode 
four  years. 

In  1873  Gen.  Hough  came  to  Peoria,  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  long  been 
numbered  among  the  best  citizens  of  the  thriving 
municipality.  His  wife  possesses  the  charming 
hospitable  manners  so  characteristic  of  the  Southern 
ladies  and  is  well  fitted  to  stand  by  his  side  in  the 
high  circles  which  they  frequent.     Gen.  Hough  wtis 


962 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ai>i)oinle(I  to  a' position  in' the  Revenue  Depart- 
ment under  President  Cleveland,  holding  it  until  a 
change  in  the  administration  caused  his  removal. 
It  ib  needless  to  say  that  he  belongs  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  of  the  Grand  Armj-  of  the  Republic. 


7/  NTIIOXY  U.  POTTER  is  one  of  the  young- 
est business  men  of  this  his  native  count}-, 
1 1  aud  he  has  already  achieved  marked  suc- 
[Q^J  cess  in  his  mercantile  pursuits.     He  has  a 

general  store  in  the  village  of  Edelstein  that  is 
neatl}-  fitted  up,  well  stocked,  and  of  ample  pro- 
portions, being  22x50  feet  in  dimensions,  with  a 
i-£sidcnt  department  adjoining.  Mr.  Potter  was 
born  in  Ilallock  Township,  this  county,  March  20, 
1 86K,  and  is  the  son  of  the  well-known  J.  A.  Potter, 
whf)  has  long  been  prominent!}'  identified  with  the 
interests  of  this  part  of  the  State. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Allegany 
Couniy,  X.  v..  and  there  passed  the  earlj-  }'ears  of 
his  life.  Before  he  attained  his  majority,  he  had 
come  to  Peoria  Count}',  shrewdly  thinking  that  in 
this  newly  settled  country,  young  men  of  brain  and 
action  ivould  be  in  demand  to  assist  in  its  develop- 
ment. He  settled  in  Hallock  Towushi[),  and  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade  of  Riley  Potter,  and  in  a  few 
years  establishetl  a  smithy  of  his  own  at  what  is 
known  as  South  Hampton,  in  whicii  he  couducted 
a  good  business  for  some  years.  He  subsequently 
opened  a  shop  at  West  Hallock,  and  in  1878  estab- 
lished a  general  store  in  this  part  of  the  township, 
in  connection  with  Mr.  Crossley,  a  kinsman  of  his. 
A  few  years  later  he  abandoned  the  blacksmith 
trade  altogether,  and  gave  his  entire  time  to  the 
management  of  the  store  until  he  sold  out  in  April, 
188'J,  to  Ills  son,  our  subject,  he  retiring  to  his 
farm  in  Akron  Township. 

J.  A.  Potter  was  married  in  Hallock  Town- 
ship, to  Miss  Mary  S.  ILakes.  She  was  born 
reared  and  educated  in  this  township  and  county, 
and  is  now  enjoying  with  her  husband,  the  fruits 
of  their  united  labors  in  their  cozy  home  in  Akron 
Township.     They  are  substantial,  highly  respected 


people  of  earnest  Christian  characters,  and  are  sin- 
cere mi  mbers  of  the  Seventh-Day  Baptist  Church, 
of  which  Mr.  Potter  is  an  officer.  He  is  very  i)rom- 
inent  in  public  affairs,  his  sagacious  business  quali- 
fications eminently  fitting  him  to  hold  offices  of 
trust;  he  has  served  his  township  for  some  years  as 
Supervisor,  and  has  held  other  local  offices,  being 
numbered  among  the  stanch  supporters  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  and  his  wife  have  had  three 
children:  Mary  Alice  is  deceased,  and  Edna  is  still 
with  her  parents. 

Anthony  U.  Potter  is  the  eldest  child  and  only 
son  of  his  parents.  He  grew  up  in  a  home  sur- 
rounded by  good  influences,  and  was  carefully 
trained  and  educated.  He  obtained  the  prelimina- 
ries of  his  education  in  the  local  schools,  and  was 
then  sent  to  Alfred  University,  at  Alfred  Center,  X. 
Y.,  to  complete  it.  He  there  pursued  a  thorough 
course  of  study,  that  welj  fitted  him  for  his  career 
in  life,  and  since  leaving  college  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  business.  He  was  engaged  with  his  fa- 
ther as  a  merchant  at  West  Hallock,  until  April, 
1889,  when  he  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  busi- 
ness, and  in  August  of  the  same  year  moved  it  to 
Edelstein,  >vhere  he  foresaw  there  would  be  a  fine 
opening  for  any  young  man  of  enterprise  and  busi- 
ness tact.  He  has  done  well  since  he  came  here, 
and  has  already  secured  a  good  trade  among  the 
best  class  of  people.  He  carries  a  good  stock  of 
goods,  and  conducts  his  business  promptly,  sys- 
tematically, and  by  the  most  honorable  methods. 
He  and  his  wife  are  botli  people  of  agreeable  social 
qualities,  and  stand  well  in  the  community,  and 
they  are  active  in  every  good  work  for  promoting 
its  moral,  religious  or  educational  status.  They 
are  among  the  prominent  members  of  the  Seventh- 
Day  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr.  Potter  is  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  takes  an  intelli- 
gent view  of  the  political  situation  of  the  d.ay,  and 
gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Potter  was  married  in  the  town  of  Wirt,  Al- 
legany County,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Mabel  E.  Witter. 
She  was  a  native  of  AYirt  Township,  in  the  same 
county,  born  July  22,  1866.  Her  parents,  Orson  M. 
and  Eliza  (Allen)  Witter,  were  likewise  natives  of 
that  county,  and  began  their  wedded  life  on  a  farm 
in  Alfred  Township.     They  subsequently   bought 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


963 


lanri  in  Wirt  Township,  niiere  they  still  make  their 
home.  Mrs.  Potter  was  given  an  excellent  educa- 
tion at  Alfred  Universitj-,  and  lived  at  home  until 
her  marriage,  and  was  prior  to  that  lime  engaged 
in  teaching. 

A  view  of   the   homestead   Is  shown   on   another 
page. 


^  HARLES  C.  ELLIOTT  is  Superintendent  of 


the  Peoria  County  Poor  Farm,  and  is  dis- 
'i'  charging  the  onerous  duties  thus  devolving 
upon  him  in  a  faithful,  able  and  business-like  man- 
ner, clearlj'  showing  himself  to  be  the  right  man 
for  this  responsible  position.  On  the  opposite  page 
is  ijresented  a  portrait  of  this  gentleman,  who  is  a 
man  of  influence  and  honor.  He  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  Butler  Coantv,  April  7,  1852.  His 
parents,  William  and  Rebecca  (Ligg)  Elliott,  ca.ne 
from  there  to  Illinois,  and  made  their  home  in 
Adams  County,  until  their  death. 

Our  subject  received  a  substantial  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  La  Prairie,  and  in  the  course 
of  years  attained  a  vigorous  and  stalwart  maniiood. 
L'pon  starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  he  came  to 
Peoria  in  1876.  He  had  previously  been  assistant  in 
llie  Adams  County  Poor  Farm  for  two  j'ears,  and 
had  learned  the  details  of  the  business  under  As- 
l)ury  Elliott,  who  was  then  in  charge  of  that  insti- 
tution. After  coming  liere  he  located  at  Monica, 
in  Princeville  Townsliip,  and  was  a  resident  tliere 
for  some  years,  becoming  one  of  its  prominent  citi- 
zens. At  one  time  he  was  foreman  of  a  large  tile 
factory.  When  Berry  became  Sheriff  of  the  county, 
our  subject  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff,  as  he  had 
previously  had  some  experience  as  Constable,  and 
before  that  had  been  C'it3-  Marshal  of  Princeville. 
He  did  good  service  as  Deputy  Sheriff,  and  was  a 
popular  and  capable  official. 

In  1887.  Mr.  Elliott  was  a|)pointed  to  his  present 
position  as  Superintendent  of  the  Peoria  County 
Poor  Farm,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his 
office  the  1st  of  .lanuar3'.  It  requires  an  active 
man,  of  more  than  ordinary-  capacity,  firmness,  and 
t.act  to  fill  this  position  pro|)erly,  and  our  subject  is 
found  to  possess  all  these  qualifications  in  a   high 


degree,  and  under  his  able  management  the  affairs 
of  the  institution  are  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
The  house  contains  one  hundred  rooms,  is  well 
fitted  up,  and  there  aie  at  present  about  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  inmates  enjoying  the  privileges 
of  a  good  home  at  the  county's  expense.  There  is 
a  fine  farm  connected  with  it,  comprising  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  very  fertile  land,  which 
is  kept  under  excellent  cultivation,  and  is  worked 
by  the  help  of  the  inmates,  witli  the  exception  of 
two  hired  men,  and  the  inmates  also  assist  in  the 
household  affairs,  with  the  aid  of  one  hired  woman. 

Mr.  Elliott  was  married  to  Miss  Robina,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Elizabeth  Walkington,  of  Prince- 
ville Township,  this  county,  and  of  Scotch  origin. 
Mrs.  Elliott  ablj'  assists  her  husband  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties,  and  is  all  that  a  helpmate  ar.d 
true  wife  can  be.  Her  marriage  with  our  subject 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  one  boy, 
Ralph,  a  lad  of  seven  years. 

Mr.  Elliott  is  a  man  of  fine  physique,  and  is  also 
dowered  with  a  vigorous,  well  balanced  mind,  and, 
as  we  have  seen,  possesses  qualifications  that  emi- 
nently fit  him  for  the  oHice  of  trust  that  he  holds, 
and  gains  him  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  has  always  taken  a  verj'  active  part  in  sui-h 
affairs. 


coo 


J?_^  ON.  LAWRENCE  W.  .lAMES.  It  is  a 
)j)  worthy  pride  tliat  leads  us  to  regard  with 
admiration  an  ancestral  lineage  in  wliicli  a 
v^)  name  has  been  borne  by  generations  of  brave 
and  honorable  men  and  women, who  are  remembered 
b}'  what  they  have  done  for  humanity  in  uplifting 
the  standards  of  liberty,  truth  and  justice.  A  de- 
scendant of  such  ancestors  can  scarcely  fail  to  real- 
ize his  owui  responsibility  as  the  heir  of  a  noble 
name  and  labor  earnestly'  to  preserve  its  lustre  un- 
dimmed  and  if  possible  add  to  its  brilliancy.  That 
these  feelings  animate  the  mind  of  our  subject,  all 
acquainted  with  his  life  and  character  will  be  ready 
to  confess.  He  has  a  double  incentive  in  recalling 
his  family  history,  as  he  is  descended  in  the  mater- 
nal line  from  the  Washington   family  of  Virginia, 


964 


PORTRAIT  A^•D  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  in  tlie  paternal  from  a  grandfather  who  served 
as  a  Government  official  much  of  his  life,  having 
accompanied  the  seat  of  the  Government  from 
Philadelphia  to  "Washington. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mar3-(Wash- 
ington)  James,  and  was  born  in  the  national  capital 
August  29,  1846.  A  portion  of  his  boyhood  was 
spent  in  Virginia,  but  his  literary  education  and 
legal  studies  were  completed  at  his  birthplace.  His 
preceptor  in  the  study  of  the  law  was  Walter  D. 
Davage,  one  of  the  most  eminent  legal  lights  of 
Washington,  recognized  as  a  leader  of  the  bar  in 
that  city.  When  but  nineteen  years  old  Mr.  James 
was  admitted  to  practice  and  immediately  left 
Washington  for  a  Western  location.  Coming  to 
the  Prairie  .State  he  became  a  partner  with  his 
brother-in-law,  S.  Corning  Judd,  ex-Postmaster  of 
Cliicago,  at  Lewistown,  continuing  his  connection 
with  that  eminent  jurist  until  1868. 

Mr.  James  was  then  elected  District  Attorne}'  for 
the  Fifth  Judicial  District,  which  important  office 
he  filled  most  creditably  until  the  year  before  the 
completion  of  his  term,  when  he  resigned  and  re- 
moved to  Peoria.  Here  he  opened  a  law  office, 
giving  assiduous  attention  to  the  large  practice 
which  he  secured,  for  nearly  a  decade.  He  was 
then  elected  Probate  Judge  for  the  county  and  de- 
voted himself  entirely  to  his  official  duties  until 
near  the  expiration  of  his  second  term.  His  repu- 
tation had  so  extended  that  in  April,  1890,  he  was 
elected  Judge  of  Ihe  Eighth  Judicial  Circuit  Court 
and  resigned  his  former  position  to  accept  thehigher 
honor  which  had  been  bestowed  upon  him.  He  is 
recognized  by  his  brethren  of  the  bar  as  one  whose 
legal  lore  is  accurate  and  extensive,  who  sees  clearly, 
decides  judiciously,  and  uses  the  eloquence  and 
knowledge  which  he  has  at  command  on  the  side  of 
probity,  and  moral  as  well  as  legal  right. 

The  lady  with  whom  Judge  Lawrence  James  was 
united  in  marriage,  is  an  educated  and  refined 
woman,  whose  character  fits  her  to  make  of  his 
home  the  place  of  rest  which  he  desires,  and  to 
stand  side  by  side  with  her  husband  in  the  high 
social  circles  which  they  frequent.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  William  Kellogg,  one  of  the  most  able 
jurists  of  the  State,  who  for  many  years  served  as  a 
Member  of  Congress.     She  made  many-  friends  as    ! 


Miss  Paulina  Kellogg,  and  since  her  marriage  has 
but  added  to  the  circle.  She  is  the  mother  of  two 
children,  William  Kellogg  and  Laura  Boyd. 

The  political  affiliation  of  the  Hon.  Lawrence  W. 
James  has  been  with  the  Democratic  partj'.  He  is 
identified  with  the  lower  Masonic  bodies  and  the 
Knights  Templar,  as  well  as  with  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum, in  which  he  has  served  as  Grand  Orator  and 
Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee.  The  fain- 
il}'  attend  the  Episcopal  Cburch. 

f/_^  ENRY  C.  YOUNG,  M.  D.,  of  Kickapoo 
j!  Village,  has  gained  a  wide  reputation  as  a 
successful  and  skillful  physician,  and  stands 
among  the  leading  members  of  liis  profes- 
sion in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  Doctor  is  also 
connected  with  the  mining  interests  of  Illinois,  he 
and  W.  T.  AVhitney  having  formed  the  Edwards 
Coal  Company  for  the  purpose  of  working  the  rich 
deposit  of  that  substance  found  three  miles  from 
Edwards,  where  their  office  is  located. 

Our  subject  is  a  descendant  of  sterling  New  Eng- 
land ancestiy.  His  father,  George  Young,  and  iiis 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ann  R.  Perkins, 
were  born  in  Dover,  N.  H.  The  latter  departed 
this  life  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  February  21,  1890. 
The  father  of  our  subject  is  still  living.  He  was  a 
machinist  bj-  trade,  but  subsequently  entered  into 
the  mercantile  business,  and  has  now  retired  on  an 
ample  competency. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was  the 
eldest  of  a  family  of  four  children,  three  sons  and 
one  daughter,  and  he  was  born  in  Dover'  N.  IL, 
May  19,  1846.  He  was  reared  to  the  age  of  four- 
teen in  his  native  city,  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
a  liberal  education  in  the  public  schools.  At  that 
age  he  went  to  Lawrence,  Mass.,  where  he  made  his 
home  until  1867.  Full  of  life  and  energy,  this 
spirited  young  man  determined  to  try  his  fortunes 
in  this  great  Western  State,  as  Illinois  was  then  con- 
sidered. He  Ijegan  life  in  his  new  home  in  Peoria 
County,  by  teaching  school,  and  was  thus  engaged 
veiy  successfully  until  1874.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  taken  up  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  H. 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


965 


AVilkinson,  formerly  of  Kiekapoo,  now  of  Peoria. 
He  subsequently  attended  the  Cliicago  Medical  Col- 
lege for  one  year,  and  in  1874-75  vvas  a  student  in 
the  university  of  the  city  of  New  York,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  with  honor  in  the  spiing  of  1875. 
He  immediately  returned  to  his  adopted  State,  and 
established  himself  at  Kiokapoo  as  a  successor  of 
liis  old  iustructor,  Dr.  \A"ilkinson. 

Tiie  Doctor  is  well  read  in  all  the  modern  medi- 
cal works,  keeping  pace  with  all  the  valuable  medi- 
cal discoveries  of  the  day,  and  b}'  devotion  to  his 
professional  duties,  and  the  success  that  has  fol- 
lowed his  treatment  of  difficult  diseases,  he  has 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  And,  what 
is  better, he  has  made  many  fast  friends  among  those 
whom  he  first  approached  as  a  physician,  and  is 
sure  of  a  warm  welcome  in  many  a  household  where 
his  healing  presence  has  staj^ed  the  hand  of  death, 
or  his  tender,  considerate  sympathy  has  softened  a 
bereavement. 

Tlie  Doctor  possesses  a  decided  talent  for  busi- 
ness, and  outside  his  professional  duties  is  also  en- 
gaged, as  before  mentioned,  in  coal  mining,  in 
company  with  W.  T.  Whitney,  and  from  this  enter- 
prise he  derives  a  handsome  income. 

November  2.  1875,  Dr.  Young  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  Turner,  and  to  them  have 
(^ome  three  f^iiildren:  Anne  E.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  six  months;  Clarence  W.,  and  Etta  M.  Mrs. 
Young  is  liie  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabetli 
(Rowe)  Turner,  and  was  born  in  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, August  21,  1850.  Her  mother  died  in  Kick- 
apoo,  but  her  father  is  still  living.  Our  subject  is 
a  member  of  the  I'eoria  City  Medical  Society,  and 
holds  the  office  of  Pension  Surgeon  by.  appoint- 
ment. 

,«^  lEBELD  REENTS,  came  from  the  German 
Eatherland  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago,  arriving  in  this  county  with  no  capi- 
tal other  than  his  clear  brain,  steady  nerve 
and  brawny  muscle,  and  is  now  one  of  llie  sub- 
stantial meinl)ers  of  the  farming  community  that 
cora[)rises  the  enterprising  township  of    Kosofleld. 


Mr.  Reents  was  born  August  27,  1842,  in  Esens,  in 
tlie  Province  of  Hanover,  Germany.  His  parents 
.lohn  and  Alsta  (Rickelfrentz)  Reents,  were  also  of 
German  origin  and  liis  fallier  was  a  farmer  and  the 
proprietor  of  a  saloon.  They  had  eleven  ciiildren, 
of  whom  the  following  is  recorded:  Rickelfrentz 
died  leaving  a  familj' ;  George  died  leaving  a  fam- 
ily; Teite  died  in  Peoria  leaving  one  daughter,  anr) 
her  husband  is  also  deceased;  Wubke  died  in  Ger- 
many, leaving  a  husband  and  three  children;  her 
S(ms  are  living  in  the  United  States;  Gesche  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  this  county',  and  has  a  family  of 
four  daughters;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Peoria,  has  one 
daughter  and  two  sons;  Siebeld  is  the  subject  of 
this  writing. 

He,  of  whom  we  write,  came  to  this  country  with 
his  brother  Henry  in  June,  1867,  and  located  in 
Peoria,  where  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  a  carpenter. 
His  boyhood  and  j'outh  were  passed  on  a  farm  and 
he  had  a  natural  liking  for  agricultural  pursuits;  in 
1870  we  find  him  adopting  the  calling  to  which  he 
had  been  bred.  He  then  purchased  one  hundred  and 
ninety-six  acres  of  his  present  farm,  which  he  im- 
proved into  one  of  the  finest  estates  in  its  vicinity. 
He  has  since  added  eighty  acres,  mostly'  valuable 
coal  land.  His  farm  is  finejy  stocked  with  cattle, 
horses  and  hogs  of  a  high  grade,  as  he  makes  a 
specialty  of  stock-raising  to  which  his  land  is  well 
adai)ted.  A  view  of  his  well-improved  homestead 
is  an  .additional  feature  of  interest  to  this  volume. 
On  September  19,  1868,  Mr.  Reents  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Anna  Elizabeth  Menssen,  a  native  of 
the  town  of  Ordorf .  Hanover,  Germany,  where  she 
was  born  August  28,  1846.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Jurgen  and  Anna  S.  (Ails)  Menssen,  who  were 
also  of  German  birth  and  antecedents.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom,  five  are  living, 
George,  Anna  E.,  Johanna,  and  two  girls  in  Ger- 
many, Mary  and  Maggie — both  of  whom  are  mar- 
ried and  have  families.  (Tcorge  was  a  soldier  and 
took  p.art  in  the  German  War.  In  the  month  of 
June,  1867,  Mrs.  Reents  and  her  sister  came  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Peoria,  the^-  being  the 
first  of  the  family  to  come  to  this  country.  Her 
happy  marriage  with  our  subject  has  been  blessed 
to  them  by  the  birth  of  eight  children  as  follows: 
George,  John,  Henry,  Anna  S.,  August,  Anton  ami 


966 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Sibert.    John  died  when  one  year  old  and  one  died 
unnamed. 

Mr.  Reents  and  his  good  wife  are  members  in 
high  standing  of  the  Evangelical  Lutlieran  Church 
and  the  conduct  of  their  everj'  day  lives  shows 
them  to  be  sincere  and  devoted  Christians.  Their 
neighbors  find  in  them  kind,  true  and  steadfast 
friends,  who  are  never  appealed  to  in  vain  for 
sympathy  or  lielp  in  the  hour  of  trial,  and  all  lienor 
and  respect  is  .iccorded  to  them.  Mr.  Reeut?  pos- 
sesses those  excellent  characteristics  that  commend 
a  man  to  the  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  he 
being  truthful,  honest  and  fair-minded,  and  con- 
ducts his  affairs  with  the  strictest  regard  for  the 
rights  of  others.  His  public  spirit  is  creditable,  and 
as  Road  Commissioner,  which  position  he  has  held 
for  four  terms,  he  has  done  good  work  for  the 
township. 


/^ILBERT  HATHAWAY.  No  name  is  more 
III  ^— ,  honored  or  more  worthj-  of  reverence  among 
^^5j  those  of  the  noble  pioneers  of  Peoria 
County,  b)-  whose  labors  it  was  established  on  a 
firm  foundation  of  enduring  prosperity,  than  that 
of  this  gentleman,  who  has  played  an  important 
part  in  the  agricultural,  political  and  religious  de- 
velopment of  Jubilee  Township,  and  so  of  the 
count}'.  In  his  work  he  was  much  prospei'ed,  ac- 
cumulating a  goodl}'  amount  of  property-,  and  is 
now  living  retired  in  Farmington,  Fulton  County, 
where  he  is  quietl}'  and  pleasantly  passing  the  de- 
clining 3'ears  of  a  life  well  spent  in  all  that  goes 
to  make  a  true  man  and  a  good  citizen. 

Our  subject  was  born  July  27,  1818,  about  sixty 
miles  from  the  Canada  line  in  the  wilds  of  Somer- 
set (now  Franklin)  County,  Me.,  the  place  of  his 
birth  Kingsfield  Township,  which  was  named  in 
honor  of  Maine's  first  Governor,  King,  who  bought 
a  very  large  tract  of  land  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  State,  which  was  divided  up  into  three  towns — 
Concord,  Lexington  and  Kingsfield.  The  Ilatha- 
ways  came  from  England,  and  Deacon  Hathaway 
is  a  direct  descendant  of  one  Col.  Ebenezer  Hatha- 
way, who  w.as  sent  to   this  countr}'  b}'  the  English 


Government  in  charge  of  one  of  the  English  troops 
in  one  of  the  Colonial  wars.  He  settled  at  Assonet. 
Mass.,  and  there  reared  a  family.  He  did  good 
service  as  an  officer  in  the  French  and  Indian  War. 
His  son  Gilbert  was  born  at  Assonet,  and  as  a 
middle-aged  man  removed  to  Oxford  County,  Me., 
ami  was  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Livermore. 
He  was  accompanied  hither  by  his  wife  and  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  our  subject's  father  is  the  eighth 
in  order  of  biith. 

Luther  Hathaway,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
married,  in  Oxford  County,  Miss  Clarissa  AV.  Hinds, 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who  was  taken  to  Maine 
by  her  parents,  who  were  of  Scotch  descent.  The 
father  of  our  subject  followed  farming  in  Maine  for 
several  j-ears.  but  finall}-  removed  to  Peoria  Count}' 
with  his  family  and  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  Brim- 
field  Township.  In  after  years  he  and  his  wife 
lived  retired  in  Brimfield  VilLage,  where  she  died  in 
187l\  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  She  had  always 
been  a  consistent  Christian,  as  bad  her  husband. 
After  her  death  he  lived  at  times  with  our  subject 
and  at  times  with  the  twin  sister  of  our  subject. 
Mrs.  Preston,  of  Fulton  County,  in  whose  home  he 
died  August  14,  1876,  rounding  out  a  long  life  of 
eighty-six  years,  seven  months  and  fourteen  days. 

Deacon  Hathawa}-  was  reared  in  the  woods  of 
Maine,  amid  pleasant  scenes,  and  one  of  his  first 
recollections  is  of  the  beautiful  golden  sunsets  over 
Mt.  Abram.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, named  as  follows:  Boadicea,  Edwin  B.,  Gil- 
bert and  Tryphena  (twins)  Christopher  Columbus, 
Hannah,  Salome  E.,  and  George  W.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  St.ate 
aud  was  brought  up  to  habits  of  industr}-  on  a  farm 
by  his  worthy  parents.  In  his  youth  he  was  greatly 
interested  in  reading  an  account  of  the  Black  Hawk 
War.  and  from  its  description  obtained  a  good  idea 
of  the  State  of  Illinois  and  was  fired  with  the  am- 
bitious desire  to  try  life  on  its  wild  prairies.  His 
mother  did  not  wish  him  to  leave  home,  thinking 
him  too  3'oung,  and  then,  too.  his  eldest  brother, 
Edwin,  had  gone  from  them,  sailing  away  on  the 
ocean,  and  iiad  settled  in  South  Carolina  some  years 
before,  and  his  family  had  lost  all  trace  of  him. 
Gilbert's  parents  seeing  that  he  was  still  verv  de- 
sirous to  go  westward, decided  that  his  father  should 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


9G7 


visit  Illinois  to  see  the  country  and  find  out  whether 
the  Indians  had  left  the  Stale  and  whether  it  was 
habitable.  Conscqueiitl}-  he  started  for  the  Far 
West  in  1837,  and  after  his  arrival  iu  Illinois  wrote 
to  his  family  stating^  that  everything  was  all   right. 

Mr.  Hathaway  savs,  with  reference  lo  his  father's 
coming-  liere,  -We  were  poor  as  poverty-,  and  father 
had  to  go  to  Massachusetts  to  borrow  money  to 
come  out  with."  Our  subject  started  for  his  des- 
tination May  10,  1838.  with  but  $11  in  his  pocket. 
He  traveled  with  two  families,  who  were  going  to 
Jackson  County,  Mich.,  and  he  drove  one  team  to 
help  pay  his  way.  When  he  arrived  in  Jackson 
County,  Mich.,  his  money  was  all  gone  and  he  was 
in  debt  besides.  With  characteristic  honesty  he 
stayed  there  until  he  had  earned  raone}*  to  repay 
his  indebtedness,  working  on  a  farm  for  three 
months,  it  taking  two  months  to  obtain  the  re- 
quired sum.  He  then  started  on  his  way  and  went 
as  far  as  his  money  would  carry  him,  which  was 
not  a  great  distance,  as  in  his  ignorance  he  had  ac- 
cepted in  payment  for  his  work  paper  money  which 
was  called  in  local  parlance,  ''shinplasters,"  which 
was  not  lawful  currency  only  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  where  it  was  mauufactured.  So 
when  he  had  traveled  some  distance  he  found  his 
mone}'  was  useless,  and  when  he  arrived  at  St.  Jo- 
seph he  was  obliged  to  go  to  work  again.  For  ten 
days  he  was  emplo}'ed  in  a  stable  as  hostler.  A 
boat  was  just  then  being  repaired  at  St.  Joseph, 
which  plied  between  that  place  and  Chicago,  and 
Mr.  Hathaway  engaged  as  fireman  on  board  to  save 
the  expense  of  his  passage,  and  received  besides 
sixt3'-two  and  one-half  cents  per  day  for  his  work. 
Arriving  at  Chicago  he  found  a  dirty  village  built 
among  the  sloughs  and  swamps,  with  no  indication 
of  its  present  size  and  importance  as  the  second 
city  in  population  in  this  country.  He  paid  for 
having  his  trunk  or  chest  taken  to  Peoria  from 
there,  and  he  started  on  foot  for  this  county.  He 
subsequenth'  took  passage  on  a  river  boat  to  Peo- 
ria, and  when  he  landed  there  had  just  eighteen  and 
tiiree-fourth  cents  in  his  pocket.  From  there  he 
walked  out  to  a  friend  who  lived  in  Trivoli  Town- 
ship, Peoria  County. 

Mr.  Hathaway  and  his  father  worked  hard, earning 
money  enough  to  send  home  for  the  mother  and  the 


rest  of  the  children  the  next  year.  Our  subject 
began  work  at  §10  a  inonlh  to  l)uy  a  farm  for  his 
father  and  mother.  He  performed  much  pioneer 
labor,  and  by  unceasing  industry  finally  established 
a  home  of  his  own  and  became  well-to-do.  For 
many  3-ears  he  owned  a  valuable  and  highly  im- 
proved farm  of  one  Inindrefi  and  forty  acres  in 
Jubilee  Township.  He  was  an  able  and  practical 
business  man  ami  dealt  a  good  deal  in  real  estate, 
and  in  that  wa}-  became  quite  wealth}'.  In  the 
month  of  September,  1883,  he  gave  up  active  busi- 
ness as  a  farmer  and  removed  to  his  present  com- 
fortable,commodious  home  in  Farniingtou,  of  which 
he  is  still  a  highly  respected  citizen. 

In  1850  Deacon  Hathaway  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Maria  Willard,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Barbara 
(Stearns)  Sabin,  natives  of  Vermont.  At  the  time 
of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  she  was  the 
widow  of  Alpheus  Willard,  to  whom  she  had  been 
married  in  Vermont  in  1825.  They  were  pioneer 
settlers  of  Brimfield,  Peoria  County,  coming  here 
in  1838.  By  that  marriage  she  became  the  mother 
of  the  following  children:  Isaac,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; William  A.,  Frances  M.,  Cynthia  A.,  Henry 
C,  Lot  S.,  and  Abbie  R.  William  died  in  1865, 
leaving  a  wife  and  two  children — Frank  A.  and 
Mar)'  B.;  Frances  is  the  wife  of  George  P.  Burt,  a 
retired  carpenter  of  Galva,  and  they  have  four 
children — Frank  H.,  Theresa  W..  Flora  M.,  Sophia 
S.;  Cynthia  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  Henry, 
a  prominent  citizen  and  merchant  of  Pittsburg, 
Kan.,  married  Miss  Ellen  Moore,  and  they  hare  two 
children — Lavon  and  Alice;  Lot,  a  real-estate  dealer 
at  Seattle,  Wash.,  married  Ellen  Davidson,  and  they 
have  two  children — May  G.  and  Lee  A,  Lot  S. 
Willard  was  a  Major  on  McPherson's  staff  during 
the  Civil  War.  Abbi<!  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Mar- 
shall, a  well-to-do' farmer  of  Jubilee  Township,  and 
they  have  eight  children — Birdie  A.,  Cora,  Ernest 
W.,  William  A.  Harry  E.,  Janie  M.,  Nellie  M.  and 
Stella  R. 

Deacon  Hathawaj-'s  life  career  has  been  directed 
by  energj',  perseverance,  stability  of  character  and 
good  business  habits,  combined  with  honorable  and 
conscientious  dealings,  and  his  course  furnishes  an 
excellent  example  to  the  young  men  who  are  just 
starting  out   in  the  world  to  seek  fortune's  favors. 


968 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


He  enjo3'sa  high  personal  standing  throughout  the 
cuunty,  where  the  most  busy  years  of  his  life  were 
passed,  and  is  held  in  consideration  wherever 
knonn.  While  a  resident  of  Jubilee  Township  he 
was  very  prominent  in  its  public  affairs  and  was 
for  a  long  time  one  of  its  most  valued  officials.  He 
represented  the  township  as  a  memljer  of  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  two  3- ears.  He  was 
Assessor  five  years.  Collector  four  j'cars,  and  School 
Treasurer  for  twenty-seven  consecutive  jears.  No 
oian  has  done  more  to  forward  the  religious  inter- 
ests of  liiscomuuinity  tlian  the  Deacon.  He  helped 
liuild  every  church  in  Brimfield,  except  the  Catho- 
lic, and  officiated  as  Deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church 
of  that  place  several  years.  He  has  also  acted  in 
that  capacity  in  the  church  of  that  denomination 
in  Farmingtou.  He  has  a  creditable  record  as  a 
Republican,  he  being  a  firm  all3-  of  that  party.  Be- 
fore its  organization  he  was  a  Whig,  and  he  has 
voted  for  the  following  Presidents:  Gen.  W.  H. 
Harrison  in  1840,  well  remembering  the  log-cabin 
craze;  Fremont,  in  1856;  Lincoln,  in  1860  and 
1864;  Grant,  in  1868  and  1872;  Hayes,  in  1876: 
Garfield,  in  1880;  Blaine,  in  1884;  Harrison,  in 
1888.  Though  Mr.  Hathaway  is  strongly  in  favor 
of  temperance  he  is  not  a  third  party  man. 


I^^RANKLIN  GRIGGS.  Connected  promi- 
|^fe^  neutty  with  the  pioneer  history  of  Illinois, 
X  ^^  is  the  name  of  George  Griggs,  our  subject's 
father,  and  also  thai  of  James  Harker,  his  grand- 
father on  the  maternal  side,  who  emigrated  from 
New  York,  r.ud  coming  West,  settled  in  tlie  State 
of  Illinois,  where  Mapleton  now  stands.  After  two 
3'cars  they  removed  to  Jones'  Prairie  (it  should 
have  been  called  Griggs'  Prairie  since  they  were 
the  first  settlers  there).  The  father,  after  reaching 
his  fift3'-sixth  year,  died  in  1850.  He  was  well 
adapted  to  the  pioneer's  life,  being  a  tall  muscular 
man  with  a  powerful  frame,  and  considered  b3' 
many  to  be  the  strongest  man  in  Peoria  County. 
He  was  born  in  Cayuga  County.  N.  Y..and  wasen- 
gaijed  at  one  time  in  towing  canal  boats  on  North 
River,  and  the  Erie  Can.al. 


Our  subject's  mother,  who  previous  to  her  mar- 
riage, was  Miss  Sarah  Harker,  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  her  father,  James  Harker,  was  also 
born  in  New  Jerse3-,  and  there  Sarah  grew  to  wo- 
manhood. The3-  moved  to  Cav-uga  County  by 
wagon.  At  that  time  Chicago  was  onh-  an  Indian 
camp,  and  the3-  persuaded  the  Indians  to  take  them 
across  some  of  the  rivers  in  a  canoe.  The  Indians 
were  quite  plentiful  at  that  time,  but  after  the 
Black  Hawk  War  were  seen  no  more. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Ca3'uga 
County,  August  5,  1826,  and  he  retains  a  vivid 
remembrance  of  all  that  transpired  in  the  eventful 
journey  above  mentioned.  His  father  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  wiio  employed  a  teacher  for  his 
children,  and  the  subject  of  our  sketch  received  a 
fairl3-  good  education.  The  country  was  very 
wild,  deer  were  found  in  abundance,  wild  turkeys 
were  plentiful,  and  different  kinds  of  snakes  were 
a  common  sight.  The  prairie  grass  was  very  thick, 
and  the  wild  prairie  flowers  grew  in  abundance. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  when  nineteen  3-ears 
of  age,  went  to  Wisconsin,  and  there  engaged  in 
working  in  a  l)rick-3'ard.  and  for  several  years  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  in  that  State,  though  he 
changed  to  several  different  points,  and  engaged  in 
several  occupations.  But  tired  of  his  wanderings, 
he  returned  home,  and  in  the  spring  of  1848,  was 
married  to  Miss  Deborah  Largent,  daughter  of 
James  Largent.  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia. Her  mother,  who  previous  to  her  marriage 
was  Miss  Sarah  Boxwell,  was  also  a  Virginian,  and 
her  grandfather.  Robert  Boxwell.  was  in  the  Revo- 
lutionar3'  War.  Her  parents  came  to  Illinois  about 
1837,  and  settled  in  Peoria  Count\-.  The3'  had  ten 
children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griggs  after  their  marriage  settled 
in  Timber  Township,  Peoria  Count3-,  and  there  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  1883,  at  which  date  they  re- 
moved to  Farmington.  To  them  have  been  born 
seven  children,  viz. :  Lizzie,  widow  of  Harvey 
Hand;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Martin  Frank;  Wallace; 
Amanda,  wife  of  Charles  Fahnestock;  Rachael,  wife 
of  John  Mattox;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Charles  Boul- 
ton ;  and  Douglas,  who  died  when  only  four  years 
of  age. 

Mr.  Griggs  suffered  from  ill-health,  and   at  one 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


969 


time  made  a  trip  through  California  and  Nebraska, 
hoping  to  receive  great  benclit  from  the  .same.  His 
wife  merits  uiilimited  praise  for  the  active  [lart  she 
lias  taken  in  the  management  of  their  affairs,  and 
for  the  constant  devotion  with  wiiich  she  has  cared 
for  lier  family.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griggs  are  ex- 
tremely popular  in  their  neighborhood,  and  much 
respected. 

— ""^oCSo^"      ■ 

■ICHARD  F.  SEABURY,  one  of  the  old  set- 
tlers of  Peoria,  is  now  living  retired  from 
di  \\\  active  labors,  surroun(ied  h3- ilie  comforts 
of  life,  and  blessed  with  the  loving  care  of 
various  members  of  his  family  and  the  esteem  of 
many  friends.  He  was  born  at  New  London,  Conn., 
July  21,  180U,  and  is  descended  from  rei)utable  an- 
cestors. His  grandfather,  Bishop  Samuel  Seabury, 
was  the  first  Bishop  in  America  of  the  Protestant 
Ei)isco|)al  Cliurcli,  being  obliged  to  go  to  .Scotland 
for  ordination. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel,  he  being  the  Rev.  diaries  Seabur}', 
wliose  name  is  well  known  in  the  East,  and  who  was 
born  at  Westchester,  N.  Y.,  and  educated  in  New 
York  City.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he 
lived  on  Long  Island,  where  he  was  gathered  to  his 
fathers.  I'he  mother  of  our  subject  bOre  the  maiden 
name  of  Ann  Saltaiistoll.  and  was  a  Connecticut 
lady. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  New  York  City  and 
was  then  employed  as  clerk  in  a  general  store  in 
Brookhaven,  L.  I.  After  acquiring  a  knowledge  of 
commercial  affairs,  he  began  business  for  himself 
in  New  York,  remaining  there  for  some  time.  He 
removed  to  Peorhn,  thence  to  Fremont,  where 
for  some  years  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. In  1844  he  changed  his  place  of  residence 
to  Kiekapoo,  where  he  continued  his  former  occu- 
pation, and  receiving  the  appointment  of  Postmas- 
ter estaoiished  the  first  ottice  there.  In  1866  he 
came  to  Peoria  and  for  a  time  was  associated  with 
his  son  Clmrles  in  business,  but  soon  retired. 

Mr.  Seabury  was  Supervisor  in  Kiekapoo  for 
many  years  and  served  one  term  in  the  same  office 
after   coming  to   Peoria.     He  is  a  man   of   intelli- 


gence, well  read  and  well  informed.     He  and  his 

wife  belong  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  whieii  he 
served  as  Vestryman  or  Warden  during  a  long  per- 
iod of  years. 

The  chosen  companion  of  our  subject  was  Miss 
Catherine  Eliza  Russell,  with  whom  he  was  united 
in  marriage  in  ilonticello,  N.  Y.,  June  15,  1836. 
Mrs.  Seabury  was  born  November  22,  1815,  in  the 
town  in  which  her  marriage  took  place,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  U.  and  Ann  (Ilardinbrook)  Rus- 
sell. Her  father  was  born  in  Connecticut  and  her 
mother  in  New  York  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seabury 
have  eight  children,  named  respectively,  Lydia  M., 
Charles,  Samuel,  Richard  F.,  Jr.,  Mary  A.,  Janelte 
R.,  Catherine  E.,  and  Frances  S.  Charles  and  Ricii- 
ard  reside  in  Chicago;  Catherine  is  tiie  wife  of  Carl 
Stevens,  her  home  being  in  Winona,  Minn.;  Samuel 
lives  in  Peoria  and  is  the  subject  of  a  biographical 
sketch  included  in  tliis  volume. 

-jlj  ACOB  W.  SLOUGH.  This  worthy  member 
of  the  agricultural  class  owns  and  occupies  a 
well-improved  and  well-regulated  estate  in 
Kiekapoo  Township,  consisting  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  Jacob 
and  Ann  E.  (Saip)  Slough  and  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  April  22,  1829.  His  mother  was  a  native 
of  the  kingdom  of  Saxony  and  his  father  was  born 
in  Lancaster  Cit}',  Pa.,  where  the  marriage  of  the 
two  took  place.  They  settled  in  tlie  capital  city 
soon  after  the  War  of  1812,  during  which  Mr. 
Slough  had  been  a  member  of  the  volunteer  force 
of  the  State  and  had  taken  part  in  the  battle  of 
Baltimore.  In  the  fall  of  1834,  while  our  subject 
was  still  but  a  child,  his  parents  came  to  this 
county  and  for  many  years  thereafter  made  their 
home  in  Peoria.  They  spent  the  latter  part  of  their 
lives  in  Richwood  Township,  where  the  mother  died 
August  4,  1878,  and  the  father,  November  25.  1882. 
They  had  been  engaged  in  hotel-keeping. 

Our  subject  grew  to  maidiood  in  Peoria  and  w.is 
educated  in  her  public  schools.  He  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old  when 
he  started  for  California,  overland.     He  first  went 


970 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  Oregon,  then  down  into  the  Golden  State,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  mining  more  than  four  3ears. 
Returning  to  Peoria  Count}',  he  hjcated  in  Kicka- 
poo  Township  and  gave  his  attention  to  tilling  the 
soil.  In  1858  he  made  another  trip  to  California 
this  time  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  and  was  ab- 
sent eight  months.  On  his  relurn  he  resumed  farm- 
ing, living  in  Richwood  Township  until  18G6.  when 
he  settled  where  he  now  resides. 

October  1,  1857,  Mr.  Slough  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Fulton,  daughter  of  Josiali  F'ulton, 
whose  sketch  apjiears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
Slie  was  born  in  Richwood  Township,  April  13, 
1836.  ]\Ir.  and  Mr.  Slougti  are  the  parents  of  six 
cliildren — William,  George,  Ma}-,  Joseph,  Emily. 
and  Nellie.  Maj-  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Peck  and 
Emily  married  Chester  Keach. 

Mr.  Slough  has  held  the  offices  of  Township 
Clerk  and  Collector  in  Richwood  Township  and 
was  Assessor  in  Kickapoo  Township  four  j'ears. 
He  has  also  been  a  School  Director.  He  is  a  strong 
Republican  and  an  active  worker  in  political  affairs. 
At  present  he  is  an  Alternate  on  the  Townsliip 
Republican  Committee.  In  1880  and  1890  he  was 
appointed  census  enumerator. 


-"I'^I'^I"*" ■ 

^  OHN  W.  FRANKS  is  at  the  liead  of  the  well- 
known  firm  of  J.  "\V.  Franks  &  Sons,  the 
I  leading  lithographers,  printers  and  electro- 
typers  in  this  countj-.  having  their  establish- 
ment at  No.  206  to  210  South  Jefferson  Avenue, 
Peoria.  Tiie  Company  was  incorporated  in  1888, 
with  J.  W.  Franks  as  President  and  manager;  his 
son  Frank  S.  as  Superintendent;  his  son  Tliomas 
G.,  Vice  President ;  and  his  son  Gerald  B.,  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer.  Tlio  capital  stock  of  tliecom- 
panj'  is  $30,000,  and  the  present  officers  are  practi- 
cally the  same  as  when  tlie  compan  v  was  inaugurated, 
with  the  exception  that  Gerald  B.  is  now  manager 
of  the  concern.  The  firm  was  established  in  1872, 
as  John  Franks  cfe  Sons,  and  first  did  job  printing, 
being  then  located  at  No.  213  Main  Street.  They 
increased  tiieir  business  every  3'ear,  and  now  have 
the  finest  printing  establishment  in  Central  Illinois, 


having  been  in  their  new  offices  since  July,  1887. 
The}"  have  twelve  thousand  square  feet  of  space, 
and  have  finely  finished,  commodious  offices  in 
front.  These  gentleman  have  been  engaged  in  the 
directory  business  for  five  years,  liaving  first  begun 
tiiat  in  1855,  and  published  under  the  name  of  J. 
W.  Franks  &  Sons,  each  year  with  the  exception  of 
1889.  The  past  year  they  have  put  out  by  far  the 
finest  directory  ever  issued  in  this  city. 

J.  W.  Franks  was  born  in  England,  and  when  a 
young  man,  came  to  the  L'nited  .States.  He  learned 
his  trade  in  Chicago,  and  in  1864  came  to  Peoria, 
where  he  followed  his  calling  until  he  established 
himself  as  we  have  just  noted.  He  married  Miss 
Hanuo  Barrett,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Detroit  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  They 
have  four  sons — Fred.  Frank,  Thomas  and  Gerald 
— all  of  whom  arc~associated  with  their  father  in 
business,  and  are  intelligent,  enterprising  j'oung 
men. 


WTLLIAM  HOfSTON,one  of  the  prosperous 
farmers  of  Akron  Township,  has  a  remun- 
„  „  erative  estate  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  upon  which  all  needed  improvements  have 
been  placed,  thus  making  it  a  home  of  comfort  and 
attractiveness.  Mr.  Houston  is  of  New  England 
birth  and  parentage,  being  a  son  of  John  and  Anna 
(Moore)  Houston,  wlio  were  born  in  Bedford,  N. 
H..  and  there  began  their  wedded  life.  They  made 
their  home  in  different  places,  and  Mr.  Houston 
spent  his  last  years  in  Orange,  Grafton  County. 
The  widowed  mother  of  our  subject  died  at  his 
home  in  Akron  Township,  she  having  been  an  in- 
mate of  his  household  for  ten  years. 

Our  subject  is  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
famil}'  of  ten  children.  His  birthplace  was  Tem- 
ple, N.  H.,  and  his  natal  d.ay  Februarj'  24,  18.15. 
He  resided  in  his  native  State  until  he  was  twent}'- 
seven  years  old,  being  chiefly  engaged  in  farming 
after  he  was  of  sufficient  age.  In  Concord.  Sep- 
tember 25.  1842,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  W. 
Ch"se.  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Martha  (Stevens) 
Chase.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Houston  were  natives 
respectively  of  Cornish  and  Plainfield,  N.   IL.   and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


971 


both  died  in  Merrimac  County.  They  had  five 
children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Houston  was  the  fourtii. 
her  birth  having  tal-cen  phice  in  Cornish,  Febrn.Try 
3,  1819. 

Soon  after  their  marriage,  our  subject  and  his 
wife  came  to  Uiis  State,  traveling  with  horses  and 
a  wagon.  They  settled  in  Pike  County  in  1846, 
taking  possession  of  the  farm  which  is  now  their 
home.  Thp\'  are  the  parents  of  three  cliildren,  all 
happily  married  and  settled  in  homes  of  their  own: 
Henry  C.  married  Anna  Peters;  William  A.  married 
Maggie  McLarren;  and  Charles  S.,  Martha  Mc- 
Larren. 

Mr.  Houston  has  held  some  of  the  minor  offices 
in  the  township,  and  has  been  Postmaster  of  Akron 
continuously  since  liis  appointment  by  President 
Grant,  during  that  famous  man's  first  term.  Since 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  has 
been  one  of  its  stanchest  supporters.  He  and  his 
wife  are  liberal  in  their  religious  views,  and  ready 
to  bear  a  hand  in  various  worthy  enterprises,  irre- 
spective of  creed. 


■^Z  ACOB  HO  AG  is  the  owner  and  occupant  of 
a  good  farm  on  section  29,  Akron  Town, 
ship.  It  consists  of  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
six  acres,  on  which  the  present  owner  has 
erected  substantial  buildinirs  of  various  kinds,  such 
as  are  needed  in  carrjing  on  the  occupation  of 
farming,  to  which  he  gives  his  principal  attention. 
Mr.  Ho.ag  is  a  native  of  Otsego  County,  N.  Y., 
where  his  birth  occurred  October  10,1814.  His 
father  was  a  carpenter  and  also  a  farmer,  and  to 
the  latter  occupation  he  gave  the  most  of  liis  time. 
During  the  childhood  of  our  subject  the  family-  re- 
moved to  Niagara  County,  where  the  father  died 
when  the  sou  was  fourteen  years  old. 

Our  subject  continued  to  make  his  home  with 
his  mother  until  he  became  of  age.  and  about  a 
year  after  that  event  came  to  Peoria  Count}-.  This 
was  in  the  spring  of  1837,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  one  year,  his  home  has  since  that  time  been  in 
the  township  where  lie  now  resides.  His  marriage 
was  solemnized  in  this  township  about  a  year  after 


bis  arrival  in  the  county.  His  bride,  Abigail  Hill, 
was  born  in  the  Emi)ire  State,  anc  was  a  most 
estimable  woman,  a  respected  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  She  was  called  from  time  to  eter- 
nity in  August.  1888.  The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Iloag  include  the  following-named  children:  Albert 
S.,  Edwin  R., Amelia  M..  Alma  P.,Antinali,  Stephen 
and  John  F.     All  are  living  except  Antinah. 

In  addition  to  his  real  estate  in  this  county,  Mr. 
Iloag  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  excel- 
lent land  in  Kansas.  He  is  numbered  among  the 
enterprising  farmers  and  worthy  citizens  of  this 
section  of  country.  Politicall}%  he  acts  with  the 
Republican  parly,  although  he  is  not  an  office- 
seeker.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Church,  in 
which  he  has  held  official  jjositions. 


'^  C.  HANSEL.  Peoria  County  numbers  as 
one  of  its  progressive  citizens,  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this  persoual 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  Newark,  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  July  20,  1840,  and  is  the  son  of 
John  W.  and  Mary  A.  (Little)  Hansel,  also  natives 
of  Ohio.  In  1844  the  Hansel  family  came  West  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  in  1851,  located  in  Peoria, 
where  they  have  since  principally  resided. 

When  the  Civil  War  began  to  arouse  all  patriotic 
citizens  in  defense  of  the  Union,  our  subject  en- 
listed April  17,  18C1,  and  was  the  first  to  enlist 
from  Peoria  under  the  general  call  for  troops.  He 
w.as  subsequently  assigned  to  tiie  Peoria  Battery. 
From  files  of  the  Peoria  Daily  Transcript.  April 
17,  1861,  we  learn  that  a  citizens'  meeting  was 
called  in  the  interests  of  the  Union,  and  at  this 
meeting,  George  C.  Bestor  made  a  patriotic  and  elo- 
quent speech.  He  was  followed  by  John  Bryner, 
and  a  form  of  enrollment  was  presented  I)}'  J.  C. 
Hansel,  whose  name  headed  the  list,  making  him 
the  first  enrolled  man  from  Peoria.  On  May  12, 
1861,  bis  mother,  one  of  the  many  patriotic  women 
who  aided  so  largely  in  the  war,  presented  the  com- 
pany to  which  her  son  belonged,  with  a  beautiful 
silk  flag,  worth  S30. 

The  call  of  duty  led  Mr.  Hansel  chiefly   west  of 


97-2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  Mississippi,  and  lie  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Pea  Ridge,  Ark.,  after  which  he  was  promoted  to 
the  position  of  First  Lieutenant.  He  commanded 
the  batter}-  during  the  la-t  nine  mouths  of  his  ser- 
vice, and  was  mustered  out  April  15,  1863,  under 
general  orders,  reducing  the  number  of  officers.  He 
then  entered  the  Provost  Marshal's  office  at  Peoria, 
wliere  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Tlie 
various  jiositious  he  was  offered  in  the  meantime  lie 
did  not  accept.  Iioping  to  get  back  as  an  artillery 
man. 

Ou  October  4,  1865,  Mr.  Hansel  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Agnes  M.  Johnson,  of  Winona, 
Minn.  Mrs.  Hansel  is  the  daughter  of  the  Hon.  H. 
H.  Johnson,  who  is  still  living  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eightj-llu-ee  .years.  In  1867  our  subject  began 
to  operate  as  a  real  estate  dealer,  and  is  now  inter- 
ested in  that  direction,  as  well  as  in  loans  and  in- 
surance. In  1890  he  organized  the  Guarantee 
Abstract  &  Trust  Companj-,  of  which  he  is  Presi- 
dent. He  is  also  President  of  the  Peoria  Transfer 
<fe  Storage  Company,  which  he  organized  in  1885. 

Politicall}-,  Mr.  Hansel  is,  and  always  has  been, 
an  ardent  Rejiublican.  and  in  boyhood  was  known 
for  his  adherence  to  the  cause  of  the  party,  whose 
principles  be  believed  to  be  correct.  During  the 
campaign  of  1860,  he  took  an  active  part,  making 
his  maiden  political  speech,  ^hich  is  yet  remem- 
bered because  of  the  bold  utterances  it  contained. 
.Socially,  he  keeps  alive  his  interest  in  war  da3-s  b^- 
an  active  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  in  religion,  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 


s^F  H.  B-A.RNEWOLT.  Among  the  prominent 
business  men  of  Peoria  is  this  gentleman, 
\J\\  who,  although  a  native  of  Germany,  is  yet 
a  devoted  citizen  of  his  adopted  country.  He  is 
identified  in  many  ways  with  the  social  and  politi- 
cal life  of  Peoria,  and  h.as  been  Alderman  of  the 
Sixth  AVard,  also  Supervisor  four  j-ears.  For  two 
years  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervist^rs, 
being  the  first  German  who  ever  held  that  position. 
He   now  lives  on  his  pleasant  homestead  in  Lime- 


stone Township,  retaining  the  active  management 
of  the  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He 
casts  his  ballot  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Druids.  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  Knights  of  Honor. 

Mr.  Baruewolt  was  born  August  1.  1843,  in 
Hanover,  Germany.  His  parents  were  Heur^-  and 
Geske  Barnewolt,  the  former  a  painter  by  occupa- 
tion, who  came  with  his  family  to  America  in  1856, 
proceeding  directly  to  Peoria.  At  that  time  the 
family  comprised  four  children,  namely :  Gerhardt, 
a  painter  in  Peoria;  .Johanna,  wife  of  Anton  Rie- 
gel,  of  Peoria:  Ulrich.  also  a  painter  by  occupation 
and  a  resident  of  Peoria,  and  our  subject.  The 
father  died  in  Peoria  in  1859. 

Adolph  H.,  our  subject,  learned  the  trade  of  a 
painter  in  Germany,  and  after  coming  to  the  United 
States,  worked  for  a  time  in  the  Peoria  House,  then 
became  a  clerk  for  Ballenberg  in '-Yankee  Notion." 
He  also  for  awhile  was  engaged  in  butchering,  in 
the  einplo}'  of  John  Smith.  This  occupation  he 
followed  a  number  of  vears.  Later  he  was  a  run- 
ner for  McFarland's  old  hotel,  on  the  corner  of 
Bridge  and  Adams  Streets.  He  was  offered  *10  a 
month  and  board  to  work  in  a  brick^-ard,  but  after 
working  a  h.alf-day  concluded  that  the  occupation 
was  not  congenial  to  his  tastes,  and  accordingly 
ran  awaj-. 

After  following  for  a  time  his  trade  of  a  painter 
and  engaging  in  hauling  coal,  Mr.  Barnewolt  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  Mr.  Rose  in  a  restaur- 
ant on  Fulton  Street.  After  working  at  this  for 
eight  or  nine  months,  he  pureliased  another  team 
and  hauled  coal,  also  operated  as  a  painter.  Finally 
he  turned  his  attention  to  the  grocerj-  business  and 
again  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Rose  opened  a 
grocery  store,  which  the}'  managed  together  one 
year.  In  )  87 1  he  opened  a  grocery  store  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Lincoln  and  Webster  Streets,  which  he  oper- 
ated very  successfully  until  1889.  He  is  at  present, 
as  above  stated,  operating  his  fine  estate  in  Lime- 
stone Township. 

Mrs.  Barnewolt  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary 
E.  Mitchell,  and  was  united  in  marriage  with  our 
subject  in  1864.  Of  this  union  ten  children  were 
born,  nine  of  whom  are  now  living  and  one  de- 
ceased.     They    are   named    respective!}-,    Henry, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


973 


Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Maggie  and  Myron  (twins), 
Sarah,  Leonora,  George  and  Valentine.  The  fam- 
ily' raiiks  high  among  the  residents  of  Peoria  County 
and  its  members  are  universally  esteemed  for  their 
worth  and  intesritv. 


^= 


E^^- 


/^  APT.  B.  AVARREN.  Few  men  now  living 
[|  in  this  county-or  indeed   in  the  State-have 

"^^r^  had  a  more  eventful  career  tiian  Capt- 
Warren,  who  resides  in  Chillicothe  and  is  doing  a 
large  business  in  insurance.  He  is  a  representative 
citizen,  wielding  an  intliience  that  is  widely  felt  in 
behalf  of  all  that  pertains  to  the  well  being  of  the 
community,  and  in  his  own  life  presenting  an  ex- 
ample of  loyal  devotion,  unswerving  integrity,  and 
true  piety  that  may  well  be  emulated  by  the  rising- 
generation. 

The  Warrens,  Nuttings  and  Vallette  were  among 
those  early  New  England  families  whose  history  is 
linked  with  that  of  the  struggle  for  Ameiican  In- 
dependence,three  great-grandfathers  of  our  subject 
having  fought  in  the  Patriot  Army. and  it  is  worthy 
of  record  that  while  the  latter  of  those  was  braving 
the  dangers  of  the  war.  his  wife,  the  great-grand- 
mother, Mrs.  Abigail  Vallette,  rendered  important 
service  to  John  Hancock  and  Paul  Revere,  who  be- 
set by  British  scouts,  sought  guidance  during  a 
storm}'  night  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  heroic 
woman,  though  a  cripple,  led  them  to  the  house  of 
a  patriot  farmer,  being  carried  over  a  swollen 
stream  iu  the  arms  of  Mr.  Hancock. 

Grandfather  Warren  served  in  the  navj'  and 
died  at  sea  about  tlie  close  of  the  war  when  in  the 
prime  of  life.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Abigail  Vallette,  daughter  of  the  above-named 
patriotic  woman,  was  of  French  ancestry, and  died 
in  the  Bay  State  when  quite  aged.  To  this  good 
couple  two  children  were  born,  the  father  of  our 
subject  being  the  only  son.  He  was  christened 
Benjamin,  a  name  that  was  borne  by  four  genera- 
tions, and  was  reared  in  Massachusetts,  which  was 
his  native  State.  He  learned  those  mechanical  arts 
which  fitted  him  to  transact  the  bu^uess  of  a 
builder  and  contractor  and  was    followinsjr  it  when 


called  from  time  to  eternity,  his  death  taking  place 
in  Georgetown,  I).  C.  when  he  was  not  yet  thirty 
years  of  age.  His  wife  is  yet  living,  making  her 
home  with  lier  d.aughter,  Mary  J.,  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Mighill  Dustin,  D.  D.,  now  of  D.ayton.  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Warren  is  quite  smart  and  active,  nlihough  she  has 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Marj'  JMonroe  and  her  native 
State,  Massachusetts.  She  is  the  mother  of  thres 
children — our  subject,  wlio  is  tlie  first-born;  Heiirj' 
Vallette,  who  is  a  Presbyterian  minister  at  Prince- 
ton, 111.,  and  the  daughter  before  mentioned. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Groton,  Middlesex  County,  Mass.,  April  28,  1825, 
and  spent  the  first  ten  years  of  his  life  in  his  na- 
tive State.  He  was  left  fatherless  when  but  five 
years  old  and  aljout  five  years  later  accompanied 
his  mother  to  Nashua,  N.  II.,  where  he  continued 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  When  eigh- 
teen years  of  age  he  entered  the  I'nited  Stales  navy 
as  an  apprentice,  serving  for  more  than  three  years, 
which  covered  the  period  of  the  Mexican  War.  The 
shij)  of  the  line  "Columbus"  in  charge  of  Commo- 
dore James  Bitldle,  made  a  vo^'age  around  the  wctrld 
during  wiiicli  it  entered  Yeddo  Ba\'.  Japan,  with 
a  view  of  opening  treaty  relations  witli  the  Jap- 
anese who  were  then  maintaining  their  ancient  pol- 
icy  of  non-intercourse.  While  lying  tlicre  the 
Commodore  had  occnsion  to  visit  a  war  junk  for 
the  purpose  of  communicating  with  a  Japanese 
official,  and  as  he  w.as  ascending  the  gangplank  he 
was  violently  thrust  back  by  the  soldier  in  charge. 
The  timely  .assistance  of  Capt.  Warren,  who  was 
in  the  boat,  alone  [jrevented  serious  injury  to  the 
Commodore  from  the  fall. 

While  homeward  bound  from  China  the  '-Colum- 
bus" put  in  to  Valparaiso,  S.  A.,  where  the  Com- 
modore received  dispatches  from  Washington, 
advising  him  of  the  existing  war  with  Mexico  and 
ordering  him  to  proceed  to  the  Pacific  Coast  and 
occupy  the  ports  of  San  Francisco  and  Mon- 
terey. Upon  his  arrival  he  found  the  American 
flag  fl^'ing  at  l)oth  places,  wliich  he  guarded  five 
months,  capturing  one  prize.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  the  "Columbus"  sailed  for  the  United  States, 
via  Cape  Horn,  arrriving  at  Norfolk,  "\'a.,  in  the 
spring  of  1848,  where  she  was  put  out  of  commis- 


974 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAl'HICAL  ALBUM. 


sion.  The  noble  old  sliip  shoulrl  have  beea  spared 
•  as  a  monument  of  the  past,  but  was  destroyed  by 
the  confederates  during  the  Rebellion.  Besides 
our  subject,  but  few  of  that  ship's  compfin\r  are 
now  living:. 

Not  desiring  to  continue  in  tlie  service  with  no 
prospect  of  higher  otBce  tlian  was  at  that  time  pos- 
sible to  an  apprentice,  Mr.  W.i.rren  left  the  navy 
and  found  occupation  in  Lowell,  Mass.  In  1849, 
he  was  one  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  who 
organized  the  Bay  State  and  California  Trading  & 
Mining  Company,  of  which  he  was  a  Director.  A 
vessel,  the  •■Areatus."  was  purchased,  officered,  and 
equipped  with  a  year's  provisions  and  set  out 
around  Cape  Horn,  anchoring  in  the  Golden  Gate 
after  a  five  months'  voyage.  Finding  their  scheme 
was  not  feasible  the  members  of  the  company  sold 
their  vessel,  dividing  the  proceeds,  and  each  man 
set  out  for  hims?lf.  Capt.  ^A'arren  relates  that  im- 
mediately upon  landing  his  attention  was  called  to 
a  man  standing  upon  a  pile  of  lumber,  offering  ^\ 
an  hour  for  hands  to  unload  a  lighter,  and  further 
states  that  he  went  no  farther  until  that  lighter  was 
unloaded  and  he  had  received  the  first  mone}'  he 
earned  in  California.  The  most  interesting  part  of 
the  incident  was  that  the  man  for  whom  he  worked 
proved  to  he  a  former  shipmate.  After  the  "Area- 
lus"  was  sold,  Capt.  AVarren  and  two  others  built  a 
hotel  in  San  Francisco  which  the}'  carried  on  for 
six  months,  when  it  was  destroj'cd  b}'  fire  and  they 
lost  their  all. 

We  next  find  Capt.  Warren  striking  out  for  the 
mining  regions  as  a  passenger  on  board  the  '-R.  M. 
Rversou,"  whose  destination  was  the  new  gold  dig- 
gings on  the  Trinity  River.  The  vessel  sailed  up 
the  coast  in  search  of  the  mouth  of  Trinity  River, 
and  upon  arriving  off  Fel  River,  this  was  declared 
to  be  the  place  sought.  When  the  boat  was  tied  np 
to  the  bank  the  real  object  of  the  expedition  was 
made  manifest,  the  leading  spirits  being  after  a 
town  site  which  was  soon  surve3ed  near  the  mouth 
of  the  river.  ^Most  of  the  passengers  hat)  taken 
passage  hoping  to  find  a  shorter  and  easier  route 
to  the  Trinity  than  the  known  route  up  the  Sacra- 
mento and  over  rugged  mountains.  These  were 
not  satisfied  so  went  prospecting,  and  upon  one  of 
these  expeditions  Capt.  Warren  had  his   first   sight 


ofHumbolt  Bay.  From  a  hilltop  he  obtained  a 
fine  view  which  determined  him  to  remain  no  longer 
on  Eel  River. 

Others  joined  him  in  moving,  a  small  creek  fav- 
oring them  a  portion  of  the  way.     Then   b}'  a  la- 
borious  portage    Lhey    reached    the   bay,  launched 
their  boats,  and    proceeding  to   what  they  termed 
the  "head  of  navigation,"  disembarked   and  drove 
their  stakes.     The  monotonj'  of  waiting  for  a  town 
to  grow  could  not  be  borne  by  some  of  the  adven- 
turous spirits  and  a  party  of  eleven  set  out  for  the 
mines  on  the  Trinity.     Among    these    were    Capt. 
Vi'arren,  who  thus  describes  the  outcome  of  the  ad- 
venture in  a  letter  to  the  San   Francisco   Bulletin: 
'T  shall  never  forget  that  journey  through  the  wil- 
derness without  track  or  guide.     The  seventh  day 
we  came  to  a  stream  swollen  by  the  melting   snow. 
A  raft  was  constructed  upon  which   iviO  of  us  with 
considerable  difficidty  made  the  opposite  bank.    Be- 
fore crossing  some  of  the  party  endeavored  to  per- 
suade us  not  to  altemi/t  it  and  prepared  a  return  to 
t'le  co.ast.and  now  to  our  disgust  they  were  all  of  the 
same  mind,  positively  refusing  to  attempt  to  cross. 
The  reader  of  to  day  must  remember  that  none  of 
us  were  -'moiiiitain  men,"  and  obstacles  that  to  our 
experience  seems  unsurraountable,  two  years   later 
were  of  no  hindrance   whatever.     But  the  stream 
was  not  the  oulj-  obstacle.     Our  provisions  were 
nearlj'  exhausted.     We   knew  not   where  we  were, 
or  what  was  before  us.  .Some  were  foot-sore,  others 
sick,  and  when  I  look  back  to  those  da3-s  I  am  only 
surprised  that  they  did  not  succeed  in  i)ersuading 
us  to  re-cross  and    return    to  the  coast  witli  them. 
We  separated  to  go  in  opposite  directions,  and  with. 
two  exceptions  have  never  since   met.     The    next 
day  it  was  our  good  fortune  to  fall  in  with  a  small 
party    of    prospectors,  who  informed   us  that    we 
had  "found  the   Trinity  River,"  or  more  coirectly 
speaking,  they  had  found  us.     In  August   I   made 
a  tri|)  to  the  coast  for  supplies,  and  found  the  pre- 
eraptors  patiently  waiting  for   the    town   to  grow, 
and  I  most  sincerely   hope  they   have   been  amply 
rewarded.     It  is  now  more  than   thirt3--nine  years 
since  I  rode  out  of  that  embryo  town  on  my  little 
gray  mustang.     Mv  life  has  been  something  of  an 
eventful   one,  having   circumnavigated   the  globe 
previous  to  1849   and    partfcipatcd   in    the    varied 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


975 


experiences  of  a  soldier  during  tiie  late  war,  but 
among  all  these  experiences  there  is  no  spot  or 
place  which  would  afford  me  more  genuine  satis- 
faction to  visit  tlian  the  localities  I  have  here 
hastily  and  briefly  sketched." 

After  spending  one  season  in  mining  and  mak- 
ing a"good  stake, "Capt.  Warren  went  into  Oregon, 
purchased  cattle  and  supplied  the  California  min- 
ing camps  witli  beef  for  a  j-ear.  He  then  returned 
via  the  Isthmus  and  Atlantic  Ocean  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, remaining  in  Nashua  until  185-1,  then  inter- 
esting himself  in  manufactures  in  Lowell,  making 
clothing  and  having  at  times  five  hundred  persons 
in  his  employ.  Like  hundreds  of  other  Mexican 
veterans,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  enter  the  army 
when  the  Civil  War  began.  He  was  a  Lieutenant 
in  the  .Sixth  ^Massachusetts  Militia,  which  was  called 
out  for  three  months'  service  and  was  the  first  reg- 
iment to  arrive  in  Baltimore,  where  the  terrible 
riot  occurred  and  two  of  the  regiment,  Messrs.  Ladd 
and  Whitney,  were  killed.  After  serving  the  three 
months,  the  bo.ys  were  mastered  out  in  August, and 
in  November,  following,  our  subject  was  mustered 
into  Company  D,  Twenty-sixth  Massachusetts  In- 
fantrj'  and  elected  to  the  Captaincy,  ile  took  part 
in  Gen.  Butlci''s  expedition  to  New  Orleans  and  in 
the  brilliant  victories  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
under  Gen.  Sheridan.  At  the  capture  of  the  New 
Oilcans  forts  his  regiment  effected  a  landing  in 
the  rear — a  feat  supposed  to  be  impossible  at  that 
season.  When  the  Confederates  discovered  the 
long  line  of  Yankees  emerging  from  the  oozy, 
slimy  morass  of  Back  Baj^  all  discipline  in  the 
forts  was  at  an  end,  and  while  the  Confederate 
commander  formall3'  surrendered  to  the  nav3%  the 
garrison  abandoned  their  position  and  surrendered 
to  the  land  force  at  quarantine. 

A  Battalion  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Massachusetts 
with  Capt.  Warren  in  command,  garrisoned  Ft. 
Jackson,  remaining  there  until  July,  1862,  when 
nearly  the  entire  command  was  prostrated  with  in- 
termittent and  malignant  fevers  and  the  Captain 
was  ordered  to  New  Orleans  end  placed  on  detached 
service.  He  took  charge  of  the  headquarter  guard 
to  Gen.  Butler,  holding  the  position  until  Gen. 
Banks  took  command  of  the  department.  He  filled 
the  same  position   under   the  new  commander  for 


some  months  and  was  then  placed  in  charge  of  the 
military  prisons  of  the  department.  The  position 
called  for  great  discretion,  its  duties  being  arduous 
and  complex,  such  as  are  weU  calculateil  to  develop 
manly  and  soldierly  qualities.  Hundreds  of  Con- 
federate soldiers  still  remember  with  gratitude  the 
Captain  who  visited  them  daily,  not  to  establish 
'•dead  lines,"  but  to  look  after  their  comfort  as  well 
as  to  provide  against  the  possibility  of  their 
escape.  Upon  his  arrival  scores  of  the  friends 
of  the  prisoners  would  be  waiting  to  ask  the 
privilege  of  visitiug  or  doing  something  for  their 
captive  relatives,  to  all  of  whom  he  h.ad  a  court- 
eous reply,  none  being  refused  a  reasonable  re- 
quest. 

In  the  summer  of  1864,  Capt.  Warren  was  re- 
leased from  the  tr3'ing  position  and  sent  with  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  thence 
to  join  the  famous  cavalry  leader  in  the  Shenan- 
doah. There  he  was  placed  in  command  of  two 
companies  to  act  on  special  duty  as  an  infantry  es- 
cort, being  present  at  the  battles  of  Winchester, 
Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek.  The  last  named 
was  fought  October  19,  on  which  daj'  the  term  of 
service  of  Company  D,  expired.  The  regiment 
was  sent  to  Massachusetts  and  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  Lowell,  when  our  subject  prepared  to 
resume  a  peaceful  occupation  such  .as  had  been  in- 
terrupted by  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  In  a 
short  time  he  removed  to  this  State,  spending  the 
first  four  3'ears  of  his  residence  in  Tonica,  La  Salle 
County.  He  then  became  a  dweller  in  Varna, 
Marshall  County,  sojourning  there  eighteen  years 
and  leaving  behind  him  many  friends  when  he  re- 
moved to  Peoria  Count}'.  He  established  an  in- 
surance office  in  Chillieothein  June,  1887,  and  has 
built  up  an  extensive  connection,  having  reprcien- 
tatives  in  the  life  insurance  department  in  the  ad- 
joining counties.  He  carries  many  of  the  old  lines, 
including  the  Phojnix,  of  Brooklyn  and  the  Hart- 
ford, of  Connecticut,  together  with  other  leading 
companies  in  fire  and  accident  insurance,  and  the 
Tl'^tna  of  Hartford  in  life  insurance. 

In  1819  Mr.  Warren  wasunlled  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Susan  Clapp.  of  Nashua,  N.  II.  She  was  an 
exemplary  Christian  woman  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Cliurch.  She  died   at  Nashua 


976 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


soon  idiev  bis  return  from  Californin.  In  1854  Mr. 
Warren  fl-as  united  in  m.arriage  with  Miss  jNTaicia 
B.  Mosmer,  wlio  was  born  in  Lowell  and  roared  in 
Nashua,  N.  H., where  her  marriage  rites  were  cele- 
brated and  who  died  in  Marshall  County,  Hi., 
November  2,1876.  She  exemplified  the  virtues  and 
eapabilities  of  the  New  England  woman  and  was 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In 
1882  Capt.  Warren  married  Miss  Mary  F.  Ilosmer, 
a  sister  of  his  second  companion,  who  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  and  reared  at  Nashua,  N.  H.,  where 
iier  marriage  was  solemnized.  She  also  is  possessed 
of  sterling  qualities  and  with  her  husband  bears  a 
part  in  the  good  work  carried  on  under  tlie  auspices 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  they 
belong.  She  is  educated  and  accomplished,  hav- 
ing been  fitted  for  the  profession  of  a  music  teacher 
whicli  slie  has  followed  for  a  number  of  years.  Her 
otherwise  happy  union  has  been  childless,  as  was 
that  of  Capt.  Warren  and  his  first  wife.' 

While  a  resilient  of  Varna,  Marshall  County, 
Capt.  Warren  served  as  President  of  the  Village 
Bi.ard  and  was  police  magistrate  some  ten  years, 
lie  held  tlie  [xisition  of  Postmaster  there  twelve 
years,  his  first  appointment  having  been  made  by 
President  Grant.  He  belongs  to  the  social  order 
of  Masonrj',  being  now  a  member  of  George  Wash- 
ington Lodge,No.  222,  of  Chillicothe.  In  politics  he 
is  an  uncompromising  Republican,ever  ready  to  de- 
posit his  vote  in  what  he  is  persuaded  is  the  inter- 
est of  good  government.  While  Massachusetts 
lost  a  good  soldier  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Civil 
War.  Illinois  gained  a  good  citizen  in  whom  she 
can  take  a  just  pride  for  his  exceptionally  fine  char- 
acter, personal  attainments,  and  irreproachable  and 
nscful  record. 


"S)^""" 


<S^LI    A.    MIT( 
lU      Chillicothe, 

;'|, — -^  the  present 


<^f^LI  A.  MITCHELL,  now  Postmaster  of 
received  his  appointment  under 
present  administration  and  is  discharg- 
ing the  duties  of  the  office  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  the  general  public.  He  was  born  near  Halifax, 
Yorkshire,  England,  October  22,  1855,  and  was  not 
yet    three    years    old   when   his    parents,    Eli  and 


Marj-  (Ashworth)  Mitchell,  emigrated  to  America. 
(The  parental  history  will  be  found  on  another 
page  in  this  volume.)  He  secured  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Chillicothe  where  he  grew  to 
maturity,  and  he  also  gave  some  attention  to  the 
trade  of  a  jeweler,  which  he  learned  under  his 
father. 

The  tastes  of  Mr.  Mitchell,  however,  led  him  in 
another  direction,  and  he  entered  upon  a  mercantile 
life  as  a  grocer,  in  which  business  he  remained 
until  poor  health  compelled  his  retirement.  In 
March,  1887,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Ft.  Madison  &  California  Railway  as  a 
draughtsman,  making  the  plans  for  the  founda- 
tions and  masonry  of  the  Illinois,  Des  Moines, 
Spoon  &  Grand  River  Bridges. 

At  the  close  of  the  construction  department  of 
this  road,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Arkansas 
Central  as  toi)0grapher.  When  that  railroad  cor- 
poration broke  up.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  prevailed  upon 
to  take  the  Postmastership  in  Chillicothe  and  re- 
ceived the  appointment  for  four  years.  He  is  a 
skillful  draughtsman  and  should  he  again  turn  his 
attention  to  that  species  of  labor,  would  undoubt- 
edly reach  a  high  standing. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Mitchell  is  presided  over  by 
an  intelligent  and  capable  woman  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Miss  Ellen  Fisher.  She  was  born 
in  this  place  August  6,  1860,  being  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Agnes  (Ewing)  Fisher,  the  former  of 
whom  died  in  November,  1881,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
nine  years.  He  was  born  in  Sheffield,  England,  and 
when  a  young  man  came  to  America  ivith  an  uncle. 
In  Peoria  County  he  met,  wooed  and  married 
Agnes  Ewing,  who  was  born  near  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, and  having  lost  her  father,  had  accompanied 
her  mother  to  America.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  lived 
on  a  farm  in  this  county  some  years,  then  moved 
into  Chillicothe,  where  the  husband  established  a 
meat  market,  carrying  it  on  until  his  death.  His 
widow  is  still  living  here,  novv  fifty-six  3-ears  of 
age.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Chui-ch 
and  a  woman  of  fine  character,  who  carefully 
reared  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Mitchell. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  for  sis  years  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Elducation,  being  the 
youngest  man  who  has  ever  sat  in  that  body.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


!)77 


l.as  bt'en  City  C'lerU  t\niryoars  and  in  social  onlers 
he  has  also  been  i)rominent.  He  has  held  all  the 
Chairs  in  Calumet  Lodge.  No.  106,  1.  O.  O.  P., 
holding  the  principal  one  three  years.  He  has 
also  been  an  olfiter  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State  for  some  time.  He  is  an  active  local  politi- 
cian, working  with  the  Republican  part3',anr',  occu- 
pies .1  prominent  position  in  musical  circles.  He 
and  his  good  wife  attend  tlie  Episcopal  Church  in 
which  he  has  been  ii  member  of  the  choir  for  five 
yc!irs. 


-^ 


\EORGE  A.  ROGERS  was  born  in  Mamar- 
,.,  !__,  oneck,  Westchester  County,  N.Y,  October  8, 
^:^(  1831.  His  father,  John  S.  Rogers,  was  also  a 
native  of  that  county  ,and  w.as  there  married  to  Mary 
Ann  Sutton,  who  was  a  native  of  Manchester, 
iMigland.  In  1843  they  started  from  their  old 
hiinie  in  New^  York  to  take  up  their  residence  in 
Peoria  County,  this  State,  and  while  en  route,  on 
the  Mississippi  River,  the  father  was  drowned, 
but  the  circumstances  are  not  known.  The  mother 
was  thus  left  with  eight  children,  and  they  sadly 
proceeded  on  their  journ.y  to  Peoria  County,  and 
on  their  arrival  settled  in  .hibilee  Township,  where 
the  children  were  reared.  The  good  mother  con- 
tinued to  live  there  until  about  a  year  prior  to  her 
death,  which  occurred  at  the  residence  of  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  iLargaret  Davis,  in  Radnor  Town- 
ship, March  12,  1879,  when  she  was  seventy-six 
years  old.  She  retained  much  of  her  physical 
vigor  till  the  last,  but  lost  her  eyesight  about  a 
year  before  she  died.  She  was  the  mother  of  seven 
sons  and  one  daughter,  our  subject  being  the  third 
of  the  famil}'.  He  was  a  lad  of  about  twelve  years 
wlicn  they  came  toPeoriaCountj-.where  they  arrived 
in  .lulj'  of  that  3'ear.  He  remained  with  his 
mother  in  Jubile.e  Township  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  old,  and  soon  after  married  and  settled 
in  Radnor  Township,  of  which  he  has  since  been 
a  resident.  He  owns  here  a  good  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  fine  land,  and  has 
placed  upon  it  many  substantial  improvements. 

Our    subject  is  a  veteran   of  the  late  war.     He 
enlisted    in    the   month  of   March,  1865,   in  Com- 


pany H,  Fourieenth  Illinois  I iifantry,  and  served 
until  the  mont'n  of  September.  He  was  then  mus- 
tered out  of  the  army  at  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kan., 
and  returning  home,  quietly  resumed  his  occupa- 
tion as  a  farmer.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  the  township.  He  has  represented  Rad- 
nor as  a  member- of  the  County  Board  of  Super- 
visors, holding  that  otiice  one  year,  and  he  has 
been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  fourteen  years.  He 
formerly  took  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  Republicans  in  this  section. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  wedded,  January  1,  1857,  to 
Maria  C.  Wakefield,  the  ceremony  that  made  them 
one  being  performed  at  the  residence  of  the  late 
John  L.  Wakefield,  in  Radnor  Township.  Mrs. 
Rogers  is  a  daughter  of  said  John  L.  Wakefield, 
and  a  history  of  her  parents  appears  in  the  sketch 
of  William  Wakefield,  on  another  page  of  this  Bio- 
GRArmcAL  Album.  She  was  born  in  Radnor  Town- 
ship, June  15,  1839.  She  is  a  conscientious  Christian 
and  a  member  in  high  standing  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  The  pleasant  wedded  life  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  has  been  blessed  to  them  by 
the  birth  of  five  children,who  are  named:  Adolplius 
J.,  May  J.,  Grant  S.,  Olive  B.  and  Grotta  I. 
Adolphus  S.  married  Jliss  Emma  Newkirk;  May 
is  the  wife  of  M.adison  Harrison;  Grant  S.  married 
Miss  Louisa  Shehau. 


-^^ 


NDREW  NELSON,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Roe,  Franklin  County,  Mass.,  Septem- 
ber 6,  1833.  He  is  a  .son  of  Osmund  L. 
Nelson,  a  pioneer  of  this  county,  who  was 
born  in  Boston,  Mass.  He  married  Sarah  Houston, 
a  native  of  Amherst,  Mass.,  and  they  spent  their 
early  wedded  life  in  Franklin  County,  that  State. 
In  1838  they  migrated  to  this  State  and  became 
early  settlers  of  Hallock  Townshi(),  wdiere  they 
lived  a  good  many  years.  The  mother  died  there, 
and  the  father  at  the  residence  of  our  subject  in 
Richwood  Township. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  the  eldest  of  five  chil- 
dren, and  he  was  quite  small  when  his  parents  took 
up  their  residrncu  in  the  wildj  of    Hallock    Town- 


978 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ship,  where  he  grew  to  a  stalwart  manhood.  He 
remainod  an  inmate  of  his  parents'  liome  until  he 
was  married,  with  the  exception  of  the  throe  j'ears 
tiiat  he  spent  in  California,  operating  a  wagon  and 
blacksmitli   shop  the  most  of  the  time  while  there. 

He  began  his  wedded  life  in  Akron  Township, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  on  which  he  continued 
to  live  two  years.  After  that  he  lived  one  year  in 
Peoria,  and  then  bought  his  present  farm  on  section 
20,  Richwood  Township,  of  wliieh  he  has  since 
been  a  valued  resident.  He  owns  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  on  which  he  has  erected  a  fine 
barn,  and  has  made  man^-  other  substantial  im- 
provements. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  in  this  township,  April 
19,  1866,  to  Miss  Josephine  A.  Kellar,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Hester  Kellar.  who  died  in  Rich- 
wood  Township.  Mrs.  Nelson  is  a  native  of  this 
township,  and  was  born  December  28,  1842.  Her 
man  iage  with  our  subject  has  been  productive  to 
them  of  eight  children,  namely' :  Osmund  K.,  Sarah 
P>..  Andrew.  William  I,.,  Alva,  Mabel  E.,  Eva  K., 
and  Ralph  L.  Osmund  married  Miss  Agatha  Purt- 
fclux.  and  lives  in  Rosefleld  Township. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  an  important  citizen  of  this  com- 
nninity.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  Supervisor  of 
Richwood  Township  for  four  years,  has  been  Town- 
sliip  Collector  for  several  years,  and  School  Director 
for  nearly  twenty  j'ears.  In  politics,  he  has  long 
been  closely  identified  with  the  Democratic  part}-. 
Mrs.  Nelson  is  a -member  in  high  standing  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


-# 


i  EV.  HENIiY  APPLE,  a  retired  minister  and 
business  man.  is  a  well-known  resident  of 
Kickapoo  Township.  He  was  the  sixth  child 
of  Henry  and  Mary  (Bonser)  Apple,  and 
was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  August  27, 
1835.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Hamilton  County, 
that  State,  and  his  mother  of  Union  County,  Pa. 
After  coarriage  they  located  in  Clermont  County, 
Ohio,  and  were  among  its  earliest  settlers,  living 
there  until  1837,  when  they  came  to  Illinois,  and 
were  pioneers  of  this  State.     They  first  settled  in 


Lewistown,  Fulton  County,  where  the  father  died 
in  1867,  the  mother  d^ing  at  the  residence  of  her 
daughter,  in  Marysville.  Mo.  He  had  learned  the 
hatter's  trade  when  a  young  man,  but  did  not  fol- 
low it  long,  giving  his  attention  to  farming  instead. 
He  was  the  father  of  ten  children,  six  sons  and 
four  daughters. 

Our  subject  was  in  his  second  year  when  his 
parents  brought  him  to  Illinois,  and  he  was  reared 
to  man's  estate  in  Fulton  County,  remaining  at 
home  until  he  was  twenty- five  years  old.  He  was 
given  an  excellent  education,  laying  its  basis  in 
the  common  schools,  and  subsequent!}-  in  the  Ful- 
ton .Seminary,  at  Lewistown.  which  institution  of 
learning  is  not  now  in  existence.  After  leaving 
home,  Mr.  Apple  engaged  in  preaching  as  an  itin- 
erant nainister  in  tlie  Methodist  Church,  he  having 
joined  the  Central  Illinois  Conference  in  -1860. 
He  was  first  connected  with  the  Mount  Hedding 
Circuit,  and  was  with  that  a  year  ami  a  half,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  what  is  now  the  Madison 
'Street  Church,  in  Peoria,  but  was  then  known  as 
the  Second  Charge  of  the  Methodist  Jlpiscopal 
Church.  He  presided  over  that  about  seven  months, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  the  French  Creek  Cir- 
cuit, in  Knox  County. 

A  year  later  Mr.  Apple  was  again  sent  to  Peoria 
Circuit  for  a  term  of  two  years, 'and  then  to 
Brim  field  Station  for  one  j'ear,  and  from  there  to 
Coleville  Mission,  which  was  locate<l  in  what  is 
now  Hilton,  Tazewell  County.  He  was  there  three 
years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  resumed 
the  pastorate  of  the  Madison  Street  Church.  'I'he 
following  j'ear  he  was  assigned  to  Groveland. 
He  located  in  Peoria  in  the  fall  of  1871.  and  the 
following  winter  in  Bloomington.  After  residing 
there  about  a  year  and  a  half,  he  returned  to  Peoria 
and  entered  into  the  mercantile  business  in  1874.  He 
continued  his  residence  in  Peoria  until  1878,  when 
he -removed  to  his  farm  in  Kickapoo  Township. 
Four  years  later  w-e  again  find  him  in  Peoria, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocer}'  business  the 
next  three  years.  Since  then  he  has  m.ade  his 
home  on  the  farm.  In  September,  1887,  he  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  hardware  business,  and 
carried  it  on  quite  profitably  until  February,  1890. 
when  he  sold  out  and  retired  from  active  business. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


979 


Mr.  Apple  was  married  in  Cliicago,  April  23, 
1863,  to  Mrs.  Jeannette  Bone,  widow  of  the  late 
Henry  Bone,  who  died  in  Kiokapoo  Township  Sep- 
tember 4,  1858.  Mrs.  Apple  was  a  danghter  of  ! 
John  and  Mary  (.lamie-ion)  Borland,  natives  of 
Beith,  .Scotland.  They  emigrated  to  America  in 
1843,  and  first  settled  in  Scott  Count}-,  this  State,  : 
then  in  Peoria,  and  afterward  located  in  Limestone  ; 
Township,  where  the  mother  died.  The  father  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Peoria,  where  he  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty- nine  and  one-half  years.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  three  sons  and  seven 
daughters.  Mrs.  Apple  was  the  seventh  child,  and 
was  horn  in  Scotland  February  1,  1831.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  record  of  the  three  children  born 
to  her  and  her  first  husliand :  Mar}-  J.  i5  the 
wife  of  John  G.  McHugh;  .lohn  Q.  married  Miss 
Lizzie  Armstrong;  and  Maggie  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Walter  Booth,  Jr.  By  her  marriage  with  our  sub- 
ject Mrs.  Apple  h.TS  three  children  :  Henry  S.,  Frank 
H.,  who  married  Minnie  Krumpe,  and   Chloe. 

Mr.  Apple  has  an  honorable  record  as  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel,  is  of  high  standing  as  a  business  man, 
and  is  thought  highly  of  as  a  citizen,  and  ,as  one  who 
has  been  active  in  public  affairs.  Du  ring  his  residence 
in  North  Peoria  he  was  Vill.age  JIagistrate  for  three 
years  and  Clerk  of  the  town  one  year,  and  has  been 
School  Director.  He  was  prominent  in  the  Grange 
movement  and  has  been  Chaplain  of  Orange 
Grange,  No.  843. 


AMU  EL  A.  L.  LAW,  Deputy  Collector  of 
Revenue,  Peoria.was  born  in  Boone  County 
Ky.,  May  21,  1836.  His  parents  were 
Mathew  and  .Al.artha  (Clark)  Law,  the 
former  a  native  of  Ireland,  of  Scotch  descent.  His 
family  belonged  to  the  old  Scotch  Covenantors, 
who  were  driven  out  of  Scotland  and  found  homes 
in  Northern  Ireland.  The  old  coat  of  arms  and 
crest,  which  is  an  uplifted  mailed  fist,  with  the  in- 
scription '-Bide  your  time,"  is  still  in  possession 
of  the  Law  family.  Mr.  Law  received  a  liberal 
education  and  was  a  graduate  of  the  Royal  Irish 
College  of  Surgeons,  and  also  of  the   University 


of  Edinburgh.  In  1820  he  came  to  America,  re- 
siding in  New  York  for  a  time,  and  then  locat- 
ing in  Kentucky,  whence  he  came  to  Illinois  in 
1843.  He  died  April  IS,  185G.  He  was  a  man  of 
large  enterprise,  possessing  foresight  and  sagac- 
ity in  a  marked  degree. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  eight  sons  born  to  his 
parents.  At  the  age  of  seven  years  he  accom- 
]iauieil  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  when  thir- 
teen years  of  age  enlisted  for  the  Mexican  War 
in  the  First  Dragoons.  His  regiment  proceeded 
as  far  as  New  Orleans,  when,  finding  the  war  had 
closed,  they  went  no  further.  Mr.  Law  had  en- 
listed as  a  drummer  in  Gen. Dick  Taylor's  command. 
He  subsequently  went  to  steamboating,  and  after- 
ward w-orked  on  a  sugar  plantation  near  New 
Orleans,  and  then  for  awhile  tried  a  seafaring 
life.  Finall}-,  he  settled  down  to  railroading,  and 
most  of  his  time  in  tlie  South  was  employed  as  a 
railroad  engineer.  In  18.57.  in  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
he  received  a  fall,  which  caused  jiartial  paralysis, 
and  from  which  he  never  recovered. 

In  July,  18G1,  our  subject  enlisted  in  Company 
C,  Forty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mus- 
tered iu  August  10.  1861.  Soon  after  his  enlist- 
ment he  was  liiade  First  Sergeant,  later  was  com- 
missioned Second  Lieutenant,then  First  Lieutenant, 
and  as  such  commanded  his  comi)any  through  the 
Vicksburg  campaign.  In  the  fall  of  1862  he  was 
appointed  Quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  Before 
this,  however,  he  acted  as  recruiting  officer  and 
secured  a  number  of  enlistments  around  Peoria. 
He  arose  from  the  position  of  Company  (Quarter- 
master to  Regiment  and  Brigade  Quartermaster, 
and  belonged  to  what  is  known  as  the  "Eagle  Brig- 
ade,"' the  one  which  the  famous  War  Eagle,  known 
as  "Old  Abe,"  accompanied  on  all  its  campaigns. 
For  meritorious  service  our  subject  was  commis- 
sioned Major  of  his  regiment,  and  later  was  made 
Lieutenant-Colonel.  He  was  in  the  last  battle 
fought  in  the  war,  and  his  experiences  were  excit- 
ing and  varied. 

On  September  6,  1865,  Mr.  Law  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Victoria  Church,  who  belongs 
to  an  ancient  English  family.  Of  this  union  two 
children  survive — Harry  Victor  and  Edith  Victo- 
toria.     For   eighteen  vears    Mr.   Law-    was  in  the 


980 


,     PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Postal  Service,  four  of  those  years  being  passed  as 
Assistant  Postmaster  at  Peoria.  In  August,  1889, 
he  vvas  made  Deputy  Collector  of  Revenue,  and  is, 
politi('all\',  a  strong  Republican.  He  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  holds  membership  with  the  Sec- 
ond Presbyterian  Church,  of  Peoria. 


ANIEL  L.  AMERMAN.  It  often  happens 
jlj  that  in  searching  for  convicting  proof 
against  outlaws,  an  oflieer  must  penetrate 
into  [ilaees  where  tlie  movement  of  a  muscle  would 
insure  detection  of  his  assumed  disguise  and  lead 
to  liis  death  at  the  hands  of  reckless  men  who 
value  no  human  life  but  their  own.  The  man  who 
tluis  lakes  his  life  in  his  hands,  entering  upon  a 
career  that  loads  him  into  scenes  scarcely  to  be 
imagined  by  those  unacquainted  with  the  history 
of  crime,  displays  a  degree  of  moral  r.nd  physical 
bravery  of  which  few  are  capable.and  must  likewise 
possess  acute  perception,  keen  judgment  and  apt- 
ness in  device.  The  past  decade  has  been  therefore 
a  most  eventful  period  in  the  life  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  who,as  a  United  Stat-^s  Deputy  Marshal, 
has  traversed  the  Pacific  Slope  and  Rocky  Mount- 
ain region  from  Puget  Sound  to  tiie  city  of  Mex- 
ico, in  search  of  counterfeiters,  and  has  met  with 
some  thrilling  experiences. 

Tiie  surname  of  our  subject  is  thought  to  be  de- 
rived from  America  Man.  His  father,  Henry 
Amerman,  a  native  of  New  York  State  was  mar- 
ried in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Hannah  A.  Taylor. 
They  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  tiie  latter 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Our  .subject  was  tlie 
youngest  of  the  family  and  is  now  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  the  fraternal  circle.  His  fatlier  died  when 
he  was  two  years  of  age  and  his  motlier  subse- 
quently', married  William  Blandin  of  Illinois. 

The  oldest  son,  John  A.  T.,  who  was  a  photog- 
rapher, died  from  disease  cbntracted  while  in  tiie 
United  States  service  during  the  late  war;  Irwin, 
also   a    member    of    Company    A,    Twent3'-third 


Michigan  Infantry,  after  suffering  the  horrors  of 
captivity  several  montiis,  died  in  Andersonville 
Prison;  David  Austin,  after  having  served  as  con- 
ductor on  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad 
fifteen  3'ears,  lost  his  life  in  an  accident  at  Cruger, 
while  in  the  line  of  dut^'.  Tlie  last  named  left  a 
wife  and  two  little  daughters  in  the  city  of  Peoria. 
The  only  male  representative  of  the  family  in  the 
third  generation  is  the  son  of  our  subject,  a  bright 
little  lad  bearing  the  name  of  Harry  Lee. 

The  town  of  Hollis  is  now  the  home  of  our  .sub- 
ject who  married  Miss  Anna  Dickey,  oT  Kansas 
City,  in  which  place  he  lived  for  some  years,  en- 
gaged at  his  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  also  following 
contr.acting.  He  finally  returned  to  the  Prairie 
State- in  which  eighteen  3'cars  of  his  life  had  licen 
passed,  but  in  1870  went  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  In 
1881  he  again  visited  the  Slope  in  the  employ  of 
the  Government  and  witliin  two  years  captured 
sixty  counterfeiters,  performing  the  journeys  nee 
essaiy  in  various  ways  and  assuming  various  dis 
guises. 

On  one  occasion  Mr.  Amerman  left  Kansas  City 
b^'  rail  and  having  reached  Cheyenne, Wyo., started 
for  Deadwood,  S.  Dak.,  on  horseback.  Thence 
he  followed  the  trail  of  the  criminals  to  Virginia 
City,  Nev.,  thence  to  Portland,  Ore.,  from  there  to 
Et.  Smith,  Idaho,  whence  he  returned  to  Virginia 
City.  There  he  again  became  a  railroad  passenger 
and  having  reached  Salt  Lake  City  went  to  Wap- 
pan,  Ariz.,  by  stage,  crossing  the  Colorado  Can- 
yon. Here  he  again  mounted  a  horse  and  with 
thirty  prisoners  in  charge  rode  to  San  Erancisco, 
picking  up  two  more  criminals  on  his  way  across 
the  continent. 

Mr.  Amerman  reached  Et.  Leavenworth,  Kan., 
after  an  absence  of  about  two  months,  during 
which  time  he  had  received  three  (lesh  wounds  from 
t.he  shots  of  those  whom  he  was  seeking  to  capture. 
Having  undertaken  to  secure  five  men  at  one  time, 
he  "got the  drop  on  them"  and  all  sui rendered  ex- 
cept one.  He  pulled  his  revolver  and  fired  on  the 
Marshal,  who  in  return  shot  him  through  the 
left  shoulder.  The  criminal,  however,  managed  to 
get  away  at  that  time,  but  was  caught  bj'  Mr. 
Amerman  a  few  weeks  later.  Nearly  every  State 
in   the  union  has   been  visited   bv    Mr.    Amerman 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


981 


whose  rtuties  have  also  led  him  into  Canad.-i.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1889-90,  he  returned  to  his  iiome, 
whose  pleasures  he  is  enjoying  with  a  keen  relish  af- 
ter his  dangerous  experiences. 


'^'OIIN  McDOUGAL.  This'name" will  at  once 
be  recognized  bj'  all  familiar  ."with  the  busi- 
ness affairs  of  Peoria,  as  that  of  a  man  long 
and  prominently  connected  with  the  trade 
and  upbuilding  of  the  municii)ality.  Its  possessor 
is  still  actively  attending  to  the  business  of  a  real- 
estate  dealer,  operating  in  both  city  and  country 
property,  as  he  has  been  doing  for  many  years  past. 
He  is  one  of  those  energetic,  shrewd,  l)ut  honest 
men,  with  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  deal,  and  his 
judgment  regarding  the  value  of  lands,  is  unques- 
tioned. The  ]ilacc  that  he  occupies  in  the  reputa- 
tion of  his  aciiuaintances,  is  a  worth}'  one,  as  busi- 
ness man,  citizen,  antl  private  individual. 

In  the  city  of  New  York  the  eyes  of  our  subject 
opened  to  the  light  of  day  March  ■!,  1822.  When 
he  w.as  quite  small,  his  parents,  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Barton)  McDougal,  removed  to  Cayuga  County-, 
where  the  lad  grow  to  his  seventeenth  yeai-.  lie 
then  left  home  to  seek  his  fortunes  in  his  native 
city,  for  whose  business  men  he  labored  in  various 
capacities  as  opportunities  arose  for  advancement, 
until  several  years  had  passed.  In  184.5  he  was 
given  an  unsolicited  vacation  of  two  months,  and 
made  a  trip  "out  West."  So  well  was  he  pleased 
with  the  counliy.  that  he  was  never  satisfied  until  he 
could  make  his  home  in  the  great  Mississipj)!  A' alley. 
In  1847  the  desire  of  Mr.  McDougal  became 
feasible,  and  he  liecame  a  resident  of  the  little  city 
of  Peoria.  He  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade,  first 
as  a  retailer,  and  subsequently  as  a  wholesaler,  the 
latter  branch  of  the  busino.ss  being  continued  until 
the  building  of  railroads  around  the  cit}- cut  otT  his 
trade.  The  business  was  conducted  originally  as  a 
partnership  affair  under  the  firm  name  of  McDou- 
gal &  Smith,  but  ere  long  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm  had  bought  out  the  junior,  and  was  carrying- 
on  the  business  alone. 


In  1857. finding  the  wholesale  trade  no  longer  pro- 
<luctive  of  a  good  income,  Mr.  McDougal  closed 
out  and  entered  into  the  real-estate  business,  in 
which  he  thought  the  pros|)ect  more  favorable.  It 
proved  a  piosjierous  enterprise,  and  has  been  con- 
tinued unintermittingly  from  that  time.  Although 
this  has  been  his  chief  pursuit,Mr.  McDougal  has  also 
done  a  good  deal  of  building  in  connection  with 
Messrs.  Walker  &  Kellogg,  of  Chicago.  In  1848 
the}'  built  what  was  at  that  time  the  largest  ware- 
house on  the  Illinois  River,  and  which  stood  as  a 
landmark  at  the  foot  of  Harrison  Street.  An  enor- 
mous trade  for  the  time  was  done  there,  a  line  of 
boats  running  daily  to  the  city  on  the  lake  that  has 
become  the  great  center  of  Western  trade. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  McDougal  is  a  commodious 
brick  edifice,  with  double  walls,  standing  on  a  large 
lot  on  North  Monroe  Street.  It  was  built  by  him 
in  1854,  and  is  still  considered  one  of  the  finest 
houses  in  the  city.  The  spacious  grounds  arc  well 
kept  and  tastefully  adorned,  the  dwelling  is  fur- 
nished in  keeping,  and  the  most  charming  hospital- 
ity rules  within  the  walls  of  the  model  home.  The 
lad}'  who  has  held  the  place  of  honor  therein  dur- 
ing all  these  3'ears.  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  A. 
Gra}',  but  became  Mrs.  I\IcDougal  April  14,  18.')2. 
She  was  born  in  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  and  came  to 
Peoria  with  her  parents  in  1834.  The  name  of  her 
father,  Andrew  Gra}',  is  remembered  as  that  of  a 
very  early  settler. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDougal  numbers 
nine  cliildren,  of  whom  .seven  are  now  living.  All 
of  tlie  survivors  except  the  daughter,  Marj'  Eliza- 
beth, remain  in  the  same  city  as  their  parents.  She 
is  now  the  wife  of  H.  M.  Clark,  of  Chicago.  The 
sons  are  Edward  D.,  William  G.,  James  15.,  Robert, 
Walter,  and  Alfred;  the  last  two  named  arestill  in- 
mates of  the  parental  home,  but  the  others  have 
set  up  their  own  households.  The  entire  family 
attend  and  support  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
to  which  all  belong  except  the  father.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Dougal has  been  all  that  a  wise  and  affectionate 
mother  can  be  to  her  cliildren,  and  to  her  the}'  owe 
much  for  her  counsel  and  instruction  in  usefulness. 
To  her  companion  she  has  proved  a  most  faithful 
and  sympathizing  helpmate,  whom  he  delights  to 
honor. 


982 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


\T/  AMES  E.  AUSTIN.  Among  the  large  land- 
owners of  Brimfield  Township,  the  gentle- 
man above  named  is  deserving  of  mention, 
as  his  fine  estate  lias  been  gained  chiefly  liy 
his  personal  industry  and  good  management.  It 
consists  of  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  upon  which 
but  little  improvement  had  been  made  when  it  was 
taken  possession  of  b}'  our  subject,  but  which  now 
is  one  of  the  most  valuable  tracts  in  the  vicinity. 
It  is  supplied  with  various  farm  buildings  and 
other  improvements  that  are  expected  of  an  ener- 
getic and  prosperous  man,  and  affords  a  most  com- 
fortable home  for  the  family. 

The  natal  day  of  Mr.  Austin  was  May  7,  182.5, 
and  his  birthplace  Preble  County,  Ohio.  His  par- 
ents, James  and  Buelah  (Jennings)  Austin,  were 
natives  of  New  Jersey,  both  being  of  English 
origin.  They  raa'le  their  home  in  the  Buckeye 
State  at  an  early  period  in  the  history  of  Preble 
County,  when  the  section  to  which  they  removed 
was  practically  a  wilderness.  There  our  subject 
was  reared  amid  the  scenes  of  pioneer  life,  bearing 
such  a  part  as  his  strength  would  [lermit,  in  the 
labors  vvhich  resulted  in  the  thorough  development 
of  the  region,  and  obtaining  as  good  an  education 
as  the  limited  school  privileges  afforded. 

In  1850  Mr.  Austin  came  to  this  countj',  where 
for  a  short  time  he  worked  by  the  month  as  a  farm 
hand.  He  next  si)ent  a  year  in  cultivating  rented 
land,  after  which  he  settled  on  section  19,  Brim- 
field  Township,    buying  a   part  of  the  estate  which 


he  now  occupies.  The  country  in  this  locality  was 
largely  unbroken  prairie  when  he  began  his  labors 
here,  and  he  has  been  an  eyewitness  to  its  gradual 
change  into  a  thickly  settled  and  highly  improved 
expanse.  From  time  to  time,  as  he  was  prospered, 
he  added  to  bis  landed  estate  and  to  the  various 
improvements  which  marked  his  increasing  pros- 
perity. 

September  7,  1853,  Mr.  Austin  was  married  to 
j  Sarah  Tomlinson,  a  capable.  Christian  woman  who 
was  born  in  England  and  has  ever  been  a  faithful 
companion  and  devoted  mother.  The  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  children,  one  of 
whom,  a  daughter.  Alma,  is  deceased.  Ida  is  the 
wife  of  Augustus  Van  Petten  and  Florence  married 
Frederick  Van  Petten.  The  other  survivors  in  the 
household  band  are  two  sons — Albert  and  William. 

Mr.  Austin  and  his  wife  are  identified  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  he  is  now  serv- 
ing as  Steward  and  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
School.  He  believes  it  to  be  Ids  duty  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  his  fellow-men,  and  considering  the 
curse  of  the  liquor  traffic  the  great  detriment  to  so- 
ciety-, wars  against  it  in  the  ranks  of  the  Prohibi- 
tion party.  By  means  of  a  judicious  use  of  i)apers 
and  journals  he  keeps  himself  well  informed  re- 
garding the  world's  history  and  the  events  which 
are  transpiring,  particularly  such  as  have  a  bearing 
upon  his  (  hosen  vocation.  He  is  respected  as  he 
deserves  and  his  wife  likewise  enjoys  the  esteem  of 
their  associates. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


983 


m 


'if?  AMES  A.  WATP:RH0USE,  President  and 
Treasurer  of  llie  Cliillicotlie  Paper  Company, 
of  {'liillieothe,  resides  in  Peoria,  and  is  one 
of  iier  well-iinown  business  men.  He  traces 
liis  linefffe  to  John  Waterhouso,  who  was  Iiorn  in 
Saddlcworlh,  England,  and  still  further  back,  to 
Saxon  ancestors  who  emigrated  from  Iheir  native 
land  to  Yorkshire,  England,  about  1400.  They  es- 
tablished the  manufacture  of  cloth  which  some  of 
the  descendants  still  continue.  The  family  were  in 
good  circumstances,  pro|)ertv  owners,  and  many  of 
them  held  positions  of  public  trust  in  their  shire. 
.John  Waterhouse  had  seven  children,  the  eldest 
of  whom  was  James,  born  in  .Saddlevvorth  in  1782. 
He  James,  abandoned  cloth  manufacturing,  and  de- 
voted his  time  to  parish  business,  being  elected 
Constable,  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  etc.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  the  Governor  or  Relieving  Offi- 
cer of  Glossop  Parish.  At  one  time  during  his  life 
he  traced  the  family  genealogy  back  to  the  period 
of  removal  from  Saxony,  lacking  only  the  legal  re- 
cords in  one  or  two  particulars  to  secure  certain 
moneys  in  Chancery. 

James  Waterhouse  had  ten  children,  the  ninth  be- 
ing George  F.,  father  of  our  subject.  That  gentle- 
man was  born  at  Saddleworth,  England,  Monday, 
the  ■22d  of  March,  1824,  and  died  June  9,  1857. 
He  was  reared  in  his  native  place,  and  became  a 
patternmaker,  gaining  the  reputation  of  lieiiig  the 
most  skillful  workman  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
When  his  father  died,  he  temporarily  held  the  posi- 
tion thus  left  vacant,  but  on  tin;  advice  of  his  phy- 
sician started  for  America,  hoping  that  the  voyage 
would  be  beneficial  to  his  failing  health.  He,  how- 
ever, died  the  ninth  day  after  his  arrival  in  New 
York,  at  the  residence  of  his  brother,  Wright,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  three  sons— William  T,,  James  A., 
and  Frederick  A.  For  a  number  of  years  he  had 
been  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
a  very  active  worker  in  the  Sunday-school. 

The  wife  of  George  F.  Waterhouse  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mary  Ann  Thorpe.  Their  mar- 
riage was  solemnized  in  Glossop,  Derbyshire,  Eng- 
land,  on  Thursday,  April  6,  1848,  in  the  Wesloyan 
Methodist  C'hai)el,  being  the  first  couple  to  be  mar- 
ried in  a  Dissenting  Chapel  In  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try.   Mrs.  Waterhouse  is  of  pure  English  stock,  her 


parents  having  been  William  and  Elizabeth  (Boden) 
Thorpe. 

Mr.  Thorpe  when  a  .young  man,  changed  his  resi- 
dence from  Yorkshire  to  Derby.shire,  and  after  his 
marriage  sojourned  in  Glossop  until  he  w.as  forty- 
two  years  of  age,  when  he  was  accidentally  shot 
dead  by  the  gamekeeper  of  the  Duke  of  Norfolk. 
He  had  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  worked 
as  a  general  mechanic  during  his  early  manhood, 
later  becoming  a  contractor  and  builder  of  consid- 
eralile  importance,  and  employing  a  large  force  of 
men.  He  also  carried  on  quite  an  extensive  gro- 
cery store  or  "grocer's  shop"  as  then  called.  After 
his  melancholy  death,  his  widow,  with  the  assistance 
of  her  husband's  father,  prosecuted  the  business 
successfully  for  a  number  of  years.  She  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five,  at  the  home  of  her  son 
John,  in  ]\Ianchester,  England,  with  whom  she  had 
been  living  for  a  few  years. 

The  eldest  son  of  Mrs.  George  F.  Waterhouse 
lives  in  Chillicothe,  III.,  and  is  Cashier  of  the  Chil- 
licothe  I'aper  Company;  he  is  married  but  has  no 
children.  The  youngest  son,  Frederick  A.,  lives  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  is  married  and  has  two  children;  he 
is  Manager  of  Thepure  Baking  Powder  Company. 
The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch  was  born  at  Glossop,  Derbyshire,  England, 
May  21,  1852.  lie  was  scarcely  more  than  an  in- 
fant when  his  parents  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  his 
father  died.  His  widowed  mother  came  on  to 
Peoria,  where  the  little  lad  grew  toward  manhood, 
pursuing  his  studies  in  the  common  schools  and 
early  beginning  to  take  some  part  in  the  labors  of 
life.  He  first  obtained  a  position  as  errand  boy  in 
the  drj'-goods  store  of  Clarke  &  Co.,  before  he  had 
entered  his  teens.  He  next  became  a  clerk  in  De- 
wein's  wholes.ale  leather  store,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  after  which  he  took  a  position  in  the 
local  freight  office  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw 
Railroad. 

Mr.  AV'aterhouse  left  the  railroad  to  accept  a 
position  with  M.  W.  Goss,  General  Agent  of  the 
Star  Union  Line,  .and  Mr.  Goss,  accepting  a  i)Osition 
as  General  Freight  Agent  of  the  C'hesa|)eake  ife 
Ohio  Railroad,  at  Richraonii,  \'a.,  in  1876,  accom- 
panied his  employer  thither.  He  returned  to  Peo- 
ria the   same  year  because  his  mother  could  not 


984 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


leave  here.  He  then  assumed  charge  of  the  Claims 
Department  of  the  Toledo.  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Road, 
from  which  he  was  appointed  local  freight  agent. 
He  held  that  position  until  1885, when  he  was  urged 
to  become  General  Manager  of  the  Peoria  Transfer 
and  Storage  Companj',  which  he  had  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing. Yielding  to  the  solicitations  of  friends,  , 
he  transferred  his  attention  to  the  new  company, 
with  wliich  he  remained  until  August,  1889,  when 
he  sold  his  stock  and  with  others  organized  the 
Chillicothe  Paper  Companj',  at  Chillieotlie,  111.  A 
mill  was  erected,  and,  as  before  noted,  Mr.  Water- 
house  is  President  and  Treasurer  of  the  compan3', 
which  has  already  built  up  a  good  trade  and  bids 
fair  to  become  a  still  more  important  factor  in  the 
business  life  of  this  county  and  State.     Mr.  Water- 


house  is  also  President  of  the  Kearney  Paper  Com- 
pany at  Kearne3%  Neb. 

In  Peoria,  on  Thursday,  October  17,  1877,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie,  the  only 
daughter  of  John  C.  and  Sarah  Neff,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio.  The  event  took  place  in  the  Calvary  Mis- 
,  sion  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Walnut  Street,  the 
pastor,  the  Rev.  John  Weston  officiating.  Mrs.  Wa- 
terhouse  was  born  at  Alton,  Ohio,  Februarj'  7, 
1856.  No  children  have  blessed  their  union.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Waterhouse  are  active  members  of  Cal- 
vary Presbyterian  Church  and  Sunday-school,  he 
having  been  one  of  the  charter  members,  serving 
for  a  number  of  years  as  one  of  the  Elders,  and 
is  at  present  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
and  one  of  the  Assistant  Superintendents  of  the 
.Sundaj^-School. 


Aby,  Elder 7(!0 

Ailauis,  John -'5 

Adams,  John  Q 33 

Adams,  J.  H fiS" 

Adams,  S.  E.,  M.  D «4 

Aiken,  Mark  M iM 

Allen,  Edward liSl 

Allen,  John  C 3:» 

Allen,  J.  M 4Si 

Amerman,  D.  1. S80 

Anderson,  Hon.  II.  G 267 

Anderson.  J.  F S2n 

Andrew  William 31B 

Anteliir,A.T .i:« 

Apple,  Rev.  H 'J"8 

Armstronpc,  Joseph 355 

Armstrong,  Robert 278 

iVi-nold,  ■\Villiain  A Si6 

Artliur,  Chester  A 99 

Atwood,  William  W 787 

Austin,  James  E 

Avery,  Q.  W »:» 

Avery,  R.  H 951 


B 


Baldwin,  E.  F 221 

Bailey,  Ralph  N 819 

Baker,  Eddy fill 

Baker,  Robert  W.,  M.  U 399 

Ball,  Edward 682 

Ballance,  Hon .  Charles 217 

Barnewolt,  A.  H 972 

Barnes,J.B SS* 

Barnum,J.S 280 

Barrett,  G.  W 440 

Bartholomew  A.  Y 200 

B.arton.  H.  S 017 

Barton.  L.  T •■)71 

Barton,  William  C.  11 835 


Bassett,  51.51 "96 

BealI,F.M .584 

Beeeher,  11.  S <»9 

Bell,Hon.  A.  J 814 

Bennett,  A.  J 307 

Bennett,  C.J 600 

Bennett,  .James 479 

Bennett,  Willard  H 414 

Bennett,  W.  B 7.52 

Bergner,  P.  A 820 

Berry, C.L .5i;9 

Beveridge,  John  L 171 

Biederbeck,  R.  J 314 

Biederbeck,  William 470 

Bills,  Roswell 716 

Bird.  Noah 771 

Birket,  Arthur  T 208 

Birket,  John 277 

Birket,  John  C 277 

Bishop,  Henry 350 

Bissell,  William  H. . . '. 151 

Black,  G.  R 842 

Blakesley,  Joel 867 

Blanchard,  F.  B 495 

Boal,  Robert,  51.  D 805 

Bghanan,  John  G.  S 800 

Bond,  Shadrach Ill 

Bontz,  Conrad 666 

Bontz,  Conrad.  Jr 519 

Bowers,  C.L 310 

Bowman,  B.  F 903 

Boylan,  John 443 

Bradley,  Joseph 789 

Bradley,  T.  S 193 

Bradley,  R.  D.,  51.  D 717 

Bradley,  W.  H 577 

Brayshaw,  A 449 

Breier,  Charles  &  Sons 732 

Briiison,  John 879 

Brodinan,  Joseph 230 

Brooks,  W.  A 7()9 

Brotherson,  Hon.  1'.  R.  K :M9 

Briis,  Wilham  J 741 

Bryner,  Col.  John 749 

Buchanan,  A 239 

Buchanan,  James 75 

Buchanan,  James  H 220 

Bull.W.G 224 

Bnrdick,  E.  W 442 

Bm-t,R.  W 569 


Bushnell,  A.  W 593 

Butcher,  Rev.  W.  R 617 

Butts,  George  W (WO 


Cahill,  Peter .326 

Calhoun,  Wilham 40li 

Callender,  Eliot 777 

Campbell,  R.  E 483 

Carlin,  Thomas 135 

Cary,HiramS 7U 

Carter,  L.  W.,  31.  D 753 

Case,  I.  W .582 

Catton.  Thomas 853 

Catton,  William 424 

Challacombe,  J 576 

Chamberlain,  Kev.  J.  S 352 

Chamberlin,  Horton 477 

Chase,  P.  H .527 

Clark,  James 522 

Clark,  James 199 

Clark,  John  L 257 

Cleveland,  Grover  S 103 

Coe,  James  S 939 

Colburn,  Dr.  E.  51 329 

Cole,  William  F 715 

Coles,  Edward 115 

Collier,  Joseph 793 

Conklin,G.  F 520 

Conklin,  51.  V.  B 736 

Cooper,  J.  K 06 

Cornelius,  Gustav 529 

Cornwell.  S.  S 586 

Cotton,  William 424 

Coulter,  Prof.  S.  L »S 

Cowley,  William -T-lfi 

Coyner,  J.  W.,  M.  D mi 

Cramer,  William 885 

Crandell,\V.  H ...788 

Cremer,  Hon.  Bernard 6-82 

Cullom,  Shelby  31 175 

Cutter,  William 4,54 


Darst,  Jacob 364 

Davis,  I.  W 775 

Dawson,  C.  W 314 

Dawson,  Theodore 632 

Deal,  James 257 

DeLoss,  Sarah,  31.  D 603 

Detweiller,  Ca])t.  Henry 384 

Dewein.  Valentine 447 

Doty,  Thom.asL.  II Oil 

Doubet.E 843 

Doubet,  Joseph 363 

Dougherty,  Dan 434 

Dougherty,  N.  C 211 

Duke,  Cliarles  S 875 

Du5Iars,  George  W..  Jr 20!) 

Du51ars,  E.  A.,  51.  D Ill 

Duncan,  Joseph 131 

Dunlap,  Alva 437 

Duulap,  Napoleon 222 

Uunlap,  W.  K 437 


E 


Easton,  AVilliam 261 

Edwards,  A.  D 433 

Edwards,  E.  D 642 

Edwards,  Isaac  C 932 

Eilwards,  Ninian 119 

Eli  wards,  Thomas  J 596 

Edwards,  W.  C 819 

Elliott,  C.C 91)3 

Emerson,  George  F 222 

English,  John  R 737 

Erler.M.E 230 

Ernst,  Albert 790 

Evans,  D.G 448 

Ewalt,  W.  Jasper .578 

Ewing,  William  L.  D 127 


D 


Dalton,  A 

Dalton ,  Joseph 

Dammann,  Gustave . . 


.710 
.045 
.638 


Fahnestock,  H.  T. . 
Fahnestock,  H.  II.. 
Fash,  Charley 


.8(19 
.371 
...50t 


INDEX. 


Fifer,  Joseph  W 183 

Fillmore,  Millard 67 

Finch,  D.I &»7 

Finley,  R.  M 401 

Fisher,  Isaac '2S1 

Flaglore,  D.  H..  M.  D 212 

FUmegan ,  J.  H 93!) 

Foril,  John (KW 

Ford,  Thomas 1:59 

Forney,  Jesse  Y 231 

Francis,  John  H 196 

Franks,  J.  W 970 

French,  Angustus  C 113 

Fritz,  Godfrey 829 

Fry,  Tliomas 744 

Frye,  Abraham -^U 

Fulton,  Josiah 207 


G 


Gale,  Jacob 68,5 

Gales,  W.  R S6S 

Gallup,  Chauncey 650 

Gantt,  Thomas  D 738 

Garfield,  James  A 9.5 

Garrison ,  Robert 631 

Gauss,  Eugene 33.5 

Gauss,  William  P. : 483 

Geiger,G.G 2« 

Gelling,  James 621 

Gerdes,  Henry  R 325 

Gilbert,  G.  W.  H 725 

Giles,  Nathan 3.55 

Giles,  Thomas 955 

Gillett,  John,  M.  D 550 

GiUillan,  H SC'S 

GillfiUian,  William 271 

Gilliam,  G.  T 933 

Gipps,  John  M 728 

Gordon,  A.  H .918 

Graham,  A.  J.,  M.  D 782 

Graham,R 300 

Graham,  W.  P 930 

Grant,  Kenneth 1-50 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 87 

Graze,  Paul  F 727 

Green,  Robert  A 514 

Green,  Santord  M 508 

Griggs.  Franklin 9I>8 

GriswoId.M 201 

Griswold,  JohnL 870 


H 


Hagcrty,  Saul 521 

Hakes,  A 429 

Hakes,  Rev.  Anthony 427 

Hall,  Capt.  J.  H 625 

Haller,  John 819 

Haller,  Mrs.  C.  M 72S 

Hamilton,  John  M 179 

Hamilton.  William  R 237 

Hamlin.  Hon.  John 361 

Hammett,  A.  W .531 

Hanly,  Edward  \V 721 


Hanna,  R.  M 887 

Hanny,  R 892 

Hansel,  J,  C 971 

Hansel,  J.  "VV 604 

Harding,  John  J 291 

Hardy,  John 672 

Harkness,  Edson 324 

Harkness,  Edwn 303 

Harkness,  H.  S 675 

Harlan,  Harrison 925 

Harmon,  P.  F 6:U 

Harrison,  Benjamin  F 107 

Harrison,  Lovell 393 

Hai-rison,  J.  R .500 

Harrison,  R.  W 562 

Harrison ,  William  Henry 51 

Hart,  Felix 405 

Hasselbacher,  Peter 917 

Hathaway,  Gilbert 966 

Hawley,  Jerome  C 637 

Hawley.P.  W 304 

Hawver,  W.  P ;U1 

Hayes,  Charles. . . . ; 298 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

Heneberry .  M 402 

Hensel,  John 540 

Ilepperly,  Jacob .507 

Herr,  Jacob 893 

Herschberger,  John 251 

Hicks,  L.C 475 

Higgins,  Daniel 1185 

Higgs,  C,  R 202 

Higgs,J.D 742 

Hill,  Robert 386 

Hindle,  James 925 

Hines,  John 775 

Hinklcy,  Mrs.  Phoebe 561 

Hinman,  J 273 

Hitchcock,  D 421 

Hoag,  Jacob 

Hoffman,  Charles  B 621 

Hoffman,  Jacob 496 

Hogan ,  Xicholas 807 

HoU,  John V06 

Holmes,  George 502 

Holton,  Noble,  M.  D 911 

Hopkins,  Hon.  H.  B 612 

Hornbaker,  D 880 

Hough,  Gen.  John 960 

Houston,  "VVilliam 970 

Hovenden,  William  A 703 

Howarth,  Richard 763 

Howe,  Rev.  E.  F Xi'.) 

Huber,  AquiUa 732 


Jack,  William 700 

Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jackson,  John 223 

Jackson,  Hiram 665 

Jacobs,  F.D 748 

James,  Hon.  L.  W 963 

Jaques,  Josiah 518 

Jefl'ei-sou,  Thomas 27 

Johnson ,  Andrew S3 

Johnson,  B 62S 

Johnson,  James  T 284 


Jones,  Henry  W 198 

Joos,  George 882 

Jordan,  James 735 


K 


Karr,  A.  E 597 

Keach,  Cliarles  H 812 

Keith,  A.  N.,  M.  D 912 

Kellar,  James  G 894 

Keller,  Emanuel S)19 

Kelley ,  James  M 315 

Kelsh,M 921 

Kemp,  Rev.  Samuel  S 649 

Kemp,  Squire  D 533 

Kendall,  Jolm  G 581 

Kenyon,  Belle,  M.  D 383 

Kershaw,  James 412 

Ketchum,  Rev.  Smith 655 

King,  Charles  P 227 

King,  John  F 881 

Kingman,  Martin 490 

Kinnah,  John  S 462 

Kieffman ,  John 705 

Klinck,  Daniel 914 

Kreuter,  Jacob 330 

Krumpe,  Charles  A 195 

Kimtz,  George 880 

Kyle,  Thomas  F 849 


Lambert,  S.H.,M.  D 741 

Lane,  George 372 

Lane,  George  J 517 

Lane,  Thomas  S 194 

Larkin,  John 953 

Law,  Samuel  A.  L 979 

Lawrence,  E.  M 469 

Letterman,  Henry 802 

Lietz,  Paul  S 811 

Linck,  Jacob 869 

Lmcoln,  Abraham 79 

Lind,  Matthew 427 

Lonsdale,  Richard 378 

Look,  L.  B  765 

Lyon,  S.  A 698 


M 


M.acy,  M.  C 826 

Madison,  James 31 

Mahler,  Frank  C 356 

Mallen,  Henry .343 

Mansfield,  Edward , .5.54 

Mansfield,  H 333 

Marsh,  Is-aac  J 2,52 

Marshall,  A.  A.  M 322 

Marshall,  Samuel 610 

Marshall, T.S 931 

Martin,  L.  B.,  M.  D 200 

Mathers,  Thomas .'121 

Mattesou,  Joel  A 147 


Matthews,  P.  T 449 

Mc Aii,ster,  James 671 

McCormick,  William 248 

McCoy,  John  A 808 

McCullough,  W.  S B92 

McDermott,  J.  E 784 

McDonnell,  Matthew 274 

McDojmell,  Alexander  T 654 

McDougal,  John 981 

McFadden,  L.  A.,  M.  D 390 

McFadden,  T.  B 598 

McGair,  Rev.  P.  A :!51 

McGoguey,  Rev.  A.  Z ti^ 

Mcllree,  Alexander 806 

McHvaine,  G.  H 923 

Mclntire,  Rufus 729 

Mclntyre,  Frank 876 

McKinney,  John  E 373 

McLean,  William 228 

McNeill,  J.  T ,....417 

Meals,  B 396 

Meeker,  William  H 941 

Merchant,  R.T 908 

Meyer,  John  C.  E 643 

Mihigan,  C.N 2.50 

Miles,  A.  G 633 

Miller,H.L 413 

Miller.J.M 764 

Miller.M.M 946 

Miller,O.M 334 

Mitchell,  E.  A 976 

Mitchell, E 229 

Mitchell,  Rodney 697 

Moffatt ,  A 238 

Moffitt,  Jeremiah 331 

Momtt,  William 48f 

Molchin,  Fritz 844 

Monroe,  James 488 

Monroe,  James 35 

Moody ,  M.  DeTal ly rand 600 

Moonejs  James ;109 

Morrow,  Hugh 553 

Morrow,  Josiah 545 

Moss,  John 647 

Mott,  W.  W  269 

Moul,  Blair  K  642 

3Iuller,  Jacob 374 

Muller,  Rev.  John 615 

Muller,  Joseph 441 

Muller,  T.J 691 

Mnrphy,  John,  M.  D 197 

Murphy,  Joseph  F 343 

N 


Neal.M.  L 459 

Nelson,  Andrew 977 

Newsam,  Fi-ank 688 

Niehaus,  J.  M 700 

Nightingale,  D.  D 552 

Noel,  Warren 769 

Norvell,  T.  B.,  M.  D 297 


o 


Oakford.A.  S 377 

Oaktord  &  Fahnestock 371 


INDEX. 


Oertley,  Henry 560 

Off,  Charles  J 823 

Oglesby,  Richard KB 

Oswalt,  John  L KiS 


Pacey,  Rev.  Thomas ■2»2 

Page,  George  T iVi 

Paluior.  John  M 1B7 

Parmcnter,  F.  K 939 

Parr.A.P flS 

Patterson,  C Bf'O 

Pattei-son ,  John  M 588 

Payson,  H.  S 765 

Peirce,  H.  H 799 

Perkins,  S.  P -t-VJ 

Perkins,  S.  R.,  M.  D 824 

Pfaniter.  Fred 772 

Pfeifer.M (HI 

Phares,  John  D 527 

Pierce,  E.  B ....091 

Pierce,  Franklin 71 

Pillsbnry,  James  E 910 

Pinckney ,  A.  W.,  Jr 9H 

Pnikney,  A.  W.,  Sr 4<i8 

Pitney.  L.  B 242 

Pi 1 1 ,  Xorris 6S6 

Plack.  George 272 

Polk,  James  K 59 

I'oplett,  Wyley B92 

Porter,  John GIO 

Potter,  A.  U 902 

Potter,  H.  W 712 

Potter,  John  S 320 

Potts,  Mre.  Ann mi 

I'owell,  A.  G 83S 

Pratz,  William  \V 599 

Pnrsfll,  George  S 480 

Putnam,  P.  T 4B2 

Putnam,  W.  ( : .875 


Q 


Qu:i!in:in.  Maj.  Charles 4'2*2 


R 


Radlcy ,  John 934 

Randall.  Henry 512 

Randall,  C.  C : 817 

Randle,  Abraham 543 

Rauni,  Daniel  F 234 

Reed,  Harrison 519 

Reed.  Hiram iM 

Reed,  Morrow  P 319 

Reed,  Mcrritt .530 

Heed,  William 759 

Reents.  S 96!, 

Reynolds,  John 123 

Rice,  Hon.  James  M 38ti 


Richard,  James  H 794 

Richardson,  James 891 

Rincr,  John  W 093 

Roberts,  J.  C,  51.  D .i.iO 

Robbins,  J.  W (i.i9 

Robison,  Leslie (ifl5 

Roelfs,  Fred  E .431 

Rogers,  George  A 977 

Roszell,  J.I) 808 

Rowclitte,  Hon.  William .509 

Ryer,  Elijah  R :i87 


Sanger,  William  M 439 

Bch.anb,  N 485 

Seheeller,  Aman 622 

Schenck,  H 489 

Schlmptf ,  Hon.  A.  L 718 

Schlink,  V.  L 428 

Sehlots,  Frederick 620 

Bchnebly,  George  W.,  Jr.  , . .  .(i37 

Schnebly,  Joseph  S 726 

Schofield,  John 927 

Scholes,  Richard 2.53 

Bchroeder,  William 656 

Scott ,  John 399 

Scovil,  John 747 

Scovill,  Linus 493 

Seabury ,  R.  F 969 

Beabury,  Samuel 940 

Secretan,  L.  31 904 

Sedgwick,  James  H . .  .906 

Seelye,  Lj-man .524 

Seelye,  Danford 720 

Seltzer,  J .561 

Seymour,  Harvey 565 

Shade,  Henry 514 

Shehan ,  Lawrence . ". 915 

Shepard,  F.  E 619 

Shepard,  E.  F 572 

Shotr,  Joseph,  Sr 900 

ShoU,  Henry  S 928 

ShoU,  Joseph 244 

Shurtleff,  F 754 

Siegel,  J.  G 376 

Sikes.H.  K 855 

SiUiman,  N.  H 467 

Singer,  Henry 766 

Slane.  B.  F -igi 

Slayton,  CM 290 

Sloan,  Enoch  P 661 

Slone,  A.  F 854 

Slough,  J.  W "169 

Slygh,  George  D 476 

Smith.  A.  H 288 

Smith,  David 494 

Smith,  David 250 

Smith,  Ivester 904 

Smith,  John 474 

Smith,  John  \V &i0 

Smith,  Ira 270 

Smith.  Philip 683 

Smith,  W.  P 802 

Spurck,  P.  E 668 


Starr,  Hon.  J.  S 753 

Starts, E 943 

Stegens,  Frederick 330 

Stewart,  James  H ;JS0 

Stewart,  R.  A 263 

Stewart,  Thomas  M 887 

Stewart,  G.  W 407 

Stewart,  U.  J 927 

Stevens,  John  S 400 

Stevens, O.S 218 

Stevens,  Z.  P 362 

Stone,  Alexander 926 

Stookey,  Hon.  D.  B 897 

Stookey.S.  A 917 

Stowell,  Augustus 268 

Stowell,  Hon.  Calvin .556 

Stowell,  O.  B 338 

Stowell,  Solomon 432 

Straesser,  William 955 

Streitmatter,  William  F 4:i8 

Sturm.  Albert 700 

Sturm.  George 451 

Sturm,  John 499 

Switzer,  F.  A .501 


Tallyn.  Thomas 209 

Taylor.  Col.  Isaac (i73 

Taylor,  John 676 

Taylor,  Zachai-y 63 

Temple,  George  B 913 

Thomas,  John  A 704 

Thomas,  L.  H 460 

Thomas,  O.  F.,  M.  D 430 

Thompson,  George  A 7.58 

Thompso!).  Benjamin  W (i87 

Todd,  William  H 302 

Traub,  Rev.  Gottlieb 697 

Treasure,  Walter 874 

Truitt,  Henry 678 

Tucker,  Cyrus 473 

Tucker,  Homer  C 294 

Tucker,  John  S 781 

Turbett,  J.  A 575 

Turbett,  J.  B 873 

Turbett,  W    S 859 

Turner,  James 419 

T^'ler,  John 55 


Van.irsdale,  John 899 

Vanansdale,  J.  H 818 

Van  Buren,  Martin 47 

Van  Petten,  F.  B 388 

Van  Tassel.  William  Vv' .552 


Vars,  Thomas 312 

Varnes.  E.I) 200 

Vicary,  Henry 936 

Voorhees,  Joseph 757 


w 


Wachenheimer.  .1 AV2 

Waketield,  William  W 719 

Walker,  James 9,56 

Wallace,  W.  W 906 

Warner,  Col.  John 862 

Warren,  Benjamin,  Jr 825 

Warren ,  Capt .  Benjamin 973 

Washington,  George 19 

Wasson,  John .528 

Watrous,  Joseph  P 683 

Weatherwax,  Andrew 736 

Weatherwa.x,  George  L 512 

Weaver,  John,  M.  D 233 

AVeber,  Valentine 297 

Weiennett,  F.  D 287 

Wenker.  Fred ,^:J9 

"White,  Oliver 560 

Whiting,  J.  G 722 

Wiiting,  Marcus,  M.  D 368 

Whiting,  William 801 

Whitne.v,  Stedmond 313 

Whittaker.  Robert 751 

Whittaker,  William  S 418 

Whitteniore,  Caleb 395 

Whitten,  William 731 

Wickwire,  James .830 

Wilder,  E.  F G39 

Wilder,  Loren (i44 

Wiley,  John  P 837 

Wiley,  Mrs.  H.  1 437 

Wilkinson,  J.  H..  M.  D 247 

Will,  Robert 585 

Wilson,  George  A 232 

Wilson.  John 213 

Wing,  E.  C 559 

Winkelme.ver,  Frederick 627 

Woelfle,  J.  C 918 

Wolf.L.  P 861 

Wolland,  E.  S 616 

Wonder,  James  A 212 

Wood,  .John 155 

Woodruff,  N.  L : 817 

Wookey,  Benjamin 776 

Woollier,  Samuel 9,52 

Worthington,  N.  E 743 

Wriglc.v,  Joseph :H5 

Wrigley,  William 905 

-WAkoir.  William. ., . .  .^. .  .^.241 
Waterhouse,  James  A .983 


Yates,  George  V 251 

Yates,  Richard 159 

Yerion,Bros 214 

Yerion,  John  M 769 

Young,  Henry  C,  M.D 96t 


INDEX. 


Adams,  John 22 

Ailams.  John  Q 3S 

Allen,  Edward (SO 

Anderson,  H.  G 2B6 

Arthur,  Chester  A 98 

Atwood,  William  W TSf! 

Baker,Dr.R.W :»? 

Ballance,  Hon.  Charles ilH 

Carton,  W.  C.  H SSt 

Beecher,  M.  S COS 

Berry,  Cyrus  L oOS 

Beveridge.  joiiu  L 170 

Birket,  John 27G 

Bissell,  \V.  H 150 

Blakesley,  Joel 865 

Blakesley ,  JIi-s.  Amy 861 

Bond.  Shadrach 110 

Bradley, T.S 190 

Bradley,  Mi-s.  Lydia Wl 

Brooks,  William  A 703 

Brothei-son,  P.  R.  K »18 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Bushnell,  A.  \V 590 

Bushnell,  Mrs.  Jennette 591 

Carlin,  Thomas 134 

Chase,  P.  H. 526 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 102 

Colburn,  E.  M.,  M.  D 328 

Cole,  William  F 714 

Coles,  Edward 114 

Collier,  Joseph 792 

Cramer,  William 8^ 

Cunom,S.M 174 

Deal,  James 25G 

DeLoss,  Dr.  Sarah 602 


Dcwein,  Valentine 44(i 

DuMars,  Dr.  R.  A 410 

Duncan,  Joseph -.130 

Dunlap,  Alva —  -:;6 

Edwards,  Ninian  !  IS 

Ewing,  W.  L.  D 126 

Fahnestock,  H.  H. :!70 

Fifer.J.W 182 

Fillmore,  Millard 66 

Flaglore,  Dr.  D.  H 212 

Ford,  Thomas 138 

French,  A.  C 142 

Frye,  Abraham ...  ^10 

Fulton,  Josiah -'IS 

Garfield,  J.  A '4 

Garrison ,  Robert  —  ' iJO 

Gauss,  WiUiam  P 4S2 

Gilbert,  G.  W.  H 724 

Grant, C.S 86 

HamUton,  Dr.  W.  R 236 

HamUton.J.  M 178 

Hamlin,J<>hn iSS 

Hamlin,  Mrs.  C.  A S9 

Harrison,  Benjamin 106 

Han-ison,  Mrs.  L     392 

Harrison,  W.  H 50 

Hart,  Felix 404 

Hayes.  R.B 90 

Hepperly,  Jacob 504 

Hepperly,  Mrs.  J 5(6 

Hines,  John 774 

Hovendeu,  William 702 

Howarth,  Richard 762 

Howe,  Rer.  E.  F 338 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 


Jackson,  Hiram 661 

Jefferson,  Thomas 26 

Johnson,  Andrew 8"2 

Jordan.  James 734 

Keller,  Emauuel 948 

Kelsh,  Michael 920 

KendaU,  J.  G 580 

Kenyon,  Dr.  Belle 382 

King,  Charles  P 226 

Lane,  George  J 516 

Lambert,  Dr.  S.  H 740 

Larkin,  John 953 

Lincoln ,  Abraham 78 

Lind,  Mathew 426 

Madison,  James 30 

Matteson,  Joel  A 146 

Mc Alister,  James 670 

McNeill,  Capt.  J.  T .416 

Mitchell,  Rodney 696 

Monroe,  James 34 

Mooney,  James 307 

Mooney ,  Mrs.  James 306 

Moss,  John 616 

Muller,  Rer.  John 614 

Neal,  John  P 464 

Neal.Mrs.  Sally 4K 

Xeal,  Moses  L 456 

Xeal,  Moses  L 457 

Noel,  Warren 763 

Xorvell,  Dr.  T.  B 296 

Oakford,  Aaron  S 376 

Off,  Charles  J 822 

Oglesby ,  R.  J 16'2 

Oswalt,  J.  L 652 

Falmer.JM 166 


Peirce,  H.  H 798 

Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Polk,  J   K 5,8 

Potts,  Mrs.  A .536 

Randle,  A 542 

Reed.  Harrison 548 

Reed,  M.  P 318 

RejTiolds,  John 122 

Richardson,  James 890 

Robbins,  John  W 658 

Schnebly ,  G.  W.,  Jr 636 

Scovill,  Linus 492 

Scovlll,  Mrs.  Juliet  A 4!t2 

ScoTil,  John 746 

Scovil,  Mrs.  Mary  A 746 

Stewart,  Walter 263 

Stookey ,  Hon.  D.  B 896 

Taylor,  Zachary 62 

Tucker,  C3TUS 472 

Tucker,  John  S 780 

Turbett ,  J.  A .574 

Turbett,  J.  B 872 

Turbett,  W.  S 8.58 

Tjler,  John 54 

Tan  Bureu,  Martin 46 

Voorhees,  Joseph 756 

Washington,  George 18 

Weienuett ,  Frederick  D 286 

Wilkinson,  Dr.  J.  H 246 

Wilkinson,  Mrs.  I.  E 246 

Wing,  Ezra  C .5.58 

Wood,  John 1.54 

Woodruff,  X.  L 816 

Yates,  Richard 158 


Bowman,  B.F 901 

Bridson,,John 877 

Cat  ton,  Thomas S51 

Fritz,  Godfrey 827 

Harlan,  Harrison 815 


Klinck,  Daniel 845 

Letterman,  Henry 803^ 

Maey,  M.  C ! 827 

Mclntyre.  Frank 877 

Newsam,  Frank fi89 


Potter,  A.  U. 497 

Reents,  Siebeld 497 

Scheeller,  Amaii 623 

Shoff,  Joseph 901 


Smith,  John  W 851 

Smith,  W.  P 803 

Vicary,  Henry 937 

Walker,  James 957 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOISURBANA 

977  352P83  C001 

PORTRAIT  i  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM  OF  PEORIA 


3  01 


2  025392694 


